and bigmouth strikes again, covered by treepeople seems to work as well.
― joshua l. clements, Sunday, 18 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Worst: your average indie rock cover is repugnant. I can't remember any, proof that most have been so bad I've had to put them out of my mind.
― Otis Wheeler, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
I'm having a hard time thinking of good covers. Dexy's Midnight Runners' version of Seven Days Too Long isn't bad, I suppose, but then it was a great song to begin with.
― Madchen, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Worst: Anybody who does "Hey Joe".
― Tim Baier, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― DJ Martian, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Oh, and seeing as the original question mentioned 'Eight Miles High' - somebody has to say 'Mr Tambourine Man'! 'Turn Turn Turn'! And come to think of it, JH's* 'All Along The Watchtower'.
U2 covered 'All Along The Watchtower' too. They played it pretty ineptly. Then they learned to play it properly. Does anyone remember this?
[* = Juliana Hatfield]
― the pinefox, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
2. A track already mentioned today is one of my many contenders for worst-ever cover: the Divine Comedy's assault and battery job on 'Love Is Lighter Than Air'.
3. On the good covers side I think I'd have to put the Shapiros' take on Beat Happening's 'Cry For A Shadow'. I was once told that all copies of the original were destroyed after that one.
Worst Covers: waiting for my man by Bowie; All the T Rex discography (by Bowie); Early Bowie songs (by older Bowie)
― Marcos, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Best (that I can think of at the moment), "At Last I Am Free, Robert Wyatt, "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", The Avalanches, "Sally Free And Easy", Flying Saucer Attack; "Occapella" and "Vine Street", Van Dyke Parks; "Get Carter", Stereolab.
― Robin Carmody, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― keith, Monday, 19 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― michael wells, Tuesday, 20 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― the pinefox, Tuesday, 20 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― alix ure campbell, Thursday, 22 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― the pinefox, Friday, 23 March 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
BEST COVER SONG: KILLING ME SOFTLY (Roberta Flack) by THE FUGEES. Took a song that was rather slow and dreary and breathed new life into it.
― Luis Stiglitz, Sunday, 26 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― karmik guy, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Lord Custos, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― David Raposa, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Dan I., Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― stevo, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― mark s, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― bob snoom, Saturday, 24 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― dave q, Saturday, 24 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Worst: 'Creep' ~ Mark Owen 'Here's Where the Story Ends' ~ [can't remember who]
― DavidM, Saturday, 24 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 27 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― michael, Tuesday, 27 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― phil, Wednesday, 28 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
"proud mary" - ike and tina turner (orig. credence clearwater revival)
― eclectomaniac, Saturday, 2 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Damian, Sunday, 3 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
its credited as a Costello composition but i'll take your word for the Wyatt one being the original. But can you really consider the Costello one to be a cover? Is Prince's version of Nothing Compares 2 U a cover? i dunno.
'Cattle and Cane' ~ The Wedding Present (which I actually prefer to the original, which will get me into trouble I know)
more perplexed than anything else. Gedge is a terrible singer so why he thought he should ruin so many of other peoples songs is beyond me. okay i guess he did a good version of Falling.
some other good covers: Alastair Galbraith - Getting Older Dead C - Light my Fire Gastr del Sol - Dry Bones in the Valley Sonic Youth - I wanna be your dog Minus Two - High Tension House Six Volts - Black Dog Axemen - Pulsing Jesus & Mary Chain - Mushroom Head Puddle - Lacsydaisical Cat Power - Fate of the Human Carbine
Worst cover songs:the entire Jandek tribute CD Roy Montgomery - Its Cold Outside Push Push - I Love my Leather Jacket PumpkinHead - Adults and Children Frank Black - Hang on to Your Ego Muttonbirds - Nature
― hamish, Monday, 4 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― alex in mainhattan, Monday, 4 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
other bad ones: 10,000 maniacs more than this (the orig., roxy music, is one of my favourite songs) hole - gold dust woman r.e.m. - pale blue eyes ub40 - \red, red, wine + everything else they've ever done urge overkill - girl you'll be a woman soon
good: bryan ferry - help me make it through the night by kris kristofferson. and i saw daniel mancini do a good version of it live a few years ago too. Actually i like quite a lot of Ferry covers, especially two from his recent-ish covers album "As Time Goes By": I'm In the Mood For Love, and Where and When. Louis Armstrong Mack the Knife Chris Knox S.O.S. also quite like The Shaggs doing the Carpenters' Yesterday Once More though it's not that remarkable. Einsturzende Neubauten doing Lee Hazlewood's Sand even though I like the Nancy & Lee much more. hmmm maybe "funky Town" by Psuedo Echo [they were my first concert]
that's all i can think of whilst away from my records.
― elizabeth anne marjorie, Monday, 4 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Lord Custos, Tuesday, 5 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― helenfordsdale, Tuesday, 5 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― dan, Wednesday, 6 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Sterling Clover, Wednesday, 6 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Mo-dettes "Paint It Black" Ben Watt "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" Sally Timms "Half Past France" Marisa Monte "Pale Blue Eyes" Marianne Faithfull "Working Class Hero"
A further question: what makes some songs especially cover-able? Are there particular formal qualities that inspire interesting reimaginings
― Marcel Post, Wednesday, 6 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― di, Wednesday, 6 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― anthony, Thursday, 7 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
oh, and for good covers...
jeff buckley--hallelujahgoo goo dolls--i could never take the place of your mancradle of filth--hell awaitsstevie wonder--we can work it outsinead o'connor--nothing compares to you
― Elvin Wayburn Phillips, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 15:24 (fourteen years ago) link
Best: The flamingos - "I Only Have Eyes for You" (in the "cover songs that you had no idea were cover songs" department)
Worst: Thurston Moore - "Here Today"
― Mr. Snrub, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 15:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Worst: might be a bunch of Pickwick Records dudes called Tribe covering Yoko Ono's "Why" on an album that's trying to rip off young Beatles fans.
Best: for a few years now, for me it's been Band of Susans cover of Wire's "Ahead," which I probably play at least once a week.
― dlp9001, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 16:40 (fourteen years ago) link
I agree that Galaxie 500 did some great covers (in terms of both choice and execution of the songs). Their versions of Red Crayola's "Victory Garden" and Joy Division/New Order's "Ceremony" are fantastic.
― Duke, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 18:27 (fourteen years ago) link
I've also always had a soft spot for Big Black's "The Model" and Rapeman's "Just Got Paid".
― Duke, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 18:28 (fourteen years ago) link
This, on the other hand might be one of the worst covers ever:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMs6Knr1F6U
― Duke, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 18:34 (fourteen years ago) link
wow that IS bad...
― Elvin Wayburn Phillips, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 18:42 (fourteen years ago) link
excellent: the Associates' cover of "Love Hangover", Royal Trux's cover of "Money for Nothing". Unsurprisingly, GBV does a great cover of "Baba O'Riley". The Sonics' "Louie Louie". Al Green's "I Wanna Hold Your Hand".
bad: Tiga's cover of "Burning Down the House" is pretty terrible, even if you're not a knee-jerk Tiga hater.
― sciolism, Wednesday, 29 July 2009 19:36 (fourteen years ago) link
Take That's Another Brick In The Wall with Jason Orange on vocals. I only saw that on a tape of one of their live concerts when I was in grade school, and I desperately want an mp3 of it. Damn!― Alexis, Sunday, 16 February 2003 19:13 (6 years ago)
Featuring some lovely solo face all round.
― subtyll cauillacyons (a passing spacecadet), Wednesday, 25 November 2009 23:10 (fourteen years ago) link
Best- Alison Krause's Baby, Now That I've Found You (original the foundations)Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower (original was dylan)Animals' House of the Rising Sun (technically every version of this song is a cover)Nirvana's Man Who Sold the WorldAnyone who takes a Dylan song and removes his voice.
Worst- Limp Bizkit's Behind Blue EyesMegadeth's No More Mr. Nice Guy (I don't know why I hate this, but I do.)Anyone covering My Generation.
― JesseJane, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 09:17 (thirteen years ago) link
technically every version of this song is a coverWell, the concept of a cover is essentially a rockist concept - it doesn't really hold in jazz and classic pop traditions. It only becomes a tenable concept once the recording achieves total primacy over the song itself.
Best:Sweet Charles - Strangers in the NightAl Green - I Can't Get Next to Youthe Pretenders - I Go to SleepAlex Chilton - Can't Seem to Make You MineWilson Pickett - Hey JudeJames Brown - Hot(I Need to Be Loved Loved Loved) cover/rewrite/shameless rip-off of Fame that I'd usually rather listen to than the originalthe Rolling Stones - I Don't Know WhyAl Green - Unchained MelodyMichael Jackson - Rockin' RobinSly & the Family Stone - Que Sera Sera
Worst:Celine Dion - You Shook Me All Night LongMick Jagger/David Bowie - Dancing in the Streets
― MumblestheRevelator, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 09:52 (thirteen years ago) link
best:Willi De Ville - hey joeLa Cinco Latinos - la virgen de la macarenaAndreas Scholl - the three ravensThe Crank-Tones - lover's curseMotörhead - train kept a' rollin'Agent Orange - pipelineJon & The Nightriders - bajaPetty Booka - i wanna be your girlfriend (i wanna be your boyfriend)Helen Shapiro - feverGigantjes - yaki taki oohhwah (right around the corner)Les 5 4 3 2 1 - bond street
worst:Edith Piaf - jezebelSixpence None The Richer - riu riu chiuChill Out Tribute to Queen - bohemian rhapsodyJohn Paul Jones - baja
― meisenfek, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 14:19 (thirteen years ago) link
@JesseJane: I must take issue with the "My Generation" thing. I really liked Patti Smith's version because it was more concerned with capturing the energy of the tune than being faithful to it (or not).
SOme I particularly like (some of which are already mentioned):
Devo - SatisfactionHUsker Du - 8 MIles High, Love Is All AroundTelevision - SAtisfaction, KNockin' On Heaven's DoorCramps - Surfin' Bird, Lonesome Town, Domino, Green Fuz, SHortenin' BreadSex Pistols - No FunRamones - Do You Wanna Dance, Time Has Come Today, California SunDictators - California SunSpacemen 3 - Transparent RadiationFuzztones - Radar EyesPlan 9 - 5 Yrs. Ahead of My Time, Looking at YouLyres - CinderellaFlying Lizards - Money, Summertime BluesFeelies - What Goes OnDum Dum Girls - Let It Be MeHalf Japanese - 10th Ave. Freeze-out, Tangled Up In BlueBeasts of Bourbon - PsychoBoris & Merzbow - I Am the Walrus
I never liked Joy Division's Sister Ray. Felt like they just tossed it off.
― ImprovSpirit, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 21:32 (thirteen years ago) link
Oh yeah: Jonathan Richman - The Rose, Back In the USA
― ImprovSpirit, Wednesday, 11 August 2010 21:33 (thirteen years ago) link
The thread originator nailed it.
Husker Du's "8 Miles High" .
I could support this claim with some pointless words...
― Fer Jessie the Drunk Dutch Mountain Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Wednesday, 11 August 2010 21:46 (thirteen years ago) link
another worst:
Blood & Chocolate - the killing moon
― meisenfek, Tuesday, 28 December 2010 22:45 (thirteen years ago) link
Best:I see people mention Devo's "Satisfaction" a lot, so I have to point to Polysics' "My Sharona" cover, which is kind of the same idea, just crazy and coolHappy Mondays - "Step On" (a John Kongos cover, kind of)Ween - "Hot For Teacher"...it's been mentioned before here, but I have to mention it again, it captures the ridiculousness of the tune better than Van Halen ever did, but it still gets really down and dirty, just great great stuff
Worst:On youtube there's a video of Crazy Town doing Refused's "New Noise", it kind of feels like a 5-minute "brown note"
― frogbs, Thursday, 30 December 2010 16:03 (thirteen years ago) link
best of worst:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlTWpDav0FM
― Mangrove Earthshoe (herb albert), Thursday, 30 December 2010 16:40 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O4puKyRiiY
Judas Priest - Johnny B Goode. Priest, dudez, I love you but that song is the worst thing ever.
― VegemiteGrrrl, Thursday, 30 December 2010 22:17 (thirteen years ago) link
i found William Hung's rendition pretty solid, if not true to the original. nice 'best of worst'!too bad the vid stops at the solo.
― meisenfek, Friday, 31 December 2010 01:04 (thirteen years ago) link
The original isn't so bad:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ2RvSHK_B8
The cover is fucking incredible:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUBcqs0Z9QA&feature=related
― (kelpolaris) (kelpolaris) (kelpolaris) (kelpolaris) (kelpolaris), Friday, 31 December 2010 01:37 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59aKzRbxFV8
― =(^ • ‿‿ • ^)= (corey), Friday, 31 December 2010 01:44 (thirteen years ago) link
Reviving ILM's least contentious thread about covers, these are all from the rolling fuck this shit worst songs of 2015 thread :
Elle King's "My Neck My Back", from 2012 https://youtu.be/VZgg9SIWfI0
Ed Sheeran does "Dirrty: The Polite Version"! https://youtu.be/Pf_ldxntwJg
William Singe does "Trap Queen: The Heartfelt Version"! https://youtu.be/s10gMglvYXo
Disturbed do "The Loud Sound of Silence" https://youtu.be/u9Dg-g7t2l4
Also Aretha's controversial "Rolling in the Deep" and Sam Smith's Hotline Bling, woohoo. Adding one that I enjoyed, Mo Kolours's "Golden Brown", but it's not so much bad as "wtf?".
Off the topic of best/worst (hopefully)... how would you cover an artist like Grimes? The Kiwi band Shunkan did "Flesh without Blood" in a stripped-down acoustic version, which does put a different spin on it, but seems inappropriate when the original was made in such a meticulous detail-obsessed way. Although they could complement it with a club banger version of "Life in the Vivid Dream".
― sbahnhof, Tuesday, 5 January 2016 22:49 (eight years ago) link
chromatics - ceremony/into the blackcardigans - iron man/sabbath bloody sabbath
― Week of Wonders (Ross), Thursday, 24 August 2017 19:02 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTsW30Ur0sg
― ArchCarrier, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 17:52 (four years ago) link
^ obv one of the best
Some of the worst obv.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 30 December 2019 01:39 (four years ago) link
I came across these two stinkers in the wild, both from acts that should really know better:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5u-yoaxaMY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RVWSSSLZN8
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 27 August 2021 17:28 (two years ago) link
^ ugh...at a certain time that Diana Ross rendition was unavoidable.
Bardcore - creep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeFiIjMIlRw
― meisenfek, Friday, 27 August 2021 19:04 (two years ago) link
Thalia Zedek's "Dance Me to the End of Love" (L Cohen)
― keen reverberations of twee (collardio gelatinous), Friday, 27 August 2021 19:17 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6jF0aK5b90
― xzanfar, Friday, 27 August 2021 19:21 (two years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBBQcCf-gn4
― xzanfar, Friday, 27 August 2021 19:24 (two years ago) link
The Main Ingredient - summer breeze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AXlaMJVOQw
― meisenfek, Wednesday, 15 December 2021 20:45 (two years ago) link
Sigourney Weaver - back in the USSR(undecided)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUWhlqItgus
― meisenfek, Wednesday, 15 December 2021 22:10 (two years ago) link
worst:
Eydie Gorme - the look of love [Bacharach / David]
(obscenely loud vocals)
― meisenfek, Saturday, 26 August 2023 14:43 (nine months ago) link