In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song. It can sometimes have a pejorative meaning implying that the original recording should be regarded as the definitive or "authentic" version, and all others merely lesser competitors, alternatives or tributes (no matter how popular). Originally, Billboard and other magazines which track the popularity of the musical artists and hit tunes measured the sales success of the published tune, not just recordings of it. Later, they tracked the airplay that songs achieved, for which some cover versions are the more successful recording(s) of the particular song(s).Cover versions of well known, well liked, tunes are often recorded by new artists to achieve initial success when their unfamiliar original material would be less likely to be successful. Prior to the onset of Rock 'n' Roll in the 1950s, songs were published and several records of a song might be brought out by singers of the day, each giving it their individual treatment. Any singer who appeared to be copying an already successful version of the song would be viewed with disfavor. The trend, however, became for records to be produced, usually with particular background noises, and no other group would attempt a version. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
230 Greatest Cover Songs of All Time (1920's till 2000's)
| No. | SONG | ORIGINAL or FIRST HIT VERSION | BEST COVER VERSION | ||
| 1 | A Groovy Kind Of Love | Diane And Annita (1965) | Mindbenders (1965) | ||
| 2 | Abracadabra | Steve Miller Band (1982) | Sugar Ray (1999) | ||
| 3 | Achilles Last Stand | Led Zeppelin (1976) | Dream Theater (1995) | ||
| 4 | After Midnight | J. J. Cale (1970) | Eric Clapton (1970) | ||
| 5 | After The Gold Rush | Neil Young (1970) | Harris / Parton / Ronstadt (1999) | ||
| 6 | Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) | Kurt Weill (1930) | Doors (1967) | ||
| 7 | All Along The Watchtower | Bob Dylan (1967) | Jimi Hendrix (1968) | ||
| 8 | All I Really Want To Do | Bob Dylan (1964) | Cher (1965) | ||
| 9 | America | Simon and Garfunkel (1968) | Yes (1972) | ||
| 10 | American Woman | Guess Who (1970) | Lenny Kravitz (1998) | ||
| 11 | Astronomy | Blue Oyster Cult (1974) | Metallica (1998) | ||
| 12 | Babe I'm Gonna Leave You | Joan Baez (1962) | Led Zeppelin (1969) | ||
| 13 | Baby It's You | Shirelles (1961) | Smith (1969) | ||
| 14 | Backdoor Man | Howlin' Wolf (1960) | Doors (1970) | ||
| 15 | Back in N.Y.C. | Genesis (1974) | Jeff Buckley (1998) | ||
| 16 | Back In The High Life Again | Steve Winwood (1987) | Warren Zevon (2000) | ||
| 17 | Battle of Evermore | Led Zeppelin (1971) | Heart (2003) | ||
| 18 | Because the Night | Patti Smith (1978) | 10,000 Maniacs (1993) | ||
| 19 | Big Yellow Taxi | Joni Mitchell (1970) | Counting Crows (2002) | ||
| 20 | Billie Jean | Michael Jackson (1982) | Chris Cornell (2007) | ||
| 21 | Black Magic Woman | Fleetwood Mac (1968) | Santana (1970) | ||
| 22 | Blinded By The Light | Bruce Springsteen (1973) | Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1976) | ||
| 23 | Blue Bayou | Roy Orbison (1963) | Linda Ronstadt (1977) | ||
| 24 | Blue Suede Shoes | Carl Perkins (1955) | Elvis Presley (1956) | ||
| 25 | Blueberry Hill | Gene Autry (1941) | Fats Domino (1956) | ||
| 26 | Born Under a Bad Sign | Albert King (1967) | Cream (1968) | ||
| 27 | Break on Through (to the Other Side) | Doors (1967) | Stone Temple Pilots (2000) | ||
| 28 | California Girls | Beach Boys (1965) | David Lee Roth (1985) | ||
| 29 | California Sun | Joe Jones (1961) | Rivieras (1964) | ||
| 30 | Can't Find My Way Home | Blind Faith (1969) | Electronic (2001) | ||
| 31 | Cat Scratch Fever | Ted Nugent (1977) | Pantera (2003) | ||
| 32 | Chains | The Cookies (1962) | Beatles (1963) | ||
| 33 | China Girl | Iggy Pop (1977) | David Bowie (1983) | ||
| 34 | Cinnamon Girl | Neil Young (1969) | Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs (2006) | ||
| 35 | Cocaine | J. J. Cale (1976) | Eric Clapton (1977) | ||
| 36 | Come Dancing | Kinks (1983) | Matchbox 20 (2007) | ||
| 37 | Come On (let the good times roll) | Earl King (1960) | Jimi Hendrix (1968) | ||
| 38 | Come On Eileen | Dexy's Midnight Runners (1983) | Save Ferris (1997) | ||
| 39 | Come Together | Beatles (1969) | Aerosmith (1978) | ||
| 40 | Crossroads | Robert Johnson (1936) | Cream (1968) | ||
| 41 | Cruise Control | Dixie Dregs (1977) | Dream Theater (1995) | ||
| 42 | Crying In The Chapel | Darrell Glenn (1953) | Elvis Presley (1965) | ||
| 43 | Cum On Feel The Noize | Slade (1973) | Quiet Riot (1983) | ||
| 44 | Dancing In The Moonlight | Thin Lizzy (1977) | Smashing Pumpkins (1993) | ||
| 45 | Dancing In The Street | Martha & the Vandellas (1964) | Van Halen (1982) | ||
| 46 | Day Tripper | Beatles (1965) | Otis Redding (1966) | ||
| 47 | Dedicated To The One I Love | "5" Royales (1957) | Mamas & Papas (1967) | ||
| 48 | Der Kommissar | Falco (1981) | After the Fire (1982) | ||
| 49 | Dizzy Miss Lizzy | Larry Williams (1958) | Beatles (1965) | ||
| 50 | Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood | Nina Simone (1964) | The Animals (1965) | ||
| 51 | Downtown Train | Tom Waits (1985) | Rod Stewart (1990) | ||
| 52 | Dreams | The Allman Brothers Band (1969) | Molly Hatchet (1978) | ||
| 53 | Drift Away | Doby Gray (1973) | Uncle Kracker (2003) | ||
| 54 | Drive My Car | Beatles (1965) | Humble Pie (1975) | ||
| 55 | Drown In My Own Tears | Lulu Reed (1954) | Ray Charles (1956) | ||
| 56 | Everybody Plays The Fool | Main Ingredient (1972) | Aaron Neville (1991) | ||
| 57 | Feelin' Alright | Traffic (1968) | Joe Cocker (1970) | ||
| 58 | Fire | Jimi Hendrix (1967) | Red Hot Chili Peppers (1989) | ||
| 59 | For Once in My Life | Jean DuShon (1966) | Stevie Wonder (1968) | ||
| 60 | Get Ready | Temptations (1966) | Rare Earth (1969) | ||
| 61 | Ghost Riders in the Sky | Vaughn Monroe (1949) | Johnny Cash (1979) | ||
| 62 | Good Golly Miss Molly | Little Richard (1958) | Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969) | ||
| 63 | Good Morning Little School Girl | Sonny Boy Williamson (1937) | Ten Years After (1969) | ||
| 64 | Green Manalishi | Fleetwood Mac (1972) | Judas Priest (1979) | ||
| 65 | Hallelujah | Leonard Cohen (1985) | Jeff Buckley (1994) | ||
| 66 | Hanky Panky | Raindrops (1963) | Tommy James & the Shondells (1963) | ||
| 67 | Hard To Handle | Otis Redding (1968) | Black Crows (1989) | ||
| 68 | Havana Affair | Ramones (1976) | Red Hot Chili Peppers (2003) | ||
| 69 | Have a Cigar | Pink Floyd (1975) | Primus (1992) | ||
| 70 | Hazy Shade Of Winter | Simon & Garfunkel (1968) | Bangles (1987) | ||
| 71 | Heard It Through The Grapevine | Gladys Night & the Pips (1967) | Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970) | ||
| 72 | Heart Shaped Box | Nirvana (1993) | Evanescence (2003) | ||
| 73 | Helter Skelter | Beatles (1968) | Aerosmith (1991) | ||
| 74 | Here Comes the Sun | Beatles (1969) | Richie Havens (1971) | ||
| 75 | Hey Hey What Can I Do | Led Zeppelin (1970) | Hootie & the Blowfish (2000) | ||
| 76 | Hey Joe | The Leaves (1965) | Jimi Hendrix (1966) | ||
| 77 | Higher Ground | Stevie Wonder (1973) | Red Hot Chili Peppers (1989) | ||
| 78 | Honey Don't | Carl Perkins (1956) | Beatles (1964) | ||
| 79 | Honey Hush | Joe Turner (1953) | Johnny Burnette Trio (1956) | ||
| 80 | Hooked On A Feeling | B. J. Thomas (1968) | Blue Swede (1974) | ||
| 81 | Hound Dog | Big Mama Thornton (1953) | Elvis Presley (1956) | ||
| 82 | Hurt | Nine Inch Nails (1994) | Johnny Cash (2003) | ||
| 83 | Hush | Billy Joe Royal (1967) | Deep Purple (1968) | ||
| 84 | I Can Hear Music | Ronettes (1966) | Beach Boys (1968) | ||
| 85 | (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction | Rolling Stones (1965) | Otis Redding (1965) | ||
| 86 | I Just Want To Make Love To You | Muddy Waters (1954) | Foghat (1977) | ||
| 87 | I Fought The Law | The Crickets (without Holly) (1961) | The Clash (1978) | ||
| 88 | I Put a Spell on You | Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1956) | Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968) | ||
| 89 | I Shot the Sheriff | Bob Marley (1973) | Eric Clapton (1974) | ||
| 90 | I Thank You | Sam & Dave (1968) | ZZ Top (1980) | ||
| 91 | I Wanna Be Sedated | Ramones (1978) | The Offspring (2003) | ||
| 92 | I Want Candy | The Strangeloves (1965) | Bow Wow Wow (1982) | ||
| 93 | I Will Survive | Gloria Gaynor (1978) | Cake (1996) | ||
| 94 | If You Don't Know Me By Now | Harold Melvin & Blue Notes (1972) | Simply Red (1989) | ||
| 95 | (I'm A) Road Runner | Jr. Walker & the All Stars (1965) | Humble Pie (1973) | ||
| 96 | I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday | Bobby Mitchell (1957) | Fats Domino (1959) | ||
| 97 | I'm A Man | Spencer Davis Group (1967) | Chicago (1969) | ||
| 98 | In the Flesh? | Pink Floyd (1979) | Dream Theater (1995) | ||
| 99 | In the Midnight Hour | Wilson Pickett (1965) | The Young Rascals (1966) | ||
| 100 | It Ain't Me Babe | Bob Dylan (1964) | The Turtles (1965) | ||
| 101 | It's My Life | Talk Talk (1984) | No Doubt (2004) | ||
| 102 | It's My Party | Lesley Gore (1963) | Bryan Ferry (1973) | ||
| 103 | Jailhouse Rock | Elvis Presley (1957) | Jeff Beck Group (1969) | ||
| 104 | Jolene | Dolly Parton (1974) | The White Stripes (2004) | ||
| 105 | Journey To The Center Of The Mind | The Amboy Dukes (1968) | Ramones (1994) | ||
| 106 | Kansas City | Little Willie Littlefield (1952) | Wilbert Harrison (1959) | ||
| 107 | Kashmir | Led Zeppelin (1975) | Jeff Buckley (2001) | ||
| 108 | Keep a Knockin' | Louis Jordan (1941) | Little Richard (1957) | ||
| 109 | Kentucky Woman | Neil Diamond (1967) | Deep Purple (1968) | ||
| 110 | Kick Out The Jams | MC5 (1969) | Rage Against The Machine (2000) | ||
| 111 | Kid A | Radiohead (2000) | John Mayer (2001) | ||
| 112 | Knockin' On Heavens Door | Bob Dylan (1973) | Guns N' Roses (1991) | ||
| 113 | La Bamba | Ritchie Valens (1958) | Los Lobos (1987) | ||
| 114 | Landslide | Fleetwood Mac (1975) | Smashing Pumpkins (1994) | ||
| 115 | Last Kiss | Wayne Cochran (1961) | Pearl Jam (2003) | ||
| 116 | Let's Spend the Night Together | Rolling Stones (1967) | David Bowie (1973) | ||
| 117 | Light My Fire | Doors (1967) | Jose Feliciano (1968) | ||
| 118 | Little Wing | Jimi Hendrix (1967) | Derek & The Dominos (1970) | ||
| 119 | Live And Let Die | Paul McCartney & Wings (1971) | Guns N' Roses (1991) | ||
| 120 | Long Tall Sally | Little Richard (1956) | Beatles (1964) | ||
| 121 | Look At Little Sister | Hank Ballard & The Midnighters (1959) | Stevie Ray Vaughan (1985) | ||
| 122 | Louie Louie | Richard Berry (1957) | The Kingsmen (1963) | ||
| 123 | Love Hurts | The Everly Brothers (1960) | Nazareth (1975) | ||
| 124 | Love in Vain | Robert Johnson (1938) | Rolling Stones (1969) | ||
| 125 | Love Potion #9 | Clovers (1959) | Searchers (1964) | ||
| 126 | Love Song | The Cure (1989) | 311 (2004) | ||
| 127 | Lucille | Little Richard (1957) | The Everly Brothers (1960) | ||
| 128 | Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds | Beatles (1967) | Elton John (1974) | ||
| 129 | Mad Worlds | Tears For Fears (1982) | Gary Jules (2001) | ||
| 130 | Maggie's Farm | Bob Dylan (1965) | Rage Against the Machine (2000) | ||
| 131 | Me And Bobby McGee | Kris Kristofferson (1970) | Janis Joplin (1971) | ||
| 132 | Mony Mony | Tommy James (1968) | Billy Idol (1987) | ||
| 133 | Move It On Over | Hank Williams Sr. (1947) | George Thorogood (1978) | ||
| 134 | Mr. Tambourine Man | Bob Dylan (1964) | The Byrds (1965) | ||
| 135 | Mustang Sally | Sir Mack Rice (1965) | Wilson Pickett (1966) | ||
| 136 | My Back Pages | Bob Dylan (1964) | The Byrds (1967) | ||
| 137 | My Blue Heaven | Gene Austin (1928) | Fats Domino (1956) | ||
| 138 | Night Time (Is The Right Time) | Nappy Brown (1957) | Ray Charles (1959) | ||
| 139 | No Quarter | Led Zeppelin (1973) | Tool (2000) | ||
| 140 | Not Fade Away | Buddy Holly (1957) | Rush (1973) | ||
| 141 | Nothing Compares to U | Prince (1984) | Sinead O'Connor (1990) | ||
| 142 | Oh Girl | The Chi-Lites (1972) | Paul Young (1990) | ||
| 143 | Oh Pretty Woman | Roy Orbison (1964) | Van Halen (1982) | ||
| 144 | Once Bitten Twice Shy | Ian Hunter (1975) | Great White (1990) | ||
| 145 | One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer | John Lee Hooker (1967) | George Thorogood (1977) | ||
| 146 | Only You | Cues (1954) | Platters (1954) | ||
| 147 | Paranoid | Black Sabbath (1970) | Megadeth (1994) | ||
| 148 | Piece Of My Heart | Erma Franklin (1967) | Big Brother & Holding Company (1968) | ||
| 149 | Please Mr. Postman | The Marvelettes (1961) | Beatles (1963) | ||
| 150 | Proud Mary | Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969) | Ike & Tina Turner (1971) | ||
| 151 | Quinn The Eskimo | Bob Dylan (1967) | Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1968) | ||
| 152 | Real Wild Child (Wild One) | Johnny O'Keefe & The Deejays (1958) | Iggy Pop (1986) | ||
| 153 | Reason to Believe | Tim Hardin (1966) | Rod Stewart (1971) | ||
| 154 | Red Red Wine | Neil Diamond (1968) | UB40 (1984) | ||
| 155 | Redemption Song | Bob Marley (1980) | Joe Strummer & the Mescalaros (2003) | ||
| 156 | Refugee | Tom Petty (1980) | Melissa Etheridge (2005) | ||
| 157 | Respect | Otis Redding (1965) | Aretha Franklin (1967) | ||
| 158 | Revolution | Beatles (1968) | Stone Temple Pilots (2001) | ||
| 159 | Rhythm of the Rain | The Cascades (1963) | Dan Fogelberg (1990) | ||
| 160 | Rocking In The Free World | Neil Young (1989) | Pearl Jam (live) (2003) | ||
| 161 | Roll Over Beethoven | Chuck Berry (1956) | Beatles (1963) | ||
| 162 | Rollin' And Tumblin' | Muddy Waters (1950) | Cream (1966) | ||
| 163 | Ruby Baby | Drifters (1956) | Dion (1963) | ||
| 164 | Sabbra Cadabra | Black Sabbath (1974) | Metallica (1998) | ||
| 165 | School Day | Chuck Berry (1957) | AC/DC (1975) | ||
| 166 | Sea of Love | Phil Phillips (1959) | The Honeydrippers (1984) | ||
| 167 | Shake Rattle & Roll | Big Joe Tuner (1954) | Bill Haley & the Comets (1954) | ||
| 168 | Shakin' All Over | Johnny Kidd & the Pirates (1960) | The Guess Who (1965) | ||
| 169 | Shapes Of Things | The Yardbirds (1966) | Gary Moore (1983) | ||
| 170 | Signs | Five Man Electical Band (1970) | Tesla (1990) | ||
| 171 | Simple Man | Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973) | Shinedown (2004) | ||
| 172 | Sleep Walk | Santo & Johnny (1959) | Brian Setzer Orchestra (1998) | ||
| 173 | Smokestack Lightning | Howlin' Wolf (1956) | Quicksilver Messenger Service (1968) | ||
| 174 | Smokin' In The Boys Room | Brownsville Station (1974) | Motley Crue (1985) | ||
| 175 | So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star | Byrds (1967) | Tom Petty (1986) | ||
| 176 | Somebody To Love | The Great Society (1966) | Jefferson Airplane (1967) | ||
| 177 | Spoonful | Howlin' Wolf (1960) | Cream (1966) | ||
| 178 | Stand By Me | Ben E King (1961) | John Lennon (1975) | ||
| 179 | Statesboro Blues | Blind Willie McTell (1928) | Allman Brothers Band (1971) | ||
| 180 | Stay | Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs (1964) | Jackson Browne (1977 - Live) | ||
| 181 | Summertime Blues | Eddie Cochran (1958) | The Who (1970) | ||
| 182 | Susie Q | Dale Hawkins (1957) | Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968) | ||
| 183 | Sweet Dreams | Eurythmics (1983) | Marilyn Manson (1995) | ||
| 184 | T for Texas | Jimmy Rodgers (1928) | Lynyrd Skynyrd (1976) | ||
| 185 | Take Me To The River | Al Green (1974) | Talking Heads (1978) | ||
| 186 | Tainted Love | Gloria Jones (1964) | Soft Cell (1981) | ||
| 187 | Taxman | Beatles (1966) | Franz Ferdinand (2005) | ||
| 188 | The Air That I Breathe | Albert Hammond (1972) | Hollies (1974) | ||
| 189 | The Crying Game | Dave Berry (1964) | Boy George (1992) | ||
| 190 | The First Cut Is The Deepest | Cat Stevens (1967) | Sheryl Crow (2004) | ||
| 191 | The Letter | Box Tops (1967) | Joe Cocker (1970) | ||
| 192 | The Loco-Motion | Little Eva (1962) | Grand Funk (1974) | ||
| 193 | The Man Who Sold The World | David Bowie (1971) | Nirvana (1993) | ||
| 194 | The Tracks of My Tears | The Miracles (1965) | Linda Ronstadt (1967) | ||
| 195 | Think | The "5" Royales (1957) | James Brown (1961) | ||
| 196 | This Magic Moment | The Drifters (1960) | Jay & The Americans (1969) | ||
| 197 | Time Is On My Side | Irma Thomas (1964) | Rolling Stones (1964) | ||
| 198 | Tom Sawyer | Rush (1981) | Deadsy (2002) | ||
| 199 | Train Kept A Rollin' | Tiny Bradshaw (1951) | Yardbirds (1965) | ||
| 200 | Tuesday's Gone | Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973) | Metallica (1998) | ||
| 201 | Turn The Page | Bob Seger (1976) | Metallica (1998) | ||
| 202 | Turn, Turn, Turn | Pete Seeger (1962) | The Byrds (1966) | ||
| 203 | Twist And Shout | Top Notes (1961) | Beatles (1963) | ||
| 204 | Up Around the Bend | Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970) | Hanoi Rocks (1989) | ||
| 205 | Voodoo Child (slight return) | Jimi Hendrix (1968) | Stevie Ray Vaughan (1984) | ||
| 206 | War | Edwin Starr (1970) | Bruce Springsteen (1985) | ||
| 207 | War Pigs | Black Sabbath (1976) | Faith No More (1989) | ||
| 208 | We Can Work It Out | Beatles (1965) | Stevie Wonder (1970) | ||
| 209 | We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place | The Animals (1965) | Blue Oyster Cult (1978) | ||
| 210 | What'd I Say | Ray Charles (1959) | Jerry Lee Lewis (1961) | ||
| 211 | (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding | Nick Lowe (1974) | Elvis Costello & The Attractions (1979) | ||
| 212 | While My Guitar Gently Weeps | Beatles (1968) | Jeff Healey Band (1999) | ||
| 213 | Whiskey In The Jar | The Dubliners (1967) | Metallica (1998) | ||
| 214 | Who Do You Love | Bo Diddley (1956) | Quicksilver Messenger Service (1969) | ||
| 215 | Whole Lotta Love | Led Zeppelin (1969) | King Curtis (1971) | ||
| 216 | Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On | Big Maybelle (1955) | Big Star (1978) | ||
| 217 | Wild Night | Van Morrison (1971) | John Mellencamp (1994) | ||
| 218 | Wild Thing | Wild Ones (1965) | The Troggs (1966) | ||
| 219 | Wish You Were Here | Pink Floyd (1975) | Widespread Panic (2000) | ||
| 220 | With A Little Help From My Friends | Beatles (1967) | Joe Cocker (1969) | ||
| 221 | Without You | Badfinger (1970) | Harry Nilsson (1971) | ||
| 222 | Woodstock | Joni Mitchell (1970) | Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970) | ||
| 223 | Wonderwall | Oasis (1995) | Ryan Adams (2004) | ||
| 224 | You Can't Always Get What You Want | Rolling Stones (1969) | Rusted Root (1998) | ||
| 225 | You Keep Me Hangin' On | Supremes (1966) | Vanilla Fudge (1967) | ||
| 226 | You Really Got A Hold On Me | The Miracles (1963) | Beatles (1963) | ||
| 227 | You Really Got Me | Kinks (1964) | Van Halen (1978) | ||
| 228 | You Shook Me | Muddy Waters (1962) | Led Zeppelin (1969) | ||
| 229 | You're No Good | Betty Everett (1963) | Linda Ronstadt (1974) | ||
| 230 | You've Got A Friend | Carol King (1971) | James Taylor (1971) |
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