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burntembers
Full MemberIron and Wine – Such Great Heights (a Postal Service cover)
Absolutely love this. Frank Turner also does a great cover of The District Sleeps Alone Tonight which I love. Can't bloody stand the Postal Service but they did write some fantastic songs. I should seek out more Postal Service covers
@redmex there's an even better version on some cd or other I have where Townes drums on the back of his guitar and someone else plays the tune
What's remarkable is that she had such an amazing talent, and then just disappeared from the music industry almost overnight. She's done nothing since and apparently lives a simple, quiet life in Ireland somewhere.
I was introduced to The Dickies early and thought their version of Paranoid was an original. Only years later to be shown Black Sabbath's version, which I thought was a poor cover version at first.
See also The Dickies version of Nights in White Satin, Sounds of Silence and of course the Banana Splits.
They are still one of may favourite bands.
Speaking about remarkable talent that didn't get the recognition it deserved (at the time)
I’m a big fan of metal(ish) and punk covers of pop songs so my votes go to
for being a bit of an emotional rollercoaster
and
for being fun.
Honourable mention for Less Than Jake doing the whole grease soundtrack and having the gall to release it as an album, and David Gray’s version of Say Hello Wave Goodbye
in the end though, the Cash version of Hurt is probably the right answer, or Jeff Buckleys Hallelujah, but that’s been done to death now and it’s been ruined a bit.
If you can, play this through something with decent speakers as the bass won't come through on your phone or laptop.
Better than the original imo
YMMV
Northwind, yes not really a fan of Postal Service either, I heard the Iron and Wine version first and then when I heard the Postal Service version thought it was a poor cover, before realising the truth later (kudos to them for writing a great song though).
Jef, yes also think Dickies are great, kind of regret now swapping my Dickies Paranoid single for Start by the Jam when I was 15 now!
Love those bands with Punk sensibilities and a healthy dose of humour, like the Dickies and the Rezillos. In that vein does this count, It brings up memories of Laughter, madness and mass bundles at youth club discos for me!
If you want another version of Wicked Game then this is just beautiful
Apologies if this has been done before but, well he did
Manics, Raindrops keep falling on my head.
Amazing for 2 reasons
- the poignancy and defiance in the lyrics, having just lost Richey Edwards, James singing about not giving up
- It captures a great band on the cusp of mediocrity 🙂
Got to agree with The Dickies comment.
How about the Rezilos version of Glad all over
Dead End kids version of a Honeycombs classic
And a brilliant cover of two Ramones classics
Just remembered this belter too. Class.
I'm sure I post this every time this thread reappears..
this is what we’re talking about isn’t it???
I know the purists will think anyone covering Freddie Mercury is sacrilege but Jacob Collier has a crack at it and does pretty well.
That Jacob Collier version is not bad but it's not great, although he's probably the only person who could pull that off at all. But he's done some much better covers, of which my fave is probably his Don't You Worry Bout a Thing.
I realise this will probably be far to jazzy for many of the punk/heavy rock sensibilities here.
Divine Comedy Time to Pretend
(Bit sweary)
That Vincent Black Lightning cover does nothing for me.
Someone mentioned Townes van Zandt's version of Dead Flowers up thread. I love that, it was the song that introduced me to TvZ as it was on the Big Lebowski soundtrack.
lots of great live versions of this...
Three from me:
1) Funking up the White Stripes
2) Since someone posted a) the link to a Help Album track and b) the question about 'does it count as a cover if an original band member is involved?'
3) And extrapolating from that question, does it count if it's a re-recording/re-imaging by the original artist?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JPtBbOtHaU
That Hot Chip one is brilliant.
And I can't believe I haven't posted this yet
Amazing is a bit of a stretch...
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kc1TZ-VSjj4
Not only is this a great cover, the video is incredibly well done
Ah well since Richard Thompson and Britney Spears just got mentioned.
Oops, looks I did it again. Sorry.
Oh and following on from the Vincent Black Lightning comment earlier I think there are very few occasions on which other artists have covered his songs really well. But this is one - actually I prefer it to the original.
We haven't had any Stevie Ray yet have we?
As Beatles covers go this ain't too shoddy by the Breeders
Someone mentioned Townes van Zandt’s version of Dead Flowers up thread. I love that, it was the song that introduced me to TvZ as it was on the Big Lebowski soundtrack.
Exactly how I first heard it. Great song, great rendition. I guess he is speaking from experience.
Can I nominate the entire Post Malone Nirvana thing
There are so many good covers out there.
I chose this one because despite its age Istill keep coming back to it.
This is amazing, could listen to it over and over!
Best version I've ever heard.
this qualifies. There's better sound on a bbc livelounge version but this is proper live version is great
Deep Purple - Hush
And then
Kula Shaker - Hush
Two great covers of the same song
it's certainly not the cover of Joy Division's Atmosphere that they're using at the end of The Traitors on BBC1
Both brilliant versions. I couldn't pick either as best. Mark & Layne 💗
Absolutely beautiful. In fact so is the whole album, which is technically all covers, if you include different versions of his own songs. Half way through listening in my headphones on Qobuz in Hi-res
I love a cover version especially if it takes the song somewhere unexpected. Being a reggae fan there are more folk that want to sing reggae than write songs and over the years there have been some very odd reggae covers. I think the worst I ever heard was an instrumental reggae version of Bridge over troubled water
Anyway
Nouvelle Vague are fabulous - even the name is a bilingual multiple pun Many brilliant covers
Then I do love a bit of Senor Coconut I guess this might upset the metal fans but I prefer it to the origional
Then this. Sechellois reggae / mouggae version. WTF are the bagpipes doing in there?
https://youtu.be/WkJOjlDpBrY
and of course the incomparable Richard Cheese
Dusty Springfield - Spooky (Classics IV cover)
Didn't realise this was a cover version until recently, sound quality is not great on this but check that early 70's styling.
The Milk Carton Kids - "Wish You Were Here" (Pink Floyd)
I also like this version of the Pink Floyd classic. Some good live versions by them also on you tube
I heard this on Radio 3 yesterday. An Early Music style arrangement of Leonard Cohen.
This, including the video, was one of my favorite discoveries of the last year. Hot 8 are ace, and the story behind them is fascinating.
Slowdive's cover of Syd Barrett's Golden Hair is epic:
I did a pub quiz one time, and my music round was cover.
Point for the artist singing, and point for the artist who did it originally (no point for the song name)
Some gold in here for a repeat of that round.
Ive got a lot i could submit for review, but this has been absoloutly melting my mind recently.
Master of puppets, as Muse, but more Muse than Muse.
And also, anything by Leo Moracchioli is pretty great too.
Never knew this was a cover of a Joan Baez song, until I heard Joan Baez on the radio today
Jannis joplains cover of kriss kristophersons "me and Bobby McGee"
Heart covering Stairway to Heaven
"Almost heaven, West Jamaica..."
Glen Campbell - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Local high school concert had a group do a mandolin / vocal cover of Taylor Swift's Love Story.
Superb!
Being a reggae fan there are more folk that want to sing reggae than write songs and over the years there have been some very odd reggae covers.
Doctor Pablo's cover version of the Dr Who? theme tune is sublime
I've got ar mint condition copy of Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah's cover of the Neighbours theme tune - its in very good condition for a reason:-)
Dead Kennedys being as phenomenal as ever.
Holy poop, that Julien Baker FRabbit cover is incredible!
In a similar vein, I adore this (But Elena Tonra can do no wrong in my eyes)
Absolutely love this. Frank Turner also does a great cover of The District Sleeps Alone Tonight which I love. Can’t bloody stand the Postal Service but they did write some fantastic songs. I should seek out more Postal Service covers
Haven't heard the Frank Turner one, thanks!
Unapologetic Postal Service fan here. As such, it came as a big surprise that one of my favorite discoveries of last year was one of my other favorite bands covering them. I feel so conflicted.
LOVE this.
^ gotta say, The Bamboos play tight as f___, impressive
Can't be bothered looking to see if they've been mentioned before or finding links to them but:
Dream On by The Mission
Heard It On The Grapevine by Credence
I Put A Spell On You by Toadies
ticks the boxes. Don't know why but I love this