50 Greatest Cover Versions

[Liam]

50 Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards, 1986

orig. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, 1975

49 Going Back to My Roots - Richie Havens, 1980

orig. Lamont Dozier, 1977

48 Step On - Happy Mondays, 1991

orig. John Kongos, 1971

47 Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) - The Wedding Present, 1990

orig. Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, 1975

46 The Robots - Señor Coconut & His Orchestra, 2000

Orig. Kraftwerk, 1978

45 Rock el Casbah - Rachid Taha, 2004

orig. The Clash, 1982

44 Oops I Did it Again - Richard Thompson, 2003

orig. Britney Spears, 2000

43 Jolene - One Dove, 1993

orig. Dolly Parton, 1974

42 David Bowie - It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City, 1975

Orig. Bruce Springsteen, 1973

41 Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles, 1987

orig. Simon & Garfunkel, 1966

40 I Fought the Law - The Clash, 1979

Orig. The Crickets, 1959

39 Ms Jackson - The Vines, 2002

orig. Outkast, 2000

38 Wichita Lineman - Dennis Brown, 1970

orig. Glen Campbell, 1968

37 Heartbreak Hotel - John Cale, 1975

orig. Elvis Presley, 1956

36 Dear Prudence - Siouxsie & the Banshees, 1983

orig. The Beatles, 1968

35 Gloria - Patti Smith, 1975

orig. Them, 1965

34 Fell In Love With A Boy - Joss Stone, 2003

orig. the White Stripes, 2001

33 Money (That's What I Want) - The Flying Lizards, 1980

orig. The Beatles, 1963 (after barrett strong, 1959)

32 Chimes of Freedom - Youssou N'dour, 1994

orig. Bob Dylan, 1964

31 Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word - Mary J Blige, 2004

orig. Elton John, 1976

30 I'm A Believer - Robert Wyatt, 1974

orig. The Monkees, 1966 (written by Neil Diamond)

29 Black Steel - Tricky, 1995

orig. Public Enemy, 1988

28 Jealous Guy - Roxy Music, 1981

Orig. John Lennon, 1971

27 Summertime Blues - The Who, 1968

orig. Eddie Cochran, 1958

26 I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - The White Stripes, 2003

orig. Dusty Springfield, 1964

25 Wonderwall - Ryan Adams, 2004

orig. Oasis, 1995

24 Why Can't We Live Together - Sade, 1985

orig. Timmy Thomas, 1972

23 Caravan of Love - Housemartins, 1986

orig. Isley Jasper Isley, 1985

22 (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Devo, 1978

Rolling Stones, 1965

21 Only Love Can Break Your Heart - St Etienne, 1990

orig. Neil Young, 1970

20 Police and Thieves - The Clash, 1977

orig. Junior Murvin, 1976

19 Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies, 1988

orig. Velvet Underground, 1970

18 Just Can't Get Enough - Nouvelle Vague, 2004

Orig: Depeche Mode, 1981

17 Mad World - Gary Jules, 2003

Orig. Tears For Fears, 1982

16 Billie Jean - Shinehead, 1984

orig. Michael Jackson, 1982

15 Wild Horses - The Flying Burrito Bros, 1971

orig. The Rolling Stones, 1970

14 Rocket Man - Kate Bush, 1991

orig. Elton John, 1970

13 My Favourite Things - John Coltrane, 1960

orig. Rodgers and Hammerstein (The Sound of Music), 1959

12 One - Johnny Cash, 2002

orig. U2, 1991

11 Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Roberta Flack, 1971

orig. Shirelles, 1960

10 Mr Bojangles - Nina Simone, 1971

orig. Jerry Jeff Walker, 1967

9 Comfortably Numb - Scissor Sisters, 2004

Orig. Pink Floyd, 1979

8 Twist and Shout - The Beatles, 1963

Orig. the Isley Brothers, 1960

7 Mr Tambourine Man - The Byrds, 1965

orig. Bob Dylan, 1964

6 Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981

orig. Gloria Jones, 1964

5 Respect - Aretha Franklin, 1967

orig. Otis Redding, 1965

4 Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, 1993

orig. Leonard Cohen, 1984

3 My Way - Sid Vicious, 1979

orig. Frank Sinatra, 1969 (after Paul Anka, 1969)

2 You Were Always on My Mind - Pet Shop Boys, 1987

orig. Elvis Presley, 1972 (after brenda lee, 1971)

1 All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1968

orig. Bob Dylan, 1967

Credit: Telegraph newspaper and website

Just interested to see what people think of some of these choices. Can't really argue with the winner, but Joss Stone's White Stripes cover getting in there is rubbish, and I don't like Ryan Adams' version of Wonderwall, in comparison to the Oasis version.

[tristy]

Devo's cover of Head Like A Hole was better.

Yeah, this list is PURE shit. Someone covered a Britney Spears song and got on the list? The White Stripes? What the fuck?

[Liam]

Devo's cover of Head Like A Hole was better.

Yeah, this list is PURE shit. Someone covered a Britney Spears song and got on the list? The White Stripes? What the fuck?

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Considering I bet you don't know half the songs, we'll ignore that first comment

[Hobo]

Pet Shop Boys version of Always On My Mind is inferior to Willie Nelson's version and Sid Vicious' My Way is awful.

[Quom]

No Hurt sucks the fat one. Also Jolene by the White Stripes is far superior to their cover of I just don't know what to do with myself.

[Evil Chase K]

The Clarks' version of "Dear Prudence" is the best cover of that song.

And Willie Nelson's version of "You Were Always On My Mind" is better than the one they list.

[GoGo Yubari]

39 Ms Jackson - The Vines, 2002

orig. Outkast, 2000

WHAT? That cover sucks. Hell, if you want to include a Vines cover go with their cover of "I'm Only Sleeping" by The Beatles.

I submit that Ben Harper's cover of Strawberry Fields Forever OWNS that shit.

[Skummy]

Sid Vicious' My Way is awful.

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But that's the point!

I don't really agree with this, but there's a couple (most notably The Wedding Present - Come Up And See Me and John Cale - Heartbreak Hotel) that I'm really glad, and somewhat surprised, to see up there.

[public enemy]

Personally I thought the Scissor Sister's version of Comfortably Numb was horrendous. Especially given the fact the original is such a classic.

[mattman1624]

A cover of 'Oops I did it again' makes this list, and Van Halen's cover of The Kinks 'You Really Got Me' doesn't. Pure travesty.

[lanky316]

I'm shocked at how many of those covers were released only a year or two after release. Some good covers in there though but some horrible piles of shit too. Typical newspaper poll then...

[TOG]

A cover of 'Oops I did it again' makes this list, and Van Halen's cover of The Kinks 'You Really Got Me' doesn't.  Pure travesty.

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[Liam]

A cover of 'Oops I did it again' makes this list, and Van Halen's cover of The Kinks 'You Really Got Me' doesn't.  Pure travesty.

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Van Halen shouldn't make any best of/greatest countdown for anything ever. Unless it's sucking.

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omfg stfu jump >_>

[Cactus Drags]

Fozzy's version of Where Eagles Dare is great.

[GhostMachine]

Sammy Davis Jr's version of Mr. Bojangles > Anyone else's version of Mr. Bojangles.

And I'm sorry, but Brian Setzer and Blue Cheer both did better covers of Summertime Blues. The Who's version is okay, but those other two versions are better.

[TMM]

6 Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981

orig. Gloria Jones, 1964

By god...I didn't even know that was a cover. But fuck me if it isn't awful. Now if you replace Soft Cell with Marilyn Manson, then I wouldn't complain.

[Liam]

6 Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981

orig. Gloria Jones, 1964

By god...I didn't even know that was a cover. But fuck me if it isn't awful. Now if you replace Soft Cell with Marilyn Manson, then I wouldn't complain.

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What, the really awful Marilyn Manson cover of a cover?

Soft Cell's original is a classic for a reasons....MM's Tainted Love and Personal Jesus exploits show he has done two too many cover versions.

[Cactus Drags]

The original is far greater than both Soft Cell's and MM's version. MM's Sweet Dreams should definitely be on the list though.

[lafunky xxvii]

6 Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981

orig. Gloria Jones, 1964

By god...I didn't even know that was a cover. But fuck me if it isn't awful. Now if you replace Soft Cell with Marilyn Manson, then I wouldn't complain.

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