Author Topic: Favorite Cover Songs (Read 13852 times)

w turner · « **on:** September 17, 2009, 11:55:18 AM »

Covers are my favorite genre (if you can call it that) of music. I like to see what one artist does with the lyrics and melody written by another. Here's a list of some of my favorites, feel free to add your own.

Billie Jean - Chris Cornell covering MJ
Iron Man - The Cranberries covering Black Sabbath
Hayseed Dixie- Pretty much their entire discography is hard rock redone in bluegrass
Hurt - Johnny Cash covering NIN

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2009, 11:58:37 AM »

I like Guns & Roses cover of Live and Let Die better than the original by the Beatles.

Also like Whiskey in the Jar by Metallica a lot. Interesting change-up on the half time lyric tempo to give more time for futzing around with the guitars.

w turner · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2009, 12:12:02 PM »

Right there with you on Live and Let Die. I'll check out Whiskey in the Jar...who was the original artist?

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2009, 12:13:57 PM »

It's an old Irish folksong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46EXY4oP1Do

Here's what it typically sounds like in an Irish pub.

SADShooter · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2009, 12:14:16 PM »

Dolly Parton's "Stairway to Heaven". It's an auditory interdimensional portal to a place you don't want to go.

roo_ster · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2009, 12:14:28 PM »

Quote from: w turner on September 17, 2009, 12:12:02 PM

Right there with you on Live and Let Die. I'll check out Whiskey in the Jar...who was the original artist?

An Irish drunkard.

charby · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2009, 12:24:29 PM »

Nutbush City Limits by Bob Seger, originally done by Tina Turner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPTiBGlz2eU&NR=1

Ryan in Maine · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:18:03 PM »

There are lots. The ones I have on my current play list are:
"Take On Me" by Little Brother
"Lake of Fire" by Nirvana
"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" by Nirvana (Unplugged)
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Mos Def
"99 Luftballoons" by Bjork
"Landslide" by Smashing Pumpkins

There are a lot of great covers out there.

Monkeyleg · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:26:25 PM »

Blasphemy.

Nut Bush City Limits by Tina Turner.

Tuco · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:32:38 PM »

Mitch Ryder - Lou Reed's "Rock and Roll"

The Gourds - Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice"
(that one's worth a link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCAM3C3dpIA

edit to add
withmymindonmymoney andmymoneyonmymind.

Viking · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:46:36 PM »

The Clash's version of "I fought the law".

BlueStarLizzard · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:56:26 PM »

the dickies version of paranoid

Rob Zombies version of Blitzkrig Bob

Physics · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:59:35 PM »

I absolutely love Tool's version of Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter".
"Am I Evil?" covered by Metallica. Original was Diamond Head.
The Pretenders' "Sweet Dreams" by Marylin Manson

AZRedhawk44 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:07:33 PM »

Korn and "Another Brick In The Wall."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uCaySTwk1A

It's so damned dark. And heavy. Takes the disco backbeat out and replaces it with metal-grind and power chords and just a hint of feedback. Awesome.

Tuco · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:26:00 PM »

Old and In the Way - Jagger/Richards' "Wild Horses"
Johnny Cash - Bruce Springsteen's "Highway Patrolman"
The Band - Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City"

and here's an obscure ditty I just can't get enough of
REM - Archie Bell and the Drells (from Houston TX) "Tighten Up"

PTK · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:29:52 PM »

The jazz version of "Down with the Sickness" that was used in Dawn of the Dead (remake).

Boomhauer · « **Reply #16 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:36:29 PM »

Disturbed's cover of Land of Confusion

Tuco · « **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:37:15 PM »

A question -

Does the performance of a traditional song (eg "Lonesome Road Blues", "God Bless America") constitute a "Cover"?

Furthermore, not to disparage the fine inclusions above, but I feel that to qualify as a cover, a song should've reached some level of popularity (at least a single or album release) before being done as a cover. Therefore Jimi Hendrix's version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" might not qualify (released less than a year after it's obscure inclusion on Dylans "John Wesley Harding), although Jimi Hendrix's version of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" would.

Manfred Mann's covers of Springsteen's gems off "Greetings from Asbury Park" come to mind. "Greetings" was not a tremendous success until after the Manfred Mann (somewhat co-incident with 'Born to Run'), but they had time to mature as songs.

I'm just looking for some ground rules on a vast topic I've seen crash and burn on lesser forums.

Jim147 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:49:08 PM »

Whiskey in the jar rates way up on my list also.
Shinedowns Simple Man is great live.

Thrust's Sally was a good old girl is very interesting.

jim

SADShooter · « **Reply #19 on:** September 17, 2009, 02:52:50 PM »

For me, a cover is a rendition of a piece previously written and performed or popularized by someone else. Sales or airplay aren't particularly critical. What I always find interesting are tri-generational covers where the original is unknown to the listener, or cases where the original is generally obscure, often true of rock songs originally from the blues canon, e.g. "Crossroads".

I'm fairly well-versed, musically, and I take a small perverse pleasure in responding to "Have you heard X's new song?" with "Actually, that was originally recorded by Y z years ago."

Nitrogen · « **Reply #20 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:30:11 PM »

A band from Australia, The Deltones did a doo-wop version of "Pretty Vacant" by the sex pistols. It's beyond awesome.

Viking · « **Reply #21 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:40:20 PM »

Social Distortion does a pretty good cover of Ring Of Fire.

Dannyboy · « **Reply #22 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:03:45 PM »

Quote from: The Viking on September 17, 2009, 03:40:20 PM

Social Distortion does a pretty good cover of Ring Of Fire.

And Under My Thumb. Two versions, actually.

There's a band called Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. They're a guys from different punk banks that do all kinds of covers. Everything from show-tunes, to 80's R&B, to 60's and 70's stuff, to country. Pretty awesome.

280plus · « **Reply #23 on:** September 17, 2009, 05:41:14 PM »

Funny, I'm working on a CD featuring redone tunes from the 20's thru the 80's. Kind of a jazzy/bluesy thing with a sultry female vocalist and a bunch of different great guitar players with their favorite bass players. I'll be sure and let you all know when it's done and ready for release. Shouldn't be too much longer.

Angel Eyes · « **Reply #24 on:** September 17, 2009, 05:42:08 PM »

Cream's cover of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads".

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Author Topic: Favorite Cover Songs (Read 13852 times)