Great covers

Good topic....

First thing that popped into my mind was the 'Trinity Session' album by the Cowboy Junkies. At least 3 really good covers on this release...

Sweet Jane (orig. Lou Reed/Velvet Underground)

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams)

Blue Moon (traditional, but most notably Elvis)

Interesting story behind the recording session in a Toronto church if you care to 'wikipedia' it....

OK, hear are the first ones I thought of...

The Byrds "Mr Tamborine Man" (originally Bob Dylan)

The Flying Burrito Brothers "Wild Horses" (originally Rolling Stones)

Vanilla Fudge "You Keep Me Hanging On" (originally The Supremes) this is the Profile song on my "My Space" page

Rare Earth "Get Ready" and (I Know) I'm Losing You (Origionally The Temptations)

Bob Dylan did a fantastic version of Blue Moon on his very underrated "Self Portrait" lp.

Rod Stewart on the "Every Picture tells a Story" lp "Reason To Believe" (Origionally Tim Harden) also "(I know) I'm Losing You" (Origionally The Temptations)

Janes Addiction - Sympathy for the Devil (Originally Rolling Stones)

Jerry Garcia does many Bob Dylan songs that are great, too many to list.

Thought of a few I missed when I grabbed my lunch:

Johnny Cash- Hurt (originally Nine Inch Nails)

Nouvelle Vague- The Killing Moon(originally Echo & the Bunnymen) I LOVE both versions.

311 - Love Song(The Cure)
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal(MJ)
Fugees - Killing Me Softly(Heather Graham)

Note: Fears has not chimed in, expect a novel!

Matt Heider said,

Note: Fears has not chimed in, expect a novel!

Not a novel, but quite a few stand out in my mind as good covers. Keep in mind that the first band that I was ever in at 16 years old, we played Metallica, Pantera, and Alice In Chains covers.

1. "Landslide" - Smashing Pumpkins (Fleetwood Mac)
2. "Higher Ground" Red Hot Chili Peppers (Stevie Wonder)
3. "I Will Survive" Cake (Gloria Gaynor)
4. "All Along the Watchtower" Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
5. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" - Deftones (The Smiths)
6. "Fire" Red Hot Chili Peppers (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
7. "Ask Me" Walking Concert (The Smiths)
8. "Enjoy The Silence" Failure (Depeche Mode)
9. "Mrs. Robinson" Lemonheads - (Simon and Garfunkel)
10. "Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon" Urge Overkill (Neil Diamond)
11. "Hazy Shade of Winter" The Bangles (Simon and Garfunkel)
12. "Toxic" The Chapin Sisters (Britney Spears) {I try to avoid B.S. ;-) but I saw them sing this live and it knocked my socks off... Their version is on their MySpace}

I'm forgetting many, but this is a good start :-)

Some more....

Just My Imagination - Rolling Stones (orig. The Temptations) Although the original version is still better, and maybe one of the best R & B songs ever released.

Big Yellow Taxi - Counting Crows (orig. Joni Mitchell)

I Can't Quit You, Baby - Led Zeppelin (orig. Willie Dixon)

You Shook Me - Led Zeppelin (orig. Willie Dixon) Willie Dixon was the most prolific blues songwriter of his time, and his music was covered by many of his contemporaries, but most importantly by younger rock bands in the 60s and 70s. A tremendous influence on the genre soon to be called hard rock, then heavy metal. Which was subsequently ruined by the 80's heavy metal bands, but that's an argument for another thread.

Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Eric Clapton (orig. Bob Dylan) Reggae influenced version - Eric was hanging out in Jamaica for a couple of years with Bob Marley and others when he released this in the mid-70's.

Season Of The Witch - Mike Bloomfield, Al Cooper, Stephen Stills (orig. Donovan)

The Sky Is Crying - Stevie Ray Vaughan (orig. Elmore James) James was another very early influence on rock and roll - esp for slide guitar players.

Chitlins Con Carne - Stevie Ray Vaughan (Kenny Burrell) Great jazz instrumental.

I Can't Stop Loving You - Van Morrison (Don Gibson) Also notably covered by Ray Charles, who was a big influence on Van.

I'm sure I'll think of more favorites later.

Tim Fears said,

Matt Heider said,

1. "Mrs. Robinson" Lemonheads - (Simon and Garfunkel)

I'm forgetting many, but this is a good start :-)

Yes!! Love the Lemonheads... I love that whole album (Its a Shame About Ray) especially "My Drug Buddy" .

"With a little help from my friends"... Beatles / Joe Cocker ...