Cover Me
19.May.08

Here are some of the best cover versions ever recorded and voted by Classic Rock readers in issue #8 back in 1999. I reckon if this poll is repeated every year, you would get about the same result.

Ten of the Best...Cover Versions Ever!

1. Rosalie (Cowgirl Song) - Thin Lizzy
2. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience
3. With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cooker
4. Hard To Handle - The Black Crowes
5. Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City - Whitesnake
6. Come Together - Aerosmith
7. Hush - Deep Purple
8. You Really Got Me - Van Halen
9. Louie Louie - Motorhead
10. Whiskey In The Jar - Metallica

Here is Oyster’s list of Top 10 and some of my personal favourites that are frequently found on my play list and some may never end up in anybody’s else Top 20 best cover songs. I shall start from the top and go down the list.

#1 Manfred Mann’s Earth Band recorded several hits out of songs by Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Spirits In The Night from Nightingales & Bombers (1975) became an absolute gem of a track after an absolute makeover transforming it into a totally different listening experience. Imaginative prog rock laid out concisely with spooky story to tell. One of the best 70s classic rock moments.
#2 I found Like A Rolling Stone in John Cougar’s 12 inch B-side single of Pop Singer. Recorded live and in my opinion the best cover version of this song I’ve heard by far. Seek this out even if you dislike the 12” format. It is what cover songs should be - done with a purpose and sometimes better than the original.
#3 This is the 2nd Metallica LP that I bought after the Black lp introduction. This all cover material recording (3 lp set) was played casually from songs of their rock mentors. Turn The Page by Bob Seger gets my vote here. It is intimate, touching and Metallica-lly heavy. Follow this route as your 2nd Metallica LP - you won’t go wrong.
#4 Originally from the Blue lp, even Joni Mitchell has heard of this one. This Flight Tonight has “become” a Nazareth song and they’re surely proud of it.
#5 Like Nazareth, Judas Priest turned this Joan Baez song into their own. Almost unrecognizable from the original Diamonds and Rust was performed Live in Japan with Halford’s vocals in top form. If you’re new to Priest, you can start from here.
#6 I’ve to say that Manfred Mann’s Earth Band did so many other good covers that somehow obscured their very own compositions. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue sang in-tune felt so right. But I’m not sure if Bob feels the same.
#7 Everyone covers Bob Dylan better than Bob Dylan - naturally. In this 30th Anniversary Concert to celebrate Bob’s career you got plenty of good examples. I single out Eddie Vedder’s (Pearl Jam) Masters Of War with Mike McCready on acoustic guitars. This sullen track is worth this pricey triple set LP.
#8 You Really Got Me from Van Halen was my introduction to this band in 1979. I still recalled I bought this in cassette form (pirated) at S$1.50 at Bugis Street. Years later, I heard the original but lame version from the Kinks (sorry!). Eddie’s intro riff is just unforgettable.
#9 The last two on this list gave me another perspective of cover versions - it has to have the element of fun. Ride Like The Wind (now isn’t that a great heavy metal song name?) by Christopher Cross given the NWOBHM Saxon treatment. And I like it because it was fun. I think Saxon enjoyed it enough to put this track into their later “The Best of Saxon” release.
#10 Last but not least Cum On Feel The Noize from Quiet Riot which went all the way to #1 when big hair bands were running riot on the charts. Everytime I listen to this I’ve to listen back-to-back We’re Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister. Both a big hit (but latter is an original), similar simple pop-metal styling, catchy chorus and - fun.