I love cover songs, or should I say remakes. To me, the best cover songs are completely reworked and rethought-out. If it basically sounds like the original with just a different voice, then what's the point. Many of my favorites are actually the first version I heard, such as rocking covers of Motown hits and such. So, today, my treat to you (well, actually me... maybe both of us?) is to go through my collection and memories to find a few originals and covers. Hopefully there will be some surprises here, and as always, feel free to comment and maybe add some of your favs.
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
I really don't think that Joan Baez's version was the first, but it was the earliest one I could find. According to Wikipedia it was written in the late 50's, and Baez's version was recorded in '62.
It was subsequently covered by many different bands. Of course, the most famous version was off of the first Led Zeppelin album.
You Keep Me Hangin' On
Depending on what side of the Rock/Soul divide you grew up on, its hard saying which version of this tune you remember most (if at all!) Diana Ross and the Supremes made it popular...
But the version I grew up with, and still love the most, was by Vanilla Fudge. This is actually my archetype cover song, a nearly complete reworking of the arraignment.
Smells Like Teen Spirit
We all know this one, I think.
Well, check out this badass version by The Bad Plus. I remember the first time I heard this (on an actual radio station!) as it slowly dawned on me that I knew this melody, and then what it was. Instant love!
Love In Vain
This original goes way back to Robert Johnson. I could do an entire post on just the covers that 60's and 70's British Rock bands did of his work. Johnson only recorded a handful of his tracks before he was killed in the 1930's In many ways, he was largely forgotten or not ever even known for another 30 years, until the Brits discovered him.
If anything, the Rolling Stones actually slowed it up a bit, and to my ears at least, gave it a slight Country feel.
Stop Breaking Down
Again, we'll stick with the Robert Johnson to the Rolling Stones hand-off with this one, but we'll go one step further to the White Stripes.
Fell In Love With a Girl / Boy
As long as we are talking about the White Stripes, lets hear one of their originals.
Again, the first time I heard this cover I was just blown away. I wasn't a huge White Stripes fan at the time, but was just starting to get into them. It took me much longer to recognize the song than I care to admit. Of course, for me, that just makes it a wonderful cover! Joss Stone when so far as to rename the song, I guess for gender normal purposes.
All Along The Watchtower
Possibly one of the most famous covers in history. Hendrix did such a fantastic job reworking this Dylan original, that most people don't even know its a cover. Dylan liked Jimi's version so much that he started doing it much closer to that version live, at least for a while.
Yes, you are not experiencing technical problems, this video in fact has no video. Its audio only.
Blinded By The Light
This is another one where the remake went much farther than the original. For those of you that have always wondered how you can be wrapped up like a douche, I think a quick listen to Springsteen's version will clear that up for you. Ladies and gentlemen, The Boss.
And now, Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
(I Know) I'm Losing You
Back to the Motown to Rock move. It's a matter of taste, but I really love the Rod Stewart version over the Temptations. Barry Gordy had a crack team of songwriters, producers, and players for his vocalists, but for me the end result is just a bit too polished and lacking vitality. Stewart's version is just the opposite of that. Recorded mostly using his band-mates from the Faces, its entirely possible that none of them were sober at the time of recording. They made the Stones look like Victorian era schoolmarms!
Jesus Gonna Be Here
This one may be a bit more obscure, both for the original and the cover. Tom Waits is one of America's best singer/songwriters. Much of his work is, well, just plain out there, using odd instruments and percussion for a "rock" song. This song is raw and rough around the edges, much like Mr Waits himself.
The cover is by a group called the Blind Boys of Alabama. They are a gospel vocal band that started singing as kids in the 1940s at their school for the blind. I just saw them last weekend (June 2015!) and holy cow do they still have their vocal chops! If you get a chance to see them, do it.
America
This is interesting, because I could choose the America from West Side Story and the cover that the Nice did, but I might save that for a sequel to this post. (No promises, but you can look it up if you like.) No, instead, I'm going to give you the Simon and Garfunkel song instead.
And I'll end with the version Yes recorded while Bill Bruford was still in the band. I'll admit, parts of it might not work for many of you, but by my criteria, it is a hell of a cover!
Well, there you have it. I really hope you enjoyed this little excursion into the wild, wonderful and often weird world of cover songs. There are many many way cool covers out there that I have no idea of, and I would really enjoy learning about some of them.
Ciao for now!
