Post-1960 Songs of Which There Are At Least Three 5-star, All-Time, Stone-Cold Classic Recorded Versions

That's three versions by three different artists, and live versions don't count.

"I Heard it Through the Grapevine": Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Slits.

(not to mention CCR, Smokey, and "Roger")

This one's sort of cheating, but technically it's still three different artists.

"I Shall Be Released": Dylan (on The Basement Tapes), The Band (on Big Pink), and Nina Simone.

Others? I'm finding it really tough. Is there a third classic recording of "The Weight" after the Band and Aretha (the version on Before the Flood doesn't count, surely).

does staples singers + the band from last waltz count?

I want to say Hallelujah comes close but I can’t think of a third – how about Chelsea Hotel? Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor.

xpost don't think so, but the Staple Singers did do their own version, which is good, but it'd be a real stretch to call it a classic.

Is there a third great "We Can Work it Out" after the Beatles and Stevie? A third "Tainted Love"?

"My Way" - Sinatra, Presley, Vicious, Nina Simone

^pretty good

Going through Nina Simone's catalogue is probably not the worst way of finding these.

2 bad Screamin Jay's was '56 (?), because "I Put a Spell On You" covered by CCR & Nina Simone would otherwise qualify

heh xpost

A third "Tainted Love"?

Marilyn Manson, but that's kind of pushing the definition of "stone cold classic"

Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor.

And Lloyd Cole.

Amsterdam - Brel, Walker, Bowie

"Dark End of the Street" -- James Carr, Percy Sledge, Flying Burrito Brothers

I'm not sure all three of these qualify as 5-star, but depending on tastes, you could substitute other versions (Diamanda Galas, maybe). There must be other soul standards that would fit in here.

'56 should count really--I only put post-1960, 'cause I'm less interested in obvious standards....

"Dark End" was surely from an earlier era tho

Satisfaction: Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, Devo

"Girl from Ipanema" certainly has more than three classic versions. Off the top of my head I can mention the version on Gilberto/Getz, the Portuguese version by João Gilberto, and versions by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. I guess many folks would call the version sang by Jobim himself a classic too, but I'm not fond of his singing. I really like the disco version done by Astrud Gilberto in the 1970s, but that's probably not considered a classic.

xpost
If '56 counts, then Wild Is The Wind (Mathis/Simone/Bowie)

'56 should count really

Oh good. Then "Do You Wanna Dance" (Bobby Freeman, Beach Boys, Ramones).

Dammit, I was just about to post satisfaction!

I think "Dark End" is early 60s -- Chips Moman and Dan Penn. They've got another song or two that might make the cut here.

shit, written in 1967, don't know what I was thinking

And Lloyd Cole.

Do you mean John Cale?

Eight Miles High: The Byrds, Roxy Music, Husker Du

Something - The Beatles, James Brown, Frank Sinatra
Always On My Mind - Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Pet Shop Boys

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_King#Hits_by_Goffin_and_King

"Locomotion" maybe? again, possibly stretching classic

And Lloyd Cole.

Do you mean John Cale?

― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Monday, 30 March 2009 15:16 (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I think they were talking "Chelsea Hotel"

"Ruby Baby" - Drifters, Dion, Donald Fagen

Interesting searchable database here...
http://www.coversproject.com/
I'd start with singer songwriters, ie, Neil Diamond. For example "Sweet Caroline", ND himself, Sinatra, Presley.
Actually I think that a lot of these are going to be Sinatra, Preskey, <someone_else>

Victoria: The Kinks, The Fall, The Kooks. oh wait..

"Twist and Shout": Isley Brothers, Beatles, Chaka Demus & Pliers

i imagine several leiber/stoller compositions as well

Do two totally different versions by the same performer count?

LOUIE LOUIE

I think they were talking "Chelsea Hotel"

Oh right.

Oh yeah, sorry, didn't read the title properly.

I want to say Hallelujah

Lennon's "Imagine" has a ton of cover versions. Most of them I imagine (ha!lol) recorded in 1981...

Tomorrow Is A Long Time: Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Rod Stewart

Really? Rod Stewart?

Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young, St. Etienne... um Juliana Hatfield?

I know there are plenty of songs that have been covered lots, and covered by notable artists, but the thread idea was really prompted by just how high a standard those three "Grapevine" versions hold to. Man those are three perfect records.

Re: Imagine

most of them, I imagine, not classic.

Actually, name one.

xpost yeah, it's a good question.

Really? Rod Stewart?
Rod's version is on Every Picture Tells A Story.

Elvis's version is best of all though...

I thought about "Tomorrow Is A Long Time", but while Dylan wrote it, I wouldn't say his version is a stone-cold five star classic. The other two you mentioned, though, for sure.

How about Jackson Browne's "These Days"?

Pick three:

Jackson B.
Iain Matthews
Nico
Greg Allman
St. Vincent

so many others...

"Gentle on My Mind"

John Hartford
Glen Campbell
Elvis

"Both Sides Now"

Pick three:

Judy
Joni
The Chairman
Dave Van Ronk

so many others...

the thread idea was really prompted by just how high a standard those three "Grapevine" versions hold to.

I guess the point I was trying to make is that if a song has 50 cover versions then three of them should be pretty good, however...

Re: Imagine
most of them, I imagine, not classic.

...it turns out to be not the case. Eva Cassidey's version at a pinch.

"Both Sides Now"
^^^Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Georgia On My Mind

Ray Charles (1960!)
James Brown
Willie Nelson

Lowell George's "Willin'"

Linda Ronstadt
Little Feat (twice)
Steve Earle
Commander Cody
David Allan Coe

"Both Sides Now"

Glen Campbell may have the best version:

"Dancing In The Streets"

Martha & the Vandellas
Van Halen
Jagger & Bowie

Hahahahaha.

"Dark End of the Street" -- James Carr, Percy Sledge, Flying Burrito Brothers

Linda Ronstadt!

Light My Fire

The Doors
Young Holt Unlimited
Spanky Wilson
Ananda Shankar

I want to say Hallelujah comes close but I can’t think of a third – how about Chelsea Hotel? Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor.

k.d. lang's version is the best of all!

"I Think We're Alone Now"

Tommy James & the Shondells
The Rubinoos
Tiffany

"The Mexican"
"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
"Gloria"

I guess "Louie Louie" and "Whiskey In the Jar" and "Hey Joe" are all technically pre-'60s songs, right? (Or if there are 3+ 5-star versions after the '60s, does that mean they count regardless?)

Sonic Youth did a good cover of the Fall's cover of Victoria.

Tainted Love:

Gloria Jones
Ruth Swann
Soft Cell.

I think so.

Always On My Mind - Elvis, Willie Nelson, Pet Shop Boys.

The Willie Nelson version being the best.

"Ca Plane Pour Moi"/"Jet Boy Jet Girl" (at least three of each, but they're really all the same song -- ditto "Bad Boy Bad Girl," Two Man Sound version)

"Dark End of the Street" -- James Carr, Percy Sledge, Flying Burrito Brothers

+ Richard & Linda Thompson

I guess "Louie Louie" and "Whiskey In the Jar" and "Hey Joe" are all technically pre-'60s songs, right?

thread question doesn't say anything about when the song was WRITTEN, just when it was recorded/performed. (Georgia on my Mind was written in the 30s)

Also pre-1960, but with scads of great post-1960 versions: "House Of The Rising Sun"

coil did tainted love too

thread question doesn't say anything about when the song was WRITTEN

Actually, the phrase "post-1960 songs" is pretty ambiguous.

More Almond associations- but yeah, the Coil "Tainted Love" is stone-cold for sure:
Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart - Gene Pitney, Nick Cave, Marc Almond.

I've never heard the Cilla Black version.

NoTimeBeforeTime: thank you! I have the songs of the 49th parallel CD and love it – I knew there was another hallelujah I could rep for! I hate to bring up Rufus *again* (especially considering I only own his first CD, which features neither cover) but Across the Universe: Beatles, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright.
Anyone good cover Yoko Ono’s “I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window” besides Of Montreal?

WLT add the Residents to list of classic Satisfaction covers

Anyone good cover Yoko Ono’s “I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window” besides Of Montreal?

! My estimation of Of Montreal just went up a notch

It’s what made me give them a chance, Mo – it’s faithful but maybe a bit more accessible than the Y.O. version.

yeah xhuxk is right about R+L Thompson's "Dark End Of The Street"! Came here to post that. Might be my fave version of that great, great song. Maybe that song wins?

I was thinking written post-1960, to avoid "Summertime" etc., but it obviously doesn't really matter what I was thinking.

"Yes We Can [Can]"
Lee Dorsey
Pointer Sisters
Treacherous Three

stone classics all

"Set It Off"
Strafe
Harlequin 4
C# Sharp

"Someone's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight"
Fleetwood Mac
Count Bishops
Rezillos

"Time Has Come Today"
Chambers Brothers
Angry Samoans
Wurm
Ramones
etc
etc

"California Sun"
Rivieras
Dictators
Ramones

... because "I Put a Spell On You" covered by CCR & Nina Simone would otherwise qualify

Natacha Atlas's vershion of same 's way wonderful as well.

Promised Land (1963)
Chuck
Elvis
And best of all...
Johnnie Allen

xxpost
Do you really think all of those are 5-star, all-time, stone-cold classic versions, xhuxk? The Harlequin 4's "Set It Off??' The Samoans' "Time Has Come Today??"

And I question the 5-star, etc. aspect of a lot of those Sinatra/Presley versions. The Sinatra "Sweet Caroline" is barely a 2-star, part-time, lukewarm recorded version.

But great thread. And I think so far "Grapevine" wins.

Grapevine three classics vs. Satisfaction three classics poll

(xpost) I think it's more a result of the general sloppiness that Sinatra and Presley's work had in the 70's

i think it's nice how both "Satisfaction" and "Grapevine" both have three undeniable classics via "rock version", "soul version," "punk deconstruction"

"The Model" - Kraftwerk, Big Black, Electric Six

xpost to self

New question: Are there any other songs that have three classics in that mold?

The Harlequin 4's "Set It Off??' The Samoans' "Time Has Come Today??"

These ones are awesome; are you nuts? (Ever hear the Harlequin 4 14-minute B-side supposedly "instrumental" even though it isn't version? Jeez, man. It's like ESG or something, but way longer.) C# Sharp's and the Ramones (ditto their sub-Dictators "California Sun"), okay maybe a little bit less so, I admit. I still absolutely stand by "The Mexican" and "Ca Plane Pour Moi" and "Someone's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In" and "Hey Joe" and "Gloria" though. (And honestly never thought Gladys's "Grapevine," much less CCR's interminable version, were all that great. But that's just me.)

much less CCR's interminable version

you are insane

its way better than their version of I Put a Spell On You!

"You Keep Me Hanging On"
Supremes
Vanilla Fudge
Kim Wilde

"The Locomotion"
Little Eva
Grand Funk
Kyle Minogue

Suggested by the WW1 thread:

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Eric Bogle (OG)
The Pogues
and
June Tabor (utterly transcendent -unaccompanied and heartbreaking)

"Summertime Blues"
Eddie Cochran
The Who
Blue Cheer

"Money (That's What I Want)"
Barret Strong
The Beatles
Flying Lizards
(also Kingsmen and Jr. Walker, if you think they're good enough.)

Pretty sure "Money" fulfills Whiney's soul/rock/punk criteria, too.

(Okay, Cochran's was '58, I guess. So never mind that one. Flying Lizards covered that, too, though; bet it was, uh, better than Alan Jackson's version.)

Who else has done "Sex Machine" besides the Lizards and James Brown?

I dunno if he's recorded but Jonathan Richman doing Sex Machine live was a wonder to behold

"The Man Who Sold The World" - Bowie, Lulu, Nirvana
"Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence, Blue Aeroplanes, Type O Negative

Ooh - "Here She Comes Now" - VU, Cabaret Voltaire, Galaxie 500

"Ballad Of Hollis Brown"
Bob Dylan
Nazareth
Entombed

Sweet Jane: VU, Mott the Hoople, Cowboy Junkies

Mott The Hoople version is largely pointless

An album of which there are three classic versions*

Abbey Road- The Beatles
The Other Side of Abbey Road - George Benson
McLemore Avenue -Booker T. and the MGs

(Maybe the Beatles one isn't so classic.......)

pretty much the entire Antonio Carlos Jobim songbook. for ex., two classic version of "Waters of March" by Elis Regina; the other by Joao Gilberto on the '73 Joao Gilberto.

"Take Me to the River":

Al Green
Talking Heads
Syl Johnson

"ain't no mountain high enough"

marvin gaye + tammi terrell
diana ross
inner life

you could probably replace another version for the diana ross tho, there are jillions of versions out there

Summertime Blues:
Crackin' Up
Bo Diddley (original)
Rolling Stones
Thee Headcoats
King Khan & The Shrines

Love Hurts:
Everley Brothers
Nazareth
Gram Parsons

Breakaway:
Irma Thomas
Jackie DeShannon
Detroit Cobras

Eddie Cochrane (original [pre-60])
T. Rex
Blue Cheer
The Who
Guitar Wolf

I Fought The Law:
Sonny Curtis & The Crickets (original [pre-60])
Bobby Fuller 4
The Clash
Dead Kennedies

Like A Rolling Stone
Dylan
The Soup Greens
Phil Flowers

"At Last I Am Free"

Chic
Robert Wyatt
Cassiber
Ground Zero

can't believe I didn't think of this before but aren't there three different recorded versions of tropicalia classic "Baby"...? (Veloso, Costa, and Os Mutantes?)

Good call on Baby. Os Mutantes did 2 versions too, so there's at least 4.

Can't Seem To Make You Mine: The Seeds, Alex Chilton, Yo La Tengo

Needles & Pins: Jackie DeShannon, The Searchers, The Ramones,

If were talking about Brazilian music, I'd say the following artists have done pretty awesome versions of Milton Nascimento's "Cravo e Canela":

Nascimento himself
Flora Purim
Caetano Veloso
Rosinha de Valença
Dom um Romao
Uakti

(Rock fans might also enjoy the cover done by Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy, but that's not my thing.)

I'll keep on holding on

The Marvelletes
The Action
The Detroit Cobras

knock on wood has at least two

Totally obvious one, but Everybody's Talkin"

Fred Neil
Nilsson
Dion

and you can add Dion to the Tomorow is a Long Time list (and Sandy Denny)

Willie Nelson does a killer version of Everybody's Talkin

Willie should be like a third of this thread, tbh, that guy's done a million brilliant covers

(Rock fans might also enjoy the cover done by Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy, but that's not my thing.)

Probably not the thing of lots of rock fans too, fwiw.

Some Kristofferson songs probably--

"For the Good Times"- KK, Ray Price, Al Green, others

"Me & Bobby McGee"- KK, Janis, Loretta Lynn

The Gibbs deffo
To Love Somebody
BeeGees
Burritos
James Carr

Must be three great 'What becomes of the Broken Hearted?' s

Al Green
?
?

I was gonna post the Sugarhill Gang "Apache" but them remembered how racist it is.

"Angel of the Morning"

Merilee Rush, Skeeter Davis, Juice Newton

Unlike most other suggestions on this thread, there isn't a huge variation in styles between these three, but whatever, this song rules.

Also looking for a third version of "Into the Groove" to go with Madonna and Ciccone Youth's versions ...

Joya Landis version of "Angel Of The Morning" kills so there are actually four.

And P.P. Arnold makes 5

I like the Pretenders version of "Angel of the Morning"

Sly and the Family Stone do "Sex Machine" too.

Roy Orbison's "Love Hurts" is Great.

I'm wondering if there is a great third version of "The First Cut is the Deepest"? I love the Rod Stewart version (yes Rod Stewart) and P.P. Arnold, but I've never heard Cat Stevens do it.

Surfin' Bird - Trashmen, Cramps, Ramones, plus "The Bird is the Word" and "Papa-Oom-Maw-Maw" by the Rivingtons

Has there ever been a bad cover of the Beatles' "Rain"? Antietam, Bongwater and Shonen Knife versions were all A+.

Light My Fire

The Doors
Young Holt Unlimited
Spanky Wilson
Ananda Shankar

Jose Feliciano, too

All My Friends - LCD, Franz, Cale (Personally, all three versions went through massive cycles on my playlists - and not concurrently, either.

Some Velvet Moring:

Nancy and Lee
Slowdive
Primal Scream and Kate Moss

Morning, even

There must be a third version of "Heartbreak Hotel" to add to Presley and Cale. Some country version, undoubtedly.

"Superstar" - The Carpenters, Luther Vandross, Sonic Youth

"No Regrets" - Tom Rush, Walker Brothers, Lee Hazlewood

Is there a third great "We Can Work it Out" after the Beatles and Stevie?

Tesla

"The Beat Goes On" - Sonny & Cher, The All Seeing I, Britney Spears

Sly and the Family Stone do "Sex Machine" too.

yeah, the one Sly Stone wrote.

yeah, the one Sly Stone wrote.

Oops I streamed it somewhere after I posted that, and hoped it was just a bizarre instrumental interpretation. I should have researched it. At least I learned something.

Roger Miller did a version of "Heartbreak Hotel" that I remember as at least interesting, but I'm not going to go out on a limb until I listen to it again. Okay, I'm listening to it now. Not great, he uses a random sounding rhythm and phrasing.

[I'm wondering if there is a great third version of "The First Cut is the Deepest"?]
Linda Rondstadt does a great version.

Walk Away, Renee: the Left Banke, the Four Tops, Billy Bragg (cheating slightly)

'don't leave me this way'
harold melvin + the blue notes
thelma houston
the communards

"Blue Christmas"

Elvis, Beach Boys, Low

"Walk on By"
Dionne Warwick
Isaac Hayes
The Stranglers

"Pancho & Lefty"

Townes Van Zandt
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard
Emmylou Harris

Rent – Pet Shop Boys, Liza Minelli, Carter USM

Light My Fire
The Doors
Young Holt Unlimited
Spanky Wilson
Ananda Shankar
Jose Feliciano, too
Don’t mind the Massive Attack/Horace Andy on Protection, and the Miho Hatori/Beastie Boys version (that was only on side D of the Australian double-clear-vinyl lathe-cut 7” version of Aglio E Olio) is at least four stars.

All My Friends - LCD, Franz, Cale

Cale > LCD >>>>>>>>>> Franz

There must be a third version of "Heartbreak Hotel" to add to Presley and Cale. Some country version, undoubtedly.

Heartbreaker Hotel by Dread Zeppelin! Five stars for sure.

Did anyone mention "Leaving Here" ?

Eddie Holland
The Birds
The Who
Motorhead

"Heartbreak Hotel" - add the Soft Boys (who take Cale's cover even further into madness) and Willie Nelson & Leon Russel:

Pressure Drop

Toots, Clash, Robert Palmer

'Heartbreak Hotel' surely not post-1960 tho

Indian Summer - Beat Happening, Spectrum, Dean Wareham solo version (which is better than the one that ended up being released and credited to Luna)

Dolly Parton, Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin: "Stairway to Heaven"

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411XEY1YRAL._SS500_.jpg

solid handful of the 22 versions were good

I think the Rowland S Howard & Lydia Lunch version of Some Velvet Morning is pretty spot on, myself.

There were a great many Jamaican covers of US pop songs in the 70s. Somehow they can make really shmaltzy stuff sound very soulful & sincere. There's a terrific cover of Neil Diamond's "I Am... I Said", amongst others.

xp #89 pop hit, 1986:

"Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida"

Iron Butterfly
16 Bit
Disco Circus
Boney M

"Macarena"

Los Del Rio
Los Del Mar
Majo & Co

Others that look promising (judging from a quick paging through first few pages of the index of Joel Whitburn's Hot 100 book) if anybody knows all the relevant versions: "Abraham Martin & John", "After Midnight," "Ain't That A Shame", "Alley-Oop" (2 hit covers plus the original all in 1960, how could you go wrong?), "Baby It's You," "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" (Belafonte and Stan Freberg count for sure), "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me," "Bring It On Home To Me," "C.C. Rider," "California Dreamin'," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Chain Of Fools," "Chantilly Lace" (original + Jerry Lee and Mitch Ryder! Though Big Bopper is '58 I guess), "Cupid," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Daddy's Home," "Dedicated To The One I Love," "Do You Want To Dance" (looks like a shoo-in actually, even though Bobby Freeman was '58: Del Shannon / Beach Boys / Mamas & Papas / Bette Midler / Ramones ), "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love"...

Oops, dinner time.

Okay, "Macarena" maybe a slight stretch (one or two mere four-stars in there, though I won't say which), but this one is for real:

"Black Is Black"

Los Bravos
Belle Epoque
Cerrone

"Cotton Eye(d) Joe"

Isaac Payton Sweat
The Chieftans
Rednex

"It's All Over Now"

Valentinos
Rolling Stones
Molly Hatchet
John Anderson

"Ain't It Fun"

Rocket From The Tombs
Dead Boys
Guns N' Roses

(RFTT do a killer "Satisfaction" too btw.)

Slayer do a cool cover of "Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida" as well.

Are there any good cover versions of "Born to Be Wild?" All the versions I can think of (The Cult, Slayer) suck, except for the Blue Oyster Cult version, which is too faithful to be interesting.

"Iko Iko"

Dixie Cups
Dr. John
Belle Stars

"Big Chief"

Dr. John
Professor Longhair
Wild Tchoupitoulas

And there's probably a few more New Orleans ones.

"You Really Got Me" - Kinks, Hammersmith Gorillas, Van Halen

"Axel F"

Harold Faltermeyer
Crazy Frog
Kidz Bop Kidz

"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" - BTO, Figures On A Beach, Kurtis Blow

"You Don't Miss Your Water" - Otis Redding, The Byrds, Peter Tosh, Brian Eno, The Triffids

Kurtis Blow did "Takin' Care of Business," though, not "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," right?

"Walkin' The Dog"

Rufus Thomas
Aerosmith
Ratt

"Train Kept A Rollin'"

Johnny Burnette and his Rock and Roll Trio
Yardbirds
Aerosmith

"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding"

Brinsley Schwarz
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Stephen Colbert, Elvis Costello, Feist, John Legend, Toby Keith, and Willie Nelson

from above:

Slade's live cover of 'Born to be Wild' from early in their career is good.

(Flaming Lips covered "What's So Funny" too, actually. Which still only makes two great ones.)

"Substitute"
The Who, Sex Pistols, Ramones, probably more
Richard Thompson killed this live when I saw him, don't know if he ever recorded it.

"(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"

Paul Revere and the Raiders
The Monkees
Sex Pistols
Minor Threat

(And Paul Revere etc. do an excellent "Walkin' The Dog," too, come to think of it, preceded medleywise with their original "Crisco Party.")

The one time I saw the Minutemen, they did Substitute as the encore. And it was great.

I dunno it RFTT and Dead Boys should count as really that different, but "Ain't it Fun" deserves a few more classic turns.

Did anyone mention "Leaving Here" ?

Eddie Holland
The Birds
The Who
Motorhead

Pearl Jam

"I Shall Be Released": Dylan (on The Basement Tapes), The Band (on Big Pink), and Nina Simone.

and The Heptones

"Dark End of the Street" -- James Carr, Percy Sledge, Flying Burrito Brothers

Linda Ronstadt!

and Pat Kelly

"I Can't Let Go"

Evie Sands
The Hollies
Linda Ronstadt

"let it be me" (1957)

"Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)"
Kim Weston
The Isley Brothers
The Doobie Brothers

"You Don't Own Me"
Lesley Gore
Dusty Springfield
Joan Jett

"Mr. Big Stuff"
Jean Knight
Lyn Collins
Tomorrow's Children

"Ode to Billie Joe"
a shit ton

"You Don't Own Me"

I'd throw in Klaus Nomi as well but I would.

"Shake A Tail Feather"

Five Du-Tones
James & Bobby Purify
Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
The Romantics

"Mr. Big Stuff"

I think it's more a result of the general sloppiness that Sinatra and Presley's work had in the 70's

Which would thus disqualify them for 5-star, all-time, stone-cold classics. Unless I'm missing something...

Many xposts to xhuxk:

I dig those Angry Samoans and Harlequin Four covers. Just don't think they're 5-star, etc. (although the AS one comes close; the H4 is too close to the original to count for me but right, I haven't heard the instrumental...must find).

"I Wanna Be Your Dog"

Stooges, Sonic Youth, Joan Jett

i`m trying to think of a third great Eleannor Rigby. And a more difficult question would be post-1980 songs. There`s gotta be one or two.

You are, of course, including BT/MGs in your equation?

harlequin 4s 'set it off' is the definitive version.

no! so beatles, aretha, and booker t. it is

Are there any good cover versions of "Born to Be Wild?"

Wilson Pickett's version is great! Better than the original in my opinion.

"Cotton Eye(d) Joe"

Isaac Payton Sweat
The Chieftans
Rednex

Nina Simone also has a nice version too, though "Cotton-Eyed Joe" is hardly a post-1960 song.

Speaking of Jimi & Booker T:

"Born Under a Bad Sign"

BT/MGs, Hendrix, Albert King (fuck Cream)

*except for "Anyone For Tennis"

"Gypsy Woman"
Curtis Mayfield
Jay and the Americans
Junior Murvin
Marcia Griffiths
Slim Smith

"All Along the Watchtower": Dylan, Hendrix, XTC, and so on.

"Can't Get Used to Losing You": Andy Williams, Skeeter Davis, Patti Page, The (English) Beat

Is there a 3rd great version of "I Can't Get Next to You" besides the Temptations and Al Green?

"Summer Breeze": Seals & Crofts, the Main Ingredient, the Isley Brothers, Jackie Mittoo, Type O Negative

Rev: maybe not 5-star but Annie Lennox version is aight

Highway 61 revisited:

Dylan
PJ Harvey
Johnny Winters (maybe not five stars)

Moonshiner:

Dylan
Uncle Tupelo
Cat Power

"Summer Breeze": Seals & Crofts

Um, hells no!

P.S. The Brady Bunch did a version too.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough surely?

Is there a 3rd great version of "I Can't Get Next to You" besides the Temptations and Al Green?

The Osmonds?

Kurtis Blow did "Takin' Care of Business," though, not "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," right?

yeah...I always get those songs mixed up!

"Born To Run"
Bruce Springsteen
Allan Clarke
Frankie Goes To Hollywood

"Close To You" by Dionne Warwick, The Carpenters and, er, at least one of these versions *must* have been stone cold killer as well: Dusty Springfield, Frank Sinatra, Connie Stevens with Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, The Circle Jerks, Bobby Womack, Perry Como, Barenaked Ladies, The Cranberries, Isaac Hayes (on Black Moses, 1971), Les Mouches, Jimmy Bo Horne, Hikaru Utada (Cubic U), Ethyl Meatplow, Freya Lin, Corrinne May, Rie fu, Rick Astley, Emil Chau, Johnny Mathis, Vincy Chan and Tuck & Patti.

(Except for Barenaked Ladies)

i vote for Coil as the third "Tainted Love".

Is there a third "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" after Glen Campbell and Isaac Hayes?

Is there a third "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" after Glen Campbell and Isaac Hayes?

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Is there a 3rd great version of "I Can't Get Next to You" besides the Temptations and Al Green?

The Jay Boys. Basically if there's a classic motown/soul song, there's a classic reggae version of it.

"Sugar Sugar"

The Archies
Wilson Pickett
L'Trimm

harlequin 4s 'set it off' is the definitive version.

First time I've ever heard anybody put it that way, but it might make sense. Strafe's original is the one that scored in Pazz & Jop, but Harlequin 4's simultaneous knockoff is on the History Of The House Sound Of Chicago box set. I always figured that had something to do with licensing and availability, but the Harlequin 4 one seems to still show up DJ Mix CDs now and then, so who knows?

"Low Rider"

War
Stolen Property
L'Trimm

Two other versions of "Hallelujah" include Jeff Buckley and John Cale's.

"Sugar Sugar"

The Archies
Wilson Pickett
L'Trimm

I think the Germs' version is a 5-star classic too, but maybe that's just me.

the Alex Chilton version of Sugar Sugar rules, too

yeah the Chilton version is fab; wrt that album I was trying to think of a third 5-star "Jumpin Jack Flash" but no luck.

"Baby Please Don't Go"

Muddy Waters
Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes
AC/DC

probably a bunch of other ones, too

Them^^

Finally thought of one:

"Paint It Black"

Stones
Feelies
Fennesz

And yes I think all three are 5-star, All-Time, Stone-Cold classic recorded versions (although I'll admit that the Feelies' version makes most sense after forty perpetually nerve-wracked minutes of Crazy Rhythms)

Proud Mary

CCR
Ike & Tina
Solomon Burke

Knockin` on heaven`s door:

GNR
Dylan
Antony and the Johnsons

Ew, GNR's version is refried ass.

aye, aye, aye-aye ayeaaaaagh

swap w/Claire Diterzi's version

Don't know that one, but swapping Antony's version for Television's might be smart.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough surely?

― Ant, Wednesday, April 1, 2009 5:13 AM (13 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i mentioned this one upthread!

"Venus" comes close except there is no way I would possibly see Don Pablo's Animals' version as a "stone cold classic".

As for "Hallelujah", this version comes a bit too close to Jeff Buckley's version, but some of the vocals are so strong it is understandable why it was an enormous smash here in Norway:

"Eleanor Rigby": Beatles, Ray Charles, Big Maybelle (I'm not as sold on Aretha's)

"A Song for You": Leon Russell, Dusty Springfield, Carpenters

"This Guy's (Girl's) in Love With You": Herb Alpert, Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick

"It's for You": Beatles, Cilla Black, Three Dog Night

"It's for You": Beatles

does not exist.

Knockin` on heaven`s door:

GNR
Dylan
Antony and the Johnsons

Or swap with Warren Zevon's version

Helter Skelter - Beatles, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Motley Crue

Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols, Megadeth, Frasier Chorus

"A Song for You": Leon Russell, Dusty Springfield, Carpenters

Once again we find that Willie Nelson has, arguably, recorded the definitive version.

"Time After Time" - Cyndi Lauper, Miles Davis, Cassandra Wilson

"It's for You": Beatles

does not exist.

Whoops, I was fooled by a very good cover band knockoff:

If you are willing to stretch back a year to 1959, Peter Gunn theme

Original (Mancini)
Duane Eddy
Art of Noise feat. Duane Eddy

Also hundreds of 3 to 4.5 star cover versions. Live version from Pirates '77 predates Cramps' and is a smidgen better.

Megadeth's "Anarchy in the UK" is a 5-star, All-Time, Stone-Cold Classic? Hmmm..

i`m trying to think of a third great Eleannor Rigby.

"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" - Frankie Valli, Boys Town Gang, Pet Shop Boys (medley with "Where The Streets Have No Name")

"Woodstock". Joni Mitchell, CSNY and Matthews Southern Comfort. All great.

"Without Out" appeared in only two stone cold classic versions (Badfinger and Nilsson), but Mariah Carey's not so classic version must have been liked by a lot of people too, as it topped the charts everywhere.

"Without You", I mean.

Seriously, how could I forget?
Of course there is a third stone cold classic version of "Without You":

Great thread! Country's got a bunch but I'll add one:

"Crazy"

Patsy Cline
Willie Nelson
Linda Ronstadt

The Irish Rover

The Dubliners
The Pogues
The Dubliners & the Pogues
Dropkick Murphys (OK, may be a stretch to call this one 5 star, but I love this song)

"The Drum" (Slapp Happy)

Bongwater
The Impossibles
Love and Hates

"This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us"

Sparks
Siousie and the Banshees
Weird Al Yankovic

"Shivers" (Rowland S. Howard)

Young Charlatans*
Boys Next Door*
Nikki Sudden
Courtney Barnett

(*Howard was in both bands; feel free to remove one if necessary for strict compliance)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGotP-exHGA

I assume Satisfaction (Stones, Devo, Cat Power) is upthread somewhere

Yes, but with others in place in Cat Power (Otis Redding, Rocket From the Tombs, Residents)

I reckon there are three classic versions of ‘Gimme Shelter’ - Stones, Merry Clayton and Ruth Copeland - on certain days I think the Ruth Copeland version is the best.

"What Do You Want the Girl to Do?"

Allen Toussaint (the OG)
Bryan Hyland (subtle, smooth)
Lowell George (big groove)
Boz Scaggs (not my fave, but a classic)

This thread premise but written post-1980, when the notion of a unified pop songbook really breaks down? I can think of lots of great covers but not a lot of third versions, especially when singing contest hackery makes “Hallelujah” harder to stomach in any interpretation.

“When You Were Mine”

Prince
Cyndi Lauper
Dump

^^Mitch Ryder too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1NLrpNhfRc

"Last Christmas" has a lot of notable cover versions but beyond Taylor Swift I dunno how great any of them are.

‘Head On”

JAMC
Pixies
Ducks LTD/Illuminati Hotties

Oh, and…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BlCKwpDX54

Is there a third good version of Shipbuilding?

There's gotta be three for "Mr. Tambourine Man" (even if you don't count Shatner).

The Beau Brummels had neat version that used the Byrds' arrangement, but using only the verses they cut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScjQKEOPkTA

I think "People Get Ready" has potential (Impressions, Dylan, Marley, Eva Cassidy)

"Angel From Montgomery" has been covered to death but I'll go with:

John Prine
Bonnie Raitt
Tanya Tucker

“When You Were Mine”

Prince
Cyndi Lauper
Dump

― JoeStork, Friday, 20 May 2022 22:37 (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

Also love the Cristina version

niche but I like all of these:

Lucio Battisti - Ancora Tu
Justine and the Victorian Punks - Still You
Róisín Murphy - Ancora Tu

“To Love Somebody”:

Nina Simone
Bee Gees
The Flying Burrito Brothers

'don't let me be misunderstood':

nina simone
animals
santa esmeralda
elvis costello
etc. etc.

“To Love Somebody”:

Nina Simone
Bee Gees
The Flying Burrito Brothers

“That’s How I Got to Memphis”
Tom T. Hall
Bobby Bare
Karl Blau
(and some more, I think)

Scott Walker and Joe Pernice, for starters.

Never heard either of those, thanks. Can’t even locate the Scott Walker one. But did find this:
https://americana-uk.com/versions-thats-how-i-got-to-memphis

Website mentions the Solomon Burke version which I had on my list as well but wanted to listen again before posting.

I still like the Sid Selvidge version as well. Might have been the first one I paid attention to.

Roseanne Cash version with her dad is fine but maybe not as must hear as some others.

Slim Slow Slider:

Van M
Peter Laughner
Sandy Dirt (The Pastels + Al Larsen of Some Velvet Sidewalk) - a very liberal interpretation, but it’s good and I needed a third

^good one!

Hang on, David Hasselhof did a Jesus and Mary Chain cover?

Gosh...

"Ball of Confusion"

Temptations
Tina Turner
Love and Rockets

"I Second that Emotion"
The Miracles
Diana Ross & The Supremes with The Temptations
Japan

"It's Too Late"

Carole King
The Isley Brothers
The Stylistics

"A Thin Line Between Love & Hate"

The Persuaders
The Pretenders
H-Town

Feel like there’s probably a bunch more with The Isleys, given the amount of covers they did.

"Whatever You Like"

T.I.
Anya Marina
Joan As Police Woman

"If I Were a Carpenter"

Tim Hardin
Four Tops
Bobby Darin
Johnny Cash & June Carter

(and a half dozen other contenders)

Tim Hardin also did a stone-cold classic rendition of "Moonshiner", a song mentioned upthread.

david hasselhoff, apply directly to the forehead

This thread premise but written post-1980, when the notion of a unified pop songbook really breaks down? I can think of lots of great covers but not a lot of third versions, especially when singing contest hackery makes “Hallelujah” harder to stomach in any interpretation.

― bendy

you know what music has sort of a unified songbook, video game music, pretty much all of which is post-1980. a lot of people grew up with this music and there's a pretty solid "canon" of songs that people remember as being exceptional, from songs everybody knows (koji kondo) to songs that were mainly done for shitty video games but are all-time bangers (tim follin). this does straddle the line i guess between "cover" and "remix" but a lot of them are flat-out covers. and a lot of them are shitty "metal" versions but there are some _really_ good people working in the field and so you can hear some pretty fantastic versions of songs from games as recent as, say, fez or shovel knight - disasterpeace and jake kaufman being particularly well-loved game composers.

‘Different Drum’, Stone Poneys, Lemonheads, Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet.

Fascinating point rushomancy! I know very little about video game music, never having put in the time to acquire the ear worms.

Also complicating this is the rise of hip hop and dancehall and dance music, where a beat or a feel is providing the familiar point for the reinterpretation but the point is to create unique top line words or melody. It reverses the old notion of a cover where the rhythm and genre conventions provide the shift.

Umbrella: the Rihanna original, the Seamus Haji remix (huge hit in its own right & doesn’t share anything with the original), and the cover by The Baseballs (also a big hit).

Bring The Noise had three hit covers with the same vocals: the Public Enemy original, the remake with Anthrax, and the Grammy-winning Benny Benassi remix.

Xpost

I don’t think the Cat Power version is quite 5 stars but Rihanna’s original of ‘Stay’ and Low’s cover definitely are.

xps Pastels version of "Different Drum" is 5 star for me

"Diamonds and Rust": Joan Baez, Judas Priest, Ritchie Blackmore's Night

(cheating with the last, which is good but not 5 star good)

James Carr too!

Wow, NO idea why I’ve never heard this version before. And now I have a new favorite recording of “To Love Somebody.”

"Human Fly"
The Cramps
Nouvelle Vague
The Horse Flies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVQQfTE2FHY

How to describe...bluegrass meets Steve Reich?

Halo of Flies did it too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxii5GbQQ_o

bob hund did a pretty good version of human fly live too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilfm8xQl3mg

"Landslide"

Fleetwood Mac
Smashing Pumpkins
The Dixie Chicks

“You’re No Good” (1961)

Dee Dee Warwick
Betty Everett
Linda Ronstadt

^^Also: Van Halen

“Cry to Me” (1962)

Solomon Burke
Betty Harris
Freddie Scott