Best rock cover songs, list your favorites

Here are a few more of my favorite choices on the "That's a cover?" list.

"Money Changes Everything" was recorded by The Brains before Cyndi Lauper hit with it and "Patches" (best worst song ever?) was written by Norman "General" Johnson (of both The Showmen and The Chairmen of The Board) before Clarence Carter's take on the song charted. However, my favorite is probably "(You've Tied Me Down with) Battleship Chains" covered by the Georgia Satellites.

It was written by Terry Anderson of The Woods. The song was on a Woods record that sold almost zero copies (I've got one!) so most people know the tune as a Satellites song. BTW, my wife refused to let the band play the song as the recessional at our wedding, despite the fact that it is lyrically perfect for that purpose.

Marty

marty, that's damn funny. my wedding processional was "chains", the carole king/little eva song, later covered badly by the beatles. agree with you on "patches" too--definitely the greatest bad song ever, with "billy, don't be a hero" a close contender.

Ozzy,
I will have to look for that obscure cover.

Marty,
I did not know that "Battleship Chains" by Georgia Satellites was a cover. Is the original worth looking for?

There are so many good covers of certain artists who are great song writers, with limitations as performers. I can think of a number of Leonard Cohen songs that I much prefer covers, e.g., "First we Take Manhattan" (R.E.M.), "Hallelujah" (Jeff Buckley), and "Everybody Knows" (Concrete Blonde).

Another very good version of "All Along the Watchtower" by Neil Young performing it live on the Bob Dylan anniversary album.

Larry,

I wouldn't pull my hair out looking for the original - and you'd probably have to jump thru a bunch of hoops to find it. Outside of the addition of some foghorns (presumably for nautical effect), it hews pretty close to the Satellites' version. However, IMHO, there is another version that is worth looking for. Hindu Love Gods (basically REM with Warren Zevon handling the vocals in place of Michael Stipe) did a great take on the song.

Marty