Best Covers In Rock History

                              

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If the list of anthems was controversial, this one will be even more so. A single song can have any number of versions (Yesterday has over 1,300), and defining the best one, according to individual taste, is nearly impossible. There will be countless covers that some consider better, and that I may not even have heard, since the possibilities are endless. What makes one version better than another?

In the following list, I'm adding generally well-known songs that can bring a change or innovation to the structure of the original, either by stripping the instrumentation down to a basic and more emotional level, or by giving it more power and energy, imprinting their own stamp without making it unrecognizable. Especially in the top spots, these will be versions that have taken ownership of the song in such a way that we remember them better than the originals, or sometimes it's even a surprise to learn they're covers. They may or may not be better than the original; again, that's subjective.

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In other cases, it's clear they are versions of earlier, well-known songs, but they achieve a level of quality that leaves a lasting impression for the reasons mentioned above. As with the rest of the lists, the order in which they appear is not up for debate, but rather which ones we might consider including.

 

 

All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)

 

Crossroads – Cream (Robert Johnson)

 

With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker (The Beatles)

 

Hurt - Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails)

 

Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen)

 

Mad World – Gary Jules (Tears for Fears)

 

Superstar – Sonic Youth (The Carpenters)

 

Summertime – Janis Joplin (George Hershwin)

 

Nothing Compares To You – Sinnead O’Connon (Prince)

 

If Not For You – George Harrison (Bob Dylan)

 

Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix (The Leaves)

 

Kashmir – Angra (Led Zeppelin)

 

Susie Q  - Creedence (Dale Hawkins)

 

Stairway To Heaven – Heart (Led Zeppelin)

 

Imagine – A Perfect Circle (John Lennon)

 

Black Magic Woman – Santana (Fleetwood Mac)

 

Gloria - The Doors (Them) 

 

Wild Thing – The Troggs (The Wild Ones)

 

I Will Survive – Cake (Gloria Gaynor)

 

Higher Ground – Red Hot Chilli Peppers (Stevie Wonder)

 

I Put a Spell On You- Creedence (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins)

 

Piece of My Heart – Janis Joplin (Erma Franklin)

 

Alabama Song - The Doors (Kurt Weill)

 

Feeling Good – Muse (Nina Simone)

 

Where Did You Sleep Last Night – Nirvana (Leadbelly)

 

Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds (Bob Dylan)

 

A Day In The Life – Jeff Beck (The Beatles)

 

Sweet Jane – Cowboy Junkies (The Velvet Underground)

 

The Letter – Joe Cocker (The Box Tops)

 

Only You – The Platters (Cues)

 

Masters of War – Pearl Jam (Bob Dylan)

 

You Shook Me – Led Zeppelin (Muddy Waters)

 

Summertime Blues – The Who (Eddie Cochran)

 

California Girls – David Lee Roth (Beach Boys)

 

Knocking on Heaven’s Door – Guns n’ Roses (Bob Dylan)

 

I Shot the Sheriff – Eric Clapton (Bob Marley)

 

Hush – Deep Purple (Billy Joe Royal)

 

Spoonful – Cream (Howlin’ Wolf)

 

The Locomotion - Grandfunk Railroad (Little Eva)

 

You Really Got Me – Van Halen (The Kinks)

 

Where Is My Mind – Placebo (Pixies)

 

The Man Who Sold The World – Nirvana (David Bowie)

 

Twist & Shout – The Beatles (Isley Brothers)

 

Love Hurts – Nazareth (The Everly Brothers)

 

Come Together – Aerosmith (The Beatles)

 

Break On Through – Stone Temple Pilots (The Doors)

 

Achilles Last Stand – Dream Theater (Led Zeppelin)

 

Stay (Far Away, so Close – Bono & Craig Armstrong (U2) (Counts as a cover?)

 

Backdoor Man – The Doors (Howlin’ Wolf)

 

Got My Mind Set On You - George Harrison (James Ray)

 

Love In Vain – Rolling Stones (Robert Johnson)

 

Jealous Guy – Collective Soul (John Lennon)

 

Cocaine – Eric Clapton (J.J. Cale)

 

Train Kept’ A Rollin’ – The Yardbirds (Tiny Bradshaw)

 

La Bamba – Los Lobos (Ritchie Valens)

 

Last Kiss – Pearl Jam (Wayne Cochran)

 

Jolene - The White Stripes (Dolly Parton)

 

Wish You Were Here – Radiohead & Sparklehorse (Pink Floyd)

 

Wild Horses – Mazzystar (Rolling Stones)

 

Turn, Turn, Turn – The Byrds (Peter Seeger)

 

Stand By Me – John Lennon (Ben E. King)

 

Redemption Song – Sinnead O’Connor (Bob Marley)

 

Time Is On My Side – Rolling Stones (Irma Thomas)

 

What A Wonderful World – Joey Ramone (Louis Armstrong)

 

Working Class Hero – Green Day (John Lennon)

 

Sweet Dreams – Marilyn Manson (Eurythmics)

 

Louie Louie – The Kinks (Richard Berry)

 

Across The Universe – Fiona Apple (The Beatles)

 

The Cristal Ship - Duran Duran (The Doors)

 

One (is The loneliest Number) - Aimee Mann (Three Dog Night)

 

Red Red Wine – UB40 (Neil Diamond)

 

Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin (Kriss Kristofferson)

 

The Sounds of Silence – Nouela (Simon & Garfunkel)

 

I’m The Walrus – Oasis (The Beatles)

 

This Magic Moment – Jay And The Americans (The Drifters)

 

Cold Turkey – Lenny Kravittz (John Lennon)

 

The End – Days of the New (The Doors)

 

Mony Mony – Billy Idol (Tommy James)

 

Since I Don’t Have You – Guns N’ Roses (The Skyliners)

 

 Misty Mountain Hop - 4 Non Blondes (Led Zeppelin)

 

For Whom The Bell Tolls - Blue Oyster Cult & Megadeth (Metallica)

 

It’s My Life - No Doubt (Talk Talk)

 

Smoke On The Water – Sr. Coconut (Deep Purple)

 

Please Mr. Postman – The Beatles (The Marvelettes)

 

Like a Rolling Stone – The Rolling Stones (Bob Dylan)

 

Woodstock – Crosby Stills & Nash (Joni Mitchell)

 

Paranoid - Megadeth (Black Sabbath)

 

Dyer Maker - Shelryl Crow (Led Zeppelin)

 

Shakin’ All Over – The Who (Johnny Kidd & the Pirates)

 

Whiskey In The Jar - Metallica (Thin Lizzy)

 

Tainted Love - Soft Cell (Gloria James)

 

Oh, Pretty Woman -  Van Halen (Roy Orbison)

 

You Can't Always Get What You Want – Rusted Root (Rolling Stones)

 

Blue Monday – Orgy (New Order)

 

Take Me to the River - Talking Heads (Al Green)

 

Immigrant Song - Karen O & Trent Reznor (Led Zeppelin)

 

Satisfaction - Devo (The Rolling Stones)

 

How Soon Is Now - Love Spit Love (The Smiths)

 

Lay Lady Lay – Duran Duran (Bob Dylan)

 

Comfortably Numb -  Scissor Sisters (Pink Floyd)

 

Wicked Game – HIM (Chris Isaac)

 

The House of the Risin' Sun - The Animals (Tradicional)

 

I Love Rock & Roll - Joan Jett (the Arrows)

 

One - Johnny Cash (U2)

 

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Johnny Cash (Simon & Garfunkel)

 

Personal Jesus - Johnny Cash (Depeche Mode)

 

Wafaring Stranger - Johnny Cash (Trad.)

 

Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel (Trad.)

 

Whiskey In The Jar - Thin Lizzy (Trad.)

 

I Feel You - Placebo (Depeche Mode)

 

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Special mention to full Album Cover:

 

Easy Star All Star – Dub Side of The Moon

 

Dream Theater – Dark Side of The Moon (live) 

 

 

 

By Corvan 

Apr/16/2015