The Top 20 Best Cover Songs of All Time

The Top 20 Best Cover Songs of All Time

I have always been a fan of remakes, so I decided to celebrate this fact by posting my top 20 favourite cover tunes.

What is it that determines a good cover song? Some prefer covers that stick closely to the originals, while others prefer a radical reworking. For me, the reworking doesn't necessarily have to be radical, but the artists need to find a way to put their own stamp on it. If the cover is too faithful to the original, it becomes meaningless. But, if they put their signature on it (even if it is done subtly), they have created a piece of music that can now stand on its own.

Feel free to let me know in the comments section if you feel that I omitted a cover that you feel should have been on the list.

Best Cover Songs of All Time

20. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds—"In the Ghetto" (Elvis Presley Cover)

Album: From Her to Eternity

Year: 1984

Mac Davis wrote the song and it became a comeback hit for Elvis in 1969. The Bad Seeds version was released as their debut single back in 1984. It was later included in CD reissues of their 1984 album From Her to Eternity. Nick Cave may lack the vocal polish of Elvis, but what he lacks in polish, he makes up for with conviction and passion. I love the dramatic build-up of the song. Cave's version has the right amount of somberness.

19. Ike & Tina Turner—"Proud Mary" (Creedence Clearwater Revival Cover)

Album: Workin' Together

Year: 1971

Ike & Tina's remake of CCR's classic was from their 1971 album, Workin' Together. As Tina mentions in the intro, they start off "nice and easy," but they finish it "nice and rough." The slow build-up at the beginning morphs into a fun and funky tune. This is part of what makes this song so special.

18. Tori Amos—"Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana Cover)

Album: Crucify

Year: 1992

Tori Amos' radical reworking of Nirvana's most well-known tune, was a b-side to her 1992 Crucify EP. Tori Amos turning the grunge rock anthem into a slow tempo piano ballad was a bold move, but she pulls it off big time. Even though the reworking was drastic, you can tell it was done with all due respect. It is stylistically different, but on an emotional level, Amos's version maintains the spirit of the original.

According to Courtney Love, Kurt Cobain loved Tori's version and they would slow dance to it.

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17. Alanis Morissette—"My Humps" (Black Eyed Peas Cover)

Album: N/A (Done as an April Fools' Day prank)

Year: 2007

Alanis' cover of Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps" was posted on her website on April 1st, 2007 as an April Fools' Day prank. She posted the video parody to YouTube on April 2nd. Alanis' slowed down piano version, along with her deliberate enunciation sheds a spotlight on how ridiculous the original lyrics were.

16. Sonic Youth—"Superstar" (Delaney & Bonnie Cover)

Album: If I Were a Carpenter

Year: 1994

Sonic Youth's version of Superstar appeared on the 1994 compilation tribute album If I Were a Carpenter. Even though The Carpenters' 1971 hit was the most well-known version of the song, Delaney & Bonnie originally recorded it in 1969 under the name "Groupie (Superstar)." As the title suggests the song was about a groupie.

The song has become somewhat of a modern-day standard, but Sonic Youth's version stands out as my personal favorite. I love the atmospheric spaciness of it. They strike the right balance of being respectful of The Carpenters' version without compromising Sonic Youth's experimental nature. Even though it may appear to be an odd match, the band has cited The Carpenters as a major influence. Unfortunately, Richard Carpenter has been quoted as saying that he "doesn't care for" Sonic Youth's version of Superstar.

15. The Staple Singers—"The Weight" (Cover of The Band)

Album: Soul Folk in Action

Year: 1968

The Staple Singers gospel-inspired cover of The Band's classic is from their 1968 album Soul Folk in Action. Just like the original version by The Band, the song features impeccable vocal harmonies, but the female and male harmonization adds a different dynamic. Also, you can't beat the soulfulness of Mavis Staple's voice.

Also as a note, my favourite version of this song is the one The Staple Singers performed with The Band for the 1978 concert film The Last Waltz. But, because they performed with the original artist I didn't consider that version a true cover.

14. The White Stripes—"Jolene" (Dolly Parton Cover)

Album: Hello Operator

Year: 2000

This rendition of Dolly Parton's country classic is from the live DVD, Under Blackpool Lights. This live version was released as a single in 2004. They also recorded a studio version in 2000, which appeared as the b-side to their 2000 single "Hello Operator." Both of The White Stripes versions are pretty spectacular, but I prefer the emotional intensity of this live version. It is a lot rawer, but that is part of the appeal. Jack White just pours his whole heart and being into it.

13. Björk—"It's oh so Quiet" (Betty Hutton Cover)

Album: Post

Year: 1995

Betty Hutton's version was recorded in 1951 as the b-side to her single "Murder, He Says." Hutton's version was technically a cover of a German tune recorded by Horst Winter in 1948, "Und Jetzt Ist es Still." But Hutton's version featured different lyrics written in English.

Björk's version is from her 1995 album, Post. I love all of the tempo changes in the song. It starts off all slow ("oh so quiet") then it gets all crazy, and it gets slow again. It is just a really fun and catchy song that makes me giddy every time I hear it.

12. The Neville Brothers—"God on Our Side" (Bob Dylan Cover)

Album: Yellow Moon

Year: 1989

The Neville Brothers remake of the Bob Dylan classic is from their 1989 album, Yellow Moon. Aaron Neville's soulful and mournful vocal adds a different dynamic to Dylan's original version. I can't listen to this song without getting goosebumps.

11. Joe Cocker—"With a Little Help From My Friends" (Cover of The Beatles)

Album: With a Little Help from My Friends

Year: 1969

Cocker's radical reworking of The Beatles tune was the self-titled track to his 1969 debut album. It is a near-impossible feat to cover a Beatles' song and do it better. But, Cocker scales those lofty heights. You can't deny his powerful and soulful vocal rasp. It also helped that a tight backing band, which included Jimmy Page on guitar, backed him. This song packs an undeniable emotional wallop.

10. Big Brother and the Holding Company—"Piece of My Heart" (Cover of Erma Franklin)

Album: Cheap Thrills

Year: 1968

Erma Franklin (Aretha's older sister) originally recorded this song in 1967. Just like her sister, she was a soulful vocal powerhouse, but unfortunately, she flew below the radar.

Big Brother and the Holding Company recorded their version for their 1968 album, Cheap Thrills. Of course, Big Brother features the vocal powerhouse that was Janis Joplin. Joplin totally tears the song apart. You can feel the raw emotion; you get shivers down your spine as she screams the pain away.

9. Patti Smith—"Gloria" (Cover of Them)

Album: Horses

Year: 1975

Just as a note, the opening lines of Patti Smith's radical reworking of Them's "Gloria" ("Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine") was an excerpt of an earlier poem that she wrote. This was the perfect segue into the song. Patti Smith's reinvention of Gloria is just so emotionally intense. It is hard to deny its impact.

Gloria was the opening track to Smith's influential 1975 debut album Horses. There is a reason why she is quite often referred to as the "Godmother of Punk." This song and that album helped establish her legacy.

8. Cowboy Junkies—"Sweet Jane" (The Velvet Underground Cover)

Album: The Trinity Session

Year: 1988

The Cowboy Junkies reworking of the Lou Reed written tune (originally recorded by his band The Velvet Underground) was from the Junkies' 1988 landmark album, The Trinity Session. The Junkies' version of "Sweet Jane" also gained notoriety when it was used for the soundtrack to the 1994 film, Natural Born Killers. I love the lush laid-back musical arrangement along with Margo Timmins beautifully ethereal vocals.

Lou Reed was also a fan of the Junkies' version, calling it "the best and most authentic version I have ever heard."

7. Sinéad O'Connor—"Nothing Compares 2 U" (Cover of The Family)

Album: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got

Year: 1990

Prince wrote the original version for his side project called The Family. The original version appeared on The Family's self-titled 1985 album. O'Conner's more well-known cover version appeared on her classic 1990 album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. The Family's version featured lite funk, and it does sound a bit dated. O'Conner's remake is lusher musically, and you can't argue with her emotional vocal performance. There is a certain vocal vulnerability to the song that is truly beautiful.

6. Aretha Franklin—"Respect" (Otis Redding Cover)

Album: I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Year: 1967

Otis' version was released as a single in 1965. Aretha's version was released in 1967, and it became such an iconic hit that many forget that it is a cover. It is hard to top Aretha's version. Two notable changes that were added to Aretha's version is the memorable chorus "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and the background singers singing "Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me..." Also, through a few minor lyrical changes, Aretha turned this song into an empowerment anthem. Even though it may be considered a female empowerment anthem, who doesn't want respect? It is hard not to get pumped up and sing along when you hear Aretha's version.

5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience—"All Along the Watchtower" (Bob Dylan Cover)

Album: Electric Ladyland

Year: 1968

This is a perfect example of what it means to remake a song. Jimi Hendrix just didn't remake this song that originally appeared on Bob Dylan's 1967 album, John Wesley Harding, but he claimed ownership of it. Bob Dylan himself said of Jimi's version of Watchtower, "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way ... Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

Jimi was able to radically reconstruct the song while still respecting its integrity. It was a true work of genius.

4. Jeff Buckley—"Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen Cover)

Album: Grace

Year: 1994

Jeff Buckley's rendition of Leonard Cohen's modern-day standard appeared on his 1994 album, Grace. It should be noted the arrangement for Buckley's cover was based on John Cale's 1991 version. To make this list less predictable, I was contemplating using Cale's version for this list instead. It really is a wonderful version and one of the few essential versions of this song. But, I could not exclude Buckley's version. His vocals are just so exquisite. You can sense the sadness and pain, but there is also an overall sense of beauty as well.

Cohen's version appeared on his 1984 album, Various Positions. Initially, both the album and the song were somewhat overlooked. But, after Cale's and Buckley's cover versions, the song became a modern-day standard. After Jeff Buckley recorded the perfect version of the song, there should have been some law on covering this song (even though there has been a couple of solid covers, most were unnecessary). Jeff Buckley's version has become a sacred relic. It is too bad that in recent years that sacred relic has been defecated on by countless reality show singing contestants (and Bon Jovi).

3. Nirvana—"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (Cover of Lead Belly)

Album: MTV Unplugged in New York

Year: 1994

Just as a note, I listed this as a Lead Belly cover because Nirvana based their cover on Lead Belly's arrangement. That being said, the song is a traditional folk tune, which also goes by the titles "In the Pines" and "Black Girl" (or "Black Gal"). I was debating whether or not to include this, because I was avoiding traditional tunes for my list. I was doing this because there is no known original version, and it would make my job a lot harder to narrow down the list to 20 songs, but I chose to make an exception with this song.

This version was recorded in 1993 for MTV Unplugged. It was released after Kurt Cobain's death on the 1994 album MTV Unplugged in New York. Even though this song was acoustic, it was one of the heaviest and emotionally intense things Cobain ever did. You could sense the raw emotion. MTV producers wanted Nirvana to do an encore, but Kurt knew there was no way he could top that performance. I still get goosebumps every time I hear this song.

2. Gladys Night & the Pips—"Midnight Train to Georgia" (Cover of Jim Weatherly)

Album: Imagination

Year: 1973

This song has always been an all-time favourite of mine, but up until recently, I did not realize that it was a cover song. It was originally written and recorded as a country song by Jim Weatherly under the title "Midnight Plane to Houston." Shortly after Weatherly recorded it, the song was sent to producer Sonny Limbo, who asked permission to change the title to "Midnight Train to Georgia." Then, he had Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston's mom) record the song.

Shortly after Houston had a minor hit on the R&B charts, Gladys Night & the Pips recorded their version in 1973, which hit #1 in the US on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B charts. It became one of Night's signature tunes. Night's version was based on Houston's versions, but it was more groove-oriented than Houston's version, which was slower. But, the irresistible groove does not take away the emotional wallop of "Empress" Gladys's vocals.

1. Johnny Cash—"Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails Cover)

Album: American IV: The Man Comes Around

Year: 2002

When compiling this list, in order to prevent it from becoming too predictable, I was debating selecting another cover song by Johnny Cash. There would have been no shortage of songs to choose from. Johnny Cash was an impeccable interpreter of other people's material. He was able to put his own unique stamp on every song he covered. That being said, there was no way that I could exclude this song, and there was no way I could not have ranked this #1.

Concerning this song, the original appeared on Nine Inch Nails' 1994 album, The Downward Spiral. In my youth, both NIN's album and the song "Hurt" resonated with me. I was going through anger and depression issues and I could relate to the sentiments in the lyrics. Even though I've never gone to the point of self-mutilation, the music I was listening to was like giving a chocolate bar to a diabetic. There was a period where I couldn't listen to The Downward Spiral and the song "Hurt." But, now that I'm a relatively well-adjusted adult, I was able to revisit music that I'd listened to in my youth. It doesn't impact me the same way. If anything, it is a reminder of how far I have come.

Cash's version appeared on his 2002 album, American IV: The Man Comes Around. Cash's version impacted me on a whole different level. Instead of being about self-mutilation, it is about self-reflection. It is about looking back on your past mistakes. You can see why the song resonated with Cash, and it spoke to me personally.

Cash's version is another example of an artist not only covering a song but claiming ownership of it. Trent Reznor himself made the following statement concerning Cash's version, "the video in, and wow ... Tears welling, silence, goosebumps ... Wow. [I felt like] I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn't mine anymore ... It really made me think about how powerful music is as a medium and art form. I wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of staying sane, about the bleak and desperate place I was in, totally isolated and alone. [Somehow] that winds up reinterpreted by a music legend from a radically different era/genre and still retains sincerity and meaning—different, but every bit as pure."

Further Reading

• 5 Iconic Songs You Never Knew Were Covers
  Some of the most well-known versions of our favorite songs turn out, unknown to us, to not be the originals!
• 10 Classic Rock Songs You Didn't Know Were Covers
  These are all classic hit songs, but do you know who did the original versions of these songs? Read on to find out more.
• 10 Modern Covers of Songs From the Sixties and Seventies
  From "Landslide" by Smashing Pumpkins to "The Sound of Silence" by Disturbed to "Wish You Were Here" by Avenged Sevenfold, here are ten classic '60s and '70s songs being passed on to a new generation.

Comments

CJ Baker (author) from Parts Unknown on September 15, 2014:

Thanks Robert! The Last Waltz performance really is something special. The movie is also my all time fave concert film.

Robert Levine from Brookline, Massachusetts on September 15, 2014:

Great list. I also love the performance of "The Weight" in The Last Waltz.

CJ Baker (author) from Parts Unknown on January 27, 2014:

You are not alone in thinking that Sinead and Aretha were the originals. In many ways, theirs is viewed as the definite version. It is also cool that you were familiar with the Betty Hutton version. That is another example of a song that people don't always view as a cover. Absolutely agree with you about "Hurt". Thanks for the read and the comment.

oldiesmusic from United States on January 27, 2014:

As I was slowly reading and scrolling the page down I thought that Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" would top your list. A fitting swan song -- he was dying and it seemed he couldn't get over the death of his wife June Carter.

Surprise, I thought Aretha and Sinead's songs were originals. In the manner that I thought that Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" is really hers too.

My dad owns a CD containing the Betty Hutton version of "It's Oh So Quiet", I heard that first before Bjork's version came out. I was amused by it thinking that it was the earliest "screaming" song of that era. Bjork's version is great too, and I loved the video as well.

Awesome hub. Cheers! :)

CJ Baker (author) from Parts Unknown on July 30, 2013:

Docmo - Sorry for the late response. I appreciate the read and the comment. I agree that a well done cover can display an artist creativity and inventiveness.

ParadigimEnacted - Once again apologies for the late response. I definitely respect your views concerning the Dylan original. Even though I prefer Hendrix, the original is not without its own merits. I also agree with you on your thoughts on "Hurt". It is really cool to have those two different versions to choose from.

ParadigmEnacted on June 09, 2013:

Well done hub covering the most well known cover songs. I've always disagreed with the consensus that Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower is better than the original. He does some interesting stuff with it and it is a highlight of his catalog, but it's very gimmicky. Dylan captures in aura of isolation and desperate anticipation that suits the verses and gives me goosebumps. I don't believe that a person who performs a better version of a song should have sole jurisdiction over it, but all the same Dylan knows what he's doing. Less was more in this instance.

Cash's version of hurt was also great because it fits his own outlook as he traveled through life, but it's good to have Trent Reznor's hollower version with the musical dynamics laying around too. I frequently interchange those two.

Mohan Kumar from UK on May 18, 2013:

What a brilliant anthology of cover versions... This shows the sheer inventiveness, creativity and musical ability of the artists as well as the difference between a perennial classic and an also ran. .. Great hub'

CJ Baker (author) from Parts Unknown on January 10, 2013:

I agree. I also always felt that the original was way to upbeat for the subject matter.

Andy McGuire from Los Angeles, CA on January 10, 2013:

Pearl Jam's "Last Kiss" is also far more potent than the original version, which sounds too peppy for a song about a car crash and death.

CJ Baker (author) from Parts Unknown on January 10, 2013:

I am already familiar with the Rise Against version of "Hollis Brown", and I agree it is a great cover. Nina Simone also does a pretty spectacular cover of "Hollis Brown" as well (even though it didn't quite make this list). Thanks for your comment.

Andy McGuire from Los Angeles, CA on January 10, 2013:

I would like to suggest listening to RISE AGAINST's cover of BOB DYLAN's "The Ballad of Hollis Brown."

That cover is far beyond amazing.

CJ Baker (author) from Parts Unknown on January 01, 2013:

Thanks teaches! Glad that we share the love for Respect and In The Ghetto!

Dianna Mendez on January 01, 2013:

You have listed some I love and agree with on the best cover song. Aretha's RESPECT is tops with me. Also love that you listed In The Ghetto -- love Elvis!

CJ Baker (author) from Parts Unknown on December 29, 2012:

Alecia - Agreed! Both of those covers are awesome. I also agree there is something special about an artist making someone else song their own. Thanks for the vote and the share!

e-five - Thanks for mentioning the Warwick covers. I agree it is really cool to discover a well done cover.

John C Thomas from Chicago, Illinois, USA on December 29, 2012:

Just going with cover versions of Dionne Warwick songs alone, I like Luther Vandross' "A House is Not a Home," The Stranglers' version of "Walk on By," Issac Hayes' version of "Walk on By," and Frankie Goes to Hollywood's version of "Do You Know the Way to San Jose." A well-done cover can be a revelation.

Alecia Murphy from Wilmington, North Carolina on December 29, 2012:

Great list! My favorites are Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Respect." But covers are awesome when done in a way to make the song their own. Voted up and shared!