Best rock cover songs, list your favorites

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

Loomis,

Yes, "Billy Don't Be A Hero".. ah, the memories. While that may appear to be another thread entirely.............IT'S NOT!

Let's not forget that Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods actually COVERED that thing (or was it Paper Lace that covered The Bo Donalson song?)

Either way, it's a cover worth cherishing and avoiding like the plague at the same time.

Marty