Via Chuck Tryon, I see that the Telegraph has a list of the 50 Best cover songs. Not a bad list, with some of the obvious choices - Devo’s “Satisfaction” and the Clash’s “I Fought the Law” - as well as some less obvious but still worthy inclusions, like the Flying Lizards’ “Money”.
So, what might I include, additionally? Here are some, with MP3 files added for the time being. I’ll post a link to one or two at a time, and they will be up only for a limited time. To save on bandwidth, download by right clicking instead of playing from the link directly. Please consider buying the artist’s work when available. If you are an artist (or represent an artist) being featured on this blog and want me to take down a song, let me know, and it will be removed from the server immediately.
Raincoats, Lola (orig. the Kinks). A pinnacle in the midst of a brilliant LP, this song takes the gender bending of the original and gives it a few turns of the screw. Key moment: the slighly off-kilter chorus of female vocalists chiming in “I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man.”
House of Love, Pink Frost (orig. Chills). The Chills’ tune is haunting, quirky and touching all at once. House of Love straightened out the song structure a bit, but otherwise remained true, capturing both spirit and letter of the original. Key moment: the opening guitar line.
Go-Gos, Walking in the Sand (Shangri-las). To my knowledge, this exists solely as a live track on the must-have Valley of the Go-Gos compilation. From a band that was becoming more archly camp in its appropriation of 60s girl groups, the delivery here is surprisingly earnest. Key moment: the melodramatic climax.
Slowdive, Some Velvet Morning (Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazelwood). It’s probably a sad commentary when the highlight of your band’s career is a cover of someone else’s work. But when it’s as perfectly ethereal as this track, there’s no shame. It gives shoegaze a good name. Key moment: the waltz time mid-section.
Gun Club, Run Through the Jungle (CCR). On the underappreciated Miami LP, this one distills the best of Credence and shows it back to us, new and fresh, wringing emotion out of overexposure. Key moment: the unearthly guitar solo.
Magnapop, Song #1 (Fugazi). So Magnapop to bury one of their better songs on a B side while mediocre ones remain on the LPs. I like this version better than the original. Key moment: the backbeat drumming in the chorus.
Fall, Victoria (Kinks). Two Kinks songs, I know, but give the Fall credit for an arrangement that’s less loose and haphazard than the original. Key moment: fuzztone-infused intro.
Feelies, What Goes On (VU). Nowhere nearly as adventurous as their cover of “Me and My Monkey”, this one wins for finding the fun poppiness and sheer Athensy danceability in an (admittedly genius) original weighted down by keyboard and the impending collapse of the 60s. Key moment: Wedding Present-worthy maniacal strumming at the end.
Breeders, Happiness is a Warm Gun (Beatles). Turns down the doo-wop and turns up the guitar muscle. Key moment: sotto voce outro.
Drop Nineteens, Angel (Madonna). I’m usually one to dislike knowing covers of Madonna songs (like Ciccone Youth), but the Drop Nineteens aren’t being that knowing, they’re just finding a pop structure for their feedback harmonics.
This Mortal Coil, Your Sister (Chris Bell). OK, I’ve not heard the original yet, but this was 4AD at its best.
Among other things, I haven’t even considered the various British Invasion and 60s garage covers of R&B. What else am I leaving out?
Perhaps I should take a moment to think of some worst covers as well: The Jam, Heat Wave, an unpleasant taste in the otherwise excellent Setting Sons, Sixpence None the Richer, There She Goes, they took a charming pop gem and Lilith Fair-ized it. Tori Amos, Smells Like Teen Spirit, just downright lugubrious. Gary Jules, Mad World, the Tears for Fears song is overly serious, this one is worse. Soul Asylum, Sexual Healing, how turn a wonderful R&B ballad into a frat rock party tune.
By the way, for this matter, I’d highly recommend the Covers Project website.
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