Covering songs is as old as rock and roll itself. Elvis covered countless songs written and performed by other people and throughout the ensuing decades, others have done it as well. Some have been good, a few even better than the original, and some have been awful. I've compiled a list of what I feel are the 50 Greatest Rock Covers of all-time. Some of these are obvious covers, many of them I had no idea that they weren't original songs. Click on the links to see and hear the differences in the songs from over the years.
50. God of Thunder by KISS (1976)
God of Thunder by Iced Earth (2002)
At the time that this song was released it was probably the heaviest thing ever recorded. This deep cut from 1976's Destroyer album was recorded even heavier on Iced Earth's 2002 album Tribute to the Gods. It was also covered by White Zombie (Rob Zombie's original band) but it is absolutely awful.
49. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by Amos Milburn (1953)
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by John Lee Hooker (1966)
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by George Thorogood and the Destroyers (1977)
This classic blues song originated in 1953 but its most famous incarnation came in 1977 when George Thorogood and the Destroyers brought it to rock radio everywhere.
48. American Woman by The Guess Who (1970)
American Woman by Lenny Kravitz (1999)
This is one of the most famous classic rock songs from the Vietnam Era by Canadian group The Guess Who. Kravitz re-recorded in 1999 for Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
47. I Wanna Be Sedated by The Ramones (1977)
I Wanna Be Sedated by The Offspring (2003)
It is one of the most famous punk rock songs of all-time. It is also one of the most covered punk songs too. It's America's best punk bands' take on their predecessors that is the best, though. The Offspring's version was included in the cult-classic film Idle Hands as well.
46. Smokin' in the Boys Room by Brownsville Station (1973)
Smokin in the Boys Room by Motley Crue (1985)
This song about, well, smoking in the restroom at school was a big hit for Brownsville Station. Its re-make was even bigger for Motley Crue as they turned it into a hair anthem.
45. Hard to Handle by Otis Redding (1968)
Hard to Handle by The Black Crowes (1990)
The Black Crowes turned Redding's classic soul song into the rock song that we all know today.
44. Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown) by Fleetwood Mac (1970)
Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown) by Judas Priest (1979)
This strange song written by Peter Green of the original Fleetwood Mac was written while allegedly on an LSD fueled acid trip. Lyrically it is suppossed to be about the evils of money. Nevertheless, Priest made it into a metal classic that has become a staple of their live shows.
43. Blinded by the Light by Bruce Springsteen (1973)
Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1976)
Who'd have thought that Manfred Mann's biggest hit was a cover? I had no clue. And remember, it's "revved up like a deuce"....
42. For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield (1966)
For What It's Worth by Rush (2004)
I was skeptical when Rush made their covers album; Feedback, in 2004. Not only was I pleasantly surprised by its content, but their cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" was spot on. Not only can the Canadian three piece create music that few can compete with, but they also can play other people's music equally as well. Brilliant.
41. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You by Joan Baez (1962)
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You by Led Zeppelin (1969)
Led Zeppelin kept many of the folk-blues elements of this song when they included it on their iconic deput album. They also upgraded its vocals from Joan Baez to the howling Robert Plant. Adding Jimmy Page's guitar just for ass-kicking purposes make this one of the greatest covers ever.
Stay tuned for songs #40 - #31 coming very soon. Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think in the comments section below. And as always if you haven't subsrcibed; please do.
Comments