My Favorite Cover Songs

Every time I hear a great cover song, I think about putting a list together of my favorites. After months of thinking about it, I’ve finally done it.

Before we get to the list, though, I’ll explain my criteria for selection.

1. I like the original version of the song.
2. I like the cover version at least as much as than the original.
3. The cover version is sufficiently different.
4. Both versions were recorded (not simply performed live).
5. The cover was released at least one year after the original.

In order to account for natural biases for and against certain artists I arbitrarily decided that the same artist will not show up more than once in the list.

I did NOT consider the popularity of the cover compared to the original. There are many examples of covers being more popular than the original but I did not include or exclude songs on that basis.

Now the list …

I narrowed it down to my favorite fifteen. They are listed below in alphabetical order. I’ve also created a playlist at Rhapsody over here.

• Always on My Mind, Pet Shop Boys, 1987
  Original by Brenda Lee, 1972
• American Woman, Lenny Kravitz, 1999
  Original by The Guess Who, 1970
• Big Yellow Taxi, Counting Crows, 2002
  Original by Joni Mitchell, 1970
• The Ghost of Tom Joad, Rage Against the Machine, 1997
  Original by Bruce Springsteen, 1995
• Hard to Handle, The Black Crowes, 1990
  Original by Otis Redding, 1968
• I Fought The Law, The Clash, 1979
  Original by The Crickets, 1959
• I Thank You, ZZ Top, 1980
  Original by Sam & Dave, 1968
• Land of Confusion, Disturbed, 2006
  Original by Genesis, 1986
• Mrs. Robinson, The Lemonheads, 1992
  Original by Simon and Garfunkel, 1968
• Signs, Tesla, 1990
  Original by Five Man Electrical Band, 1970
• Simple Man, Shinedown, 2003
  Original by Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1973
• Take Me to The River, Talking Heads, 1978
  Original by Al Green, 1974
• Turn the Page, Metallica, 1998
  Original by Bob Seger, 1973
• What a Wonderful World, Joey Ramone, 2002
  Original by Louis Armstrong, 1968
• You’re No Good, Van Halen, 1979
  Original by Betty Everett, 1963