Favorite Cover Songs
I made a new iTunes playlist this weekend. Favorite Cover Songs. The playlist grew to 78 songs. And, I am missing some from my music library. It got me thinking - if I had to narrow it down to 20 songs which would I pick?
Here are my choices for favorite cover songs. iTunes links provided where available.
Deep, dark and moody. New Order had the top selling 12” single in world with this song. Orgy takes it to the next level - faster, louder and full of anger - ‘How does it feel?’
A disco classic. ‘Someone left my cake out in the rain’. Who knows what it all means? But, Giorgio Moroder is a music genius and Donna makes you believe.
Another disco classic - this one redone with a dry, witty and slightly bitter delivery by Cake. ‘I should have changed that fucking lock’ indeed.
4. ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’ (Live) by The Ocean Blue. Original by The Smiths.
The Ocean Blue was a 90’s alternative band who came and went. This live version of The Smiths classic really captures that feeling of loneliness and confusion. Appears as a ‘B’-side on the single for ‘Peace And Light’. The original is on ‘The Queen Is Dead’.
Shriekback decided to lighten up and have some fun with this single from 1988. Known for dark, brooding and mysterious lyrics no one saw this coming. KC had a top-notch backing band and Shriekback honors that tradition with an amazing horn section. ‘Do a little dance...’
This song appears on the original pressing of ‘In My Tribe’. It was deleted on all future pressings (and is not available on iTunes) after all the chaos with Cat Stevens converting to Islam. It’s a shame - this is a positive, ‘let’s get together and change the world’ anthem.
Love the harmonies by BNL on this track. One of the early ‘chase’ tracks - this got some airplay, but was hard to find until it found its way to their Greatest Hits package.
Featured in the movie ‘Trick’ - this song played in a key scene where the two main characters meet for the first time. A great pounding club beat adds clarity to the lyrics.
Sunscreem was/is a unique dance band. They are a real band with real instruments. Best known for the song ‘Love U More’, they make exciting, interesting dance music. This was the last single from their first CD ‘O3’ in 1993. A high energy song, it caused me (along with a few 7&7’s) to dance on top of a set of speakers at a packed night-club.
This one is tough to find. A big club song a few years ago - Thunderpuss took a track from the 80’s that was loaded with horns and produced a massive club hit. I dare you not to turn on the strobe light and start dancing around your living room. CFNY in Toronto used to play the original - it’s considered a modern rock classic. Love ‘em both.
This was all over modern rock radio in 1985. Fantastic guitars and a message. Still sounds important today.
Breathy and slow, Tori drags out every word in this cover. Just her and the piano. A ‘B’-side on the ‘Crucify’ EP. Amazing.
I didn’t know this was not an original by the Go Go’s for years. Fun Boy Three’s version is very boring and lacks pizzazz (although, I believe that was their intent). The Go Go’s take it the next level and crafted an 80’s classic.
Johnny is so sad and prophetic on this song. Every word seems to mirror his life. A perfect song choice by a man who was recording music before most of us were born.
Recorded for ‘The Crow’ soundtrack NIN adds power to this song that was an out-take for Joy Division. The original appears on the posthumous ‘Substance’.
A hidden track on The Clash’s original release ‘London Calling’, Annie uses her vocal prowess and makes you realize the depth of the lyrics.
The Mission (UK here in the states) was formed by former members of The Sisters Of Mercy. After the huge success of the their debut, ‘God’s Own Medicine’ they put out a collection of mostly cover songs called ‘The First Chapter’. Their take maintains the spirit of the original while keeping true to the bands gothic style.
Karen Carpenters haunting, melancholy voice adds a very dark element to this Beatles song.
Erasure writes great pop songs with catchy hooks - just like ABBA. Erasure was so influenced by them they did a whole EP called ‘ABBA-ESQUE’. A fun, pop take on a fun, pop classic. Erasure throws in a rap to add a twist.
Dead-pan vocal delivery and a disco beat is unmistakably The Pet Shop Boys. What more could you want?
What are your favorite cover songs? Leave your choices in the comments section.
