One of my all-time favourites ...

Canadian singer Leonard Cohen wrote a fantastic song in 1968 called Bird on the Wire and released it in 1969.  I love my fellow Canadians, but his version is quite dull (however, the more you listen to it, it's not bad, but you still want there to be something more)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwnAg2tZKFk

Lots of people have sang it over the years, most and probably first notable cover in 1971 by Joe Cocker which was the song's first chart appearance anywhere, peaking at #78 in Canada.  Jennifer Warnes also had an A/C hit with it in 1987.  Both those versions are good, but the greatest rendition of this song is the 1990 version by The Neville Brothers, which went on to become the first appearance of this song in the mainstream Top 40 in Canada.  If my chart facts have served me correctly, Bird on A Wire in any version has never made a chart appearance in the US Hot 100 (fear not, the Nevilles version did reach the US A/C Top 40)

The Neville Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKDMiyRmbik

The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw5RkzbHb-w

A great little song.

Phil Collins's remake was also great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sttWmXkYkd8

I really like both.

Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou" from 1963.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zTNZ_5an44

I like the cover version even better, probably coz It's Linda Ronstadt who I think has one of the greatest female voices this planet has ever heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGkaMfloq9E

Linda's version is from late 1977.

The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw5RkzbHb-w

A great little song.

Phil Collins's remake was also great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sttWmXkYkd8

I really like both.


I like them both too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj0BnpvM5cQ

Working My Way Back To You- Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY_AlrfB3U0

Spinners version 1979

When will I be loved

Originally an "Everly Brothers" song and on the charts in 1960. Linda had success with this song in 1975.

Here's a live version of Linda Ronstadt singing it. Her voice is practically the same as on the album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRGzKut8qfA

The original:

Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home (1969)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TyynO6O0kc




The cover:

House Of Lords - Can't Find My Way Home (1990)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-EEaBAJr9E

The original:

The Rivieras - California Sun (1964)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy57Xdk9u0o




The cover:

The Dictators - California Sun (1975)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j41GBIUQko4

8)

"Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell.

Here's the Beatles version in 1964.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKh5k2cTk7c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTaqn8_gMR0


Isley Brothers's version ^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsgWfAilIEM

Beatles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBdEmV3c_R4

Tiffany (1988)

The Supremes - I Hear A Symphony (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T9SEY8eLyk

Eria Fachin - I Hear A Symphony (1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoOLn8rqisY

Another addition to my Top 20 greatest covers of all time.  I grew up with the Eria Fachin version, and it is still a joy to hear!

Wichita Lineman



The original:

Glen Campbell (1968)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTfwcLdP5Xk





The cover:

Optiganally Yours (1997)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO2Yf7gy8m0

^ Dang, that cover of Wichita Lineman is quite trippy.  I quite like it

Billy Joe Royal - I Knew You When (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9rIdwv87J4

Linda Ronstadt - I Knew You When (1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECNh5-19CXg

Linda's version of this song is one of my favourite songs of the 80s.  The parent album Get Closer it appears on sits proudly in my vinyl collection!

Just one look.

Doris Troy: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgT0cSm5tM

Linda Ronstadt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbcW81M4L8k

I like both.  I also liked the Hollies version.

Linda has done so many good covers of songs.

The Supremes - I Hear A Symphony (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T9SEY8eLyk

Eria Fachin - I Hear A Symphony (1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoOLn8rqisY

Another addition to my Top 20 greatest covers of all time.  I grew up with the Eria Fachin version, and it is still a joy to hear!


The Supremes all the way.

Just one look.

Doris Troy: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgT0cSm5tM

Linda Ronstadt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbcW81M4L8k

I like both.  I also liked the Hollies version.

Linda has done so many good covers of songs.


I hear Doris Troy's version almost all the time.

Normally, covers of Beatles' songs are best avoided (think Bill Shatner!)

Here's a rare exception...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTnrqzfWEM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB24z00ajU4

The Supremes all the way.


This isn't a contest

Here is one I would like to add to my unfinished list of Top 20 best cover songs ever, but there is one problem.  I have no idea what the original version sounds like

Wednesday - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (1975)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTYrpzMSJnA

I can tell you this:  The song was written by a British duo called Stella and Bambos who first recorded it back in the late 60s.  I love the Wednesday version so much, that I could almost put it in that Top 20 without hearing the original, but it would not be fair if I did that.  My search will continue for the original version ...

This isn't a contest


I'm just saying that I like the Supremes version better.  ::)

The Supremes-You Keep Me Hangin' On (1966)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3bjMtqpGBw

Probably people remember the 80s version by Kim Wilde (1987)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNyRU0fKHAY

My favorite version of the song is by Vanilla Fudge in 1967.  Psychadelic. Love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFabNBveHOk

The Vanilla Fudge version of that is very good

More Supremes ... Come See About Me (1964)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PycKSdKG_74

Shakin' Stevens - Come See About Me (1987)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pK8MeaZY84

The Supremes - Love Child (1968)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD-4aBj1PP0

One to One - Love Child (1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bAamcaKwJY

The Supremes - Stop! in the Name of Love (1965)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPBkiBbO4_4

The Hollies - Stop! in the Name of Love (1983)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28bXIBKHwvI

The Hollies version was their comeback hit, giving them their first North American Top 40 hit since The Air That I Breathe in 1974

The Supremes-You Keep Me Hangin' On (1966)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3bjMtqpGBw

Probably people remember the 80s version by Kim Wilde (1987)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNyRU0fKHAY

My favorite version of the song is by Vanilla Fudge in 1967.  Psychadelic. Love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFabNBveHOk


Kim Wilde had a good version.

Kim Wilde had a good version.


All 3 versions were really good actually.  I like them all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o

Archies


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbTSXzUnu64

Bob Marley & The Wailers

Harry Nilsson ~ One (1968)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY12P9-jZJ8

Covered by Three Dog Night, a version most people are familiar with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6ekwuhHqXI

^ Love the Three Dog Night version


Here's one that is in my soon to be finished list of Greatest cover songs all time ...

Billy Taylor wrote and recorded a song in 1963 called I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free.  The best known version of this from that era was the 1967 version by Nina Simone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XWRfDIPe-M

My favourite is the 2001 version by The Lighthouse Family.  This cover also incorporated a brief cover of the chorus from One by U2 and is just beautiful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeCAkrg4fNE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGJXmpKGXY

Otis Redding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0

Aretha Franklin

The Standells ~ Dirty Water (1966)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JLNnXgQeqU

Covered by the Inmates (1980 ish)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NrhE4FtqSc

The Standells version talks about Boston and the Charles River. The Inmates version mentions London and the river Thames.

(When the "Inmates" version first came out, I thought it was the Rolling Stones.  :)  )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFpCALtVUcE

Oye Como Va- Tito Puente (1963)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NsJ84YV1oA


Santana (1970)

Cat Stevens - The First Cut Is The Deepest  (1967)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBccr-aLu4I


Keith Hampshire ~  The First Cut Is The Deepest (1973)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRxBe24FkbE

Covered by the Inmates (1980 ish)

The Standells version talks about Boston and the Charles River. The Inmates version mentions London and the river Thames.

(When the "Inmates" version first came out, I thought it was the Rolling Stones.  :)  )


1980 would be correct on that cover.  A fantastic version indeed!

Keith Hampshire ~  The First Cut Is The Deepest (1973)


I've known lots of people to say the version by Keith Hampshire is the best version of this song ever.  I happen to agree, not just for the CANCON but because his version just has that something that is absent from the Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart and Sheryl Crow versions

I agree with Paul that covering or changing Beatles songs is a delicate matter but here I found another exception; a very good cover of The Beatles - (Tomorrow Never Knows) from their 1966 Revolver album, by Los Lobos. of course John Lennon's vocals make the original far superior  8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei2i1NelYV0

I've known lots of people to say the version by Keith Hampshire is the best version of this song ever.  I happen to agree, not just for the CANCON but because his version just has that something that is absent from the Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart and Sheryl Crow versions


I think Keith`s is the best version as well. It has more feeling and raw emotion in it.

"The Shadow of Your Smile", also known as "Love Theme from The Sandpiper", is a popular song. The music was written by Johnny Mandel with the lyrics written by Paul Francis Webster.The song was introduced in the 1965 film The Sandpiper.

My favorite cover version.

Astrud Gilberto - The shadow of your smile (1965)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcEwsoR8J0Y

The Temptations - The Way You Do the Things You Do (1964)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDakhsaPTE0

UB40 - The Way You Do the Things You Do (1989)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvIxxn36pUU

I think Keith`s is the best version as well. It has more feeling and raw emotion in it.


I kind of like Rod's version best.

The Temptations - The Way You Do the Things You Do (1964)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDakhsaPTE0

UB40 - The Way You Do the Things You Do (1989)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvIxxn36pUU


I like the temptations one, but I like this one better, from 1978.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvvnukCQukM

(When the "Inmates" version first came out, I thought it was the Rolling Stones.  :)  )


Their only British hit was with a cover - not this, but Jimmy McCracklin's 'The Walk'...

But as that original is from the 50s, I can't really put it here - but there's a version or two on YouTube...

Steve Lawrence - Footsteps (1960)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yeJu3jSUvI

Showaddywaddy - Footsteps (1981)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vumXOmyrJw

The Crickets - When You Ask About Love (1960)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtxI-a3OAxg

Matchbox - When You Ask About Love (1980)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPp8X79L7NA

Another entry for my Top 20 greatest cover songs of all time.  I just love the Matchbox version so much!

America....West Side Story...1961
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P50NXB3R4sc


America....The Nice.....1968
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45pIvr4gJD4

Steve Lawrence - Footsteps (1960)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yeJu3jSUvI

Showaddywaddy - Footsteps (1981)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vumXOmyrJw


that guy from Showaddywaddy looks like KC from KC And The Sunshine Band

that guy from Showaddywaddy looks like KC from KC And The Sunshine Band


So does any white guy from the late 70s / early 80s with that same hairstyle :D

The mighty 'Waddy's entire chart output (almost!) consisted of covers!

Among the 60s ones were...'Three Steps To Heaven', 'Under The Moon Of Love', 'You Got What It Takes', 'Dancin' Party', A Little Bit Of Soap', Pretty Little Angel Eyes', 'Remember Then', 'Blue Moon', 'Multiplication' and 'Who Put The Bomp?'  (Phew!)

Huge in Britain and the continent, but die-hard rockers hated them!

Huge in Britain and the continent, but die-hard rockers hated them!

Why did they hate them?  ???

Here's one I may consider for my Top 20 greatest covers of all time ...

ORIGINAL:  Irma Thomas - Break-A-Way (1964)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2riRUmZNn2g

COVER:  Tracey Ullman - Breakaway (1983)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BDLcutLekU

The Irma Thomas original was the B-Side to her Top 20 hit Wish Someone Would Care.  It appeared on her album Wish Someone Would Care and though it was never released as a single, it became more well-known than the aforementioned A-Side. 

Though it never saw the US Top 40, Tracey's version was the first to chart in the US

Why did they hate them?  ???


The diehards thought that their cover versions were pale imitations of the real things...

And no self-respecting rocker would have been seen dead in their outfits!

nd no self-respecting rocker would have been seen dead in their outfits!

I know, I agree, Who in the hell would wear such gaudy outfits?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEgxuE7WD6U
Dionne Warwick, December 1962.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdKjFQtoYBE
Sybil, September 1989.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEgxuE7WD6U
Dionne Warwick, December 1962.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdKjFQtoYBE
Sybil, September 1989.


I hardly hear Sybil on the radio these days, It's been 24 years.

Another one,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpVvZZ2aOHo
Tony Joe White, 1969.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDRbF80NKDU
Brook Benton, January 1970.
(with a slight change in part of the lyrics)

Another one,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpVvZZ2aOHo
Tony Joe White, 1969.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDRbF80NKDU
Brook Benton, January 1970.
(with a slight change in part of the lyrics)


I love this version of Brook Benton, one of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSv9LOMDhbU
From 1964, Gloria Jones. Soft Cell in 1981/82.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsgWfAilIEM

Beatles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBdEmV3c_R4

Tiffany (1988)


The best cover of this 60s song...?  :o 8-P  You're kidding, right?  ???

The best cover of this 60s song...?  :o 8-P  You're kidding, right?  ???


I guess you're right, maybe it wasn't the best cover song.

That Tiffany song wasn't bad, but as for a BEST?  I don't think so.  Now, her version of the Tommy James and the Shondell's song I Think We're alone Now was great!

And speaking of Tommy James, one of my favourite covers is Joan Jett and the Blackheart's 1982 version of Crimson and Clover.  It worked so good as a hard rock song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTfHhNg1iII http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpGEeneO-t0

That Tiffany song wasn't bad, but as for a BEST?  I don't think so.  Now, her version of the Tommy James and the Shondell's song I Think We're alone Now was great!

And speaking of Tommy James, one of my favourite covers is Joan Jett and the Blackheart's 1982 version of Crimson and Clover.  It worked so good as a hard rock song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTfHhNg1iII http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpGEeneO-t0


I like Joan Jett's version, It's pretty rockin.

Blue Swede ~ Hooked On a Feeling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OnMd47ZfWQ


Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga

was also famous in the 60s..BJ Thomas's version.

Blue Swede ~ Hooked On a Feeling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OnMd47ZfWQ


Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga

was also famous in the 60s..BJ Thomas's version.



Didn't Grass Roots sing this song too?  ???

Didn't Grass Roots sing this song too?  ???


If they ever did, it wasn't a hit. I'm not familiar with their version.

If they ever did, it wasn't a hit. I'm not familiar with their version.


I checked it, they didn't sing it, It was Blue Swede.

Mary Hopkin was such a cute babe. A I listened to this cover she did of a Beatles song, I wondered if this is the version that's played at the end of one of The Wonder Years episodes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8LByIISMLs

Mary Hopkin was such a cute babe. A I listened to this cover she did of a Beatles song, I wondered if this is the version that's played at the end of one of The Wonder Years episodes



That one (The Wonder Years) was Judy Collins's version of "In my life"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7RE2hDL8dk


gaaaa! Just watching this video brings a tear to my eye. It was such a great TV show.

That one (The Wonder Years) was Judy Collins's version of "In my life"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7RE2hDL8dk


gaaaa! Just watching this video brings a tear to my eye. It was such a great TV show.
yes, that's the version. thanks Frank. truly one of the best shows ever, especially for anyone that grew up during that era. would love to get on dvd but music copyright issues preventing it from being produced.

Billy Joe Royal ~ I knew you when

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeE0CBWfv50

Covered by Donny Osmond in the 1970s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSjDzhlIbYU

And covered by Linda Ronstadt in the 1980s  on her underrated "Get Closer" album

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECNh5-19CXg

Tony Joe White, 1969.

Brook Benton, January 1970.


Both somehow managed to be ignored in Britain, but it eventually became a hit about a decade later...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhYOUblMuE

A textbook example in how to flood a studio, I think!

Both somehow managed to be ignored in Britain, but it eventually became a hit about a decade later...



A textbook example in how to flood a studio, I think!


Hey Paul, she did really good on this cover. :)

Del Shannon - Under My Thumb (1966)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Onz5Smd0Bc