DigitalDreamDoor.com nuTsie
 

 Home
 Music Lists
 Music Forum
 Rock Timeline
 Rap Timeline
 Popular Lyrics
 Lyrics A-Z
 Artist News
 Music Links
 SpotLight
 Foundations
 Musician Finder
 Guitar Chords
 Tab Writer
 Movie Lists
 Jokes & Quotes
 Music Store
nuTsie nuTsie More iTunes Top 100 Rap Songs Dance Songs Rock Songs
Greatest Cover Songs / Remakes
Criteria: - These are the songs where the best version isn't always the first.
(Not necessarily "better" than the original hit, but the best of all the covers done of the song.)
(All cover songs and their placement were chosen by visitors to DigitalDreamDoor.com)
Last Updated 1-23-08 Edited By: Lew
1. All Along the Watchtower   Jimi Hendrix 1. Behind Blue Eyes Limp Bizkit
2. Respect Aretha Franklin 2. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds    William Shatner
3. Crossroads Cream 3. Feel Like Making Love Kid Rock
4. With A Little Help From My Friends   Joe Cocker 4. American Pie Madonna
5. Mr. Tambourine Man The Byrds 5. Stairway To Heaven Dolly Parton
6. Hound Dog Elvis Presley 6. September Gurls Bangles
7. You Shook Me Led Zeppelin 7. Dock Of The Bay Michael Bolton
8. Hallelujah Jeff Buckley 8. Sweet Child O' Mine Sheryl Crow
9. Hurt Johnny Cash 9. My Generation Hillary Duff
10. Statesboro Blues The Allman Brothers 10. I Love Rock 'N' Roll Britney Spears
The Cover Songs below are in alphabetical order and should be used as a reference for the list above of the 'Top 10 Best Cover Songs'. So give me your opinions in the forum of what cover songs were done much better than the original hit version. The '10 Worst Cover Songs' are remakes done much worse than the original hit.
Song Original or First Hit Version* Best Cover Version**
Abracadabra Steve Miller Band (1982) Sugar Ray (1999)
Achilles Last Stand Led Zeppelin (1976) Dream Theater (1995)
After Midnight J. J. Cale (1970) Eric Clapton (1970)
After The Gold Rush Neil Young (1970) Harris / Parton / Ronstadt (1999)
Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) Kurt Weill (1930) Doors (1967)
All Along The Watchtower Bob Dylan (1967) Jimi Hendrix (1968)
All I Really Want To Do Bob Dylan (1964) Cher (1965)
America Simon and Garfunkel (1968) Yes (1972)
American Woman Guess Who (1970) Lenny Kravitz (1998)
Astronomy Blue Oyster Cult (1978) Metallica (1998)
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You Joan Baez (1962) Led Zeppelin (1969)
Backdoor Man Howlin' Wolf (1960) Doors (1970)
Back in N.Y.C. Genesis (1974) Jeff Buckley (1998)
Back In The High Life Again Steve Winwood (1987) Warren Zevon (2000)
Battle of Evermore Led Zeppelin (1971) Heart (2003)
Because the Night Patti Smith (1978) 10,000 Maniacs (1993)
Big Yellow Taxi Joni Mitchell (1970) Counting Crows (2002)
Billie Jean Michael Jackson (1982) Chris Cornell (2007)
Black Magic Woman Fleetwood Mac (1968) Santana (1970)
Blinded By The Light Bruce Springsteen (1973) Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1976)
Blue Suede Shoes Carl Perkins (1955) Elvis Presley (1956)
Born Under a Bad Sign Albert King (1967) Cream (1968)
Break on Through (to the Other Side) Doors (1967) Stone Temple Pilots (2000)
California Girls Beach Boys (1965) David Lee Roth (1985)
Can't Find My Way Home Blind Faith (1969) Electronic (2001)
Cat Scratch Fever Ted Nugent (1977) Pantera (2003)
Chains The Cookies (1962) Beatles (1963)
China Girl Iggy Pop (1977) David Bowie (1983)
Cinnamon Girl Neil Young (1969) Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs (2006)
Cocaine J. J. Cale (1976) Eric Clapton (1977)
Come Dancing Kinks (1983) Matchbox 20 (2007)
Come On (let the good times roll) Earl King (1960) Jimi Hendrix (1968)
Come On Eileen Dexy's Midnight Runners (1983) Save Ferris (1997)
Come Together Beatles (1969) Aerosmith (1978)
Crossroads Robert Johnson (1936) Cream (1968)
Cruise Control Dixie Dregs (1977) Dream Theater (1995)
Crying In The Chapel Darrell Glenn (1953) Elvis Presley (1965)
Cum On Feel The Noize Slade (1973) Quiet Riot (1983)
Dancing In The Moonlight Thin Lizzy (1977) Smashing Pumpkins (1993)
Dancing In The Street Martha & the Vandellas (1964) Van Halen (1982)
Day Tripper Beatles (1965) Otis Redding (1966)
Dedicated To The One I Love "5" Royales (1957) Mamas & Papas (1967)
Der Kommissar Falco (1981) After the Fire (1982)
Dizzy Miss Lizzy Larry Williams (1958) Beatles (1965)
Downtown Train Tom Waits (1985) Rod Stewart (1990)
Dreams The Allman Brothers Band (1969) Molly Hatchet (1978)
Drift Away Doby Gray (1973) Uncle Kracker (2003)
Drive My Car Beatles (1965) Humble Pie (1975)
Drown In My Own Tears Lulu Reed (1954) Ray Charles (1956)
Everybody Plays The Fool Main Ingredient (1972) Aaron Neville (1991)
Feelin' Alright Traffic (1968) Joe Cocker (1970)
Fire Jimi Hendrix (1967) Red Hot Chili Peppers (1989)
For Once in My Life Jean DuShon (1966) Stevie Wonder (1968)
Get Ready Temptations (1966) Rare Earth (1969)
Ghost Riders in the Sky Vaughn Monroe (1949) Johnny Cash (1979)
Good Golly Miss Molly Little Richard (1958) Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
Good Morning Little School Girl Sonny Boy Williamson (1937) Ten Years After (1969)
Green Manalishi Fleetwood Mac (1972) Judas Priest (1979)
Hallelujah Leonard Cohen (1985) Jeff Buckley (1994)
Hard To Handle Otis Redding (1968) Black Crows (1989)
Havana Affair Ramones (1976) Red Hot Chili Peppers (2003)
Have a Cigar Pink Floyd (1975) Primus (1992)
Hazy Shade Of Winter Simon & Garfunkel (1968) Bangles (1987)
Heard It Through The Grapevine Gladys Night & the Pips (1967) Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
Heart Shaped Box Nirvana (1993) Evanescence (2003)
Helter Skelter Beatles (1968) Aerosmith (1991)
Hey Hey What Can I Do Led Zeppelin (1970) Hootie & the Blowfish (2000)
Hey Joe The Leaves (1965) Jimi Hendrix (1966)
Higher Ground Stevie Wonder (1973) Red Hot Chili Peppers (1989)
Honey Don't Carl Perkins (1956) Beatles (1964)
Honey Hush Joe Turner (1953) Johnny Burnette Trio (1956)
Hooked On A Feeling B. J. Thomas (1968) Blue Swede (1974)
Hound Dog Big Mama Thornton (1953) Elvis Presley (1956)
Hurt Nine Inch Nails (1994) Johnny Cash (2003)
Hush Billy Joe Royal (1967) Deep Purple (1968)
I Can Hear Music Ronettes (1966) Beach Boys (1968)
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction Rolling Stones (1965) Otis Redding (1965)
I Just Want To Make Love To You Muddy Waters (1954) Foghat (1977)
I Fought The Law The Crickets (without Holly) (1961) The Clash (1978)
I Put a Spell on You Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1956) Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968)
I Shot the Sheriff Bob Marley (1973) Eric Clapton (1974)
I Thank You Sam & Dave (1968) ZZ Top (1980)
I Wanna Be Sedated Ramones (1978) The Offspring (2003)
I Want Candy The Strangeloves (1965) Bow Wow Wow (1982)
I Will Survive Gloria Gaynor (1978) Cake (1996)
If You Don't Know Me By Now Harold Melvin & Blue Notes (1972) Simply Red (1989)
(I'm A) Road Runner Jr. Walker & the All Stars (1965) Humble Pie (1973)
I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday Bobby Mitchell (1957) Fats Domino (1959)
I'm A Man Spencer Davis Group (1967) Chicago (1969)
In the Flesh? Pink Floyd (1979) Dream Theater (1995)
In the Midnight Hour Wilson Pickett (1965) The Young Rascals (1966)
It Ain't Me Babe Bob Dylan (1964) The Turtles (1965)
It's My Life Talk Talk (1984) No Doubt (2004)
It's My Party Lesley Gore (1963) Bryan Ferry (1973)
Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley (1957) Jeff Beck Group (1969)
Jolene Dolly Parton (1974) The White Stripes (2004)
Journey To The Center Of The Mind The Amboy Dukes (1968) Ramones (1994)
Kansas City Little Willie Littlefield (1952) Wilbert Harrison (1959)
Kashmir Led Zeppelin (1975) Jeff Buckley (2001)
Kentucky Woman Neil Diamond (1967) Deep Purple (1968)
Kick Out The Jams MC5 (1969) Rage Against The Machine (2000)
Kid A Radiohead (2000) John Mayer (2001)
Knockin' On Heavens Door Bob Dylan (1973) Guns N' Roses (1991)
La Bamba Ritchie Valens (1958) Los Lobos (1987)
Landslide Fleetwood Mac (1975) Smashing Pumpkins (1994)
Last Kiss Wayne Cochran (1961) Pearl Jam (2003)
Let's Spend the Night Together Rolling Stones (1967) David Bowie (1973)
Light My Fire Doors (1967) Jose Feliciano (1968)
Little Wing Jimi Hendrix (1967) Derek & The Dominos (1970)
Live And Let Die Paul McCartney & Wings (1971) Guns N' Roses (1991)
Long Tall Sally Little Richard (1956) Beatles (1964)
Look At Little Sister Hank Ballard & The Midnighters 1959) Stevie Ray Vaughan (1985)
Louie Louie Richard Berry (1957) The Kingsmen (1963)
Love Hurts The Everly Brothers (1960) Nazareth (1975)
Love in Vain Robert Johnson (1938) Rolling Stones (1969)
Love Potion #9 Clovers (1959) Searchers (1964)
Love Song The Cure (1989) 311 (2004)
Lucille Little Richard (1957) The Everly Brothers (1960)
Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds Beatles (1967) Elton John (1974)
Mad Worlds Tears For Fears (1982) Gary Jules (2001)
Maggie's Farm Bob Dylan (1965) Rage Against the Machine (2000)
Me And Bobby McGee Kris Kristofferson (1970) Janis Joplin (1971)
Mony Mony Tommy James (1968) Billy Idol (1987)
Move It On Over Hank Williams Sr. (1947) George Thorogood (1978)
Mr. Tambourine Man Bob Dylan (1964) The Byrds (1965)
Mustang Sally Sir Mack Rice (1965) Wilson Pickett (1966)
My Back Pages Bob Dylan (1964) The Byrds (1967)
Night Time (Is The Right Time) Nappy Brown (1957) Ray Charles (1959)
No Quarter Led Zeppelin (1973) Tool (2000)
Not Fade Away Buddy Holly (1957) Rush (1973)
Nothing Compares to U Prince (1984) Sinead O'Connor (1990)
Oh Girl The Chi-Lites (1972) Paul Young (1990)
Oh Pretty Woman Roy Orbison (1964) Van Halen (1982)
Once Bitten Twice Shy Ian Hunter (1975) Great White (1990)
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer John Lee Hooker (1967) George Thorogood (1977)
Only You Cues (1954) Platters (1954)
Paranoid Black Sabbath (1970) Megadeth (1994)
Piece Of My Heart Erma Franklin (1967) Big Brother & Holding Company (1968)
Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Nina Simone (1964) The Animals (1965)
Please Mr. Postman The Marvelettes (1961) Beatles (1963)
Proud Mary Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969) Ike & Tina Turner (1971)
Quinn The Eskimo Bob Dylan (1967) Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1968)
Real Wild Child (Wild One) Johnny O'Keefe & The Deejays (1958) Iggy Pop (1986)
Reason to Believe Tim Hardin (1966) Rod Stewart (1971)
Red Red Wine Neil Diamond (1968) UB40 (1984)
Redemption Song Bob Marley (1980) Joe Strummer & the Mescalaros (2003)
Respect Otis Redding (1965) Aretha Franklin (1967)
Revolution Beatles (1968) Stone Temple Pilots (2001)
Rhythm of the Rain The Cascades (1963) Dan Fogelberg (1990)
Rocking In The Free World Neil Young (1989) Pearl Jam (live) (2003)
Roll Over Beethoven Chuck Berry (1956) Beatles (1963)
Rollin' And Tumblin' Muddy Waters (1950) Cream (1966)
Ruby Baby Drifters (1956) Dion (1963)
Sabbra Cadabra Black Sabbath (1974) Metallica (1998)
School Days Chuck Berry (1957) AC/DC (1975)
Sea of Love Phil Phillips (1959) The Honeydrippers (1984)
Shake Rattle & Roll Big Joe Tuner (1954) Bill Haley & the Comets (1954)
Shakin' All Over Johnny Kidd & the Pirates (1960) The Guess Who (1965)
Shapes Of Things The Yardbirds (1966) Gary Moore (1983)
Signs Five Man Electical Band (1970) Tesla (1990)
Simple Man Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973) Shinedown (2004)
Sleep Walk Santo & Johnny (1959) Brian Setzer Orchestra (1998)
Smokestack Lightning Howlin' Wolf (1956) Quicksilver Messenger Service (1968)
Smokin' In The Boys Room Brownsville Station (1974) Motley Crue (1985)
So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star Byrds (1967) Tom Petty (1986)
Somebody To Love The Great Society (1966) Jefferson Airplane (1967)
Spoonful Howlin' Wolf (1960) Cream (1966)
Stand By Me Ben E King (1961) John Lennon (1975)
Statesboro Blues Blind Willie McTell (1928) Allman Brothers Band (1971)
Summertime Blues Eddie Cochran (1958) The Who (1970)
Susie Q Dale Hawkins (1957) Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968)
Sweet Dreams Eurythmics (1983) Marilyn Manson (1995)
T for Texas Jimmy Rodgers (1928) Lynyrd Skynyrd (1976)
Take Me To The River Al Green (1974) Talking Heads (1978)
Tainted Love Gloria Jones (1964) Soft Cell (1981)
Taxman Beatles (1966) Franz Ferdinand (2005)
The Air That I Breathe Albert Hammond (1972) Hollies (1974)
The Crying Game Dave Berry (1964) Boy George (1992)
The First Cut Is The Deepest Cat Stevens (1967) Sheryl Crow (2004)
The Letter Box Tops (1967) Joe Cocker (1970)
The Loco-Motion Little Eva (1962) Grand Funk (1974)
The Man Who Sold The World David Bowie (1971) Nirvana (1993)
Think The "5" Royales (1957) James Brown (1961)
This Magic Moment The Drifters (1960) Jay & The Americans (1969)
Time Is On My Side Irma Thomas (1964) Rolling Stones (1964)
Tom Sawyer Rush (1981) Deadsy (2002)
Train Kept A Rollin' Tiny Bradshaw (1951) Yardbirds (1965)
Tuesday's Gone Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973) Metallica (1998)
Turn The Page Bob Seger (1976) Metallica (1998)
Turn, Turn, Turn Pete Seeger (1962) The Byrds (1966)
Twist And Shout Top Notes (1961) Beatles (1963)
Up Around the Bend Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970) Hanoi Rocks (1989)
Voodoo Child (slight return) Jimi Hendrix (1968) Stevie Ray Vaughan (1984)
War Edwin Starr (1970) Bruce Springsteen (1985)
War Pigs Black Sabbath (1976) Faith No More (1989)
We Can Work It Out Beatles (1965) Stevie Wonder (1970)
We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place The Animals (1965) Blue Oyster Cult
What'd I Say Ray Charles (1959) Jerry Lee Lewis (1961)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps Beatles (1968) Jeff Healey Band (1999)
Whiskey In The Jar The Dubliners (1967) Metallica (1998)
Who Do You Love Bo Diddley (1956) Quicksilver Messenger Service (1969)
Whole Lotta Love Led Zeppelin (1969) King Curtis (1971)
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Big Maybelle (1955) Big Star (1978)
Wild Night Van Morrison (1971) John Mellencamp (1994)
Wild Thing The Troggs (1966) Jimi Hendrix (Live) (1967)
Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd (1975) Widespread Panic (2000)
With A Little Help From My Friends Beatles (1967) Joe Cocker (1969)
Woodstock Joni Mitchell (1970) Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)
Wonderwall Oasis (1995) Ryan Adams (2004)
You Can't Always Get What You Want Rolling Stones (1969) Rusted Root (1998)
You Keep Me Hangin' On Supremes (1966) Vanilla Fudge (1967)
You Really Got A Hold On Me The Miracles (1963) Beatles (1963)
You Really Got Me Kinks (1964) Van Halen (1978)
You Shook Me Muddy Waters (1962) Led Zeppelin (1969)
You've Got A Friend Carol King (1971) James Taylor (1971)
Back To Top
Disclaimer: There is nothing 'Official' about these lists. They are compiled by the 'editor' using the
stated criteria, and revised considering the competent suggestions of visitors to this website only.

*Original or First Hit Version - In some cases the "original" version was a flop, and shortly after, a major artist recorded the song and had a hit, (especially in the 1950s & '60s). Most of these are the first "well known" versions of the song even if it wasn't the very first.

**Best Cover Version - Not necessarily "better" than the original hit, but the best of all the covers done of the song.



- Back To Top -


- Previous Comments About This List - (pre 4-5-05) -


DigitalDreamDoor.com is a privately owned, personal website, to be used for
entertainment, educational, or research purposes only.

Copyright © 2003 - 2008 - DigitalDreamDoor.com

This page is only a part of DigitalDreamDoor.com. To view the entire framed site click
DigitalDreamDoor.com Home