The Cover

Ever since the beginning of music, I’m sure there have been ‘covers.’ And, in that time frame, the success of those covers have been met with varying degrees of success (both critical and commercial).

Yesterday, I heard Bruce Springsteen’s cover of Jimmy Cliff’s “Trapped” – a version that I’ve always loved. It’s great to hear an artist deliver a cover with the power and emotion that the E Street Band brings to this. And it got me thinking: What are the best cover versions of songs?

Some are obvious:

The Beatles; “Twist & Shout”
Written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers.

The Clash: “I Fought The Law”
Originally recorded by Sonny Curtis and The Crickets (post Buddy Holly) in 1959. The song was then famously covered by Bobby Fuller Four.

Jimi Hendrix: “All Along The Watchtower”
Penned by Bob Dylan.

But what are the tracks that have been most “original” in their version?

Tori Amos solo piano ballad take on Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” comes to mind. As does The Dropkick Murphy’s rocking version of Pete St. John’s “Fields of Athenry.”

So … what are the best ‘covers’

Here are a few choices from your humble author:

Rod Stewart: "Country Comfort" (Elton John, Bernie Taupin)
Tom Waits: “Somewhere” Leonard bernstein and stephen Sondheim
Jeff Buckley: "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)
Rolling Stones: “Aint Too Proud To Beg” (Norman Whitfield & Edward Holland, Jr.)
Bruce Springsteen: Santa Clause Is Coming To Town (J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie)


Feel free to chime in on the good, bad & ugly that you’ve heard!