Artists who have never recorded a cover?

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Mainstream-ish pop/rock bands or artists who have had a decent career span (let's say ten years) and who have never, ever recorded a cover. I think if you stick to pop/rock and exclude rap, hip-hop, techno and noodling electronics, it's pretty hard to find anyone at all.

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

The Stone Roses. The Verve.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Mogwai.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't think of a teenage fanclub one, but I'm sure there must be.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:48 (twenty-two years ago)

TFC did "Here Comes Your Man", certainly, and Big Star's "Free Again".

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:49 (twenty-two years ago)

And "Like A Virgin" and "Older Guys" (Flying Burrito Brothers?), plus some more...

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:51 (twenty-two years ago)

S Club 7.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think any of those fit into my remit: pop/rock act that has had at least a ten year career.

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Looks like Leonard Cohen might have gone 25 years before his first covers in 1992. Hmmmm...

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Mogwai are 8 years down the line. Stone Roses managed eleven years (they just never recorded anything). Hmmm...

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

There are surely some sad twats out there who've never done a cover 'on principle'...

Re: Mogwai - you could argue that 'My Father My King' counts as something approaching a cover.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 08:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Radiohead (the Venus in Furs thing does not count)

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Radiohead have done "Nobody does It Better" and some other stuff I can't think of right now.

Point of order: are we talking *recorded* covers or just performed stuff? I'm sure pretty much every band in existence has covered *something* live.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess Red Crayola aren't 'mainstream-ish', but they seem to lasted 35 years without a cover. Or have they?

Probably Jandek too?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Stone Roses recorded Redemption Song during the Second Coming sessions. It's on a bootleg, it'll probably get official release one of these days.

Oh, and I'm talking about studio-recorded covers, not live covers.

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Jandek covered some old traditional song - House Of The Rising Sun maybe?

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, having just checked google, Jandek did indeed cover House Of The Rising Sun on Blue Corpse.

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Kraftwerk?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Mogwai recorded a Guns 'N Roses cover on a Peel Session, if that counts...

― T. Weiss (Timmy), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Underworld.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think Underworld can count since te concept of the cover is basically irrelevant in dance music.

Peel sessions are a moot point - loads of bands use them as an excuse to cover something silly/throwaway.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, if you don't count Peel Sessions - New Order.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:20 (twenty-two years ago)

And another one - The Go Betweens.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:22 (twenty-two years ago)

**Yeah, if you don't count Peel Sessions - New Order.**

Their first release was a Joy Division song!

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Kraftwerk may never have recorded a cover. But surely the Go-Betweens must have!

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:23 (twenty-two years ago)

No.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:24 (twenty-two years ago)

The Velvet Underground?

Seemingly a bootleg of a Bo Diddley song...

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Mogwai covered "sweet leaf" on a Fierce Panda single

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, having just checked google, Jandek did indeed cover House Of The Rising Sun on Blue Corpse.

it's an original, it just has the same title.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Did the Cure do covers?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:38 (twenty-two years ago)

We must pray not.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:40 (twenty-two years ago)

The Cure at least did a Hendrix cover early on.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Go Betweens is a good answer - checking out their extensive discog uncovers no covers. they have however both performed covers solo

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Tom, surely if they took the place of Robert Smith originals it would be som sort of kindness?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:44 (twenty-two years ago)

**it's an original, it just has the same title.**

With Jandek, how in fuck can you tell?

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:45 (twenty-two years ago)

the lyrics :)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Looks like I failed to credit some 70's Leonard Cohen covers, so my already qualified nomination was even more incorrect.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:46 (twenty-two years ago)

No, I think a strict containment policy is the only way, particularly in these days of easy downloads. A curious fan of the covered band might be 'intrigued', after all.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:46 (twenty-two years ago)

have AC/DC done any covers?

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:47 (twenty-two years ago)

The Cure did "Hello I Love You" on a Doors tribute album. Velvet Underground might not have done any covers, but they fall foul of my totally arbitrary ten-year-career rule.

― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:49 (twenty-two years ago)

For a 60s band, try the Outsiders (might just fail on the 10 year rule).

Tom, you are right of course. I am getting soft.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Felt released just one cover in their 10 year career (The Beach Boys' Be Still), which is maybe cooler than avoiding them entirely.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 10:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Pink Floyd never recorded a cover, unless you count "King Bee", which they demoed while still The Pink Floyd Sound.

― Zvia Admon (Zeef), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 10:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Young Marble Giants...although people have covered their songs

― Jez (Jez), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 10:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Not a very long career, Jez.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 11:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Wire?

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Did the Cure do covers?

They've covered Hendrix, the Doors, Depeche Mode.

AC/DC? Hmmmmmmm. You may have one there. I certainly can't recall one, if they have.

I don't think the Police ever recorded one. Likewise, Gang of Four never bothered with one. The Buzzcocks steered clear of covers, I believe.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

buzzcocks did a beefheart song.

Why do half the people I know in local bands think playing covers is somehow morally wrong? does anyone understand this? at all?

― thom west (thom w), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 12:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah, they also did a Tom Waits cover ("Better Off without a Wife")....or was that simply Pete Shelley solo?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 12:07 (twenty-two years ago)

acdc did baby pls don't go on their 1st album & a chuck berry song on the 2nd

― duane, Tuesday, 12 August 2003 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 199 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

unreleased cover of "Twist and Shout"

Oh, and released an instrumental version of "Kashmir", so there's that.

― Mark G, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 11:14 (one year ago)

You know when you're much too late? Someone upthread said "Roxy Music" and nobody refuted, I mean c'mon!

― Mark G, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 11:16 (one year ago)

Faust?

― Ward Fowler, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 11:31 (one year ago)

xp Kashmir just a live thing, no?

never heard about Twist and Shout - what era? recorded-but-unreleased is borderline tho!

― Cognosc in Tyrol (emsworth), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 11:41 (one year ago)

UB40

― your mom goes to limgrave (dog latin), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 12:30 (one year ago)

Someone upthread said "Roxy Music" and nobody refuted

I refute your accusation that nobody refuted, they refuted just two posts below the post you wish they had refuted.

― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 14:04 (one year ago)

Crass and Faust are still viable candidates as far as I can tell/remember

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 14:08 (one year ago)

I'm assuming electronic acts like Cluster and offshoots don't count.

― Blood On Santa's Claw (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 14:10 (one year ago)

yeah I think you have to limit this to more or less "normal" rock bands

― frogbs, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 14:16 (one year ago)

secondhandsongs.com seems to confirm Crass, fwiw

(it says that Faust covered something called "Lady Sorrow," originally by Karamel, in 2009 – but I'm not gonna follow the breadcrumbs)

― Energy wrong, I log off (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 14:31 (one year ago)

also seems to confirm Split Enz, if they qualify

― Energy wrong, I log off (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 14:32 (one year ago)

UB40

UB4ALOL

― nashwan, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 15:02 (one year ago)

Gong!

i was going to say that they covered Soft Machine's "Memories" but that was Daevid Allen solo so yes, Gong is it!

― stirmonster, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 15:24 (one year ago)

The velvet underground ?

― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 15:47 (one year ago)

Velvet Underground might not have done any covers, but they fall foul of my totally arbitrary ten-year-career rule.
― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, August 12, 2003

― Kim Kimberly, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 15:52 (one year ago)

They used to play a couple of Chuck Berry numbers live but that's all.

― Blood On Santa's Claw (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 15:52 (one year ago)

Also Bo Diddley's "You Can't Judge a Book", I once read somewhere.

― fetter, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:08 (one year ago)

Merzbow

― This is Dance Anthems, have some respect (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:09 (one year ago)

not true! lol

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:19 (one year ago)

this covers 'Wild Thing":
https://www.discogs.com/release/718547-Society-For-Cutting-Up-Merzbow-Severances

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:20 (one year ago)

(also includes a Motorhead cover for good measure)

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:20 (one year ago)

Gong!
i was going to say that they covered Soft Machine's "Memories" but that was Daevid Allen solo so yes, Gong is it!
― stirmonster, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:24 (fifty-four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Soft Machine too, though Second Hand Songs list Memories as being a Wilde Flowers song I don't think it counts as a cover version because Hugh Hopper wrote it.

― This is Dance Anthems, have some respect (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:21 (one year ago)

Also The Wilde Flowers never released anything

― This is Dance Anthems, have some respect (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:22 (one year ago)

Although Hugh Hopper was not a member of the band when they recorded it - he was their roadie - so it's in a grey area.

― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:27 (one year ago)

_Velvet Underground might not have done any covers, but they fall foul of my totally arbitrary ten-year-career rule.
― Susan (Susan), Tuesday, August 12, 2003_

Oh I see that now. Well 5 albums seem decent enough !

― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:40 (one year ago)

oh yeah 10-year rule disqualifies Crass as well

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:53 (one year ago)

I don't think that really counts, thats like saying I've Seen All Good People is a John Lennon cover
― frogbs, Tuesday, June 18, 2024 3:59 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

I mean, they jam it out and add new stuff but it's definitely a cover of "Shockadelica"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRgo2wlbz0Q

― The SoyBoy West Coast (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 16:59 (one year ago)

Well 5 albums seem decent enough !

Plus two studio odds & ends collections! It is kind of remarkable that VU never put an R&B cover or something on tape.

― Energy wrong, I log off (morrisp), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 17:18 (one year ago)

"Foggy Notion" is apparently a cover of a song by the same name by Hy Weiss.

― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 17:37 (one year ago)

..or close enough that he received co-songwriting credit.

― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 17:38 (one year ago)

Merzbow also did "Silent Night" on a Christmas compilation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBOanPoEek4

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 17:45 (one year ago)

Fugazi are still eligible here, I believe?

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 17:48 (one year ago)

Are we counting interpolations as covers? Fugazi sings the “Ring the Alarm” dancehall hook on Fell, Destroyed.

― bbq, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 18:09 (one year ago)

..or close enough that he received co-songwriting credit.

I don’t know enough about that songwriting credit but it doesn’t seem like a cover anyway (otherwise the credits wouldn’t be shared, would they ?): the velvet underground seem like a pretty good answer to that question !

― AlXTC from Paris, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 18:19 (one year ago)

There's a story behind the Hy Weiss writing credit... but I've completely forgotten it.

― Blood On Santa's Claw (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 18:20 (one year ago)

It is kind of remarkable that VU never put an R&B cover or something on tape.

Meanwhile later on, Lou liked doing "Tracks of My Tears" live in the 90s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKc3l6g8fVk

― paisley got boring (Eazy), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 18:39 (one year ago)

There's a story behind the Hy Weiss writing credit... but I've completely forgotten it.

The "She made me do something that I never did before" verse comes from this song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Ac47sfZTg

Hy Weiss isn't listed as the songwriter of "Later For You Baby" but as owner of Old Town Records (who released the track in 1955) he may as well have been.

― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 21:22 (one year ago)

Although Hugh Hopper was not a member of the band when they recorded it - he was their roadie - so it's in a grey area.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 19 June 2024 17:27 (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

Considering that Wyatt and Ayers were in The Wilde Flowers with Hugh, and considering Hugh would be in Soft Machine in 1972 when it was first released on obscure demos compilation "Rock Generation Vol. 7-8", and considering The Wilde Flowers' version wasn't released until the 90s, and considering both versions were demos not intended for release, I think it's not so grey.

― This is Dance Anthems, have some respect (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 21:29 (one year ago)

(xp) Wow, I'd never heard that before, Lou totally ripped it off!

― Blood On Santa's Claw (Tom D.), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 21:35 (one year ago)

wow x2

― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Wednesday, 19 June 2024 21:45 (one year ago)

conversely it'd be interesting to do a thread on electronic artists that did record covers

― scanner darkly, Saturday, 22 June 2024 05:20 (one year ago)

xposts thanks for laying that one out. As one of the answerers on the VU question thread, I never knew that detail, but guessed it must be something like that...

― Mark G, Saturday, 22 June 2024 08:46 (one year ago)

Gonna go out on a limb and proclaim that The Durutti Column never recorded a cover version. Maybe?

― henry s, Saturday, 22 June 2024 14:15 (one year ago)

Not exactly a prolific career, but well over ten years and nary a cover that mine eyes can see: The Blue Nile

― henry s, Saturday, 22 June 2024 14:31 (one year ago)

XPost

“I get along without you very well” was a Durutti Column single a-side, vocal by Lindsay Reade

― Mark G, Saturday, 22 June 2024 18:05 (one year ago)

Ah, well then I stand behind The Blue Nile. And as a bonus I'll throw in the Paul Buchanan solo LP, to pad out the offerings.

― henry s, Saturday, 22 June 2024 19:06 (one year ago)

About Paul Buchanan...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BUAskru82k

― Blood On Santa's Claw (Tom D.), Saturday, 22 June 2024 19:26 (one year ago)

OK, The Blue Nile only.

― henry s, Saturday, 22 June 2024 19:35 (one year ago)

durutti column also covered “white rabbit”

― brimstead, Sunday, 23 June 2024 02:15 (one year ago)

one month passes...

Kraftwerk cover “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence” in tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto at Fuji Rock 2024 pic.twitter.com/BknIo3TsRp
— Patrick St. Michel (@mbmelodies) July 27, 2024

Kraftwerk cover Ryuichi Sakamoto (Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence)

― Mark G, Saturday, 27 July 2024 18:14 (one year ago)

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