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?

[ripvanwinkle96]

"Que Sera Sera" (whatever will be will be) Original by Doris Day. Cover version by the High Keys {63} is more upbeat Latin flavored. Both are good can't argue that.

The High Keys,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd67B-7huHk&ab_channel=StrangeLovesVoodooStereoMixTures

[ripvanwinkle96]

"Black & White" * 3 Dog Nights {72'} lyrically tamer version of Folk activist Pete Seegers {1956} tune is musically more rock orientated but the original still retains the  punch of activism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyvjwfM-cwk&list=PLx8kU_D2e4voMCx9SQkXFeSH7CnRO9j7x&index=48&ab_chan...

[RossM846371]

I would be remiss not to mention Bobby Darren's huge hit Beyond the Sea is a loose version of the classic La Mer by the brilliant Charles Trenet

[RossM846371]

Another huge hit that many might not know is a cover is Twist and Shout by The Beatles.  Their version is taken from The Isley Brothers arrangement, but that was also a cover.   The original was by The Top Notes, several years earlier.   

[RossM846371]

Dean Martin had a big hit with Your Other Love but the original was by the Flamingos in a far superior version.   Its another example of the  bifurcated  market of the time.   

[RossM846371]

Elvis Presley turned everything into an elvis song.  he was that good.  In the 1950s the market was very different than today and songs were put out there for anyone.   Also the the market was bifurcated by race.    Many songs were covered in two different versions, usually with the same backing musicians.   "Shaboom" was a big hit by the Crew cuts, but was originally by and with a vastly better version, The Chords.

His Latest Flame was by Del Shanon

Hound Dog was by Big Mamma Thorton

All Shook Up by David Riff

Tomorrow is a Long Time (Bob Dylan) based on an arraignment by Odetta

Promised Land by Chuck Berry

many many more.  

[Raynyky]

All the songs Seal covers in Soul.

[Vexed]

"True Colors" - original by Cyndi Lauper  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPn0KFlbqX8

Cover by Greek Fire - love their stuff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzgQh-EtjxU 

[RossM846371]

Cindy Lauper's big hit with Girls Just want to have Fun was a cover of the original by Robert hazard.   

[ripvanwinkle96]

Domenico Modugno's 1958 international hit "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu"  {Volare}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD8BryVB9d0&ab_channel=TeleRicordi%28LaTiV%C3%B9chenonc%27%C3%A8pi%C...

When I heard this as a kid, I didn't understand a word of it but I liked the emotional deliverance of the singer and the musical accompaniment. Of course the Americanized cover version "Volare" by Bobby Rydell might be more recognized here, it doesn't measure up to the original anyway thats my opinion.🤐

[MaVolta]

Dean Martin and Sergio Franchi also had great covers of Volare.

[MaVolta]

Trouble - Gillan  (Elvis cover)

Elvis was one of Ian Gillan’s heroes, so he enjoyed covering his songs from time to time. This one was a good fit, and a big hit for him in the UK, 1981. He had a great rockin’ band, as well.

https://youtu.be/LiE4c83K9BM

[RossM846371]

Many popular songs have taken their melodies directly from classical pieces.   Some are just straight out reworkings of the pieces themselves.   I wonder if these count or can be a seperate topic.  These include among a lot:

I'm Always Chasing Rainbows from Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin

Tonight We Love from Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto 1 

A Lovers Concerto From JS Bach

Jesu Joy from Bach Cantata #147

Going Home from Dvorak New World Symphony 

I Can't Help Falling In Love With you from Martini's Plaisure d'Amour 

Because from Beethoven Moonlight Sonata

Its Now or Never from O Solo Mio 

Stranger in paradise from Borodin Polovtsian Dances

Many Many more 

[Vexed]

Yes @RossM846371 , there is a topic for this. Here is the link.

ROCK versions of Classical Music

https://community.aarp.org/t5/Rock-N-Roll/ROCK-versions-of-Classical-Music/m-p/2443922#M216012 

[RossM846371]

thanks

[Vexed]

You are welcome @RossM846371 .

[ripvanwinkle96]

"Peter Gunn" original by Henry Mancini is the best by far.  In 1986, The Art of Noise featuring guitarest Duane Eddy released a cover that rejuvanated the tune for a new generation. Won a Grammy and had a Film Noir video starring Rik Mayall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK-vUY6erQU&ab_channel=ArtOfNoise

[MaVolta]

@ripvanwinkle96  - That was a good cover and a cool video! Have always liked Peter Gunn, the music, and the tv show. 😎

[RossM846371]

The song that wednesday Addams dances to in The NetFlix show is Goo Goo Muck by the cramps from 1982.     Many don't know that this is a great version of the  original Goo Goo Muck by Ronnie Cook from 1962.     Cook's original is in more of a doo wop style. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Io_5CEMiI

[ripvanwinkle96]

"§uspicion"  originally off Elvis Presley's Pot Lock Lp {62} didn't chart it was the flip side of the 45' "Kiss Me Quick". Terry Stafford covered it and it hit the top ten Jan. 64'. The British Invasion cover maniacal version of the song was recorded by Bonzo Dog Band produced by the Who.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ49-Ra9Ibw&ab_channel=MartinCunningham

[KellytheBelly]

Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit 

Hello, Hello, Hello

[ripvanwinkle96]

"Prisoner Of Love" Written in 1931 by R Columbo, C Gaskill & L Robin. Recorded  originally by Columbo, it has been covered many times from Perry Como, Billy Ekstein to name a few.

But the 1962 version by James Brown to me is the most endearing version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLgPI_GpsHI&ab_channel=jameycruz2

[DED46]

The Sound of Silence - Disturbed

[Vexed]

"Amazing Grace" - Wonderful song done by many people (some better than others). This is an absolutely beautiful rendition.

Gurrumul and Paul Kelly - (the late) Gurrumul sings in the language of the Australian Yolngu people and Paul sings in English. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVORrx9jIiE 

[RossM846371]

Amazing Grace was written in 1776 by John Newton who included it in a volume of Hymns that he wrote with his close friend, the great poet William Cowper (pronounced Cooper)   It comes from Newtons early career as a slave ship captain and reflects his awakening to the evil of the trade.  He became a major lobbyist against the slave trade.   The theme of sin and redemption told so elegantly and simply, I think will resonate with people for centuries to come.    There is a reason that Amazing Grace is the most popular and most covered song in the english language.   

[MaVolta]

One - Three Dog Night (Harry Nilsson cover)

[ripvanwinkle96]

"§ilhouettes On The §hade" * The Rays {1957} & 

the bubble gum English version by Hermans Herpes {1965}

I'll take the R&B original, but the Brits sold more,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcT84K77MZQ&ab_channel=OneUnconditionalLove

[MaVolta]

Rock Me On The Water  -  Linda Ronstadt (Jackson Browne cover)

https://youtu.be/EbqDZKbDdP4

Great musical stylist as well as one of the best female vocalists of all time. 

[LeeS4949]

Absolutely. She even did opera later in her career. What a voice.

[MaVolta]

It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue  -  various artists, Dylan original

https://youtu.be/L4HW33SgZlM

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

https://youtu.be/VHWjCpAt2qE

Grateful Dead

https://youtu.be/OBolymGUSZw

Leon Russell

https://youtu.be/-E4OfQU_5kE

Van Morrison, solo

https://youtu.be/jdb_3H-28dE

The Animals

https://youtu.be/e4D4Aam9FUg

The Byrds

https://youtu.be/W27oYDpMykQ

Them (Van Morrison, vocals)

https://youtu.be/LviBwdfLn2Q

Marianne Faithful

https://youtu.be/Lp19hLAuOVE

Joan Baez

https://youtu.be/6RrdtrT6ukM

A lot of artists have recorded this song. It is usually listed in the top ten Dylan songs of all time.Them with Van Morrison and The Byrds are likely the two best known covers. The Animals version is especially dark, which I find interesting. I tend to favor Leon Russell and Manfred Mann versions, but for music, it’s hard to beat the Dead. 

Anyone else have a favorite?