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[spoon_of_grimbo]

Since "The Terrible Covers Thread!" seems to be taking off, why not have a thread for cover songs that actually don't suck?  The search function keeps going to a "page not found" page whenever I try and use it, but scanning back a few pages in the music sub-forum, I've found nothing recent on the same topic.  I'll kick things off with these:

Jawbox's Cover of Tori Amos' "Cornflake Girl"

Irish rockers Therapy? joined by Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson for a cover of Deep Purple's "Black Night"

Mastodon's slightly-beefed-up-but-mostly-true-to-the-original Cover of Thin Lizzy's "Emerald"

Now-defunct UK metal band Sikth covering Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "Tupelo"

[imapiratearg]

Mastodon also did a ZZ Top song for a Myspace covers album that rocked pretty hard.

Also: Dinosaur Jr. doing Peter Frampton at the end of You're Living All Over Me.

[Dazed]

Jimi Hendrix doing Dylan's All Along the Watchtower.
Cream doing Robert Johnson's Crossroad Blues.
Led Zeppelin doing Robert Johnson's Travelling Riverside Blues.
Yes doing Simon and Garfunkel's America.
Cake doing Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. Actually, pretty much anything Cake covers is pretty good.

[Cadeonehalf]

You're Wrong.

But Nirvana's cover of Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World is awesome.
Also:
Jimi Hendrix covering the Beatles
Joe Cocker covering the Beatles (I actually prefer this to the original)
Staind covering Tool
and
System of a Down covering Wu Tang Clan

[Lhefriel_Medies]

I am not sure if this belongs here but there is no way that I can call this terrible.

[valley_parade]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRLBCeC-uCk

I'm counting it.

[sean]

guys anyone up for a thread where we do covers ourselves again?

[scarred]

Patti Smith - Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Also, Starfucker's cover of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" is excellent.

[the_pied_piper]

Patti Smith - Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect
Russian Red - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Joshua Radin - Only You
Rosie Thomas - The One I Love
Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel

[Dazed]

You're Wrong.

See, I think this is pretty awesome. The organ part just rocks that song.

This on the other hand

Staind covering Tool

Is fucking horrendous.

[fish across face]

The Advanced Search works.  Rather than search on covers I tried "such great heights" because I knew someone would be giving love to Iron & Wine.

http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,3256.0.html
http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,10858.0.html

Looks like it's been a couple of years though, unless people have stopped raving about that song.

Otis Gayle - I'll Be Around (can't beat The Spinners, but it's still so so good)
Shinehead - Billie Jean (with added Morricone references!?  Haha... love those super raw drum machine beats)
Curtis Mayfield - We've Only Just Begun
Chaka Khan feat. Melle Mel - I Feel For You (Lolling vid, but can't find the real thing)
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

[the_pied_piper]

Speaking of The Postal Service
Frank Turner - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

And just to add one more
The Decemberists - Bridges And Balloons

[TheFuriousWombat]

Arcade Fire does some decent live covers. They did the Bruce Springsteen song 'State Trooper' quite well. I'm not talking about the version they did with Springsteen since that one's god awful but they've done the song at least once on their own and it's great.

[E. Spaceman]

Take Me To The River - Talking Heads, original by Al Green
Take Ecstasy With Me - !!!, Original by The Magnetic Fields
Chromatics - I'm On Fire, original by Bruce Springsteen
Any Way That You Want Me - Spiritualized, original by Chip Taylor but performed by The Troggs
I Found A Reason - Cat Power, Original by the Velvet Underground.



tons more, really

[Zingoleb]

There was a commercial out a few years ago where these people did "Sweet Child O' Mine" using sitars and Indian drumming and vocals which was entirely kick ass. Will dig up a link if anyone wants to hear.

[scarred]

Oh, the Killers did a cover of Bright Eyes' "Four Winds."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no6_COroeLY

It's one of the first and only Killers songs that I actually enjoyed. They definitely make it their own.

[Zingoleb]

Also! I just mentioned this in the terrible covers thread, but, Ozzy Osbourne put out a covers album a few years back (out of which, three songs are Lennon). It's mostly assorted classic rock, along the lines of Bowie, Beatles, Rolling Stones...it's fairly hit and miss, but!

He did an amazing version of Sunshine of Your Love on it. I don't really care much for the original (I think it's a great song, but then they got Eric Clapton to play on it), but this version is so much fucking heavier and awesome, I just love it. I have to go put this on now. Yes. Yes.

[scarred]

Oh, yeh!

Marissa Nadler - Chelsea Hotel #2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omIrE-OEYiI

/bawling

[imapiratearg]

Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel

This technically isn't a cover, since Dylan only wrote the chorus.  It's more of an homage, I guess you would say?

guys anyone up for a thread where we do covers ourselves again?

I am always up for this.

[Invammocon]

Vitamin String Quartet pulls off a lot of covers well, I don't like most of what they cover but looking at iTunes, they have over 200 albums. All tribute albums. I have to say they did System of a Down really well.

[Johnny C]

Oh, the Killers did a cover of Bright Eyes' "Four Winds."

They're putting out a covers record apparently, including - and I'm not kidding - a take on Murray Head's "One Night In Bangkok."

[Retrospectre]

Also: Dinosaur Jr. doing Peter Frampton at the end of You're Living All Over Me.

Yes.

And their version of "Just Like Heaven" that shows up on some versions of YLAOM.

[Yakob]

Oh, the Killers did a cover of Bright Eyes' "Four Winds."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no6_COroeLY

It's one of the first and only Killers songs that I actually enjoyed. They definitely make it their own.

This belongs in either this thread or the terrible covers thread. I'm gonna go with this one.

[Will]

Guys, my cover of "Sk8er Boi" is obviously the most superiour cover song EVER!

For those of you unfamiliar with this, you can go to my Space and look for it.

[the_pied_piper]

Will, that is how Sk8er Boi should've been performed originally.

Some more covers
Frou Frou - Holding Out For A Hero
The Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine

[boneykingofnowhere]

I was coming in here to post both the Dinosaur Jr covers.
I will forever love Dave Grohl's half-assed cover of Stairway to Heaven. Cracks me up every time.

[Thrillho]

Now-defunct UK metal band Sikth covering Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "Tupelo"

Spoon, you are fast becoming my favourite forumite.

I fucking LOVE SikTh. I miss them.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

Now-defunct UK metal band Sikth covering Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "Tupelo"

Spoon, you are fast becoming my favourite forumite.

I fucking LOVE SikTh. I miss them.

same here man, they were an amazing band, possibly the best in the UK.  do you have all their stuff?  I've got the two full-lengths, the "scent of the obscene" EP (with an awesome cover of Maiden's "Wrathchild"), and the "Flogging the Horses" EP (mostly demos/alternate versions, and a remix).  let me know if you need any of it, and i'll up it in the mediaf!re thread.

[JayJayD]

The Sisters of Mercy's cover versions of Gimme Shelter (Rolling Stones) and Emma (Hot Chocolate) are superb, and much better than the respective originals.

I also like some of Placebo's covers, like Daddy Cool (Boney M.) and Jackie (Sinead O'Connor), even though it's unforgivable how they fucked up Bigmouth Strikes Again (Smiths).

What's really awesome is fIREHOSE covering Public Enemy's Sophisticated Bitch on the Live EP.













   

[jimbunny]

Great Aunt Ida covering the Waterboys' "Fisherman's Blues"

I like it about the same as the original, but on this version you really get a feel for how great the lyrics are. Plus, I love Great Aunt Ida.

[The Joker]

I think it's a great song [Sunshine of Your Love], but then they got Eric Clapton to play on it

FUCK.

YOU.

[scarred]

Oh, the Killers did a cover of Bright Eyes' "Four Winds."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no6_COroeLY

It's one of the first and only Killers songs that I actually enjoyed. They definitely make it their own.

This belongs in either this thread or the terrible covers thread. I'm gonna go with this one.

... I like 2 Killers songs now.

[iamiam]

I don't even dislike the Killers, but both those covers are awful.

Off the top of my head, Cap'n Jazz covering Take On Me is the best thing.

[Thrillho]

same here man, they were an amazing band, possibly the best in the UK.  do you have all their stuff?  I've got the two full-lengths, the "scent of the obscene" EP (with an awesome cover of Maiden's "Wrathchild"), and the "Flogging the Horses" EP (mostly demos/alternate versions, and a remix).  let me know if you need any of it, and i'll up it in the mediaf!re thread.

Send me your MSN so I can give you a blow job.

I don't have any of the B-sides or EP stuff, but I'm not up for illegal stuff these days, so you can hang onto those and I'll see if I can find a website that does them as a pay download. I think the one I use is pretty good at that.

[Nuance]

I only know of a live version of dubious quality.  But I've always really enjoyed this cover by A Perfect Circle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylNKvcDjEbE

[Zingoleb]

I think it's a great song [Sunshine of Your Love], but then they got Eric Clapton to play on it

FUCK.

YOU.

Ha! Ha! I stand by my statement. It sounds half-assed to me. Baker did the drumming, Bruce did the main riff, and Clapton did the meandering, lost solo. Starts out great! Those bends! This is going to be epic! Then it goes into this wandering solo without much form. It sounds like he's drunk and stumbling through it.

He probably was. I will say it again: It would have been a great song, but then they got Clapton to play on it.

[The Joker]

Whatever.  I'm huddling in a corner, pretending you're not there to disagree with me.  hummmmmclaptonisgodmmmmmmmmm

...ahem. 

On topic, I really liked the version of "I Feel Good" on E.R.  Also, the version of "Take a Chance on Me" that was on The Office.  Heh heh.

[Zingoleb]

I will disagree on the topic of any and all guitar gods, even if I do truly enjoy them all

The only exception is David Gilmour who plays to his strengths (i.e. will not play fast).

[Blue Kitty]

Sam Llyod-Hey Ya.  Who knew if it was song in slow motion it would be awesome.

[fish across face]

Sam Llyod-Hey Ya.

^ Haha, I read that as some lengthy Gaelic name, what with the typo and the punctuation.

There's a pretty good cover of Hey Ya on the  latest Booker T album, actually.  Same damn organ after all these years.

[onewheelwizzard]

This Aussie band called Buffalo wrote a song back in the 70's called "Freedom" and it's been covered by Colour Haze and Screaming Trees (no links available unfortunately).

Both covers have been really, really, mind-blowingly good.

Also, Queens of the Stone Age have done some pretty amazing covers (Romeo Void's "Never Say Never," ZZ Top's "Precious and Grace," The Kinks' "Who'll Be the Next in Line" and "Everybody's Gonna Be Happy," Billy Idol's "White Wedding," a few more).

Oh, and Kyuss's cover of "Into the Void" is, for my money, the best Black Sabbath cover ever recorded.  Holy shit is that a good cover.

[Invammocon]

I also enjoy the Mindless Self Indulgence cover of "Big Poppa" (Notorious B.I.G.) and Method Man's "Bring the Pain", I don't even know if I've heard the originals though. I don't believe anyone here could agree with this though.

[good better best bested]

Alice Russell has a pretty sweet cover of seven nation army.
There's also one of Crazy.
http://www.myspace.com/alicerusselluk

[rynne]

Aretha Franklin - "Respect" (orig. Otis Redding).  How has this thread gone so long without this song?  Best cover ever.

The Slits - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (orig. Marvin Gaye/Gladys Knight & the Pips).  I mentioned this in the bassline thread.  Awesome song + completely massive dubbed-out bass = even more awesome song.

The Fire Show - "You Are My Sunshine" (orig. The Pine Ridge Boys).  This cover slows down the tempo and turns up the bleakness to make a singularly gut-wrenching experience.

Coil - "Tainted Love" (orig. Gloria Jones).  Maybe I just like upbeat lost-love songs reset as dirges?  Coil's take on Soft Cell's arrangement recasts the song as a harrowing rumination on AIDS.

[Chad K.]

Shiner's cover of "Feel Like Makin' Love" by Bad Company.  It's obscure, youcan only find it on the "Makin' Love" E.P., but it's sooo good.  I had no idea what the song was until the chorus kicked in.

Second Jawbox's cover of "Cornflake Girl" by Tori Amos.  All about J. Robbins' gee-tar. 

Nina Simone's cover of "I Put a Spell on You."  This is so soulful, so sad, and so scary all at once.  Powerful cover of what's really a goofy song.

My Brightest Diamond's Cover of "Feelin' Good" by Nina Simone.  Perfect.

Jeff Buckley's cover of "Grace" by Leonard Cohen. Somebody has to eventually say it. 

Matt Weddle's cover of "Hey Ya" by Outkast.  This was brilliant.  I'm curious about this one- I live in Phoenix, Arizona where Matt Weddle and his band, Obadiah Parker reside.  This cover got HUGE airplay here.  Was this a national phenomenon as well?

Also, speaking of Weddle's band- Obadiah Parker's cover of "Idioteque" by Radiohead.

[imapiratearg]

That "Feelin' Good" cover on Dark Was the Night?  It's goddamn epic.

[spoon_of_grimbo]

Jeff Buckley's cover of "Grace" by Leonard Cohen. Somebody has to eventually say it. 

for a second there i thought "why didn't i think of that?!" but to be fair, i always forget it's a cover.  jeff's is pretty much the definitive version - i kinda view any versions before it as sorta rough foundations, and the covers that came after it as "lame."


also, i'm gonna add to this list 36 Crazyfists' cover of Faith No More's "Digging the Grave."  They put a BIT of a metalcore twist on it, enough to increase the heaviness, but not enough to spoil the song.  And it helps that Brock is a pretty distinctive vocalist, like Mike Patton.

[Chad K.]

That "Feelin' Good" cover on Dark Was the Night?  It's goddamn epic.

That's the one.  If you can find the live youtube version it's even better.

[pwhodges]

[rynne]

jeff's is pretty much the definitive version - i kinda view any versions before it as sorta rough foundations, and the covers that came after it as "lame."

Personally I much, much, much prefer John Cale's version from I'm Your Fan.

Cale's version was the best thing about Shrek.