I Got a You Covered, eh?

[buster00]

After I d00shed all over Pacino on The Cardigans, it dawned on me that they did a mellow version of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man." Very fonky.

[ThisIsTheGirl]

Man -how could I forget Shatner! Kirk would not be impressed! OK, almost everything the guy does is risibly bad, but his version of Pulp's Common People - I just can't help myself, I think it's quite good....

"She told me that her dad was loaded, I said 'in that case I'll have a rum and coca-cola' - she said fine."

Shatner's finest hour....

[DrillerKiller]

The Doors - Back Door Man (Howlin' Wolf)
Oingo Boingo - Don't Fear (the Reaper) - BOC
Oysterhead - Bell Bottom Blues (Cream)
Rush - Crossroads (The Who)
Stanley Jordan - Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles)

[minstrel]

The Doors - Back Door Man (Howlin' Wolf)
Oingo Boingo - Don't Fear (the Reaper) - BOC
Oysterhead - Bell Bottom Blues (Cream)
Rush - Crossroads (The Who)
Stanley Jordan - Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles)

Not to be too picky or anything, but Bell Bottom Blues was originally by Derek and the Dominos, not Cream. Easy mistake to make, though.

I didn't know Rush did Crossroads, but if it's the song I'm thinking of, it was written by Robert Johnson and the most famous version was a cover by Cream. I can't be sure, but I don't think the Who ever did it.

[DrillerKiller]

Oh shit! How right you are! I've gotta start taking time with my posts, I tend to bang them out in 10 seconds and then slap myself over something or other.

I took a chance with Bell Bottom Blues, I just knew Clapton had a hand in it.

As for Crossroads, you're damn right. I was thinking or Rush's cover of 'The Seeker' while writing that. I stand corrected.

[bc1970]

Concrete Blonde did a good version of Little Wing

The Cult stomped Born To be Wild

There's an R&B lady from the 70's that also covers Pour Some Sugar... she usually does songs with a rude edge. The song sounds horrible no matter who sings it. EDIT: Millie Jackson

U2 - Dancing Barefoot, which Concrete Blonde also covered

[Cottonwood]

Got to chime in on Cash, "One" and most of American Recordings, basically. And "Mr Grieves" by TV On The Radio, brilliant.

Not sure if these are mentioned, but:

Black Crowes - "Hard to Handle"
Gun - "Word Up"

[DrillerKiller]

Z-Rock Hawaii (Ween & Boredoms) - Bad to the Bone (George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Dream Theater - Battery (Metallica)
Primus - Hello Skinny/Constantinople (The Residents)
The Residents - 1999 (Prince)
Muse - House of the Rising Sun (The Animals)
Radiohead - Nobody Does it Better (Carly Simon?)
Nailbomb - Police Truck (Dead Kennedy's)

[DennisMM]

Time for a sister thread - Completely Unnecessary Covers.

http://zone.aintitcool.com/viewtopic.php?p=134495#134495

[Mrblonde885]

Nonpoint - In the Air Tonight (Phil Collins)
Seether - Change (Deftones)
Fuel - Daniel (Elton John)
Finger Eleven - Walking In My Shoes (Depeche Mode)
TRUSTcompany - Rock the Casbah (The Clash)

[smallerdemon]

What? No mention at all yet of Luther Wright & The Wrongs' cover of Pink Floyd's <i>The Wall</i>? Yeesh. You people...

In truth, I am a HUGE fan of that entire cover, called <i>Rebuild The Wall</i>. Discovered it early on in its development one day whlie I was searching for an alternate video of "Another Brick In The Wall: Part II". Ordered the Part 1 CD even (and it seems only a few of those actually were released).

It's basically a bluegrass and country cover of the entire album. And it works amazingly well as a country honky tonk opera.

I went to see them a few years back just after this album was released, and they are a great bunch of guys. Gracious, appreciative of their audience, and amazingly talented. I've bought plenty of their original stuff now and I'm just as happy with that as I was with their cover.

[vicious_bastard]

Wow - this is fucking awesome. Mark Ronson and the dude from Phantom Planet cover Radiohead's 'Just'. Funkiest shit I ever heard. Get down and groove! We dance all day in this house.

Check his Myspace to hear it. I have no decent link sadly.

[Flumm]

Theres a great version of Radioheads "Just" going around at the minute, by Mark Ronson. You wouldn't think Radiohead would fair very well being covered, but it's actually really inspired.

...don't worry VB, there's thousands of tracks mentioned here all over the place, no way you're gonna remember em all, and plus I don't really read my posts either.

Anyways, tis a great track, and I if I remember right, I think ronson has a whole album of covers comin out in the same kinda style...

[Eric G]

Ugly Kid Joe - Master of Puppets (Originally by Metallica) This song has probably been out for at least a decade, but I've never heard it before. When I did, I almost liked it more than the original. Ugly Kid Joe are spot on and give the song some much needed BALLS

[St. Alphonzo]

I was very surprised recently when I heard a cover of XTC's "Dear God" as covered by (gasp) Sarah McLachlan. It's a pointed and passionate reading of an already great song. I later read that Andy Partridge believes that her version is better than his. I'm not willing to go that far just yet, but it really is a fabulous cover. Seek it out (I found it at emusic.com, a pay site).

[wonkabar]

Cole Porter's "Well, Did You Evah?" with Debbie Harry and Iggy Pop on vocals. Status Quo's "Pictures of Matchstick Men" performed by Camper-Van-Beethoven.

[Gheorghe Zamfir]

Don't think it counts as a cover, since its the same band, but just thought I'd throw out Flaming Lips has a great version of "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1," just a piano and Drozd but its wonderfully effective.

A lot of great ones have been mentioned, Cash's NIN cover, Gin and Juice's take on Snoop Dog, Ben Folds "Bitches Ain't Shit," and Tori Amos's cover of Eminem (guess I have a thing for rap songs out of context), Tori Amos has another cover I love of "I Don't Like Mondays" (Tori's cover album Strange Little Girls in general has some gems on it). Back when Kilborn had a late night talk show Dave Grohl used to come on and perform goofy lil acoustic versions of songs, despite the fact that he was pretty much just goofin around and didn't know the lyrics of "Stairway to Heaven" and only wanted to get to the chorus of "Tiny Dancer" I find both strangely listenable.

Ani DiFranco's cover of Dylan's "Most of the Time," done with a banjo even, is fantastic, and Jill Sobule did cover of Zevon's "Don't Let Us Get Sick" on the tribute album that just breaks my heart, its just a really gorgeous rendition of that song.

[Alex DeLarge]

All the Lead Belly songs and The Man Who Sold The World covered by Nirvana, All Along The Watch Tower by Jimi Hendrix, and Live and Let Die by the Guns N Roses, Under Pressure by MCR and the Used.

[tapehead]

Beck's cover of that track by the Korgis - 'everybody's gotta learn sometime' takes an excellent pop song and infuses it with hopelessness and sadness - it's beautiful!
think it's on the soundtrack to ''Eternal Sunshine..."

[tapehead]

I personally think most of the songs that the gunners covered - Live and let die, knockin on heaven's door, sympathy for the devil - died a little when axl strangled them

[St. Alphonzo]

I personally think most of the songs that the gunners covered - Live and let die, knockin on heaven's door, sympathy for the devil - died a little when axl strangled them

I wasn't gonna say nothin'... but I must agree. It really pissed me off that several (moronic) friends of mine wondered why some old fart (Dylan) would cover a G'n'R song. They were just lucky I couldn't find a weapon at that moment.

[tapehead]

Yeah, it's true - the gunners were awesome when they rocked, but let near anything resembling a folksy ballad or a hint of melodrama (live and let die)or a tricky time signature (sympathy) and.... not so good

[Seppuku]

The rockabilly/barbershop version of Blue Moon that plays at the end of American Werewolf in London is really good once you get over the fact that it's not exactly gonna top Sam Cooke's version. I was standing outside the cinema the other day, and there were a few 15 year old kids who suddenly broke out into an a cappella version there and then in the line. Weird moment.

[Nachokoolaid]

Stevie Ray Vaughan's instrumental version of Jimi's "Little Wing" is spectacular.

and if it can truly be called a cover, I'd agree with KCBC about "Waves Of Mutilation - UK Surf Mix", the Pixies' alternate take. Good stuff.

I'm in no way saying it's superior, but a band called The South Austin Jug Band did a bluegrass/country cover of Little Wing, and it surpringly kicked a lot of ass. You wouldn't think acoustics, a fiddle, and a bango would go with that song, but it had a mellow, kick ass sound.

[sputo]

For those of you who haven't heard it already, Dub Side of the Moon
by Easy Star All Stars, great cover of a classic album, definately stands on its own...

[minstrel]

There was an album of Led Zeppelin covers by a bunch of little-known bands called "The Song Retains The Name". It wasn't all good, but it was kinda interesting.

[matthew]

I'm a fan of The Dillinger Escape Plan's cover of Come to Daddy by Aphex Twin. I like the original, but hearing it played well by an actual band is so much more impressive.

I also agree with Milton, Soft Cell's cover of Tainted Love is far better than the original by Gloria Jones.

TV on the Radio does a pretty keen doo wap cover of The Pixies song Mr. Grieves.

for all you metal and grindcore fans, The Number 12 Looks like you does a hilarious cover of My Sharona by the Knacks.

can't think of anything else.

[DrillerKiller]

Has anybody ever heard Frank Zappa's Beatles medley? It's one of the funniest things I've ever heard. For instance - the lyrics to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds have been changed to Louisiana Hooker with Herpes, and all the lyrics have been changed to something of a sexual nature. The music's different (and sexcellent) too.

He does a great version of Iron Butterfly's 'In-a-Gadda-da-Vida' called 'In-a-Gadda-Stravinsky' too...it beats Slayer's version anyway.

[sleepflower]

Jose Gonzalez cover of Kylie Minogues 'hand on your heart' is genius.

Also does anyone know who is covering Gnarlse Barkley, Crazy?

Someone said it was Jose, but I dont think it is (may be wrong)

Heard a kooks version but not as good as the acoustic one I have heard.

[Ribbons]

Has anyone here heard the new 'Bonnie' Prince Billie and Turtle CD? I was thinking about giving that a listen, but I wanted to hear some opinions first.

[vicious_bastard]

http://www.ninagordon.com/audio/straightouttacompton.mp3

Fantastic.

[Seppuku]

http://www.ninagordon.com/audio/straightouttacompton.mp3

Fantastic.

Hahahaha, thanks for the link VB. I'm not sure whether that song makes me want to listen to more hip-hop and neo-folk, or less. It's kinda digging into both but it still works at the same time. Good tune. I just can't wait for KT Tunstall's new album, which apparently consists entirely of Ol Dirty Bastard covers.

[vicious_bastard]

Easy E would definitely approve - then try and screw her no doubt.

[Theta]

I actually really like Tori Amos' "Strange Little Girls", especially her cover of "Heart of Gold."

[St. Alphonzo]

I actually really like Tori Amos' "Strange Little Girls", especially her cover of "Heart of Gold."

She does a nice job with Tom Waits' "Time". When she performed it on Letterman shortly after 9/11, it actually made him tear up a little.

[Ribbons]

You've heard of Radiohead. Well now experience... Radiodread!

[tapehead]

Radiodread are so much better than I imagined was possible! Better than Dread Zeppelin

Jose Gonzales - Put Your Hand on Your Heart

I'm not sure how many Zoners outside of the Commonwealth will have heard the original version of this song, sung by Kylie Minogue and co-written with Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who produced it. Although Jose Gonzales is a little cover-happy and some of his output has been known to induce sleep, this song elevates the original into something quite lovely.

[King Of Nowhere]

Apocalyptica do Metallica songs with cellos & stuff, sounds quite good.

Also, not strictly a cover ,but 'THE MEAT PUPPETS' re-worked 'Lake of fire' as a bonus track on the 'Too High To die' album was nice.

[The Garbage Man]

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned yet, but I've been listening to a lot of Atreyu recently and their cover of "You Give Love a Bad Name" is amazing.

They make Bon Jovi listenable.

Seriously.

[instant_karma]

For the obligatory Cash cover, I'd go for his version of Nick Lowe's Beast in Me.

John Lennon's version of Stand By Me is I think up there with the original.

Willie Nelson and Sinead O'Conners version of Don't Give UP.

Ben Harper's version of The Drugs Don't Work.

Cowboy Junkies version of Walking After Midnight.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

"Any Way That You Want Me", the original by The Troggs is all well and good, but then Evie Sands put some soul strut behind it to considerable effect, then Spiritualized fuzzed it up during the buildup and went grandiose strings for the finale...still don't know which one I prefer.

I think Elvis even took a crack at it, but I haven't heard his take...

[unikrunk]

KCBC - Thread Bumper. Plague Slayer.

The best cover ever is not even made yet, it is my dream cover - it involves Bjork going back in time, killing Gordon Gano and becoming the lead singer for the Violent Femmes - Her vocals on "Gone, Daddy Gone" are mind blowing, in my mind.

[Orcus]

For me one of my fave remake's is Krokus' BallRoom Blitz. The worse remake of Sweet's BallRoom Blitz, has to go to Tia Carrere.

All in all the drumline in Sweet's original can't be beat

[Nordling]

What? You don't like that catraping scream she throws in there that manages to hit all notes and no notes at the same time?

You just don't know art, man.

[Orcus]

God she sounded like someone kicking a bag of cats, and mind you I've been listening to metal/punk/whatever for 20+ years. 8)

[Maui]

Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxeNZOLNh4c

[PF Moon Deux]

Uhm. Has anyone brought up Devo's "(CAN'T GET NO) SATISFACTION"?

Mothersbaugh upstages Jagger. COMPLETELY.

[PF Moon Deux]

The Breeders take on "HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN"?

DEAL IS TEH SEX!!1!

[DennisMM]

If you used the search function you wouldn't have to ask. You could simply shout out your agreement or feign numbness at no one having praised such great tracks.

Devo -- "Satisfaction" (Rolling Stones)

The Devo cover version pwns the original by both making it a totally hilarious and robotic anti-cover cover song which not only makes fun of the idea of Official Rock Rebellion (TM), but makes you want to dance like a robot strung out on cough syrup and JR Bob Dobbs -- pulling thee wool over thine own eyes... so to speak...

Proof, right here, that before ZZS got hooked on Mel Gibson he brought great insight to the Zone.

[Maui]

Purple Haze - Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Kravitz on guitar.