GREAT COVERS OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS

[nyadrn]

For many an original song that they love cannot and will not ever be duplicated by a cover, but there are many songs that have been done equally (debatebly) well by others..

So do you have favorites?

What are your favorite covers of favorite songs?

[MaVolta]

Keeping with oldies - I don’t know the original, and haven’t found it on YouTube. I always thought it was Ricky’s song since that’s the only one I remember. So this song has had a lot of covers. My favorite is Queen, and I don’t really care for the Led Zep version (sorry LZ fans), but included it any way. Statlers version is pretty cool. Do y’all have a favorite? 

Hello Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson, (Johnny Duncan cover 1960) 

https://youtu.be/AMVQCHgpYmI

Queen

https://youtu.be/BjUAH7nBiko

CCR

https://youtu.be/A_yaFj0Lysc

The Statler Brothers

https://youtu.be/j-EcCKAc_iY

Led Zeppelin 

https://youtu.be/wvRxXvitACk

[ripvanwinkle96]

Written by the great Gene Pitney.

[MaVolta]

Interesting fun fact, from Songfacts:  Pitney also recorded the song, but his record label never released it because he already had a single out. They shopped it around, and Johnny Duncan released it just before Nelson, who ended up with the hit. 

[ripvanwinkle96]

Big Beat Genre Fatboy Slim's (Norman Cook) 1998 rendition of "Funk Soul Brother" {Rockefeller Skank} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIfuq7pR_Zs&ab_channel=Whatwassampled%3F

was derived from the obscure instrumental "Sliced Tomatoe's" By Detroit band the Just Brothers (1972)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ05TOj4NYc&ab_channel=SMELLTHECRATES

[Vexed]

"Some Kind of Wonderful" - Grand Funk Railroad - original by Soul Brothers Six

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMt1MnjpHC0 

[MaVolta]

Lay Lady Lay - Bryan Adams (Dylan cover)

https://youtu.be/jxiAHDofwR8

From his album, Tracks of My Years (2014) which is all covers. It has a lot of great songs, and he sings them so well. I like it a lot! 😎

[dl73698250]

I like Brian Adams. But, this is not as good as Bob Dylan's version.

Brian has a lot of good french songs. For instance: Brian Adams; Je Suis La Me Voila (mostafa bouhlil). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SaM6S-oHMw.

He has a lot of good songs in his own right. He just didn't do a good job with Dylan's song.

[Raynyky]

Chris Stapleton’s cover of Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters 

[EricC28201]

Awesome sound. Really turns up the intensity. Oddly the lyrics say love song, but the tone of the music seems to say 'all is lost'.

[ripvanwinkle96]

"I've Told Every Little Star" * Mary Ellis (1933)  written by J Kern & O Hammerstein. This operatic song was inspired by a Cape Cod Sparrow Melospiza Melodia. No kidding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mdcvrZYE4Q&ab_channel=RReady555

Linda Scott's version (1961) is the one everyone probably identifies with, but the warbling bird was a surprise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifgpiGs_4Js&ab_channel=imanuglyfrogtoo

[Vexed]

"Knocking on Heavens Door" -  original by Bob Dylan - 1973

Have two favorite covers.

Eric Clapton - 1975 -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIT7_1hTZ0g 

Warren Zevon - 2003 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euBuVh_BUe4 

[EricC28201]

Gotta put a word in for the GnR version too.

[dl73698250]

Bob and Warren sound like they're singing with one foot in the grave. But, Eric sounds like he's skipping merrily down the street. Skip to the loo, my darling. Maybe he has to go real bad.

[Vexed]

Warren was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002 and died in 2003 after finishing the album.

[Vexed]

"Sea of Love" - The Honeydrippers  original by Phil Phillips with The Twilights 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd8WUJ9uT3o 

[LeeS4949]

A pretty good movie too.. Al Pacino and Ellen Bursten..

[ripvanwinkle96]

"Nobody But Me * Originally written & recorded by The Isley Brothers {Ronald, Rudy & O'Kelly} 1962

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5JG0PhWsGQ&ab_channel=MickLove

In 1968, the Human Beinz from Youngstown, Ohio had a massive hit with their cover version.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CXtbGb8BwY&ab_channel=ObaTundis

[MaVolta]

The dance video (Human Beinz) is cool!

[dl73698250]

Originally by Roger McGuinn & Gene Clark (before they were Byrds), You Showed Me was later done by the Byrds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX2qLbu45CI, by the Turtles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANPGyzmgvk4, and others. I have a copy of another version that I thought was the Lightning Seeds, but it's not. I tried to identify it, but couldn't find another copy of it. It's an interesting one; wish I could identify it.

[Vexed]

@dl73698250  I like the "Lightning Seeds" one for a decent cover. 

[Vexed]

"Teenager in Love" - Red Hot Chili Peppers originally by Dion and the Belmonts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nm1s2y2SYU 

[MaVolta]

I Knew You When - Linda Ronstadt  (Joe South cover)

https://youtu.be/oDwx8GzxRKM

Most everyone is familiar with the Billy Joe Royal hit …

https://youtu.be/rM3rJUDhcjs

Of the two, I prefer Linda’s cover though.

But my favorite is the Joe South original, with that raspy baritone voice. Always loved his music, and wore out his Greatest Hits album on vinyl.
https://youtu.be/_iKexBQAeN8

[Vexed]

These are not the "classic great covers" of Steppenwolf and ACDC you might hear, but I love them. So enjoyable to watch and listen.

"Born To Be Wild" - Steppenwolf - cover by The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVv7C2mCNA0 

"Highway to Hell" - AC/DC - cover by the The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5-z1c-9QmE 

They did some fun remote video performances during Covid Lockdown. I am posting one of them in the Songs That Cheer You Up thread. "The Model" by Kraftwerk

[dl73698250]

Well... That was different. Not what I'm used to, but it was enjoyable.

[EricC28201]

If you haven't already done so, try a search on Steve'N'Seagulls.

[Vexed]

Thanks @EricC28201 . I haven't run across them in my quests. I am a fan now. 😸

[ripvanwinkle96]

John D Loudermilk {1934-2016} Yes, Mr. JDL again. Singer, songwriter but mostly his songs were covered and turned into hits. This one hit #1 Country by Eddy Arnold & pop by the Casinos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtNDAjrlZ0s&ab_channel=AlanCassaro

Other  big hits so's not to keep reintroducing him and you all can look into yourselves, were "Tobacco Road" the Nashville Teens, "This Little Bird" Marianne Faithful and "Ebony Eyes" Everly Bros. etc. Also he had some pop hits on his own. But he often recorded his songs  with his guitar and without a bunch of fanfare.

[dl73698250]

I still listen to Tobacco Road by Jefferson Airplane, and Ebony Eyes by Bob Welch.

I remember seeing Loudermilk's name on other songs, but I forgot what they are.

[Vexed]

"Cocaine" - Eric Clapton (1977) - original by J.J. Cale (recorded by , written by in 1976)

J.J. Cale - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWmD_HcOcfU 

Clapton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTeAQFy5Ltw 

[LeeS4949]

Theres nobody quite like Clapton.. Thank you so much for the reminder..