Kevin’s Top 10 Covers (Until I Change My Mind)
So, it’s high time to bring this unpremeditated mini-thread on rock cover versions to a close—or at least to put it on pause for awhile.
Hoping to make this all a bit more interactive, I thought I’d post my list of Top 10 covers, and invite y’all to post yours—or even individual entries—in Comments. I’m hoping to get a good list of new things I need to listen to in the process.
Write 25 words or less explaining what makes the cover revelatory, or at least worthwhile. And no cheating: I worked hard to keep mine under the word limit, and so should you! It’s part of the discipline.
Here’s my list; as one does with exercises like this, I’m already full of fear & loathing, because I’m sure I’ve gotten it wrong, even by my own lights. It’s alphabetical by cover artist, because I’m too chicken to try to rank them. I’m looking forward to all your suggestions and provocations.
1. Cake, “I Will Survive” (original: Gloria Gaynor)
The combination of John McCrea’s affectless delivery of most of the lyrics with the surprisingly vehement, freestyled “fucking locks,” makes for a powerful performance.
2. John Cale, “Heartbreak Hotel” (original: Elvis Presley)
Simply terrifying—an atmosphere of real menace, heightened, on the LP Guts, by a photo of Cale playing a flying V, wearing a hockey goalie’s mask.
3. Johnny Cash, “Hurt” (original: Nine Inch Nails)
Trent Reznor wasn’t 30 when he wrote the song; at 70, Johnny knew a few things about hurt the younger man could not have.
4. Devo, “Satisfaction” (original: The Rolling Stones)
Robotic passion from New Wave weirdos; Mark Mothersbaugh’s “baby baby baby” sounds like a record skipping, not a come-on. Cat Power’s abortive version comes close.
5. Brian Eno/801, “You Really Got Me” (original: The Kinks)
Eno’s love for do-wop, and his amazing harmonies, come together perfectly on this loving tribute; makes Van Halen’s version sound like the silliness it is.
6. Aretha Franklin, “Respect” (original: Otis Redding)
One of those covers that calls attention to the neglected original; if only people would listen to what she’s really saying: “Give me my propers!”
7. Jimi Hendrix, “All Along the Watchtower” (original: Bob Dylan)
Dylan acknowledged that Hendrix won; the lyrics are just as mysterious as on John Wesley Harding, but now they scare the shit out of us.
8. Janis Joplin, “Me and Bobby McGee” (original: Roger Miller)
Janis took this workmanlike ballad by Pomona College grad Kris Kristofferson and suffused it with every bit of heart and soul and yearning she had.
9. Radiohead, “After the Gold Rush” (original: Neil Young)
If you’ve been reading earlier posts, this comes as no surprise; it’s like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, two great tastes that taste great together.
10. Rasputina, “Rock and Roll” (original: Led Zeppelin)
Three women in Victorian-era corsets playing the Zep standard on cellos, with Melora Creager’s smoky voice flowing just beneath the strings: What don’t you understand?
So the challenge is thrown down: go to Comments and write about some of your favorite covers of all time.
Always the spoil sport, I feel compelled to remind you that “Heartbreak Hotel” debuted on Slow Dazzle.
However, Guts does indeed have a wonderful cover which is made complete with Cale laying face to the floor, as if toppled, on the back cover.
No, er, sport spoiled, Steve. I know it’s on Slow Dazzle; Greatest Hits addict that I am, though, I first heard it on Guts. That’s all I meant to say!
I also place Johnny Cash’s “Hurt,” Jimi’s “All Along The Watchtower,” and Janis’ “Me and Bobby McGee” on my list. The rest, in no particular order, are:
* “The Letter” – Joe Cocker – The early Joe Cocker was all about covers and this one had so much more power breathed into it than the original.
* “Summertime Blues” – The Who – Pete, Keith, Roger and John showed us what an angry young man really sounded like.
* “Oops! I Did It Again” – Richard Thompson – RT shows us that artists need to listen to these vapid pop princesses and borrow their songs.
* “Viva Las Vegas” – Dead Kennedy’s – Jello Biafra and the guys give us a modern reading on this number that makes me want to read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas yet again.
* “Working Class Hero” – Marianne Faithfull – Convincing like she never could have been as the sweet young thing who sang “As Tears Go By” in the ’60′s. Actually, you could almost consider any of her post’78 versions of her own songs as covers!
* “God Only Knows” – Petra Haden – A delightful a capella take on the old Beach Boys song.
* “When The Levee Breaks” – Kristin Hersh – It was either this or STP’s Dancing Days . . .
* “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – Warren Zevon – Whether his own imminent death played much part in the performance and song selection or not, once again someone takes ownership of another Dylan track.
Just quickly–I’m trying to resist the temptation to respond to everything!–but Thompson’s, “Whoops,” plus the wonderful way he contextualizes it in the DVD, is really brilliant.
Not to be too nitpicky, but I think that “After the Gold Rush” cover was just Thom, not Radiohead. He and Jonny Greenwood did an improptu cover of “Tell Me Why” a couple of times as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icLt1bpap3I
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHIJcx9EB94
“Too nitpicky”? What could that mean? You can’t be too rich or too nitpicky!
It doesn’t have an official release, as far as I know, but I saw Radiohead cover “After the Goldrush” at a show in St. Louis in August 2003. (I’ve got the bootleg if you ever want to hear it.)
Thanks for pointing me to the “Tell Me Why,” which I hadn’t known about.
Ahh, I see now that I actually have a version of that (not from St. Louis, but still in 2003) that I’d forgotten about. Is yours kind of an intro into “Everything In Its Right Place”? (I’m really flying my geek flag high, here.)
They’ve actually done several Neil Young covers over the years…”On the Beach, “Down by the River” and “Cinnamon Girl” come to mind. Sadly not in the age of Youtube, though.
I’m on board with Cash, Hendrix, and Aretha. Here’s the other seven, in no particular order:
Jeff Beck, “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers” (original: Stevie Wonder)
How to cover Stevie? Play guitar as well as he can sing.
Stevie Wonder, “We Can Work it Out” (original: The Beatles)
Little Stevie doesn’t take the task of covering the Beatles lightly; he gives it all the energy he’s got, and that’s saying a lot.
The Byrds, “My Back Pages” (original: Bob Dylan)
The Byrds made their name covering Dylan, but it took them two years two get it exactly right. The jangle and harmonies work as well as ever, and Mcguinn’s earnest and thoughtful lead vocal actually does justice to the lyrics.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “Woodstock” (original: Joni Mitchell)
Joni’s recording was personal and painful, but CSNY turned it into the anthem that the phenomenon required. The sunny harmonies, driving rhythm, and Neil’s erratic guitar work perfectly. (After all, they were, unlike Mitchell, actually at Woodstock.)
moe., “In a Big Country” (original: Big Country)
Taking their source material completely seriously, moe. turns the Scottish group’s one-hit wonder into the buoyant and lasting guitar pop anthem that it always deserved to be.
Derek and the Dominoes, “Little Wing” (original: Jimi Hendrix)
Stevie Ray Vaughan, “Little Wing”
A for effort. Nobody can beat the man at his own game, but, if a cover is simply a tribute, these are two of the best around.
Yonder Mountain String Band, “No Expectations” (original: The Rolling Stones) or “Everybody Knows this is Nowhere” (original: Neil Young)
I had to leave a space for live covers by great jam bands. I’ll give the spot to YMSB; By turning these classic rock album tracks into extended bluegrass jams with traditional harmony vocals, the band adds new dimensions of longing to these plaintive songs.
Sweet response, John. Nice job on the little blurbs! If one were inclined to quibble–not me, to be sure!–it might be with the phrase “great jam bands,” which to me sounds like gibberish!
http://www.avclub.com/articles/inventory-14-cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the,1798/
More from my favorite pop-culture website.
Jeez, thanks, Carter. I thought I was your favorite!
Some noteworthy covers not mentioned:
Husker Du – Eight Miles High (Byrds)
St. Etienne – Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Neil Young)
Dirty Three – Down by the River (Neil Young)
Cat Power – New York, New York (Frank Sinatra)
Yes – America (Simon & Garfunkle)
I asked Tim because he’s the music lover in the family:
1. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’, Hall & Oates cover of the Righteous Brothers
2. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Devo and Otis Redding covers of Stones
3. Dancing in the Street, Van Halen cover of Matha and the Vandellas
4. House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer, George Thorogood
cover of John Lee Hooker
5. I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts cover of the Arrows
6. Crimson and Clover, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts cover of Tommy James and the Shondells
7. Feelin’ Alright, Joe Cocker cover of Traffic
Tim,
Looks like you’ll be pretty excited for The Runaways movie, out on Friday? You’ll have to tell me what you think. As I always have to say in a situation like this, I went to high school with Joan Jett –
Just to complicate matters: the AV Club’s doing a new series of covers, starting with Ted Leo & the Pharmacists covering Tears for Fears, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” Worth checking out…
I put this in order but I reserve the right to categorically deny having ever done so if someone calls me on this. My top 4:
1. Tom Waits, “It’s All Right With Me” (original: Ella Fitzgerald? It’s a Cole Porter tune written for a musical, Can-Can, but the first popular version must be Fitzgerald’s from ’56)
Waits turns a laid-back, swingin’ tune into something crazed and desperate, a cry from someone whose attentions you most definitely don’t want.
2. The Haunted, “Vapeur Mauve” (original: The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
So Al Birmingham couldn’t play like Hendrix, big deal; Hendrix couldn’t sing in French. I think. Fun late-60s Montreal club favourite.
3. Pet Shop Boys, “Always On My Mind” (original: Brenda Lee, but I mean come on, we all know this is an Elvis Presley tune, really)
Turns a trembling plea into a mighty unconvincing “come on baby give me one more chance” attempt. Always enjoy the video.
4. The Byrds, “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” (original: Bob Dylan & The Band or The Hawks or whatever they were called then)
The Byrds could only improve by adding Parsons and Nashville session players. They discovered a natural Dylan country song before Dylan went country.
I also enjoy Dylan’s ’71 version of “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” for its response to McGuinn.
Brilliant, Blake: Thanks! It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to put up his list and stand behind it. Or beside it.
Kudos to Blake catching the Byrds’ take on “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” – I can’t believe that I missed that one, given my fondness for the track.
However, another 500 lb gorilla has been hanging out in the middle of the blog and I feel compelled to point out that Mr. Zimmerman is the standout leader for the artist most successfully covered by other performers.
Is it too simple to say that he’s a brilliant songwriter and that his arrangements and the ‘discreet charms of his bad voice’ – to paraphrase our host – are less brilliant?
Are our favourite Dylan performances merely tracks that don’t have a really professional cover yet?
Personally, my pick for an all-Dylan track is his Oscar-winning “Things Have Changed.”
BTW, what possessed anyone to make a major motion picture about an English professor ? ! ? !
Hey, believe me, fella: you don’t wanna go trash-talking English professors on this partic’lar blog!