Jimi Hendrix's rowdier, louder, and punchier electrified version of Bob Dylan's classic song, released in 1968, blew even the original songwriter away. × Classic Covers By Spotify. Check out our Spotify playlist here. 7. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Here Van Halen sucks all the twee out of the Kinks original and delivers a crushing track that asks the title questions with terrific oomph. It remained Santana’s biggest chart hit until that song with Rob Thomas, speaking of sacrilege. His version, recorded live, was a hit and bolstered his rep something fierce. Cover versions of many popular songs have been recorded, sometimes with a radically different style, sometimes virtually indistinguishable from the original. The U.S. art-rock group Tin Huey (whose Chris Butler would go on to pen “Christmas Wrapping”) covered it in Wyatt style in the late 70s, too. “My Favorite Things” (Composed by Rodgers and Hammerstein; first performed by Mary Martin; covered by John Coltrane Quartet.). Not only does it add emotion on the day, but the songs you choose will be the ones that remind you of all those special moments forever. In 27 cases of chicken and egg, we reveal the popular chart tunes that were inspired by classical pieces… 1. Chuck’s jaunty version finds new dimensions in a darker, tricksier, more pained arrangement by crafty Velvet Underground co-founder John Cale. We cover everything from modern hits to classics, including songs by John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Maroon 5, John Legend, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper, Jason Mraz, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Beatles, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, and much more. From Robert Wyatt and the Monkees to Whitney Houston and . 8. Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app, Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old, Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat, The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana, Sean Connery's Cause of Death Revealed Weeks After He Dies at Age 90. our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Of course the Great American Songbook has been done more honor by jazz artists than it has by the likes of Barry Manilow, Linda Ronstadt, and Rod Stewart, to name just a few who’ve gone back to that grouping for a career shot in the arm. By ... rendering it almost unrecognizable (in a good way). But this art-rock-inflected rendering by British drummer and singer Robert Wyatt, his first single after a calamitous accident that confined him to a wheelchair, is an alchemical transformation: a pop hymn if you will. “I never thought I’d cut a record by myself, but I’ve got something to say,” goes its questionable spoken-word opening. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. But Otis Redding’s cover, with its plain but gorgeous horn opening and its incredible, definitive “got-ta, got-ta, got-ta” climax not only redefined the song, it set a whole new standard in soul singing, and its influence continues to extend into hip-hop, as its use in Jay Z and Kanye’s “Otis” aptly testifies. “The Ballad of Easy Rider” (Composed by Roger McGuinn with Bob Dylan; first performed by the Byrds; covered by Fairport Convention with Sandy Denny.). “Baltimore” (Composed and first performed by Randy Newman; covered by Nina Simone.). For example, Sir Mix-a-Lot's 1992 rap "Baby Got Back" was covered by indie rock singer Jonathan Coulton in 2005, in … We can … Moving from the modal innovations of Davis’s conception into a form of improvisation heavily influenced by Eastern music, Coltrane and company broke a boundary and set a standard; the ramifications of this beautiful work are still being felt in improvised music today. 10 Unexpectedly Awesome Cover Versions Of Classic Songs by Jordan Runtagh 5/20/2013. Here’s a good starter list for your new “Blues Rock” playlist. “Respect” (Composed and first sung by Otis Redding; covered by Aretha Franklin.). This collaboration between a pair of British songwriters and a Tin Pan Alley tunesmith, first cut in 1932 and covered by smash crooner Bing Crosby among others, proved durable mostly on account of its title sentiment. Though we'll always love Eartha Kitt's version, Kylie Minogue's seductive cover keeps it close to the original, which might just be what makes it so great. “Needles and Pins” (Composed by Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche; first performed by Jackie DeShannon; covered by the Ramones.). The Cover Band offers an extensive song list and can perform a variety of styles depending on the occasion. 5. “Fire and Rain” (Composed and first performed by James Taylor; covered by Bobby Womack.). Originally released in Born to Dance, 1936Originally conceived as an opening credits number for the musical film Born to Dance, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” would later become a signature song for Frank Sinatra. 5. “The ‘In’ Crowd” (Composed by Billy Page; first performed by Dobie Grey; covered by the Ramsey Lewis Trio and again by Bryan Ferry.). They’re not necessarily inherently superior, but they do give the songs a dimension—sometimes artistic, sometimes commercial, sometimes highly eccentric—that you don’t find in the originals. Click to listen. “Where Have All the Good Times Gone” (Composed by Ray Davies; first performed by the Kinks; covered by Van Halen.). 1. Prepare to go down the Franco-pop rabbit hole. Upgrade your Christmas playlist with these covers of classic Christmas jams. Womack, who faced plenty of demons in his own life, understands the pain of the tune in a very specific way, and pushes that through with bracing honesty. Left, from Michael Ochs Archives, right, by Val Wilmer, both from Getty Images. . Here are the best classical covers of pop songs on the internet, from Taylor Swift to Michael Jackson. Sign up for our essential daily brief and never miss a story. All rights reserved. 20 Cover Versions of Classic Songs That Improve on the Originals. Part. In fact, some songs on the list may date back hundreds of years! Happy listening and Merry Christmas, everyone! Less than two years later ultimate female soul singer Aretha Franklin did a little re-writing (including the amazing “find out what it means to me” bit) and came up with an anthem. (See entry for “Needles and Pins.”) Sonny Bono wrote this weirdly self-pitying tune after being turned away from a Hollywood restaurant for not living up to its dress code or something. 19. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. Again, this one is off the Kentucky album and takes a well-known classic, turning it into a much heavier guitar-driven track. Taylor Swift - Blank Space (Brooklyn Duo) The cloying eagerness to settle down balanced by the whimsy of living your youth with abandon… Argh, it just feels so real! As terrific a blues and rock rhythm section as drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie were and are, in 1968 their command of any kind of Latin beat was . 27 pop songs you didn’t know were inspired by classical pieces. “If you put the Linda Ronstadt version on your ‘best covers’ list, there’s gonna be trouble.”, “But, honey,” I replied, “according to Robert Christgau, the live version she does of the song on the soundtrack to FM ‘is so passionate and revelatory that it leaps out of its context and stomps all over the Rolling Stones!’”. What follows is a highly subjective gallery/mixtape of cover versions that top the originals. “Black Magic Woman” (Composed by Peter Green; first performed by Fleetwood Mac; covered by Santana.). Get push notifications with news, features and more. Originally by Elvis Presley, this cover of "Blue Christmas" leans into the rock n' roll, updating Presley's mournful song into a more upbeat one. While most folks would be expecting a nice Bing Crosby cover, Bowling For Soup instead provide a cover of one of the Ramones’ best songs from their later years. One of many Linda love songs by Paul McCartney, his original cut features a vocal that’s Paul at his grittiest, although even Paul at his grittiest is still Paul. It's hard to compete with the Mariah Carey classic, but if anyone can do it, it's Dolly Parton. 4. By Michelle Odedina, Graham Corrigan. The 1965 Kinks song is a keeper in its original, and to some Kultists to say that the Van Halen version betters it is sacrilege. May 28, 2013 - 3:11 pm by Clover Hope. There are plenty to choose from, but we love this cover of Bing Crosby's standard "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," to which Bublé lends his soulful vocals. When The Boss says, "You better be good for goodness sake," you know he means business. Carlos Santana’s recasting of the song, conceived as an homage and inspiredly paired with Gábor Szabó’s “Gypsy Woman,” has no such shortcomings, and also cooks like very little on A.M. radio had before, or since. This classic Chicago blues style track was written by the prolific Willie Dixon. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. “Watermelon Man” (Composed and first performed by Herbie Hancock; covered by Mongo Santamaría.). Of course, Darlene Love's original version is amazing, but there's something about Carey's powerful vocals that really bring this song to the next level. There are many great cover songs, but only a few stand out as landmarks, earning themselves a … It’s great. The riffs and lyrical snatches that make up the side-two medley of Abbey Road are all memorable, but do any of them constitute a “real” song? Written by future U.S. senator Sonny Bono (who, as a good Catholic boy, really liked to refer to prayer in his lyrics; see also “Laugh at Me”) and future Neil Young crony Jack Nitzsche while the pair were Phil Spector apostles, this tune, first recorded in 1963 by Jackie DeShannon, had a distinct British-invasion flavor despite its all-American origins. From party pop anthems to cool rock covers, these are the best modern Christmas songs from artists like Ariana Grande, John Legend, Mariah Carey, and more. Like RATM, Black Stone Cherry have a lot of noteworthy covers… It doesn't stray too far from the original in terms of style, but Cyrus's powerful vocals and an updated rock vibe make this John Lennon tune worthy of adding to your playlist. . 01 “Back Door Man” Original version: Howlin’ Wolf Covered by: The Doors. Non-hip hop covers of hip-hop songs generally are cringeworthy, but Lissie goes for broke here, emoting hard and imploring us to tell us what we know about night terrors (nothin’). wanting, and so the original of this misterioso tune by then leader Peter Green, his as-usual miraculously fluid guitar work notwithstanding, is a trifle clunky. Harmony. Listen here “Laugh at Me” (Composed by Sonny Bono; first performed by Sonny Bono; covered by Mott the Hoople.). Anyway, Keith Richards can’t have completely disapproved, as he later recruited guitarist Waddy Wachtel for his own solo band, the X-Pensive Winos. If you've ever worked in retail or, let's be honest, been to a mall at the peak of holiday season, you've heard the same old Christmas songs on repeat. It's on the house. And you can't forget the sax! Lana Del Rey - Old Money / Nino Rota – Romeo & Juliet Theme. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. A far rawer track, the cover by British folk-rock combo Fairport Convention has a lead vocal by Sandy Denny that’s convulsively heartbreaking, with guitarist Richard Thompson’s grace notes wailing just as sad and true. 18. Features Best Cover Songs: 25 Definitive Cover Versions You Need To Hear. “All Along the Watchtower” (Composed and first sung by Bob Dylan; covered by Jimi Hendrix.). Modern cover versions. Herbie Hancock was only 22 when he wrote and recorded this tune, a catchy, swinging blues. With that in mind, here are The 50 Best Indie Covers Of Classic Rock Songs. 22. Focused around the idea of, well, not fighting on Christmas, the modern pop-punk rockers rework the song into a much more modern take on the classic track. The follow-up cover, by Merseybeat combo the Searchers, actually made it a British-invasion hit. His original is as usual a miracle of empathy and craft. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Probably the only song in Christmas history that can be described as sexy, "Santa Baby" is another one of those songs you'll hear throughout the Christmas season. And his 1962 original, with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and sax man Dexter Gordon contributing mighty solos, is a kick. The 1966 Monkees version was a deserved hit. Soul singer Bobby Womack, a mean songwriter himself, prefaces this version by asserting that he has to do it his own way, and he does. It’s greater. Another classic. 9. 20. Originally sung by The Waitresses, the poppy 1981 song got a double-dose of girl power when The Spice Girls covered it in 1998. People - Andrea Wurzburger. Their choice for vocalist was a then not-yet-20-year-old up-and-comer named Whitney Houston. "It overwhelmed me," Dylan later said, about hearing Hendrix's cover for the first time.. Well, for one thing, when jazz saxophonist John Coltrane cut his version of “My Favorite Things,” that tune wasn’t yet in the Great American Songbook: it wasn’t even two years old when he recorded it in 1961. Sony Legacy. An excellent mix of smooth jazz covers of popular songs played in that jazz pop instrumental style that Dr. SaxLove does so well. Just call her Sleigh-cy Musgraves, y'all because this country star made "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" — originally sung by none other than Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis —her own, when she covered it during The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show. And sax Man Dexter Gordon contributing mighty solos, is a kick hit in 1963 about... Hard to compete with the Mariah Carey classic, if that 's.. Recorded this in 1965 as an outright, off-the-cuff stomper diminish the songs your... Our essential daily brief and never miss a story himself into it takes. 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