Cover Songs: My “Top 10″ list
And now, my Top 10 cover versions of songs. (I don’t have the energy for a top 50 like the Telegraph’s list.) I’ve limited consideration to songs where the original (or at least an earlier cover) is fairly well-known; covers of obscure songs often seem original, and that’s not the point.
- Get Together - Indigo Girls (originally by The Youngbloods)
This has also been covered by the Carpenters, Wilson Phillips, Keb’ Mo’, Big Mountain (reggae hippie music, what a concept)…lots of folks. This is probably my favorite version, though. It’s true to the spirit of the song, but still clearly the Indigo Girls in style.
- Stairway to Heaven - Rolf Harris (originally by Led Zeppelin)
If you’ve heard this, you know why I love it. If you haven’t, you need to. It’s “Stairway” done totally “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”. Wobbleboard, didgeridoo, and all. (If you haven’t heard “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”….) I have another 20 or so versions of “Stairway”, but this is far and away my favorite of the batch.
- Something So Right - Annie Lennox (originally by Paul Simon)
This was long one of my favorite songs in its original incarnation; when Annie Lennox recorded it, that gave me a second favorite version. I do prefer the original’s guitar to the cover’s piano for the melody, but the latter matches Annie’s vocals better.
- Wild World - Beth Orton (originally by Cat Stevens)
One of two Cat Stevens covers on my list. I particularly like the way that Orton’s vocals add a bit more edge to the song.
- Downtown Train - Everything But The Girl (originally by Tom Waits)
Most people probably think of the Rod Stewart version rather than the Tom Waits original when they think of this song; it’s also been recorded by Patty Smyth (most famous for “The Warrior” with Scandal). This version from EBTG’s “Acoustic” is my favorite of the batch, though. The combination of the acoustic melody track and the interweaving of the two vocals makes the song much more poignant than the Stewart version or the peppy-poppy Smyth. As for Waits’s vocals…well, his voice is certainly distinctive, isn’t it?
- More Than This - 10,000 Maniacs (originally by Roxy Music)
This is the post-Natalie Merchant 10,000 Maniacs, proving that Mary Ramsey’s vocals can carry both the song and the band. The original sounds more percussion-heavy to me; I also prefer Ramsey’s voice to Bryan Ferry’s (hey, at least he’s not Tom Waits).
- Ruby Tuesday - Julian Lennon / The Corrs (originally by the Rolling Stones)
I’m not a big Rolling Stones fan. This song, however, has the distinction of not one but two good cover versions in my library. The original just can’t compare, in my opinion, to either of these; Mick’s no Tom Waits either, but either Julian or Andrea Corr beats him as a vocalist. The Corrs win out for having their version include Ron Wood.
- The Only Living Boy In New York - Everything But The Girl (originally by Simon & Garfunkel)
The second Paul Simon-written song as well as the second EBTG cover on this list. The original is a classic, one of my all-time favorite songs anyway; this cover basically swaps Simon & Garfunkel for Thorn & Watt on the vocals. There’s a very odd video, as well, which basically involves mime karaoke, or something….
- Peace Train - 10,000 Maniacs (originally by Cat Stevens)
The second Cat Stevens cover (and the second 10,000 Maniacs track) on this list is this fabled “lost track”, removed from In My Tribe after Yusuf Islam’s comments on Salman Rushdie. It’s since been re-released on Campfire Songs, but I bought In My Tribe on CD before the pressing change. I also have a Richie Havens cover of this, which is sort of a “soul with bongos” version or something. (Not bad, but kind of odd.) The 10,000 Maniacs version (this time with Natalie Merchant, of course) is a bit peppier and upbeat than the original, and to my ear better exemplifies the lyrical message of hope. The video is also of interest, since it wasn’t on Time Capsule for the same reasons that the song was pulled.
- Everybody Hurts - The Corrs (originally by REM)
One of my favorite REM songs, done acoustically by one of my favorite bands; of course it’s my number one cover. The subdued guitar and drums, Andrea’s voice, Sharon’s violin, and the lyrics themselves combine to make the song one of the most powerful in my collection. I suspect much of the power they give to the song comes from their earlier performance of it after the Omagh bombing for a benefit concert.
I also have the Dashboard Confessional cover, which is not bad; “not bad” just doesn’t compare.
