what is the most covered song of all time?

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I was wondering what song has been covered the most. I mean recorded covers so elvis impersonators don't count. I was thinking that it would be a Chuck Berry song or something from an early blues artist. If you have any ideas, please respond.

― michael scott wilson, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've been told it's "Yesterday" by the Beatles, but I can't say I've ever heard one. Anybody else been entertained (at least momentarily) by Laibach's Beatles covers?

― Cryosmurf, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There are supposedly several thousand covers of Yesterday,but how many of those are pan flute renditions that you hear in the supermarket?

― Damian, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Summertime or Greensleves i think , although it may be satisfaction or hte streets of laredo

― anthony, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I too heard it was Beatles "Yesterday", but the only covers I can think of were done by Boyz II Men and En Vogue...

― phil two, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yesterday, I'm pretty sure.

― Michael Dieter, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I heard lots of times that the most covered song was feelings by morris albert that even offspring covered

― victor campos, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have an obscene amount of "Louie Louie" covers in my collection (mostly by Iggy Pop-related bands). Oddly, none of them have the same lyrics.

― Vic Funk, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think it is "bridge over troubled water".

― jel, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Assuming you're excluding classical music and jazz and traditional songs, then my guess would probably be "Happy Birthday to You", which last I checked was still under license by Mildred and Patty Hill, and has appeared in thousands of movies, TV shows, and the occasional album.

― Phil, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i know someone who's collected over a hundred covers of 'wichita lineman'. scariest one may be REM, live in australia, w/ american tennis player jim courier on drums.

― bucky wunderlick, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Komikal way to cause mayhem: register self as official agent for the Hills, and step up whenever you heard it sung (eg at someone else's table in a restaurant) requiring they fill out a form as they now owe the estate $x.oo

― mark s, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Mayhem!!

If that REM one is the one they put out on a 45 in 1996, I don't see it as scary but as rather good. Didn't know about Courier's key role, though.

― the pinefox, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Couldn't it be the Star Spangled Banner?

― Kim, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Isn't a cover different from a performance?

― Josh, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

True, of course. But surely hundreds of versions have actually been recorded as well? (incl. Hendrix.)

Maybe all national anthems should be disqualified tho.

― Kim, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It is "Yesterday." However, regarding performance, I'd always heard that more people heard Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part 2" or whatever it's called, that instrumental... because of all the sports broadcast that use it, for instance during NBA or World Cup events. Until, or course, his pervvy past came to light and they all dropped it in favor of "Who Let the Dogs Out?"

― Andy, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"i know someone who's collected over a hundred covers of 'wichita lineman'. scariest one may be REM, live in australia, w/ american tennis player jim courier on drums."

Cripes. I have to hear this. Good job Mikael Pernfors wasn't on bass, throwing JC off his rhythm, eh kids?

I nominate "Eternal Flame" in response to the original question. I heard the Atomic Kitten version the other day and, to these ears, they didn't merely cover *most* of it, they covered *all* of it. They win.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

How about "Paint It Black."

― Zac Rankin, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

seven months pass...

Yesterday, However I was recently told that "Light my Fire" was! But the former gets my support.

― V Feltz (Mr.), Friday, 14 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

what's the most karaoke-d song of all time?

― geeta, Friday, 14 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

According to the xml covers project, the most covered song is 'Who Do You Love' originally by Bo Diddley. But then it's a work in progress and reflects the information that people have entered so far.

― Amarga, Friday, 14 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think it might be Bertolt Brecht's and Kurt Weill's 1928 "MACK THE KNIFE".

I know Louis Armstrong, Roger Daltry, Sting, Bobby Darin, Ella Ftizgerald, Eartha Kitt, Robbie Williams, Nick Cave, The Psycadellic Furs, Yo La Tengo, Ute Lemper... and many, many others have recorded this standard.

for more info please see: www.geocities.com/mackie_messier/title.html

― joseph vincent mach, Saturday, 22 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

I think it could be "Whiskey in The Jar" It been done by the following:

The Dubliners The Clancy Brothers Flogging Molly The Pogues Thin Lizzy Metallica Ocean Colour Scene

Can't remember the rest..............

― Lewy, Wednesday, 10 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

girl from ipanema must be a contender?

― gareth, Thursday, 11 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two months pass...

No one has posted anything on this board in a while but I just did some research for a research paper and here is all of the covers for Yesterday Yesterday Matt Munro single/Yesterday 1965
Cilla Black b-side/"Love Is Just A 1966
Marianne Faithfull Go Away From My World 1966
Four In The Morning single 1966
Supremes I Hear A Symphony 1966
Perry Como Lightly Latin 1966
Chris Farlowe Things To Think About 1966
Bud Shank Michelle 1966
-Dino, Desi and Billy Our time's coming 1966
Beau Brummels 66 1966
Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers Tough! 1966
Jan and Dean Folk and roll 1966
Ray Charles single/Listen 1967
Carla Thomas Stax/Volt Revue Vol. 1 1967
Sandpipers The Sandpipers 1967
Van Doonican Rocks But Gently 1968
Floyd Cramer The Distinctive Style Of1968
Smokey Robinson/Miracle Special Occasion 1968
Head Shop The Head Shop 1969
Marvin Gaye That's the way love is 1969
Eyes Of Blue Crossroads Of Time 1969
Elvis Presley On Stage-Feb. 1970 1970
Bill Medley Someone Is Standing Out.1970
The Dillards Copperfields 1970
Bob Dylan recorded-never released 1970
Mina ... Del mio meglio 1971
Oscar Peterson Motions & Emotions 1972
Barney Kessel Yesterday 1973
Ronnie Aldrich In The Gentle Hours 1975
Dr. John Hollywood Be Thy Name 1975
Benny Goodman Live At Carnegie Hall 1978
Max Bygraves At His Very Best 1979
En Vogue Funky Divas 1992
Michael Bolton Timeless - The Classics 1992
Boyz II Men II 1994
(instrumental) A Cor Do Som Ao Vivo No Circo 1996
Wet Wet Wet single 1997
"Various" 25 Hammond Organ Hits
Tony Bruno An Original By Bruno
Molly Camp Will Success Spoil ...
Ray Conniff/Singers It Must Be Him
Cornell Glee Clb Hngovr Hangin' Out
David & Jonathan Michelle
Percy Faith Best of 1966 V. 2
Robert Farnon/Tony Coe Pop Makes Progress
Gary Farr The First
Ferrante & Teicher For Lovers Of All Ages
Sergio Franchi From Sergio With Love
Bobby Goldsboro It's Too Late
Don Ho You're Gonna Hear From
Tom Jones Live In Las Vegas
Andre Kostelanetz Today's Golden Hits
James Last Soft Rock
Herbie Mann Today
Johnny Mann Singers I Remember You
Ray Martin/Orchestra Michelle Going For Baro
Al Martino Compilation
Midnight String Quartet Rhapsodies For Young Lovers
Peter Nero Up Close
Nelson Riddle Music For Wives & Lover
Bruce Scott They're All Raving Abou
Village Stompers A Taste Of Honey
Dionne Warwick Very Dionne
Andy Williams Shadow Of Your Smile
Roger Williams Golden Hits
Tammy Wynette Greatest Hits of the 60
Wes Montgomery Greatest Hits
The Smothers Brothers Play It Straight
Gordon MacRae If She Walked Into My Life
Lee Morgan 1966
Alma Cogen 1966
Ed Ames
Los Modulos 1970
Ray Anthony
Mr. Acker Bilk
Anita Bryant
Charlie Byrd
Al Caiola
Kiri Te Kanewa
Vic Dana
Dino, Desi & Billy
Placido Domingo
Patty Duke
Buddy Emmons
Eddie Fisher
Tennesse Ernie Ford
Vince Guaraldi
Burl Ives
Jack Jones
Kasinatz-Katz Singing
Sneaky Pete Kleinow
Gladys Knight & The Pip
Brenda Lee
Letterman
Liberace
Vera Lynn
Johnny Mathis
David McCallum
Barry McGuire
Kenneth McKellar
Chris Montez
Jane Morgan
Tony Mottola
Nana Mouskouri
Willie Nelson
Ray Price
Lou Rawls
Seekers
Frank Sinatra
Johnny Smith
Kate Smith
Starlight Woodwinds
Enzo Stuarti
Temptations
Sarah Vaughan
Nancy Wilson
Young-Holt Trio
Howard Keel (in a medley with Something)
Hugues Aufray
Michele Arnaud
Tino Rossi

― Renee' Janssen, Wednesday, 18 September 2002 18:02 (twenty-three years ago)

It is compulsory for all jazz artists to record "'Round Midnight" at least once in their careers.

― Andrew Norman, Wednesday, 18 September 2002 18:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Weird, I had always heard it was "Under the Boardwalk," which no one else mentioned. However, now that I think about it, that doesn't really seem right anyways.

― Nick A., Wednesday, 18 September 2002 19:08 (twenty-three years ago)

"4:33"

― Joe (Joe), Wednesday, 18 September 2002 21:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, there are loads of covers of that nowadays - for some reason, it always seems to be the first of two 'secret bonus tracks' on a lot of CDs.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 19 September 2002 18:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Though obviously some acts play it more quickly than others.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 19 September 2002 18:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Every Acid Dealer Gets Busted Eventually - by some guy named Scales.

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 19 September 2002 18:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Happy Birthday

― JM, Friday, 20 September 2002 03:11 (twenty-three years ago)

I think it may be "Knockin' on Heaven's Door".

or maybe even the Sex Pistols "Anarchy in the UK"

― Bob Shell, Monday, 23 September 2002 23:45 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

cool topic! anyway maybe not the most covered - but very good song...
Mr. Bojangles
Sammy Davis Jr.
Robbie Williams
Bob Dylan
Neil Diamond
David Allen Coe

― Arve Algardstad, Friday, 8 November 2002 23:11 (twenty-three years ago)

I once got hate mail because of this thread!

― Kim (Kim), Saturday, 9 November 2002 03:25 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

what about "moon river" by henry mancini and johnny mercer? performed by everyone from laurence welk to martin gore of depeche mode?

― allen, Tuesday, 3 December 2002 21:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Ring of Fire has a fair number of covers.

― Jonathan Williams (ex machina), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 21:52 (twenty-three years ago)

"Louie Louie" or "House of the Rising Sun", probably.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 22:03 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

my automatic guess would be House of the Rising Sun

― ¡Aspirex!, Sunday, 22 December 2002 05:11 (twenty-three years ago)

positive i already posted this but i heard it was "Fever". Or maybe it's just the number of songs with that name, i dunno.

― dog latin (dog latin), Sunday, 22 December 2002 05:18 (twenty-three years ago)

I think it's "Gut Feeling" by DEVO. At least, that's the song most covered by my old band.

― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Sunday, 22 December 2002 07:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Besame Mucho has a lot of covers.

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Sunday, 22 December 2002 07:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Vince Guaraldi "Linus and Lucy"... at least, amongst any practicing rock band.

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 24 December 2002 02:28 (twenty-three years ago)

The original 12-bar blues song!

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 24 December 2002 05:34 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

Skinhead girl, and a message to you, rudy
I must have heard about 50 versions of them.

― r00t-Ed, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" has 238 covers. You can see the artist list on official site of Procol Harum (www.procolharum.com).

― another one, Friday, 17 January 2003 09:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Seriously, how about Irving Berlin's "White Christmas"? They had a special on that around Christmas time, and I was surprised how many people have covered it...

― Joe (Joe), Friday, 17 January 2003 09:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I've always heard it was "My way" ("Comme d'Habitude" in its original version), but maybe it's just a french chauvinistic myth....

― snowballing from Paris, Friday, 17 January 2003 10:49 (twenty-two years ago)

...i did read through this thread once (haven't re-read it now)
so i dunno if i'm repeating this title or rather debuting it, anyways - "Sweet Little Sixteen" (Berry) has also close to 200 *well known* cover versions, and it must have been played - tho' not necessarily always recorded, of course - nigh endlessy during a certain period of time
(happened to check the AMG info on it recently, after having listened to the Pascal Comelade's version)

...probably some other r'n'roll classics have been covered a lot too

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Friday, 17 January 2003 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

It's definitely yesterday

― Elle PRoust, Saturday, 18 January 2003 11:24 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

Greensleeves gets my vote.
It was probably ahead of everything else on the list before Yesterday was written.

― FilthyBuzzard, Wednesday, 12 October 2005 23:46 (twenty years ago)

what about amazing grace?

everyone sings that song. i bet its been covered more than yesterday.

― ollile, Thursday, 13 October 2005 01:33 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

popcorn

― i think its..., Saturday, 3 December 2005 08:55 (twenty years ago)

My elderly Guinness Book of Records says that Yesterday is top with 1,186 known recordings back in 1980, and second is the only other to top 1,000 recordings, a song just seven years old then: Tie A Yellow Ribbon. Obviously the numbers and top two will not be identical now, but perhaps this can dissuade more suggestions of songs with mere dozens of covers.

I don't know how they gather this info - I wonder if versions of uncopyrighted material (such as Amazing Grace) may not be captured in the same way.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 3 December 2005 12:27 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

a load of shit

― Joe bloggs, Monday, 8 May 2006 07:49 (nineteen years ago)

I am pretty sure "Yesterday" is still in the lead. Not so certan about number 2 though.

The original 12 bar blues song was a good suggestion even though I was not the one who posted that :)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 8 May 2006 10:47 (nineteen years ago)

Yesterday is definitely #1...I bet #2 is Summertime from Porgy and Bess. Another one that's up there is probably Love is Blue.

― musically (musically), Monday, 8 May 2006 15:19 (nineteen years ago)

In regards to the Beatles, I wonder where "Michelle" places in all of this, cause it seems like it's on partically every other MOR/soft pop album released between 1966 & 1968.

― Chairman Doinel (Charles McCain), Monday, 8 May 2006 15:28 (nineteen years ago)

looking at that broad list of artists, it's easy to believe it really is Yesterday as far as recorded cover. as far as played live you'd think Louie Louie. as far as rock bands at parties and bars. but there are all those bars where the solo singer/guitar player specialize in, egad, Eagles covers (several). If it's a piano, it could be Elton (your song) & Billy Joel covers.

― Carlos Keith (Buck_Wilde), Tuesday, 9 May 2006 03:57 (nineteen years ago)

Strictly speaking a cover must have been released otherwise you might as well include yourself in the stats when you sing Yesterday in the shower.

Therefore it is not Yesterday but Eleanor Rigby that has been covered the most times. Yesterday comes third.

A great source can be found here: http://www.secondhandsongs.com/home/

― jerste, Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:39 (nineteen years ago)

la grange - zztop???

― lovethefrench (lovethefrench), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:55 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

big joe williamson's old blues number 'baby please don't go' - doodled into so many different styles up till now, mainly by rock groups. van morrison and the them's version became a favourite structural staple for subsequent covers.but check out john lennon's version..now thats a groovily weird one.

― Keith Lim (grassyarse), Saturday, 15 July 2006 20:30 (nineteen years ago)

"Yesterday" had been recorded in over 1000 versions already by the early 80s. As, Second Hand Songs doesn't include more than around the tenth of those, it cannot be taken seriously as a source of information in this case.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 15 July 2006 22:20 (nineteen years ago)

are you counting high-school marching bands? if so, then the winner is "Louie Louie"...those three notes will signal the apocalypse

― J. Grizzle (trainsmoke), Sunday, 16 July 2006 02:21 (nineteen years ago)

A friend once gave me two different 90 minute cassettes he had made filled with covers of Blue Christmas. It is hard to find people who will listen to them with me. If you're on a long airplane trip they make the really bad movies they show on airplanes sound much much better. I'm serious. Princess Diaries 2 with 40 versions of Blue Christmas as the soundtrack is awesome.

― vacasmagras (vacasmagras), Sunday, 16 July 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

A friend of mine put together a CDR of some ridiculous number of "House of the Rising Sun" - like 2 or 3 hundred.

― 100% CHAMPS with a Yes! Attitude. (Austin, Still), Sunday, 16 July 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

"Louie, Louie" has got to be in the running. I remember when KALX in Berkeley would do marathon sessions of nothing but covers of it, lasting up to 24 hours.

― twoheadedboy (twoheadedboy), Monday, 17 July 2006 05:33 (nineteen years ago)

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