For those of you who missed it on my blog, here is the entire list.
A couple of months ago, my dad was introduced to Sonic Youth through their cover of the Carpenters' "Super Star" from the Juno soundtrack. I've always been a fan of cover tunes, so I decided to compile a list of my own ten favorite cover tunes. Unfortunately after I actually started putting the list together, it grew from ten songs to nearly a hundred before cutting it back down to sixty. To make the list easier to digest (and enjoy), I've broken the songs up into a few different categories, and split the list into five parts.
Why do bands record cover tunes? Here are a few reasons I came up with:
- To take a (semi)obscure song and re-record it (ie: Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll").
- To pay tribute to a band or artist that inspired you.
- To update an old classic (Jessica Simpson's version of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots are Made for Walkin").
The rules I set for myself were pretty simple. The first rule was, the cover song could not be more famous or well known than the original version of the song. That ruled out Elvis' version of "Blue Suede Shoes" (Carl Perkins), Motley Crue's "Smokin' in the Boy's Room" (Brownsville Station) and the aforementioned Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll" (The Arrows). I also excluded any rap song that pretends to be a cover by simply using a long sample of the original. "Ice Ice Baby" is not a cover of Queen's "Under Pressure," nor are Puff Daddy's "I'll Be Missing You" and "Come With Me" covers of the Police's "Every Breath You Take" and Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir," respectively.
I would also like to add that these posts would not have been possible without YouTube. Every single song I looked up (over 120 of them) had already been uploaded to Youtube, although a few of the more obscure ones appeared in audio-only. Still, that's an amazing success rate. I had hoped to embed them all into my posts, but several of them did not allow it and for the sake of consistency, I changed them all to links. I also looked quite a few of these bands up on Wikipedia to get band member and album names.
As I said, I've broken the list down into different categories. Today's two categories are
Fairly Faithful and
Reinventions.
.xX{ Fairly Faithful }Xx.
Many musicians first learn to play their instruments by playing cover tunes. Sometimes, these songs end up as part of the band's repertoir. When the cover version sounds similar to the original, I call them "Fairly Faithfuls."
01. "War Pigs" by Faith No More (original by Black Sabbath)
After releasing two non-mainstream albums with lead singer Chuck Mosley, Faith No More dropped Mosely and hooked up with Mr. Bungle vocalist Mike Patton. Their first album with Patton, 1989's The Real Thing, made several Album of the Year lists that year and had several charting singles including "Epic" and "Falling to Pieces". Epic's closing track was a cover of Black Sabbath's classic song, "War Pigs."
Faith No More's version
Black Sabbath's version
02. "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" by Anthrax (original by Black Sabbath)
Faith No More's cover of Sabbath's "War Pigs" is just one of hundreds of Black Sabbath covers. As one of the founders of heavy metal music, most metal bands of the 70s and 80s were influenced to some degree by Black Sabbath. As a result, you can find literally hundreds of Black Sabbath cover tunes within the genre.
Anthrax has covered several Black Sabbath tunes both live and on their albums. On their 1987 EP I'm the Man, the band included a cover version of the classic Sabbath song from 1973, "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath." At the end of the Anthrax version, the band included several bars from Black Sabbath's "Sweet Leaf." Over the years Anthrax has also covered "Antisocial" (Trust), "The Cowboy Song" (Thin Lizzy), "God Save the Queen" (The Sex Pistols), "Got the Time" (Joe Jackson) and "Parasite Lady" (KISS). Anthrax also appears three more times on the list, so keep an eye out for them.
Anthrax's version
Black Sabbath's version
03. "Lovesong" by 311 (original by The Cure)
Alternative pioneers The Cure have seen many bands cover their classic songs. In 2004, the band 311 had a number one hit with the classic Cure track "Lovesong." Surprisingly, The Cure only hit #2 with the original version back in 1989. The song was written by lead singer Robert Smith as a love note to his soon-to-be wife, Mary.
311's version
The Cure's version
04. "Knocking on Heaven's Door" by Guns and Roses (original by Bob Dylan)
In the 1970s Bob Dylan was known for his thought provoking lyrics. In the 1980s and 1990s, Guns and Roses were known for overdosing, fighting, and starting riots. You wouldn't think Guns and Roses covering Bob Dylan would work, but it does here with their 1991 cover of classic Dylan, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Incidently, Eric Clapton covered this song in 1975 (just two years after Dylan released the original), which has almost eclipsed the original in popularity. According to Wikipedia, some of the other bands who have covered the song include: "The Grateful Dead, Bon Jovi, Avril Lavigne, Mad Zize, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, The Sisters of Mercy, Bryan Ferry, Meir Ariel, The Alarm, Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen, Heaven, The Lost Dogs, Randy Crawford, Babyface, Beau Jocques, Chaozz, Zé Ramalho, Antony and the Johnsons, Warren Zevon (whose version was released two weeks before his death), Roger Waters, and Bob Marley. Duets on the song include a team-up of the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and U.S. country diva Dolly Parton, and the Red Army Chorus and Ensemble with the Leningrad Cowboys."
Guns and Roses' version
Bob Dylan's version
05. "Live and Let Die" by Guns and Roses (original by Wings)
Another classic Guns and Roses cover, this time of Paul McCartney's band Wings. "Live and Let Die" was originally recorded back in 1973 by Wings for the James Bond film of the same name. Guns and Roses' version appeared on 1991's Use Your Illusion I. While G&R's cover version rocks a little more, it is still very faithful to the original.
Guns and Roses version
Paul McCartney and Wing's version
06. "Time" by Wrathchild America (original by Pink Floyd)
The quintessential song about aging, Wrathchild America (later Souls at Zero) faithfully covered the Pink Floyd song on their debut album, Climbin' the Walls. The song actually seemed out of place on an album full of thrash metal, but it's a great, loyal version of the original.
Pink Floyd's version
Wrathchild America's version
07. "Baker Street" by the Foo Fighters (original by Gerry Rafferty)
The first time I heard the Foo Fighter's version of "Baker Street," I didn't even realize I was listening to a cover tune! The Foo's version is very similar to the original, and yet still maintains a bit of Foo Fighter flavor. According to Wikipedia, "the eight-bar Tevendale alto saxophone solo apparently led to a resurgence described as "the Baker Street phenomenon". There followed a jump in saxophone sales, and a noticeable increase in the use of the instrument in mainstream pop music and TV advertising." In the Foo Fighter's version, the saxaphone is played on guitar.
Foo Fighter's version
Gerry Rafferty's version
.xX{ Reinventions }Xx.
Reinventions are the opposite of faithful renditions; it's where a band takes a song and completely reinvents it.
08. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Life of Agony (original by Simple Minds)
Simple Minds scored a hit in 1985 with their song "Don't You (Forget About Me)," written for the John Hughes film The Breakfast Club. The song quickly rose to number one and stayed on the UK charts for over two years. The song has appeared in other movies since then and has been covered by several artists (including Billy Idol), but on their sophomore album Ugly, Life of Agony completely reinvented the song from the ground up, replacing the original's poppy hooks with dark, brooding music. Life of Agony's version is basically unrecognizable until you reach the chorus -- which you definitely need to stick around for.
Life of Agony's version
Simple Mind's version
09. "Summer Breeze" by Type-O-Negative (original by Seals & Crofts)
Seals and Croft's original version of "Summer Breeze" is typical of dopey hippy music from the 70s. Type-O-Negative tuned down and slowed down the original and came up with their own super creepy version.
Type-O-Negative's version
Seals and Crofts version
10. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by Devo (original by The Rolling Stones
Covering the Rolling Stones is dangerous territory -- if you try it, you had better make the song sound original. Fortunately, Devo did just that in their cover version of the hit Stones single, "Satisfaction." Devo has claimed in interviews that "The Rolling Stones stole this song from us," which is kind of funny if you know Devo. This is a great example of a reinvention cover tune. The video is great, too.
Devo's version
The Rolling Stones version
11. "Imagine" by A Perfect Circle (original by John Lennon)
It's amazing what a simple key and tempo change can do for a song. John Lennon's original (yet kind of wimpy) version of "Imagine" has again been both tuned and slowed down to achieve a bit more sinister tone. I know Lennon's a god and his version of Imagine was voted the 3rd best song of all time by Rolling Stone in 2004, but I have to admit I like A Perfect Circle's version better. So shoot me. Wait ...
A Perfect Circle's version
John Lennon's version
12. "Hard Luck Woman" by Garth Brooks (original by KISS)
In 1994, the album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved (a collection of bands covering KISS tunes) was released. Many of the songs were throwaways, but one song -- Garth Brooks version of "Hard Luck Woman" -- stood out as an instant classic. What many people did not know at the time was that KISS actually recorded the music for this cover version -- Brooks simply provided vocals.
Garth Brooks version
KISS's version
.xX{ Modernized Classics }Xx.
Even great songs can, over time, begin to sound dated. The cover tunes tunes I've listed below are what I call "modernized classic" -- originally great songs re-recorded in more contemporary musical styles.
13. "Boys of Summer" by The Ataris (original by Don Henley of the Eagles)
Formed in the mid-90s, The Ataris had their greatest chart success with an updated cover of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer", a song about old flames and past regrets. Not only did The Ataris update the musical style of the original from classic rock to punk-pop, but they also changed Henley's original reference of a "Deadhead" (Grateful Dead) bumper sticker to a "Black Flag" one.
Don Henley's version
The Atari's version
14. "American Woman" by Lenny Kravitz (original by Guess Who)
The Guess Who's rock classic "American Woman" was re-recorded by Lenny Kravitz in 1999 for the Austin Powers movie "The Spy Who Shagged Me". While many rock critics argued that the song didn't
need to be updated, Kravitz put his own sound on the track and re-introduced a great song to an entirely new generation of kids.
The Guess Who's version
Lenny Kravitz's version
15. "Holy Diver" by Killswitch Engage (original by Dio)
There was a time when Ronnie James Dio ruled heavy metal, but music that was considered "heavy" back in the 70s fuels today's classic rock radio. Dio's debut album "Holy Diver" (which featured a demon killing a priest on the cover and a logo that when flipped upside down spelled "Devil") is actually pretty tame by today's standards. Thirty years later, Killswitch Engage re-recorded the original and raised the brutality bar, making the track once again heavy. If you don't feel evil right now, you will after listening to Killswitch's version (wait 'til the 90 second mark).
Dio's version
Killswitch Engage's version
16. "Faith" by Limp Bizkit (originally by George Michael)
Shortly after the dissolution of Wham!, George Michael returned to the airwaves with a solo album ("Faith") and a hit single of the same name. "Faith" (the song) went on to become the best selling single of 1988. George Michael's video and image was so popular at the time that Dana Carvey regularly impersonated Michael on Saturday Night Live ("Look at my butt!") Ten years later, then nu-metal new-comers Limp Bizkit garnered attention with a cover version of "Faith", which surprisingly worked and was in some people's opinions (mine) the best thing they ever did musically.
George Michael's version
Limp Bizkit's version
17. "You Really Got Me" by Van Halen (originally by The Kinks)
I almost didn't include this one because, at least for my generation, Van Halen's version is almost as widely known as the original. While The Kinks' version of "You Really Got Me" gave them international attention back in 1964, the band was no one hit wonder, with charting singles from the 60s all the way through the 90s. In 1978, then unknown rockers Van Halen were routinely covering the song live on stage in LA. Van Halen's rendition ended up on their debut album, and the rest, as they say, is history. Plus, the video introduced an entire generation to Eddie Van Halen's licks (and David Lee Roth's hips).
The Kinks' version
Van Halen's version
18. "Cat's in the Cradle" by Ugly Kid Joe (originally by Harry Chapin)
Ugly Kid Joe (the opposite of "Pretty Boy Floyd") made their first waves on MTV with their single "I Hate Everything About You", but had trouble reentering the charts until they released this updated version of Harry Chapin's depressing ballad, "Cat's in the Cradle". For what it's worth, I thought (until just now) the original was by Jim Croce. Huh.
Harry Chapin's version
Ugly Kid Joe's version
19. "Land of Confusion" by Disturbed (originally by Genesis)
"Land of Confusion" was originally recorded by the Phil Collins-fronted Genesis back in 1986. The Cold War song was well known for its video, which consisted of caricature puppets of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, a monkey, Rambo, and several others. Almost 20 years later, nu-metal band Disturbed re-recorded the Genesis classic. Believe it or not, Disturbed's version hit number one on the charts, while the Genesis version only reached number four. This song's actually a toss up; I like both versions.
Genesis' version
Disturbed's version
20. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Primus (originally by Charlie Daniels)
The Charlie Daniels Band's 1979 classic "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is a fiddle-rockin' song that crossed all genre boundaries and is instantly recognizable. Several people have covered and parodied the song, but due to the track's unique sound few of the imitators are worth mentioning. However, two decades later in 1998, Primus released their own updated version of the classic track on an EP full of cover tunes. What I have always liked about the Primus version is that in the original when the "band of demons join in" it sounds like a hoedown. In the Primus version, it sounds like a band of demons. If you've not seen it, the Primus video is definitely worth watching. The stop motion animation is awesome.
Charlie Daniels' version
Primus' version
Just for fun:
Guitar Hero III version
21. "Tom Sawyer" by Deadsy (originally by Rush)
For those of you without radios, "Tom Sawyer" is a 1981 classic written and performed by Canadian prog-rockers Rush. Those of you with radios have heard it, many many times. It's generally not a good idea to cover a song so well known and revered, but Deadsy did just that on their 2002 major label debut, "Commencement". Led by P. Exeter Blue I (aka Elijah Blue Allman, the son of Gregg Allman and Cher), Deadsy concocted a massive sound consisting of layers of guitar, bass, synthesizers and Z-tar (I love that thing). I really thought Deadsy would take off but they only sold 175k copies of their first album (I own one of them) and their label eventually folded. Kick me in the jimmy, but I like Deadsy's rendition better. Sorry, Canada. When the guitar, bass and Z-tar all kick in at the same time (about 12 seconds in) ... make sure your bass is down and your volume is up.
Rush's version
Deadsy's version
22. "My Sharona" by Veruca Salt (originally by The Knack)
Who hasn't played air guitar along with The Knack's classic track, "My Sharona?" I know I have. In fact, I just did! I can think of few songs have been parodied more than "My Sharona". Weird Al kicked things off with "My Bologna", the Dead Kennedys recorded "My Payola", and Dr. Demento staple John Cougar Mammoser released the comedy classic "Nine Coronas." In the mid 90s, sultry-rockers Veruca Salt slowed down the track and released their own updated take on the classic song. There's something haunting about Veruca Salt's version. It's been almost 15 years and I still love it. Definitely the sexiest song on today's list.
The Knack's version
Veruca Salt's version
.xX{ Genre Busters }Xx.
There's no reason why rock remakes have to keep rockin' and rap remakes have to keep rappin'. These next cover tunes are what I call "Genre Busters", songs that started out as one style of music and were remade into another.
.xX{ Genre Busters - Rap }Xx.
23. "Walk This Way" by Run DMC (originally by Aerosmith)
"Walk This Way" was originally released by Aerosmith in the mid-70s and was one of the band's first hits. The song has become a staple of the band's live perfomances, and in 2009 VH1 ranked it #8 on their list of "Top 100 Rock Songs of all Time." In 1986, Run DMC re-recorded a rap version of "Walk This Way" under the urging of producer Rick Rubin and DJ Jam Master Jay (neither Run nor DMC knew who Aersosmith were). The song was a smash hit that brought rap to the masses (it was the first top 5 rap single), made Run DMC worldwide stars, and even revitalized Aerosmith's career.
Aerosmith's version
Run DMC's version
24. "Goin' Back to Cali" by Sevendust (originally by LL Cool J)
LL Cool J took the rap world by storm with singles like "Radio" and "I'm Bad", but it was his (arguably the first) "rap ballad" "I Need Love" that made him a mega superstar and began changing his image from "tough street kid" to "buff lover". Originally released on the "Less Than Zero" soundtrack, his next single, "Going Back to Cali", proved to be another gigantic hit and was later included on his third album, 1988's "Walking with a Panther". In the winter of 2000, nu-metal rockers Sevendust released their metalized version of "Going Back to Cali" on the compilation album "Take a Bite Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute to Rap". Sevendust's version replaces LL's horn blasts with guitars. It also has a lot more yelling.
LL Cool J's version
Sevendust's version
25. "It's Tricky" by The Bloodhound Gang (originally by Run DMC)
After Run DMC had runaway success by taking a rock song and making it rap, it only made sense that eventually someone would take one of Run DMC's raps and make it rock. The Bloodhound Gang did just that by covering Run DMC's 1987 classic, "It's Tricky" on their second album, "One Fierce Beer Coaster". The Bloodhound Gang's take is all metal, complete with tuned down guitars and a ferocious drum track. For a band known more for their comedic lyrics than their musical chops, Bloodhound's version of "It's Tricky" flat out rocks.
Run DMC's version
Bloodhound Gang's version
26. "Bring the Noise" by Anthrax/Public Enemy (originally by Public Enemy)
No list of rock/rap songs would be complete without this one. "Bring the Noise" made its debut on the Less than Zero soundtrack (alongside LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali and Slayer's "In A Gadda Da Vida"). In the song, Chuck D name checks the metal band Anthrax (reportedly because Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian wore Public enemy shirts in concert). Returning the favor, Anthrax teamed up with PE to record a cover/remake of the original in 1991, with Anthrax providing the song's music and lyrics traded between Scott Ian and Chuck D. The song appeared on both PE and Anthrax albums and was a smash hit in both rap and metal circles. "Bring the Noise" is widely credited as giving birth to the rap metal craze.
Public Enemy's version
Public Enemy/Anthrax's version
.xX{ Genre Busters - Metal }Xx.
27. "These Boots are Made for Walking" by Megadeth (originally by Nancy Sinatra)
Nancy Sinatra is best remembered for her 1966 hit "These Boots are Made for Walking", but I'll bet not even Nancy could have imagined someday Megadeth would be covering her song. Sped up and metaled out, chances are if you enjoy either one of these versions, you won't care for the other. Most recently the song was covered by Jessica Simpson but, bleh.
Nancy Sinatra's version
Megadeth's version
28. "Paranoid" by Megadeth (originally by Black Sabbath)
Another classic Megadeth cover. For years, Black Sabbath was the epitome of heavy metal. Bands like Metallica and Megadeth took Sabbath's heavy foundation and added speed. Megadeth's take on Sabbath's classic "Paranoid" is every bit as heavy as the original and is played in double time.
Black Sabbath's version
Megadeth's version
29. "Helter Skelter" by Motley Crue (originally by the Beatles)
I must shamefully admit that when I first heard this song by Motley Crue back in 1983, I had not yet heard the original. Motley Crue's version is tighter, leaner, and a little bit meaner than the original. I'm sure karma would strike me down if I said Motley Crue's version was better than the original, so let's just say I enjoy both versions in their own right and leave it at that. If Charles Manson had heard the Crue's version first, no one would have blamed him for going on a killing spree.
The Beatles' version
Motley Crue's version
For what it's worth, this song has also been covered by Pat Benatar, Aerosmith, Oasis, Ian Gillan, Bon Jovi, and U2, but the most original rendition belongs to
Siouxsie and the Banshees.
30. "Surfin' USA" by M.O.D. (originally by the Beach Boys)
A spin-off of S.O.D. (Stormtroopers of Death), M.O.D.'s (Method of Destruction) second album "Surfin' M.O.D." was a concept album that took place at the beach. One of the band's thrash metal tracks was a cover of The Beach Boys' "Surfin' USA". For some reason I always liked M.O.D.'s version. It's silly and fun, but still shreds, must like the rest of the album.
The Beach Boys version
M.O.D.'s version
For what it's worth, the same album also contains cover versions of "Shout" and "Color My World".
31. "Stone Cold Crazy" by Metallica (originally by Queen)
I love Queen and was raised on Queen, but I'll be damned if Metallica's version doesn't take this song to the next level. Hetfield's growls and Ulrich's double-bass lift this song up, and Hammet's guitar solos push it even higher. The track originally appeared as the B-side to the single "Enter Sandman", but didn't appear on a Metallica album until 1988's "Garage Inc." This is a classic case of taking a 10/10 song and cranking it up to 11. (Metallica's version starts at 4 minutes into the clip.)
Queen's version
Metallica's version
At the Freddy mercury Tribute Concert, James Hetfield of Metallica and Tommy Iommi of Black Sabbath joined the surviving members of Queen to perform the song. So this is really Queen covering Metallica's version of a Queen song.
Metallica + Queen's version
.xX{ Genre Busters - Punk }Xx.
32. "Come on Eileen" by Save Ferris (originally by Dexy's Midnight Runners)
Save Ferris is ska (not punk) but their rendition of the 80s classic "Come on Eileen" is so full of energy that I had to put it here. Dexy's original version was upbeat, a little hokey, and has appeared on every 80s compilation released over the past 20 years. Save Ferris replaces the original's banjos with a horn section and turns the intensity up to high. I dare you not to hop around while this song is playing. I SAID I DARE YOU!
Dexy's Midnight Runners' version
Save Ferris' version
33. "Kids in America" by The Bloodhound Gang (originally by Kim Wilde)
The Bloodhound Gang's second appearance on the list comes with a cover of Kim Wilde's "Kids in America". Released in 1981 when Kim was just 21 years old, "Kids in America" was a new wave song that became an anthem for teens around the world. The song has been covered by everyone from Nirvana and the Donnas to Tiffany, but my favorite version is the Bloodhound Gang's punk version. ("Make it sloppy, like child birth.") Say what you will about the Bloodhound Gang (personally I think they're idiots), but this song was born to be a punk anthem.
Kim Wilde's version
The Bloodhound Gang's version
34. "Time after Time" by Clubber Lang and the Heavyweights (originally by Cyndi Lauper)
After storming across America with her hit single "Girls Just Want to have Fun", crazy-mopped Lauper showed the world her softer side with the 1984 ballad "Time After Time". The song hit number one on the charts, still gets radio play to this day, and according to Wikipedia has been covered by more than 120 different artists. One of those artists, Clubber Lang and the Heavyweights, recording a stellar punkified version of the 80s classic, a'la punk.
Cyndi Lauper's version
Clubber Lang's version (Removed from YouTube)
35. "Summer Nights" by Less than Jake (originally from the Grease Soundtrack)
"Tell me more, tell me more, did you get very far?" Grease was one of the first movies we owned on VHS, and I watched that movie so many times as a kid that to this day I still know every song (and every line for that matter) by heart. In 1997, punk rockers Less Than Jake released "Greased", an 8 track, 15 minute romp through the Grease soundtrack. If you just did the math, you can probably guess that the songs have been sped up to a frantic pace. "TellMeMoreTellMeMoreLikeDoesHeHaveACar?"
Grease version
Less Than Jake's version
36. "Smooth Criminal" by Alien Ant Farm (original by Michael Jackson)
When most people reminisce about Michael Jackson they talk about "Thriller", but the gloved-one had several post-Thriller mega-hits, including "Black or White", "Dirty Diana", and this classic, "Smooth Criminal". Fans of Jackson should get a kick out of Alien Ant Farm's updated version and particularly the video, which contains references to Thriller, Billie Jean, and several other Michael Jackson songs. They even managed to squeeze the "crotch grabbing/exploding car" bit in there.
Michael Jackson's version
Alien Ant Farm's version
.xX{ Soundtracks }Xx.
Some artists are hesitant to include well-known cover tunes on their albums. Instead, these tracks either end up in their live repertoire, or used as one-off soundtrack submissions. Here are a few classic cover tunes that I discovered via movie soundtracks.
37. "Johnny B. Goode" from Back to the Future (original by Chuck Berry)
Near the end of Back to the Future, Marty McFly entertains his (future) parents' at their prom with a rockin' rendition of Johnny B. Goode. I was actually quite familiar with Berry's version when the movie came out, but after picking up the soundtrack and listening to the BTTF version dozens of time, it grew on me. (By the way, that's not really Michael J. Fox singing; it's musician
Mark Campbell.)
Chuck Berry's version
Back to the Future version
38. "Come Together" by Aerosmith (originally by The Beatles)
So here's a weird one for you. The Beatles originally recorded and released "Come Together" on their "Abbey Road" album in 1969. Then they made another album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Then in 1978 they made a movie based on that album, and had other musicians cover their music for the soundtrack, including Aerosmith who covered "Come Together" which wasn't even from the Sgt. Pepper album. Make sense? Who cares, it doesn't have to. Both versions rock, and Aerosmith's still gets regular radio rotation to this day.
The Beatles version
Aerosmith's version
39. "Rock and Roll All Nite" by Poison (originally by KISS)
The Less Than Zero soundtrack contained several cover tunes, including the next two entries on the list. The first of which is Poison's cover of the KISS classic "Rock and Roll All Nite". While I'll be the first to admit Poison is no KISS, I kind of like this version. It's slick and smooth and Poisonriffic. The biggest problem with Poison's version is, they're not KISS. KISS's version continues to survive today while Poison's version faded into obscurity.
KISS's version
Poison's version
40. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Slayer (originally by Iron Butterfly)
The second Less than Zero track in a row is Slayer's version of the psychedelic classic "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". Whereas the original is known for being long and dreamy and meandering, Slayer is known for none of those things. From around the same time period as "South of Heaven", Slayer's version of the Iron Butterfly stand by is stripped down, raw, and about 1/8th the length of the original (all good things).
Iron Butterfly's version
Slayer's version
.xX{ Miscellaneous }Xx.
We're almost at the end, so screw it. The rest of today's entries are just great songs.
41. "Three is a Magic Number" by Blind Melon (originally by Schoolhouse Rock)
Shannon Hune
was Blind Melon, and the band's hit single "No Rain" (that I
recently wrote about) made them rock stars. The same year the band's second album was released, Hune died of a cocaine overdose. Before leaving, the band left us with this beautiful version of "Three is a Magic Number," a song most of my generation will remember hearing on Schoolhouse Rock in between Saturday morning cartoons. Blind Melon's version encapsulates everything that was cool about the band.
Schoolhouse Rocks version
Blind Melon's version
42. "One" by Korn (originally by Metallica)
After taking over the metal underground, four albums into their career Metallica took over MTV with their war-inspired single, "One". That led to the Black Album, which made them all billionaires, and then Lars sued Napster, or something like that. Anyway, during Metallica's induction as an MTV Icon, masters of nu-metal Korn performed a tuned-down and cranked up version of the tune. Hearing cover tunes of songs that were popular in my my lifetime makes me feel old.
Metallica's version
Korn's version
43. "Lake of Fire" by Nirvana (originally by the Meat Puppets)
I almost didn't include this one because I suspect more people are familiar with Nirvana's version that the Meat Puppets', but I decided to go ahead and list it. One of the coolest things Kurt Cobain and Nirvana did with their newfound fame was promote all the bands that had inspired them. Shortly after the grunge explosion of 1991, bands such as the Meat Puppets (and the Melvins) were "suddenly discovered" by the mainstream. Nirvana went as far as to invite Meat Puppets' brothers Cris and Curt Kirkwood to perform with them on their live acoustic MTV special. Nirvana's take on "Lake of Fire" is much different and stripped down than the Puppets', but both are cool in my book.
In 2003 Cris attacked a security guard with the guard's own baton and was subsequently shot in the stomach. He survived the shooting, but served almost two years in prison over the incident. Kurt Cobain died less than six months after the video below was filmed.
Meat Puppets' version
Nirvana's version
44. "Raining Blood" by Tori Amos (originally by Slayer)
Well here's an odd one. Slayer's 1986 thrash masterpiece (thrashterpiece?) was once named "the heaviest album of all time" by Kerrang magazine. The entire album clocks in at 29 minutes and averages 210 beats per minute. Tori Amos is a solo performer known for her emotional piano-driven songs. If it seems like an odd match, it is. According to Slayer guitarist Kerry King, "it took me a minute and a half to find a spot in the song where I knew where she was. It's so weird. If she had never told us, we would have never known. You could have played it for us and we'd have been like, 'What's that?' Like a minute and a half through I heard a line and was like, 'I know where she's at!'" I guess I just like this cover because it's so completely bizarre.
Slayer's version
Tori Amos' version
This wasn't Tori Amos' only foray into odd cover tunes; check out her version of the
Nirvana classic "
Smells like Teen Spirit".
45. "No More Mr. Nice Guy" by Megadeth (originally by Alice Cooper)
I know there was a time when Alice Cooper was edgy and scary, but as a child of heavy metal from the 80s, Cooper's shtick always seemed a little hokey to me. Megadeth took Cooper's classic "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and made it sound like it being performed by guys who were not nice. Megadeth's version was used as the theme song from Wes Craven's 1989 horror film, Shocker.
Alice Cooper's version
Megadeth's version
46. "Hurt" by Johnny Cash (originally by Nine Inch Nails)
Typically it's newer artists covering songs from established acts and not the other way around, but in 2002, Johnny Cash covered the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt" (from the band's 1993 album "The Downward Spiral") in his own style. To plagiarize Wikipedia because it's getting late, "the song was one of Cash's final hits, the video featured images from his life, and the video was voted best video of the year by the Grammy Awards and Country Music Awards."
Nine Inch Nails' version
Johnny Cash's version
47. "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Weird Al Yankovic (originally by Queen)
Weird Al includes a polka-medley on every one of his albums, but on 1993's Alapalooza, Al opted to simply include a polka version of a single song, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. It's Weird Al, Queen, and some mean accordion playing. What's not to like?
Queen's version
Weird Al's version
48. "Ball of Confusion" by Love and Rockets (originally by The Temptations)
Once again I'm embarrassed to admit that I originally had no idea this was a cover song. My friend Justin introduced me to Love and Rockets, two albums before they hit pop radio's radar with their hit single "So Alive". The Love and Rockets (three-fourths of Bauhaus) 1986 album "Express" was one of my favorites for many years. One big pet peeve of mine is that the CD version of "Ball of Confusion" is not the same as the cassette version. The CD version is way to long and has a weird arrangement.
The Temptations' version
Love and Rocket's version
Other notable bands that have covered "Ball of Confusion" include
Anthrax and
Duran Duran. Justin's BBS was also called Ball of Confusion BBS.
49. "Look At Your Game, Girl" by Guns and Roses (originally by Charles Manson)
This cover tune is perhaps more interesting than it is good. To help raise money for his defense fund, Charles Mason released the album "Lie: The Love and Terror Cult" in 1978 (the first year Manson was eligible for parole) which contained the original version of the song. In 1993, Guns and Roses released an album's worth of cover tunes titled "The Spaghetti Incident?", which included a hidden track featuring Axl Rose covering the Manson tune (to the objection of most of the rest of the band's members). Soon after the release of the Gunner's album there were many complains about the Manson tune, mostly because if the album sold well they would have to pay royalties to a convicted serial killer. Fortunately (I guess), the album sold pretty horribly. Manson didn't get rich and Guns and Roses didn't release another album for fifteen years. Wow, I'm old.
Charles Manson's version
Guns and Roses' version
50. "Superfreak" by Mordred (originally by Rick James)
I first heard Mordred's version of "Superfreak" while mopping the floor at Mazzio's Pizza and listening to Metalshop on the radio. I thought to myself, "Thank goodness someone has covered this forgotten classic. Now no one will forget Rick James' Superfreak!" Of course there are only twelve people on the planet who have heard Mordred's cover version, but the following year an obscure named "MC Hammer" took the bass line from Superfreak and released a song that no one has heard of called "Can't Touch This" which sold more copies than every Mordred album combined times ten. Doesn't matter to me; it still kicks ass.
Rick James' version
Mordred's version
51. "Sweet Dreams" by Marilyn Manson (originally by the Eurythmics)
This actually should be been grouped with the "reinventions" on day one but I forgot about it.
Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, better known as the Eurythmics, ushered in MTV with this song and video all the way back in 1983. I would describe the song as electronic and industrial, perhaps even haunting, but definitely not sinister. Leave it up to Marilyn Manson to take something nice and make it evil. We just can't have nice stuff around here anymore, can we.
Eurythmics' version
Marilyn Manson's version
Speaking of taking nice things and making them not-as-nice (and I mean that as a compliment), check out Marilyn Manson's versions of
Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus,
Soft Cell's Tainted Love, and the poem (titled
Prelude: A Family Trip from
Willy Wonka's boat ride.
52. "Higher Ground" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (originally by Stevie Wonder
The first song I ever heard from the Red Hot Chili Peppers was "Black Eyed Blonde", which appeared in the best skateboard movie of all time, Thrashin'. The second song I ever heard from them was the Steve Wonder cover tune, "Higher Ground." If nothing else, check out the video to see Flea's infamous "stuffed animal pants".
Stevie Wonder's version
Red Hot Chili Pepper's version
53. "Blue Monday" by Orgy (originally by New Order)
I was never a big fan of Joy Division, and while Blue Monday wasn't even my favorite New Order song (I was more of a "True Faith" and "Bizarre Love Triangle" guy), I always felt like Orgy knocked this one out of the park by maintaining the soul of New Order's performance and injecting it with the angst of a new generation. It was a good song that, in my opinion, Orgy made great.
New Order's version
Orgy's version
54. "Help From My Friends" by Joe Cocker (originally by The Beatles
According to family legend, after seeing Joe Cocker perform this song live, my father was convinced he was watching a Jerry Lewis marathon and was embarrassed because he thought they had actually put a handicapped person up on stage to sing. You be the judge.
The Beatles' version
Joe Cocker's version
.xX{ Funny Covers }Xx.
55. "Like a Virgin" by Snaut (originally by Madonna)
While living in Spokane, Washington, I had the pleasure of meeting the guys from Snaut and hanging out with them briefly in the studio during the recording of one of their albums. During that time the band handed me one of their previous CDs, which contains such classics as "Coke Whores", "Fist Full of Love", and a goofy rendition of Madonna's classic song, "Like a Virgin". Fun fact: legend has it that Snaut was once banned from the local Spokane parade for throwing dog food to children.
Madonna's version
Snaut's Version (MP3 Only)
http://www.robohara.com/music/mp3/Snaut ... Virgin.mp3
56. "Seek and Destroy" by Distorted Silence (originally by Metallica)
Distorted Silence, another local Spokane band, performed this song live at the 1996 Spokane Battle of the Bands, which caused me to buy this CD. Led by the incredibly gifted Jason McKinney, Distorted Silence's is unique in that the first half is about 1/2 the tempo of Metallica's original, and the second half is double-speed. The first half is silly; the second half is impressive, especially if you're familiar with the original.
Metallica's version
Distorted Silence's Version (MP3 Only)
http://www.robohara.com/music/mp3/Disto ... estroy.mp3
57. "I Will Survive" by Cake (originally by Gloria Gaynor)
I discovered Cake (the band, not the dessert) like most other people, after hearing "The Distance", but it was this goofy version of Gloria Gaynor's disco classic "I Will Survive" that really endeared me to them.
Gloria Gaynor's version
Cake's version
58. "Wild Thing" by Sam Kineson (originally by The Troggs)
It is not uncommon for comedians to try their hands at singing, and Sam Kinison had a big hit with his rendition of "Wild Thing" in 1988. The song was originally written by The Wild Ones in 1965, but was made more famous in 1966 by The Troggs and even more famous in 1967 by Jimi Hendrix. Lots of other artists have recorded it as well, but none of them got to roll around on the floor with Jessica Hahn. RIP Sam, we miss you.
The Trogg's version
Sam Kinison's version
Bonus:
Jimi Hendrix's version
59. "Boyz-N-The-Hood" by Dynamite Hack (originally by Eazy-E)
This is another one that probably should have appeared in the list of genre busters, but I forgot about it until late in the day. In 1988, gangster rap pioneers N.W.A. released their debut album, Straight Outta Compton. One month later, chief lyricist Ice Cube along with rapper Eazy-E (who bankrolled the group's record label with drug money) released Eazy's solo project, "Eazy-Duz-It". "Boyz in the Hood," the hit single from the album, (supposedly) details a day in Eazy's life. ("I gotta get drunk before my day begins / before my mother starts bitchin' about my friends.") In 2000, alternative rockers Dynamite Hack released a laid back rendition of the song that is both classic and hilarious.
Eazy-E's version
Dynamite Hack's version
.xX{ My Favorite Cover of All Time }Xx.
60. "Easy" by Faith No More (originally by The Commodores)
For all the in-fighting and noise Faith No More became infamous for, shortly before the band began shuffling guitarists around and a few years before the band imploded, FNM released one of the greatest cover songs of all time. FNM's version is largely true to the original, and it's hard to believe such a crazy group of guys were able to (or even wanted to) pull this off. The version posted below is the band performing the song to a bewildered Tonight Show crowd.
Lionel Richie's version
Faith No More's version
Well there you have it -- my list of my top 60 cover songs of all time. Here are a couple of bonus lists for those of you who stuck it out. Thanks to everyone who read this week's series of posts and especially to those of you who left/made comments!
.xX{ BONUS #1: Cover Albums }Xx.
Occasionally for one reason or another, bands release entire albums worth of cover songs. Here are a few of my favorites:
Dream Theater - Master of Puppets
On a few rare occasions, Dream Theater has booked back-to-back shows in select cities. On the second night, the band has performed what they call "album covers" -- live concerts where they cover one of the band's favorite albums from start to finish. To date, the band has performed four "album covers" -- Metallica's Master of Puppets, Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, and Deep Purple's Made in Japan. According to the band a fifth cover show is planned, although the date, location and album to be covered are being kept a secret. Here's a
video of the band playing the title track.
Faith No More - Songs to Make Love To
"Easy" (see #60) was recorded as a b-side, but after fans went crazy for it at converts the band decided to release an EP containing it and three other songs, including the
theme from Midnight Cowboy and the Dead Kennedys' "Don't Lynch the Landlord".
Cake - B-Sides and Rarities
While not all of the songs on "B-Sides and Rarities" are covers, most of them are. If you want to hear an alternative band's take on everything from War Pigs and
Mah Na Mah Na (yes, the song from the Muppets) to Strangers in the Night and Never Gonna Give You Up, you need this.
Primus - Rhinoplasty
Primus' EP Rhinoplasty contains six cover tunes, covering everybody from Herry Reed and Andy Partridge to Metallica (Primus' version of
The Thing That Should Not Be is dead on). If you run across this EP, pick it up; the CD also includes the previously mentioned claymation video to The Devil Went Down to Georgia.
Pat Boone - In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy
This album is so terrible, it's wonderful. In 1997, popular 50s singer Pat Boone decided to release an entire album's worth of metal cover tunes from the 80s and 90s, redone in a jazz/swing style. Both Boone's own fan base and anyone who listens to heavy metal thought the album was a joke, and ultimately the album got Boone dropped from Trinity Broadcasting. Hearing the old crooner cover Metallica's "Enter Sandman", Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven", Guns N' Roses' "Paradse City", Van Halen's "Panama" and Judas Priest's "You've Got Another Thing Coming" is too hard to describe. If anything good came from the whole project,
Boone's cover of Ozzy's "Crazy Train" ended up being used as the theme song for the Osbourne's television series.
Metallica - Garage Days Re-Revisited
By 1986 Metallica was taking the metal world by storm. On tour supporting their third album ("Master of Puppets"), bassist Cliff Burton was killed in a freak bus accident. Jason Newstead was recruited as a replacement and while learning to play together the four members built a home recording studio and recorded multiple cover tunes. Those recordings were then released as Garage Days Re-Revisited. Although I love all five songs included on the EP, I didn't include any of them on my main list because I hadn't heard of any of the originals before picking them up and, other than "Last Caress/Green Hell", I doubt anyone had heard the original versions unless they specifically sought them out after hearing this EP (like I did).
The cassette and CD are long out of print (I have one of each), but all the songs from Garage Days Re-Revisited were included on the 1998 compilation, Garage, Inc, along with several new covers and singles recorded throughout the years.
Guns N' Roses' "The Spaghetti Incident?"
Named after a food fight that was referenced in a lawsuit between former Gunner Steven Adler and the band, "The Spaghetti Incident?" contains 13 cover tunes (including the aforementioned Charles Manson tune), although I was only familiar with two of them -- Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" and the Misfit's "Attitude". It's a good disc if you want to hear what kind of 70s/80s metal influenced 80s/90s rockets.
Cheap Trick - Sgt. Pepper Live
In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's album, Cheap Trick (backed by the the New York Philharmonic Orchestra) played the Sgt. Pepper album in its entirety. The album is mostly loyal to the original material; if you like either the Beatles or Cheap Trick, you will like this.
.
The Electric Hellfire Club - Empathy for the Devil
Empathy for the Devil is one of the greatest cover tune albums of all time. To get the joke, you must know that the Electric Hellfire Club are true Satanists, which makes the song selection of this CD even funnier. The covered songs include the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil", The Cure's "Killing an Arab", AC/DC's "Highway to Hell", Motley Crue's "Shout at the Devil", and INXS's "Devil Inside". While none of those songs are particularly sinister in their own right, when compiled together and performed by the EHC ... classic. The band has also covered [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXJpf-Of6U8]the Charles in Charge theme (complete with Charles Manson samples) and the KISS classic "Calling Dr. Luv", in honor of band member Dr. Luv who was tragically killed in a car accident.
The Blues Brothers Soundtrack
Yeah, pretty much the whole thing.
Rawhide!
.xX{ BONUS #2: Cover Bands }Xx.
... and then there are bands that make a living performing cover tunes.
Dread Zeppelin
From Wikipedia: "Dread Zeppelin is an American band best known for performing the songs of Led Zeppelin in a reggae style as sung by a 300 pound Vegas Elvis impersonator." That pretty much sums it up. Here's Dread's version of the Zeppelin classic
Immigrant Song.
Richard Cheese
Richard Cheese has released eight albums worth of cover tunes so far, with four more on the way. Each album contains a dozen or so covers of rock, rap, and popular songs. The joke does eventually get old, but it's funny while it lasts. Here's Richard and the guys performing a lounge version of
Baby Got Back.
Apocalyptica
Apocalyptica is a Finnish metal band that has covered bands such as Metallica, Sepultura, Slipknot and Pantera with four cellists and a drummer. I first heard about the band years ago with their cover version of Metallica's "One" and have followed them off and on throughout the years. Here's Apolcalyptica pretty freakin' amazing live cover of
Metallica's Enter Sandman.
.xX{ BONUS #3: The Runners Up }Xx.
Here's what ended up on the cutting room floor. Some of these were removed because I didn't think the original was very well known. Some of these I just flat out forgot about until it was too late, and discovered them from online searches (or through friends). Some of them got cut because I thought they were good, but not great. Had the list stretched to 100, all of these would have been on there. Most of these are also available on YouTube -- happy searching!
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones (Otis Redding)
After Midnight - Eric Clapton (JJ Cale)
All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
Always on My Mind - Pet Shop Boys
Billie Jean - Chris Cornell (Michael Jackson)
Born to be Wild - Ozzy Osbourne and the Muppets
California Girls - David Lee Roth (Beach Boys)
Cocaine - Eric Claptop (JJ Cale)
Crazy Mary - Pearl Jam (Victoria Williams)
Cum On Feel the Noize - Quiet Riot (Slade)
Dancing in the Street - David Bowie and Mick Jagger (Martha Reeves)
Darling Nikki - Foo Fighters (Prince)
Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - The Revolting Cocks (Rod Stewart)
Get it On (Bang A Gong) - The Power Station (T Rex)
Hard to Handle - The Black Crowes (Otis Redding)
Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles (Simon and Garfunkel)
I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Gladys Knight and the Pips)
I Put a Spell on You - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Screamin' Jay Hawkins)
I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton (Bob Marley)
Jailhouse Rock - Motley Crue (Elvis Presley)
Kick Out The Jams - Rage Against The Machine (MC5)
La Bamba - Los Lobos (Ritchie Valens)
Lean on Me - Club Noveau (Bill Withers)
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen (Richard Berry)
Maggie's Farm - Rage Against the Machine (Bob Dylan)
Mony Mony - Billy Idol (Tommy James)
Mrs. Robinson - The Lemonheads (Simon and Garfunkel)
My Way - Sid Vicious (Frank Sinatra)
Oh Pretty Woman - Van Halen (Roy Orbison)
Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Filippe J. Suckmonger (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Respect - Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding)
Signs - Tesla (Five Man Electrical Band)
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran (The Who)
Superstar - Sonic Youth (The Carpenters)
Susie Q - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Dale Hawkins)
The First Cut Is The Deepest - Sheryl Crow (Cat Stevens)
The Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana (David Bowie)
Up Around the Bend - Hanoi Rocks (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Venus - Bananarama (Shocking Blue)
This week has been fun, but thank goodness it's over. Back to regular 'ol blogging next week ...