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Ten Great Cover Versions

Intro_for_Covers_article


Let's face facts here. It's only worth covering a record if it's a pretty good one in the first place, so artists following this particular course of action are up against it from the off because invariably their version will always be trumped by the original. And that's why most cover versions are so widely derided. But some covers have bucked this trend and have actually come to be remembered as the definitve version of the song in question. Here are ten examples of cover versions that went the right way rather than the wrong way....

1. Hurt - Johnny Cash, 2002

johnny_cash_-_hurt

Producer Rick Rubin pointed Cash in the direction of this uncannily symbolic Nine Inch Nails song that seemed to symbolise Cash's entire existence just as he was about to pass away. Beautifully chilling.

2. Comfortably Numb - Scissor Sisters, 2004

scissorsisters

Genius choice from New York's campest who turned Pink Floyd's 1979 display of self importance and pretension into a Staurday Night Fever-era disco tune. And it's better for it!

3. Twist and Shout - The Beatles, 1963

the_beatles-twist_and_shout

Despite there never being any question about the Fab Four's own writing ability, this ditty from Isley Brothers certainly helped The Beatles really cement their status as the new kings of pop in the early 60s.

4. Mr Tambourine Man - The Byrds, 1965

the_byrds-mrtambourineman

In the 60s everyone covered Bob Dylan songs, and often sang them better than he did. From the chiming guitar intro to the soaring harmonies, this became the definitive version of the song and provided a blueprint for the laid back California sound.

5. Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981

soft_cell_-_tainted_love

This version of Gloria Jones' 1964 Northern Soul classic is a dancefloor favourite to this day thanks to the iconic synth treatment it received from Soft Cell's Marc Almond and Dave Ball.

6. Respect - Aretha Franklin, 1967

aretha-franklin_-_respect

The Queen of Soul singing a tune penned two years earlier by the King of Soul. Undoubtedly written with issues of racial equality in mind, Aretha's version became the original girl-power anthem.

7. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, 1993

jeff_buckley-hallelujah

It reportedly took Leonard Cohen two years to write this masterpiece in the early 80s, but Jeff Buckley made it his own thanks to a beautifully fragile arrangement and his haunting vocal.

8. Dear Prudence - Siouxsie & the Banshees, 1983

SiouxsieandtheBanshees

One of the rare examples of a Beatles cover getting even close to the original in terms of substance and quality. Originally on the Fab's 1968 psychadelic experiemnt, the White Album.

9. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - The White Stripes, 2003

whitestripes-just_dont_know_what_to_do

Jack & Meg have always been good at covers but this one wins hands down. Garage rock is along way from Dusty Springfield's Bacharach & David number but somehow it works a treat.

10. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams, 2004

ryan_adams-wonderwall

Turning Noel Gallagher's Britpop anthem into a lamenting country ballad. Noel Gallagher was so impressed, he now performs Adams's version of his own song in concert.

Let's face facts here. It's only worth covering a record if it's a pretty good one in the first place, so artists following this particular course of action are up against it from the off because invariably their version will always be trumped by the original. And that's why most cover versions are so widely derided. But some covers have bucked this trend and have actually come to be remembered as the definitve version of the song in question. Here are ten examples of cover versions that went the right way rather than the wrong way....



Hurt - Johnny Cash, 2002



Producer Rick Rubin pointed Cash in the direction of this uncannily symbolic Nine Inch Nails song that seemed to symbolise Cash's entire existence just as he was about to pass away. Beautifully chilling.




Comfortably Numb - Scissor Sisters, 2004


Genius choice from New York's campest who turned Pink Floyd's 1979 display of self importance and pretension into a Staurday Night Fever-era disco tune. And it's better for it!



Twist and Shout - The Beatles, 1963


Despite there never being any question about the Fab Four's own writing ability, this ditty from Isley Brothers certainly helped The Beatles really cement their status as the new kings of pop in the early 60s.



Mr Tambourine Man - The Byrds, 1965


In the 60s everyone covered Bob Dylan songs, and often sang them better than he did. From the chiming guitar intro to the soaring harmonies, this became the definitive version of the song and provided a blueprint for the laid back California sound.



Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981


This version of Gloria Jones' 1964 Northern Soul classic is a dancefloor favourite to this day thanks to the iconic synth treatment it received from Soft Cell's Marc Almond and Dave Ball.



Respect - Aretha Franklin, 1967


The Queen of Soul singing a tune penned two years earlier by the King of Soul. Undoubtedly written with issues of racial equality in mind, Aretha's version became the original girl-power anthem.



Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, 1993


It reportedly took Leonard Cohen two years to write this masterpiece in the early 80s, but Jeff Buckley made it his own thanks to a beautifully fragile arrangement and his haunting vocal.



Dear Prudence - Siouxsie & the Banshees, 1983


One of the rare examples of a Beatles cover getting even close to the original in terms of substance and quality. Originally on the Fab's 1968 psychadelic experiemnt, the White Album.



I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - The White Stripes, 2003


Jack & Meg have always been good at covers but this one wins hands down. Garage rock is along way from Dusty Springfield's Bacharach & David number but somehow it works a treat.


Wonderwall - Ryan Adams, 2004


Turning Noel Gallagher's Britpop anthem into a lamenting country ballad. Noel Gallagher was so impressed, he now performs Adams's version of his own song in concert.

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