the greatest rock'n'roll site in the world: Got It Covered

For every great cover there's 20 awful ones. What exactly it is that makes a great cover is hard to say. If it improves or reinterprets the original it's a good start. The cover is often scoffed at but as I realised while assembling this list there are a lot of great covers out there. I originally wanted a list of 20, but I kept remembering more until reducing it to 40 was a real challenge. Putting the songs in order was difficult and in many cases it was close enough is good enough. The criteria was more about how the song worked as a cover, rather then the songs artistic merit.
All songs are available for direct download.

40. Nico - The End : Nico's take on the Doors epic.

39. Camper Van Beethoven - Pictures of Matchstick Men : Great version of Status Quo's first hit.

38. Oasis - Cum on Feel the Noize : The brothers Gallagher's fun take on Slade's mid 70s monster.

37. Soft Cell – Tainted Love : Originally recorded by Englishwomen Gloria Jones in '64. Its been many times including four times before Soft Cell (including the Blue Oyster Cult)

36. Camera Obscura - Super Trouper : A particularly melancholy reinterpretation of the ABBA hit. Tracyanne Campbell's vocals are as beautiful of any women in music today.

35. David Bowie - Sorrow : Originally recorded in 1962 by Indiana band the The McCoys. In '66 UK band The Merseybeat had an Englsih top 5 hit with it.

34. John Lennon - Stand By Me : Originally written by Jon King in 1961. He wrote it for the Drifters but when they passed on it he released it himself. Its been covered many times since (including Otis Redding, U2, Marvin Gaye, Green Day, Isley Brothers, Sam Cooke and the Fugees). Lennon's version was released on his covers album 'Rock'n'Roll'. If any readers are unaware of the dramas Lennon had with Phil Spector while recording this its worth the research!

33. Pixies - Winterlong : Neil Young's Winterlong from 1977s triple album Decade gets the Pixies treatment

32. Urge Overkill - Girl You'll be a Women Soon : Neil Diamond's 1967 hit. Recorded by Urge for the Pulp Fiction soundtrack

31. Lemonheads - Different Drum : Written by Mike Nesmith, it was first recorded in 1967 by the Stone Poneys, Linda Ronstadt on lead vocals.It was her first hit.

30. The Rolling Stones - Route 66 : Originally recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946. The Stones rework appeared on their debut record - The Rolling Stones.

29. White Stripes - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself: Burt Bacharach classic, most famously recorded by Dusty Springfield.

28. Sonic Youth - Superstar : Oddly to some (myself included) the original version of this song was not the Carpenters, it was actually recorded a few times before that. The Sonic Youth take on it is in keeping with the Carpenters version. Thurston's vocal pushing the songs original theme, a tale of groupies.

27. Shonen Knife - Top of the World : Japan's wonderful all girl, power-pop trio redo The Carpenters.

26. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Dear Prudence : Siouxsie Sioux's dramatic goth pop take of John Lennon's classic.

25. Husker Du - Eight Miles High : The Huskers awesome punk rock rework of the Byrds classic.

24. Aztec Camera - Jump : Aztec Camera recorded their version of Van Hanlen's Jump in 1994. A radical reinterpretation, V.H's version makes you want to jump in air, Roddy Frame's jump off a cliff.

23. Futureheads - Hounds of Love : The futureheads amazing re working of Kate Bush.

22. Gary Jules - Mad World : Gary Jule's transformed Tear's for Fears early 80s new romantic hit into an emotive ballad. Recorded for the Donnie Darko soundtrack.

21. Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer - Redemption Song : a moving rework of Bob Marleys reggae classic. Interestingly both Joe and Mr. Cash had recorded versions of this individually before doing it together

20. Ryan Adams - Wonderwall : Ryan Adams introduces a level of emotion not evident in Oasis's original. Noel Gallagher a fan of Adam's version, has since performed the song live in keeping with Ryan Adam's cover.

19. Talking Heads - Take me to the River : Talking Heads rework the Al Green classic. It first appeared on More Songs About Buildings and Food, but it became a hit for the Talking Heads after appearing in 1983 concert film, Stop Making Sense.

18. The Specials - A Message to You Rudy : Originally by Jamaican Reggae/Ska pioneer Dandy Livingstone. On release by The Specials it became an instant ska classic.

17. Cowboy Junkies - Sweet Jane : Canada's Cowboy Junkies, redo the Velvets classic. A beautiful version

16. Patti Smith - Gloria : Patti Smith's cover of Van Morrison. A great version of an oft covered song.

15. Butthole Surfers - Hurdy Gurdy Man : San Antonio's bent rocker's reinvent the Donovan's hit. Awesome!

14. The Clash – Police And Thieves : The Clash's classic version appears on their eponymous debut. It was originally released by Jamaican reggae performer Junior Murvin who wrote it with legendary Jamaican producer Lee Scratch Perry.

13. The Cramps - Goo Goo Muck : I often forget just how much I love the Cramps. Here they take an obscure 60s garage song by Ronnie Cook & The Gaylads and for all intensive purposes make it there own.

12. DEVO - Satisfaction : A DEVOlved cover from Akrons finest spuds. A brilliantly bent version of the Stones' classic.

11. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - In the Ghetto : In the Ghetto was written by Mac Davis for Elvis in 1969. Nick Cave's version was recorded during the From here to Eternity sessions. Its a lot darker and more sinister version of what was a bleak song to start with.

10. The Fall - Victoria : Ah, Mark.E.Smith, the worlds most lovable miserable git. Here he gives The Kinks Victoria The Fall treatment with spectacular results. A superb version.

9. Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes : The song was written and originally recorded by Carl Perkins. It was the first thing Elvis recorded in 1965 after having his Sun contract bought out by RCA. Perkin's version was released only a short time before the Kings and was actually considerably more successful. As with most of Elvis' songs it oozes cool.

8. Dirty Old Town - The Pogues : This Pogues classic was original recorded by the Dubliners in the 1950s. Weirdly considering the two acts who had the most success with it was written by a Scotsmen, Ewan MacColl.

7. Nirvana - Man Who Sold the World : Bowies early classic gets the Kurt treatment. Nirvana recorded it for the MTV unplugged show. Its not dramatically different to the original showing that a dramatic reinterpretation isn't always necessary to create a great cover.

6. Aretha Franklin - Respect : Written and recorded by Otis Redding in 1965. He had moderate success with it. Aretha Franklin's huge voice made the track a world wide no.1 hit in 1967. Its now one of Aretha's signature tracks, R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

5. Johnny Cash - Hurt : Mr.Cash pulls out all the stops on this wonderful re work of the Nine Inch Nails song. Its said that when Trent Reznor first heard it he was in the studio and was so moved that he couldn't continue with the days session. Mark Romanak's video is perhaps the best ever made

4. John Cale - Hallelujah : People often talk of Jeff Buckley's version of the this Leonard Cohen classic. They obviously haven't heard John Cale's take on it. Its without doubt the definitive version.

3. This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren : An amazing take on Tim Buckley's song. Cocteau Twin's Elizabeth Fraser's vocals deliver an ethereal and haunting interpretation.

2. I Heard it Through the Grapevine was originally penned by Motown staff writers Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and was first recorded in 1967 by Gladys Knight and the pips. It's been covered dozens of times, three of which share the no.2 spot on my countdown. A great example of how individual acts can stamp their own style on a cover.
a) I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye : Recorded in 1967 Marvin Gaye's version was a number one hit. A beautiful smooth, soul take.
b) I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Creedance Clearwater Revival : Creedance's version is an 11 minute psychedelic rock epic. Vastly different from previous takes its a classic.
c) I Heard it Through the Grapevine - The Slits : The Slits were an all girl UK post punk band. Their version of Grapevine was dub heavy punk rock interpretation. Once again it was far removed from the previous recorded takes.

1. Jimi Hendrix - All along the Watchtower : I've never been a great fan of Hendrix but to me this is the most startling cover of them all. It shows the cover can make a strong artistic claim. Bob Dylan originally recorded it on 1967s John Wesley Harding. Dylan's version is typical of the time with acoustic guitar and harmonica solos playing off a lyric full of biblical and apocalyptic references. Hendrix replaces the harmonica with intense guitar solos and even wah wah interludes. Its force brings more venom to the song and adds an almost demonic overture to Dylan's lyrics. Dylan said on hearing it that it was a far superior version to his own. Dylan's own live versions of the track are now a lot closer to Jimi's then his original version.

Came close but no cigar songs :

The Flying Burrito Bros - Wild Horses, Youssou N'Dour - Chimes Of Freedom, Dead Kennedy's - Viva Las Vegas, The Sports - All the Tired Horses, The Clash - I Fought the Law, The Stranglers - Walk on By, The Beat - The Tears of a Clown, Jim Reid - (I'm) Stradard. A lot of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes tracks which I chose to ignore as picking one was to difficult

A few videos of some of the tracks...

Camera Obscura - Super Trouper. Live in Berlin