| When it comes to remakes, they're either very good, very bad or not quite good enough. Here's our salute to the best of 'em, listed in alphabetical order by song title (with the original performer in italics). More will be added as time goes by. Have any great covers to suggest? E-mail here.
The Cover Versions
A
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg," The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones, 1974; originally done by The Temptations in 1966)
"Alfie," Dionne Warwick (Scepter, 1967; Cher, 1966)
"All I Have to Do Is Dream," Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell (Capitol, 1970; The Everly Brothers, 1958)
"Almost Saturday Night," Dave Edmunds (Swan Song, 1981; John Fogerty, 1975)
"Always On My Mind," Pet Shop Boys (EMI-Manhattan, 1988; Willie Nelson, 1982)
"Almost Saturday Night," Dave Edmunds (Swan Song, 1981; John Fogerty, 1975)
"Angel of the Morning," Juice Newton (Capitol, 1981; Merrilee Rush, 1968)
"Another Saturday Night," Cat Stevens (A&M, 1974; Sam Cooke, 1963)
"Any Day Now," Ronnie Milsap (RCA, 1982; Chuck Jackson, 1962)
"Apache," Incredible Bongo Band (MGM, 1973; Jorgen Ingmann, 1961)
B
"Baby, I Love You," Andy Kim (Steed, 1969; The Ronettes, 1964)
"Baby I Need Your Lovin'," Johnny Rivers (Imperial, 1967; The Four Tops, 1964)
"Baby It's You," Smith (Dunhill/ABC, 1969; The Shirelles, 1962)
"The Bells," The Originals (Soul, 1970; James Brown, 1960)
"Blue Bayou," Linda Ronstadt (Asylum, 1977; Roy Orbison, 1963)
"Blue Moon," The Marcels (Colpix, 1961; Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart standard ballad, 1934)
"Blue Suede Shoes," Elvis Presley (RCA, 1956; Carl Perkins, 1956)
"Blue Velvet," Bobby Vinton (Epic, 1963; Tony Bennett, 1951)
"Blueberry Hill," Fats Domino (Imperial, 1957; Gene Autry, 1941)
"Bluebirds Over the Mountain," The Beach Boys (Capitol, 1968; Ersel Hickey, 1958)
"Bongo Rock," Incredible Bongo Band (MGM, 1973; Preston Epps, 1959)
"Bridge Over Troubled Water," Aretha Franklin (Atlantic, 1971; Simon & Garfunkel, 1970)
"Bring It On Home to Me," The Animals (MGM, 1965; Sam Cooke, 1962)
C
"C.C. Rider," The Animals (MGM, 1966; Chuck Willis, 1957)
"California Dreamin'," Bobby Womack (Minit, 1968; The Mamas & the Papas, 1966)
"California Dreamin'," The Beach Boys (Capitol, 1986; The Mamas & the Papas, 1966)
"Can't Help Falling in Love," UB40 (Virgin, 1993; Elvis Presley, 1962)
"Cara, Mia," Jay & The Americans (United Artists, 1965; David Whitfield with Mantovani and His Orchestra, 1954)
"A Certain Girl," Warren Zevon (Asylum, 1980; Ernie K-Doe, 1961)
"Come On Let's Go," The McCoys (Bang, 1966; Ritchie Valens, 1958)
"Cry Baby," Janis Joplin (Columbia, 1971; Garnet Mimms, 1963)
"Crying," Don McLean (Millennium, 1981; Roy Orbison, 1961)
"The Crying Game," Boy George (SBK, 1993; Dave Berry, 1964)
D
"Dancing in the Street," Van Halen (Warner, 1982; Martha & The Vandellas, 1964)
"Dedicated to the One I Love," The Mamas & the Papas (Dunhill, 1967; The Shirelles, 1959)
"Deep Purple," Nino Tempo & April Stevens (Atco, 1963; Paul Whiteman, 1940)
"Devil With a Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly," Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels (New Voice, 1966; Shorty Long, 1964, and Little Richard, 1958)
"Do You Want to Dance," The Beach Boys (Capitol, 1965; Bobby Freeman, 1958)
"Don't Be Cruel," Cheap Trick (Epic, 1988; Elvis Presley, 1956)
"Don't Worry Baby," B.J. Thomas (MCA, 1977; The Beach Boys, 1964)
"Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)," Glen Campbell (Capitol, 1971; Roy Orbison, 1962)
"Dream Merchant," The New Birth (Buddah, 1975; Jerry Butler, 1967)
E
"Early in the Morning," Robert Palmer (EMI-Manhattan, 1988; The Gap Band, 1982)
"Ebb Tide," Lenny Welch (Cadence, 1964; Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra, 1953)
"Ebb Tide," The Righteous Brothers (Philles, 1965; Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra, 1953)
"Eleanor Rigby," Aretha Franklin (Atlantic, 1969; The Beatles, 1968)
"Everlasting Love," Carl Carlton (Back Beat, 1974; Robert Knight, 1967)
"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love," Wilson Pickett (Atlantic, 1967; Solomon Burke, 1964)
F
"Fever," Peggy Lee (Capitol, 1958; Little Willie John, 1956)
"Fever," The McCoys (Bang, 1965; Little Willie John, 1956)
"Fire," The Pointer Sisters (Planet, 1978; Robert Gordon, 1978 - written by Bruce Springsteen)
"The First Cut Is the Deepest," Rod Stewart (Warner, 1977; Cat Stevens, 1967)
"The Fool on the Hill," Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 (A&M, 1968; The Beatles, 1967)
"Funky Broadway," Dyke and The Blazers (Original Sound, 1967; Wilson Pickett, 1967)
G
"Georgia On My Mind," Willie Nelson (Columbia, 1978; Ray Charles, 1960 - written by Hoagy Carmichael in 1930)
"Get It On," The Power Station (Capitol, 1985; T. Rex, 1972 - originally titled "Bang a Gong [Get It On]")
"Get Ready," Rare Earth (Rare Earth/Motown, 1970; The Temptations, 1966)
"Get Together," The Youngbloods (RCA, 1967; We Five, 1965)
"(Ghost) Riders in the Sky," The Outlaws (Arista, 1980; Vaughn Monroe, 1949)
"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," Urge Overkill (MCA, 1994; Neil Diamond, 1967)
"Gloria," The Shadows of Knight (Dunwich, 1966; Them, 1965)
"Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You," The Lettermen (Capitol, 1967; Little Anthony and The Imperials, 1964, and Frankie Valli, 1967)
"Going to a Go-Go," The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones, 1982; Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 1965)
"Got to Get You Into My Life," Earth, Wind & Fire (Columbia, 1978; The Beatles, 1966)
"Greatest Love of All," Whitney Houston (Arista, 1986; George Benson, 1977)
"Gypsy Woman," Brian Hyland (Uni, 1970; The Impressions, 1961)
H
"Handy Man," James Taylor (Columbia, 1977; Jimmy Jones, 1960)
"Hard to Handle," The Black Crowes (Def American, 1990; Otis Redding, 1968)
"Harlem Shuffle," The Rolling Stones (Rolling Stones, 1986; Bob & Earl, 1964)
"Heat Wave," Linda Ronstadt (Asylum, 1975; Martha & The Vandellas, 1963)
"Hello Stranger," Yvonne Elliman (RSO, 1977; Barbara Lewis, 1963)
"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)," UB40 (Virgin, 1991; Al Green, 1973)
"Hey Joe," Jimi Hendrix (Reprise, 1967; The Leaves, 1966)
"Hot Rod Lincoln," Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen (Paramount, 1972; Tiny Hill, 1951)
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," James Taylor (Columbia, 1975; Marvin Gaye, 1965)
"Hurt So Bad," The Lettermen (Capitol, 1969; Little Anthony and The Imperials, 1965)
"Hush," Deep Purple (Tetragrammaton, 1968; Billy Joe Royal, 1967)
I
"I Can Hear Music," The Beach Boys (Capitol, 1969; The Ronettes, 1966)
"I Can See Clearly Now," Jimmy Cliff (Chaos/Columbia, 1994; Johnny Nash, 1972)
"I Can't Get Next to You," Al Green (Hi, 1971; The Temptations, 1969)
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," Otis Redding (Volt, 1966; The Rolling Stones, 1965)
"I Can't Let Go," Linda Ronstadt (Asylum, 1980; The Hollies, 1980)
"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On," Robert Palmer (Island, 1986; Cherrelle, 1984)
"I Don't Need No Doctor," Humble Pie (A&M, 1971; Ray Charles, 1966)
"I Hear You Knocking," Fats Domino (Imperial, 1961; Smiley Lewis, 1955)
"I Hear You Knocking," Dave Edmunds (MAM, 1971; Smiley Lewis, 1955)
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine," Marvin Gaye (Tamla, 1968; Gladys Knight & The Pips, 1967)
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine," Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy, 1970; Gladys Knight & The Pips, 1967)
"(I Know) I'm Losing You," Rare Earth (Rare Earth/Motown, 1970; The Temptations, 1966)
"(I Know) I'm Losing You," Rod Stewart with Faces (Mercury, 1971; The Temptations, 1966)
"I Only Have Eyes for You," Art Garfunkel (Columbia, 1975; The Flamingos, 1959)
"I Thank You," ZZ Top (Warner, 1980; Sam & Dave, 1968)
"I Want Candy," Bow Wow Wow (RCA, 1982; The Strangeloves, 1965)
"I Want to Take You Higher," Ike & Tina Turner & the Ikettes (Liberty, 1970; Sly & The Family Stone, 1969)
"I'll Be There," Mariah Carey (Columbia, 1992; The Jackson 5, 1970)
"I'm a Man," Chicago (Columbia, 1971; Spencer Davis Group, 1967)
"I'm a Woman," Maria Muldaur (Reprise, 1975; Peggy Lee, 1963)
"I'm Every Woman," Whitney Houston (Arista, 1993; Chaka Khan, 1978)
"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," Diana Ross and The Supremes & The Temptations (Motown, 1969; Dee Dee Warwick, 1966)
"I'm Movin' On," John Kay (Dunhill/ABC, 1972; Hank Snow, 1950)
"I've Got You Under My Skin," Louis Prima & Keely Smith (Capitol, 1959; Ray Noble, 1934 - written by Cole Porter)
"I've Got You Under My Skin," The 4 Seasons (Philips, 1966; Ray Noble, 1934 - written by Cole Porter)
"If I Were a Carpenter," The Four Tops (Motown, 1968; Bobby Darin, 1966)
"If I Were a Carpenter," Bob Seger (Capitol, 1972; Bobby Darin, 1966)
"If You Don't Know Me By Now," Simply Red (Elektra, 1989; Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, 1972)
"Iko Iko," Dr. John (Atco, 1972; The Dixie Cups, 1965)
"Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)," Raiders (Columbia, 1971; Don Fardon, 1968)
"It Ain't Me Babe," The Turtles (White Whale, 1965; Bob Dylan, 1964)
"It's Only Make Believe," Glen Campbell (Capitol, 1970; Conway Twitty, 1958)
J
"Jenny Take a Ride!" (medley of "Jenny, Jenny" and "C.C. Rider"), Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels (Millennium, 1966; Little Richard, 1957, and Chuck Willis, 1957))
"Jesus Is Just Alright," The Doobie Brothers (Warner, 1973; The Byrds, 1970)
"Jim Dandy," Black Oak Arkansas (Atco, 1973; LaVerne Baker, 1957)
"Just Don't Want to Be Lonely," The Main Ingredient (RCA, 1974; Ronnie Dyson, 1973)
"Just One Look," The Hollies (Imperial, 1964; Doris Troy, 1963)
K
"Kentucky Woman," Deep Purple (Tetragrammaton, 1968; Neil Diamond, 1967)
M
"Me and Bobby McGee," Janis Joplin (Columbia, 1971; Roger Miller, 1969 - written by Kris Kristofferson)
O
"Oh Yeah," The Shadows of Knight (Dunwich, 1966; Bo Diddley, 1959)
|
