Songs for a Beatles covers playlist

[MaVolta]

I recently put together a playlist with some of my favorite cover songs. In the process, I noticed that quite a few were Beatles covers. Not really surprising since so many artists and bands from various genres have covered them these 50-odd years! Yesterday alone has been covered more than any song in music history, with well over 3k. Funny, but I don’t have a single one in my library! Well, time to change that.

So, I thought I would do a playlist with Beatles only covers. What songs are your favorites? Which songs would you add? If you also want to add Beatle solo covers, that’s okay too. Add a link if you like.

This is a long time favorite because this has been my favorite band, second only to The Beatles. It also shows a lot of originality. John liked it too. He said it was meant to be a ballad, but he had to make it upbeat for the movie. The song is …

Help!  -  by Deep Purple

https://youtu.be/qsBYen4qXQo

[MaVolta]

Covers Of The Beatles Playlist - Final Cut

There are tons of covers out there, but these are the ones I like best, and we’re available on Apple Music. (It’s marked public if you can find it.)  There are 68 songs on the original list, plus 8 Bonus Tracks of duplicates that were too good to leave off.

I looked for a variety of artists, styles, and genres that I like, and if the song sounded like a good fit for them. I think that the best covers are those that an artist can perform and make it sound as if it were written for them. To my surprise, some of my favorite songs are by artists I did not know, or knew very little about, so you might check out a few of those. There are performances that were done as tributes to The Beatles, but no tribute bands. Tribute bands have their place, and some are quite good, but on a playlist they would sound like a cheap knock off (IMO).

After listening to entire playlist, I was surprised how fresh and new these songs sound. No wonder that The Beatles were the greatest band in history, and a good indication that they will remain so for generations to come. I suspect they will one day be studied in the same way as Bach, Beethoven, or Mozart!

Here is a link to the entire playlist on YouTube. You can scroll through and sample any you want. Hope you find some songs to enjoy.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuO4VaP3F7-_81CU0DI-xgXHtHVJ46cmS

[Vexed]

Great job. As much as The Beatles have been covered, it was a daunting but enjoyable task. 

[MaVolta]

Yes, I had a lot of fun putting this together. Making the final cut had some tough choices, and there is another list of alternate songs when I can get to it. The most challenging part was organizing the songs into a playlist that shuffled the various songs by primary songwriter, song styles, genres, and artists that flowed well. But I’m very happy with the final result. 😎

[BeatleloverKT]

Such a great playlist! Listened a bit

yesterday and will listen today as well.

Thanks for letting us know the final cut! 🎼💜

[MaVolta]

Eleanor Rigby - Kansas with The London Symphony Orchestra

https://youtu.be/bohUg_xpT1o

Kansas just knocks this one out of the park!  

[Raynyky]

One you wouldn’t see coming. 
Fats Domino-Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except for me and My Monkey. He does a pretty good job. 

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

[MaVolta]

I have two that were no brainers …

Let It Be  -  Aretha

Her cover was released before The Beatles released their album. Paul said that he was inspired by her gospel vocals. John thought it sounded ”too churchy” so Paul pulled back on his vocals for the album. But later, he would really cut loose on stage with his own band. I love those videos of Paul going full gospel!

Get Back  -  Billy Preston

I mean really … who else? 

[Raynyky]

B52’s Paperback Writer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCdHW9tULHM 

[Vexed]

Found a pretty decent version by a Scottish 60's band.

"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" - Marmalade (version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax7J7HOP8II 

[MaVolta]

Here are some really pretty ones you might like to check out…

Here, There And Everwhere - Emmylou Harris

https://youtu.be/5xL1-1S58CM

 I Will  -  Alison Krause & Tony Furtado

https://youtu.be/2mFpc1LIxZ0

Two Of Us  -  Aimee Mann & Michael Penn (movie, I Am Sam)

https://youtu.be/QOsiX1cHNRc

Because  -  Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs (movie, Across The Universe)

https://youtu.be/4TJmSKxh7r4

For No One - Emmylou Harris

https://youtu.be/NIy2Lz_Evio

[Vexed]

I have to weigh in on the Helter Skelter dilemma. I have a different favorite. Please don't throw rocks. 🤕

"Helter Skelter" - Vow Wow version 1989. Japanese metal band. Original name of Bow Wow.

Here is a live video. If you notice Neil Murray is on bass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh91f32t5kc 

[MaVolta]

Don’t know them but they are really good. I do know that the Japanese people love their metal! 🤘

[EricC28201]

Very interesting...Difficult to overstate the influence The Beatles had on 20th Century music.

...never found Genre classifications to be much use beyond navigating the record store.

[MaVolta]

• @EricC28201 - I agree. This playlist will have a variety of styles including Rock, Hard Rock, Blues, R&B, Soul, Pop, Jazz, Country and Folk. It’s all “Beatle Music” but the songs selected work very well for each genre. 
  

[MaVolta]

My Helter Skelter dilemma - This is what happens when my two favorite “rock gods” and one of my favorite bands, plus a favorite female rock vocalist all record the same song. Any of these would be a great choice for my playlist, or any playlist for that matter.

Gillan version:  https://youtu.be/-n9du7FSNVc

Calliope intro is a nice touch, reminiscent of Deep Purple, an influence they got directly from The Beatles. Great tone, lots of grit and sass, plus his trademark “scream-singing” really works for the song. From 1982, Magic album.

Roger Daltrey version:  https://youtu.be/oy48hE6KNfs

A drop the mic performance if there ever was one. Roger was 70 yrs old when he recorded this. Nonstop big, bluesy vocals, great tone as well. From the tribute album The Art Of McCartney, 2014. There is also a connection to The Who in that Paul was inspired to write it by his friend, Pete Townshend. Pete told Paul he was writing the dirtiest, grittiest, heaviest rock n roll song ever for their next album. Paul not to be outdone …

U2 version:  https://youtu.be/cLdvK7KuMc

Can’t deny that a song like this isn’t a great fit for Bono and U2. From 1987-88, Rattle And Hum.

Pat Benetar version:  https://youtu.be/EmDC4TXORP0

She rocks with the best of them. Her vocals are a perfect fit, as well. From 1981, Precious Time  album.

I’m leaning Gillan, with the Beatlesy intro, and oh that tone!

Anyone else have a preference or another version you like?

[BeatleloverKT]

I like all the versions but have to agree 

with @Raynyky I like U2’s version the

best 🎼💜

[MaVolta]

@BeatleloverKT  @Raynyky 

I’d have to say, of the four, U2 has the most originality. But then, they are U2! 😸

[Raynyky]

@MaVolta  I’d have to go with U2.

[EricC28201]

Well, if you've ruled out Motley Crue...then...U2. (No pun intended).

[MaVolta]

Sorry, Motley Crue just isn’t my thing. Never was a fan of glam rock or punk rock, generally speaking. David Bowie was the rare exception, and a few songs here and there.

But cheers, if you like them best!  😎

[BeatleloverKT]

Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, Steve Martin

Have always loved Steve Martin! His

querky version of this song is from the

1978 Sgt. Peppers film

[Raynyky]

Grass Roots-You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away

https://youtu.be/YpNUpnU9Z94 

[MaVolta]

This is “somebody’s” favorite song, so I’d better see if one of these will get a 👍.  Now take a deep breath, and here it is… 😉

All You Need Is Love

Brandi Carlile version

https://youtu.be/ZK_p9j-BbwQ

Noel Gallagher version   

https://youtu.be/SlyjgDfDznU

This was the best quality available on YT. His album version is better and includes his guitar solo.

I like Brandi’s vocals and what they did with the instruments. On the other hand, Noel rocks with the guitar, and he remembered the ending. I wish the album version was on YT but it isn’t so… What say you @BeatleloverKT ? 

[BeatleloverKT]

@MaVolta You know me so well! I listened

to both and they are very respectable

covers. Not too familiar with either artist.

But I still say no one can hold a candle

to the original. The harmonies are

amazing and the ending by Paul

gets me every time 🎼💜

[MaVolta]

@BeatleloverKT  - 😅 Respectable is good! 

I’m not that familiar with them either, other than Gallagher was best known as lead guitarist for Oasis. They did a cover of I Am The Walrus, which is now the third version I have on that one. Guess it will be a “bonus” track! 😂

[BeatleloverKT]

Yes it is. You should have two

excellent playlists. Please post

the songs that made the cut

when your done 😎

[MaVolta]

Sure thing!
For this one, I decided to go with Gallagher because he made it his signature closer. But either would have worked for me.

[Vexed]

This is a good one.

"Girl" - by Paul Carrack - (was the lead singer for Ace, Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP3ipQcCntg 

[Vexed]

"I Am The Walrus" - covered by Styx - They did pretty good with their own spin.

If you watch the video, put your sunglasses on for the psychedelic effects. 😎

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-TQWFqWqsc&feature=youtu.be