Question of the Week: What’s the best cover rendition of a popular song?

Local Spins’ Question of the Week (Nov. 26, 2020)

What’s the best cover rendition of a popular song?

This week’s winner of Local Spins merch: Email subscriber Stephen Aldrich, who responded to the Question of the Week and was entered into a drawing for a bandana. Sign up for email updates and the weekly newsletter here: https://localspins.com/subscribe-local-spins-mailing-list/

THE READER RESPONSES:

Greg Winicki – ‘White Rabbit’ by northern Michigan group Oh Brother Big Sister.

Mark Sturr – ‘All Along The Watchtower’ covered by Hendrix, originally by Dylan.

Marc Alderman – The Dave Mathews Band version of ‘All Along the Watchtower’ is great too.

Mark Sellers – Respect by Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding song) is great. Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann (Bruce Springsteen song) is amazing because it was basically a new (improved) song just with the same lyrics.

Ted Smith – Bob Dylan has said his favorite recording of one of his songs is Elvis’ cover of “Tomorrow is a Long Time.” I like CCR’s version of “I Put a Spell on You” and Roxy Music “Like a Hurricane”

Brad Hastings – Greensky Bluegrass covering Pink Floyd’s “Time > Breathe reprise”

Bradley Raffenaud – AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ by Steve’n’Seagulls

Michael Kroll – The Beatles version of Chuck Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven is one of the all-time best covers!

Cory Olsen – I like ELO’s version of ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ as well.

Kyle Brown – Wes Montgomery’s version of The Beatles A Day In The Life

Robert Joseph Glass – Umbrella covered by Casey Abrams

Fred Bueltmann – The Meters – Down by the River

Johnny Stash – Talking Heads “Take me to the River” is super solid.

Kyle Brown – Les McCann’s s version of Eugene McDaniel’s “Compared To What.” Other ones off the top of my head: Otis Redding’s “Respect” covered by Aretha Franklin, Peter Rowan’s “Lonesome L.A Cowboy” covered by New Riders of The Purple Sage, Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” covered by The Band

Randy Macher – Nazareth’s cover of the Everly Brothers “Love Hurts,” Linda Ronstadt’s cover of “Blue Bayou,” Thin Lizzy’s cover of “Whiskey In The Jar”.

Lucy Ernst – DEVO covering The Stones’ ‘Satisfaction.” I don’t know who did it, but I adore classical quartet covers of Nirvana’s of ‘Lithium.’

Lucy Ernst – Our local legend Ben Hunter’s cover of Bowie’s ‘Five Years’ is pure rock glory.

Mo Haner – Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talkin'” by Leonard Nimoy

Daniel Francis – Mo Haner: The Nilsson version is also a cover. He was supposed to do a title song for Midnight Cowboy, and they used that song as a placeholder. They liked it so much that they just had Harry record a version for the movie!

Zachary Guy – Sturgill Simpson’s ‘In Bloom’ cover is awesome. Not popular music, but The Bad Plus’ cover of ‘Chariots of Fire’ is fantastic.

Jennifer WolfSchwallie – I’m torn between Whitney Houston doing ‘I Will Always Love You’ (opening one of the greatest songs ever to more of the world, with the utmost craft) or Joplin doing ‘Me and Bobby McGee (which she makes an entirely different song than KK by her tone alone). Full disclosure: I have a 14+ hr fav covers playlist and could write a short book on the way one line in Bobby McGee makes the difference between a song of regret and wistfulness.

Mary Ellen Murphy – I like Ronstadt’s cover of The Hollies “I Can’t Let Go.” In fact, I didn’t even know The Hollies wrote this gem till last year.

Brent Godfrey – ‘Rebel Rebel’ by Rickie Lee Jones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUn_jcN92Go

Don Keegan – I’ll go with Chris Cornell’s version of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”

Steve Middendorp – I like this cover of Gimme Shelter by Angelique Kidjo

Matt Drolett – Adam Levine performing “Purple Rain” at the Howard Stern Birthday Bash on SiriusXM

Steve Damstra – All-star version of Dylan’s “My Back Pages” (Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton & George Harrison); Johnny Cash, “Hurt”

Isaac Powrie – Grateful Dead covers of Bonnie Dobson’s Morning Dew. Chvrches cover of the Arctic Monkeys ‘Do I Wanna Know.’ Gov’t Mule does a good cover of Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry.’

Ted Smith – Grace Jones covering “Demolition Man” by The Police; Sheryl Crow covering “I’m Gonna be A Wheel Someday” by Fats Domino; The Everly Brothers covering “Lucille” by Little Richard; The Mavericks – ‘Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?’

Bradley Raffenaud – Charles Bradley performing a soulful cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Changes.’ Need a Mchigan band on here: Mustard Plug covering ‘The Freshman.’

Evan Klee-Peregon – Mustard Plug’s version of Fugazi’s “Waiting Room” is the standout cover for me.

Cory Olsen – I was always a fan of Verve Pipe’s live version of Sgt. Pepper’s!

Al Haaksma – Indigo Girls doing Bob Dylan’s ‘Tangled Up In Blue.’

Dave Adams – Blinded by the Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. Best instrumental covers: – ‘Little Wing’ by Stevie Ray Vaughn, ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers’ by Jeff Beck.

Dave Joanis – House of Lords’ cover of Blind Faith’s ‘Can’t Find My Way Home.’

David Marin – The Rockets cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well”

Bradley Raffenaud – Tim Buckley cover: This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren
Elle Lively – I mean, I think I’m biased but… The Chain (by Third Coast Recording chorus/band). Not going to lie, kind of digging some of Miley Cyrus’s covers. Accidentals also kill ‘Tax Man’ and ‘Tom Sawyer.’ ‘Everything Is Free Now’ by Sylvan Esso.
Lee Chase – Southern Culture on the Skids covers T Rex, ‘Life’s a Gas.’

Kevin Murphy – ‘Tainted Love’ by Soft Cell. It was on the charts for 6 months, defined the band’s career and you’ve probably never heard the original. Same could be said about Beach Boys’ ‘Barbara Ann.’

Tricia Boot – First Aid Kit covering Kate Bush “Running Up that Hill”; Florence + the Machine covering Tori Amos’ “Cornflake Girl’; Sturgill Simpson covering “The Promise” by When in Rome

Michael Packer – Hands down – this is the best cover I’ve ever heard (and I find most covers pale in comparison to the original): ‘Love Is The Answer’ by Todd Rundgren (cover) – Foxes and Fossils

Bruce Vanderkooi – There was a show on TV for awhile called ‘Stalker.’ It was pretty creepy, but the soundtrack made it even better. It took songs like this one and made them creepy too! SPiN – Happy Together [The Turtles Cover].

Ted Smith – The Derailers “Raspberry Beret”

Joshua Newman – This brought Robert Plant to tears: Heart – ‘Stairway to Heaven’

Bob Zuidema – Grateful Dead – Morning Dew; Butthole Surfers – The Hurdy Gurdy Man

Bruce Vanderkooi – Polka Floyd, “Comfortably Numb.” If you ever get a chance, go see this band! They are amazing. They know every Pink Floyd song. I’ve tried to stump them with obscure requests, it can’t be done! This is the hit – https://youtu.be/urAUcYJxKjc

Vernon James Reaume – Monkberry Moon Delight by Screamin Jay Hawkins. Love the original too, but Jay WAY outdoes Paul McCartney on that tune.

Bożena Aneta – ALL The Moonrays covers but this one especially is popular: “Albatross” by Peter Green.
Ted Smith – The Wolfgang Press “ Mama Told me not to Come” by Three Dog Night (written by Randy Newman)

Luke J Roy – Dixie Chicks version of “Landslide.”

Tom VanHammen – Bonnie Raitt covering John Prine’s ‘Angel From Montgomery.’

Ria Faber – Loved this version as well. Susan Tedeschi – Angel From Montgomery

Tim Williams – Detroit, ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’

Scott Veenstra – So many great ones to choose from, but Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen covering the Meters’ “Just Kissed My Baby” is sublime and as funky as it gets. Scary Pockets with Larry Goldings and Luis Cato’s cover of Beyonce’s “Love on Top” is also amazing and so, so soulful. Grand Rapids native Joe Ayoub on bass here as well.

Mike Filkins – Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock – This Song For You.

Bradley Raffenaud – Lemonheads – Mrs Robinson

Charlie Merkel – Nina Simone, ‘To Love Somebody.’ This is a cover of a Bee-Gees tune that I’ve been diggin.

Daniel Francis – This is something I was recently shown that is pretty amazing… It’s still Elvis playing the guitar, and he wrote the song, but Fiona takes it to the next level!! Fiona Apple & Elvis Costello “I Want You”

Andrew Millard – Aerosmith’s cover of ‘Come Together.’

Scott Steiner – The Clash’s version of Vince Taylor’s ‘Brand New Cadillac.’

Lar Fitzgerald – “Same Thing,” Gov’t Mule

Clifford Thomas – I’d throw Tears For Fears version of “Ashes To Ashes” into the mix.

Bette Wickering – While Dionne Warwick’s “Say a Little Prayer for Me” was topping the charts, Aretha Franklin insisted on recording it, and took that song right away from Dionne.

Lee Chase – Robbie Fulks covers Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable.” Killer performance and arrangement!

John Nowak – Stevie Wonder’s version of ‘We Can Work It Out’ by The Beatles. Or Earth, Wind & Fire’s version of ‘Got To Get You Into My Life’ by The Beatles.

Steve Kelso – Jacob Moon slays this one man band version of ‘Subdivisions’ by Rush. This is a thing of beauty.

Randy Scott Marsh – Dred Zeppelin doing ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ or Weird Al doing ‘Amish Paradise’

Tom VanHammen – James Taylor doing Carole King’s ‘You’ve Got a Friend’

Pete Guidera, ‘Father Christmas’ by Mark Swanson

Clifford Thomas – Ooh! Swanson’s cover of Richard Thompson’s “1952 Vincent Black Lightning “

Julie Bernat Swanson – Tori Amos’ “Smells like Teen Spirit” is good

Tom VanHammen – Ted Yoder covering Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is pretty sweet.

John Crissman – The White Stripes covering Dolly Parton “Jolene”
Brandino Proch – I’m even more partial to The White Stripes covering Dusty Springfield’s “I Just What to Do with Myself”

Brian VanOchten – “You’re No Good” — Van Halen; “Rock On” — Def Leppard; “Bad Case of Loving You” — Robert Palmer; “Higher Ground” — Red Hot Chili Peppers; “Day By Day” — DC Talk

Scott Langford – Beck’s cover of Bowie’s “Sound and Vision.”

Ria Faber – Johnny Cash, “Hurt.”

Benjamin Riley – Jeff Buckley, “Hallelujah”

Honest John Kowalko – Most of the Beatles covers were better than the original but ‘Twist and
Shout’ seems to be the one that stands out.

Ted Smith – I thought this cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody knows” was very effective in the film “Justice League” by Sigrid.

Steve Secor – School of Fish doing Prince’s “Let’s Pretend We’re Married” or if I can mention a personal project, we used to do U2’s “Sweetest Thing” so much that when they released it as a single people thought they took our song.

Steve Grinczel – Rod Stewart’s cover of Dylan’s “Forever Young.”

Janet Lee Zahn – Staple Singers – Slippery People; David Byrne – I Wanna Dance With Somebody; Angelique Kidjo’s cover of the Miriam Makena classic “Pata Pata” retooled for the pandemic.

Bob Crissman – My top two: The Mavericks doing Neil Young’s ‘Harvest Moon’ or Disturbed doing Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Sound of Silence.’

Bradley Raffenaud – Bauhaus – Ziggy Stardust; Harry Styles’ cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer”

Tom VanHammen – I love Rare Earth’s version of Get Ready.

Barry Bazza Crawford – Every Olivia M Mainvielle cover is better than anyone else’s!

Sandra Gail – Lighting Matches performing “Africa” by Toto, “Dreams” by the Cranberries. I like the LM versions much better.

Waydutch Bob – Janice Joplin does my favorite version of ‘Summertime,’ the most covered song of all time according to one article.

Elijah Russ – Joe Sturgill did a great a cappella version of a Beatles tune, but I can’t remember which one it was.

Justin Wierenga – Peter Gabriel’s version of Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ is pretty amazing I always thought

Stef Loy – The Sundays – Wild Horses
Chris Carr – Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower

Drew Behringer – It won’t win any awards for best cover EVER (a title undisputedly held by Limp Bizkit’s “Faith,” of course), but this is my favorite of the last couple of years: Hayley Williams – Don’t Start Now (Dua Lipa cover)

Rex Larsen – Ronnie Earl and Hollywood Fats covers of ‘Okie Dokie Stomp’ by Gatemouth Brown are worth hearing often. Ann and Nancy Wilson, with Jason Bonham, playing ‘Stairway To Heaven’ for Led Zeppelin live at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012 deserves to be on this this list. Robert plant wept during the perfect performance.

Michael R. Hampton – Dig Infinity cover for Steely Dan’s “When Black Friday Comes.”

Randy Scott Marsh – I think organissimo’s cover of ‘Tax Man’ is pretty cool.

Rick Slachta – Nilsson strikes again! “Coconut” covered by Fred Schneider.

Stacy Slikkers Noonan – Dolly Parton – Shine

Tom VanHammen – Glen Campbell covering John Hartford’s ‘Gentle on my Mind.’

Jon Miner – Rickie Lee Jones ‘Under the Boardwalk’

Goldie Stilson – Best? Whitney’s version of ‘I Will Always Love You.’ My favorite? Joe Cocker’s version Cohen’s ‘Bird on the Wire.’ Conversely, the most overrated cover is Janis’s version of ‘Me & Bobby McGee.’

John Wenger – Beck • Sound and Vision

Clayton Boothe – I’m going with “Angel from Montgomery” covered by Susan Tedeschi in 1998 debut album “Just Won’t Burn.” Everybody thinks Bonnie Raitt wrote “Angel” because she made it such a big hit. I even saw Joan Osborne in concert cover it and say she was a little shy to do it because everybody so associates that song with Bonnie. But the songwriting credit belongs to John Prine, one of the most successful song ghostwriters of all time.

Jeff Martin – Perhaps Otis Redding doing “Try a Little Tenderness,” originally a kinda corny song from the early 1930s.

Mike Dodge – Hendrix…’Hey Joe,’ ‘All Along the Watchtower,’ ‘Like a Rolling Stone.’ Janis Joplin…’Summertime,’ ‘Ball and Chain.’ The Who, ‘Summertime Blues.’

Dave Adams – Change – John Waite

Chris Corey – Heart doing ‘Stairway’ at the Kennedy Center honors was real good.

Jess William Edwards Macintosh – Covers are absolutely awful. Especially the ones WYCE constantly plays. Please learn to write original music or at least pick an obscure cover not Top 40 hits.

Will Jurkiewicz – The Kingsmen: Louie, Louie’; The Isley Brothers: Summer Breeze; Devo: Satisfaction; Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Want to Have Fun.

John W. Hartel – Love Is The Answer by Todd Rundgren (cover) – Foxes and Fossils

Michael J Vizard – I love The Turtles’ version of ‘Eve of Destruction.’

Stephen Aldrich – Gary Jules cover of Tears For Fears’ ‘Mad World,’ went #1 in the UK. Jimmy Eats World doing ‘Firestarter’ by Prodigy is nice, too.

Kelly Latimer – Johnny Cash “Hurt”

Brian Kelly Rampenthal – Guns and Roses – Live and let Die

Arja Partanen Chetrick – “Hallelujah” by k.d. lang

Roger Kintner – Motorhead, “Louie, Louie”

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