Post-1960 Songs of Which There Are At Least Three 5-star, All-Time, Stone-Cold Classic Recorded Versions

Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young, St. Etienne... um Juliana Hatfield?

I know there are plenty of songs that have been covered lots, and covered by notable artists, but the thread idea was really prompted by just how high a standard those three "Grapevine" versions hold to. Man those are three perfect records.

Re: Imagine

most of them, I imagine, not classic.

Actually, name one.

xpost yeah, it's a good question.

Really? Rod Stewart?
Rod's version is on Every Picture Tells A Story.

Elvis's version is best of all though...

I thought about "Tomorrow Is A Long Time", but while Dylan wrote it, I wouldn't say his version is a stone-cold five star classic. The other two you mentioned, though, for sure.

How about Jackson Browne's "These Days"?

Pick three:

Jackson B.
Iain Matthews
Nico
Greg Allman
St. Vincent

so many others...

"Gentle on My Mind"

John Hartford
Glen Campbell
Elvis

"Both Sides Now"

Pick three:

Judy
Joni
The Chairman
Dave Van Ronk

so many others...

the thread idea was really prompted by just how high a standard those three "Grapevine" versions hold to.

I guess the point I was trying to make is that if a song has 50 cover versions then three of them should be pretty good, however...

Re: Imagine
most of them, I imagine, not classic.

...it turns out to be not the case. Eva Cassidey's version at a pinch.

"Both Sides Now"
^^^Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Georgia On My Mind

Ray Charles (1960!)
James Brown
Willie Nelson

Lowell George's "Willin'"

Linda Ronstadt
Little Feat (twice)
Steve Earle
Commander Cody
David Allan Coe

"Both Sides Now"

Glen Campbell may have the best version:

"Dancing In The Streets"

Martha & the Vandellas
Van Halen
Jagger & Bowie

Hahahahaha.

"Dark End of the Street" -- James Carr, Percy Sledge, Flying Burrito Brothers

Linda Ronstadt!

Light My Fire

The Doors
Young Holt Unlimited
Spanky Wilson
Ananda Shankar

I want to say Hallelujah comes close but I can’t think of a third – how about Chelsea Hotel? Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor.

k.d. lang's version is the best of all!

"I Think We're Alone Now"

Tommy James & the Shondells
The Rubinoos
Tiffany

"The Mexican"
"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
"Gloria"

I guess "Louie Louie" and "Whiskey In the Jar" and "Hey Joe" are all technically pre-'60s songs, right? (Or if there are 3+ 5-star versions after the '60s, does that mean they count regardless?)

Sonic Youth did a good cover of the Fall's cover of Victoria.

Tainted Love:

Gloria Jones
Ruth Swann
Soft Cell.

I think so.

Always On My Mind - Elvis, Willie Nelson, Pet Shop Boys.

The Willie Nelson version being the best.

"Ca Plane Pour Moi"/"Jet Boy Jet Girl" (at least three of each, but they're really all the same song -- ditto "Bad Boy Bad Girl," Two Man Sound version)

"Dark End of the Street" -- James Carr, Percy Sledge, Flying Burrito Brothers

+ Richard & Linda Thompson

I guess "Louie Louie" and "Whiskey In the Jar" and "Hey Joe" are all technically pre-'60s songs, right?

thread question doesn't say anything about when the song was WRITTEN, just when it was recorded/performed. (Georgia on my Mind was written in the 30s)

Also pre-1960, but with scads of great post-1960 versions: "House Of The Rising Sun"

coil did tainted love too

thread question doesn't say anything about when the song was WRITTEN

Actually, the phrase "post-1960 songs" is pretty ambiguous.

More Almond associations- but yeah, the Coil "Tainted Love" is stone-cold for sure:
Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart - Gene Pitney, Nick Cave, Marc Almond.

I've never heard the Cilla Black version.

NoTimeBeforeTime: thank you! I have the songs of the 49th parallel CD and love it – I knew there was another hallelujah I could rep for! I hate to bring up Rufus *again* (especially considering I only own his first CD, which features neither cover) but Across the Universe: Beatles, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright.
Anyone good cover Yoko Ono’s “I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window” besides Of Montreal?

WLT add the Residents to list of classic Satisfaction covers

Anyone good cover Yoko Ono’s “I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window” besides Of Montreal?

! My estimation of Of Montreal just went up a notch

It’s what made me give them a chance, Mo – it’s faithful but maybe a bit more accessible than the Y.O. version.

yeah xhuxk is right about R+L Thompson's "Dark End Of The Street"! Came here to post that. Might be my fave version of that great, great song. Maybe that song wins?

I was thinking written post-1960, to avoid "Summertime" etc., but it obviously doesn't really matter what I was thinking.

"Yes We Can [Can]"
Lee Dorsey
Pointer Sisters
Treacherous Three

stone classics all

"Set It Off"
Strafe
Harlequin 4
C# Sharp

"Someone's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight"
Fleetwood Mac
Count Bishops
Rezillos

"Time Has Come Today"
Chambers Brothers
Angry Samoans
Wurm
Ramones
etc
etc

"California Sun"
Rivieras
Dictators
Ramones

... because "I Put a Spell On You" covered by CCR & Nina Simone would otherwise qualify

Natacha Atlas's vershion of same 's way wonderful as well.

Promised Land (1963)
Chuck
Elvis
And best of all...
Johnnie Allen

xxpost
Do you really think all of those are 5-star, all-time, stone-cold classic versions, xhuxk? The Harlequin 4's "Set It Off??' The Samoans' "Time Has Come Today??"

And I question the 5-star, etc. aspect of a lot of those Sinatra/Presley versions. The Sinatra "Sweet Caroline" is barely a 2-star, part-time, lukewarm recorded version.

But great thread. And I think so far "Grapevine" wins.

Grapevine three classics vs. Satisfaction three classics poll

(xpost) I think it's more a result of the general sloppiness that Sinatra and Presley's work had in the 70's

i think it's nice how both "Satisfaction" and "Grapevine" both have three undeniable classics via "rock version", "soul version," "punk deconstruction"

"The Model" - Kraftwerk, Big Black, Electric Six

xpost to self

New question: Are there any other songs that have three classics in that mold?

The Harlequin 4's "Set It Off??' The Samoans' "Time Has Come Today??"

These ones are awesome; are you nuts? (Ever hear the Harlequin 4 14-minute B-side supposedly "instrumental" even though it isn't version? Jeez, man. It's like ESG or something, but way longer.) C# Sharp's and the Ramones (ditto their sub-Dictators "California Sun"), okay maybe a little bit less so, I admit. I still absolutely stand by "The Mexican" and "Ca Plane Pour Moi" and "Someone's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In" and "Hey Joe" and "Gloria" though. (And honestly never thought Gladys's "Grapevine," much less CCR's interminable version, were all that great. But that's just me.)

James Carr too!

Wow, NO idea why I’ve never heard this version before. And now I have a new favorite recording of “To Love Somebody.”

"Human Fly"
The Cramps
Nouvelle Vague
The Horse Flies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVQQfTE2FHY

How to describe...bluegrass meets Steve Reich?

Halo of Flies did it too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxii5GbQQ_o

bob hund did a pretty good version of human fly live too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilfm8xQl3mg

"Landslide"

Fleetwood Mac
Smashing Pumpkins
The Dixie Chicks

“You’re No Good” (1961)

Dee Dee Warwick
Betty Everett
Linda Ronstadt

^^Also: Van Halen

“Cry to Me” (1962)

Solomon Burke
Betty Harris
Freddie Scott