Cover songs that inspired you to check out the original artists

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I remember as a metal teenager listening to Metallica covers and then searching for all of the original bands. This started a love affair with the likes of Killing Joke and Budgie that continues today.

What covers inspired you to dig for the source material?

― Brian O'Neill (NYCNative), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:33 (twenty years ago)

hearing the late, great isaac guillory play "with god on our side", and then hearing the neville brothers' cover of the same, to which isaac's version owed a lot, led me to approach dylan's original with high expectations.

hearing dylan's original killed something inside me, and probably went a long way to making me the cynic i am today.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:38 (twenty years ago)

(that was about 15 years ago. i still loathe bob dylan more than i can explain.)

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:39 (twenty years ago)

I think the first version of "With God on Our Side" I ever heard was from Manfred Mann. Anything else is an improvement, yes?

I had the same reaction as Brian upon first hearing Garage Days Re-revisited, except I think I hunted down the Misfits first.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:41 (twenty years ago)

more positively: new order's cover of "turn the heater on" led me to discover keith hudson, which led to an enduring (although under-indulged) love affair with dub.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:41 (twenty years ago)

Codeine's cover to Seam's "new years".
was dissapointed by the results though.

there are so many...

― squid and whale, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:41 (twenty years ago)

David Bowie's Pin Ups turned me on to the Pretty Things, the Easybeats, the Sorrows and Syd-era Pink Floyd.

― Jeff K (jeff k), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:44 (twenty years ago)

Duran Duran turned me onto Grandmaster Flash.

― dr lulu (dr lulu), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:48 (twenty years ago)

I remember as a metal teenager listening to Metallica covers and then searching for all of the original bands.

heh, yes indeed. and like johnny fever i started with the misfits, it took years to get anything other than the misfits, diamond head and killing joke.

― GOD PUNCH TO HAWKWIND (yournullfame), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 21:51 (twenty years ago)

Kim Carnes version of Smokey Robinson's "More Love"

― bahto habito, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:03 (twenty years ago)

From Jeff Buckley to Leonard Cohen via "Hallelujah."

― JoseMaria (JoseMaria), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:08 (twenty years ago)

Not doing a "my dad can beat up your dad" thing here, but just wanted to clarify that I already knew the Misfits, a result of being into metal and punk in equal doses as a youth, so they didn't apply. :)

― Brian O'Neill (NYCNative), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:09 (twenty years ago)

lots of people's versions of townes van zandt songs got me to eventually dig into townes

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:11 (twenty years ago)

weezer doing hit me baby one more time

i probably wouldn't have given toxic half a chance otherwise.

― yours fondly, harshaw. (mrgn), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:22 (twenty years ago)

travis doing hit me baby one more time
i probably wouldn't have given toxic half a chance otherwise.

― Dec, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:26 (twenty years ago)

uilab's "st. elmos fire" => eno

― STRAIGHT FERN GULLY (jaxon), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:29 (twenty years ago)

paul anka smells like teen spirit.

― scnnr drkly (scnnr drkly), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:31 (twenty years ago)

"Tainted Love" inspired to me to listen to the original by Gloria Jones...I know I am about to lose all my northern soul cred or whatever but I still dig the Soft Cell version most of all.

― musically (musically), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:34 (twenty years ago)

joel rl phelps "lost continent" => comsat angels

― cutty (mcutt), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:35 (twenty years ago)

I was inspired to check out 311 because of that awesome cover of "Love Song" that The Cure did. Nick Hexum is an awesome writer and dreamy to boot.

― Swordfishtrombones, Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:41 (twenty years ago)

Me too, cutty. (JRLP --> Comsats)

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 22:43 (twenty years ago)

That Petrol Emotion led me to Bohannon via Dance Your Ass Off
The Mekons led me to Gram Parsons via $1000 Wedding

― peepee (peepee), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 23:24 (twenty years ago)

Too Many Blues covers to list (SRV->Howlin' Wolf, Cream->Robert Johnson, George Thorogood->Bo Diddley)

― Chairman Doinel (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 23:32 (twenty years ago)

A Nina Hagen cover led me to Mahalia Jackson, and a Diamanda Galas cover
made me look up Screaming Jay Hawkins.

― shieldforyoureyes, Thursday, 20 April 2006 01:14 (twenty years ago)

where's the love for 'thank you' by duran duran?

― dr lulu (dr lulu), Thursday, 20 April 2006 01:17 (twenty years ago)

taking sides: ramones' "acid eaters" vs. duran duran's "thank you"

― dr lulu (dr lulu), Thursday, 20 April 2006 01:17 (twenty years ago)

Minutemen cover of "Dr. Wu" got me listening to Steely Dan.

― chad (chad), Thursday, 20 April 2006 02:23 (twenty years ago)

I was led to Big Star via the lovely versions of "Kangaroo" and "Holocaust" on the first This Mortal Coil record.

― Sexy MFA (Hexy M.F.), Thursday, 20 April 2006 02:48 (twenty years ago)

Ron Sexsmith's version of "Good Old Desk" --> Harry Nilsson.

Sacrilege Dept.: Frank Black's version of "This Is Where I Belong" briefly led me to the Kinks, but I ultimately preferred his version...

― Myke. (Myke Weiskopf), Thursday, 20 April 2006 03:23 (twenty years ago)

Joan Jett's version of "Road Runner" remains definitive to me, but it definitely got me to check out the Modern Lovers version, which is pretty fuckin' great too. For those who haven't heard the Joan Jett version, go check it out - it lacks the ramshackle forward relentlessness of the original, and also the organ is gone, so on paper it's generally not nearly as fun, but there's something truly perfect, something that does "smell like heaven" about the way the Blackhearts come in for "Radio on!"...

― Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Thursday, 20 April 2006 03:50 (twenty years ago)

Not a song but hip hop in general inspired me to listen to James Brown, P-Funk and 70's - 80's funk. A bit broad I know, but who wasn't sampling the "funky drummer' during the 80's?

― Stone (stone), Thursday, 20 April 2006 05:34 (twenty years ago)

Nilsson:
Everybody's Talkin' -> Fred Neil
Without You -> Badfinger

I would never have bought the Monks reissue if not for the Fall.

― Brian Good, Thursday, 20 April 2006 06:07 (twenty years ago)

This Mortal Coil's first album got me into Big Star, Roy Harper and Tim Buckley.

― Mingus Realty (noodle vague), Thursday, 20 April 2006 06:29 (twenty years ago)

i remember hearing this gary numan tribute album a long time ago and hearing i think matt sharp and damon albarn (could be totally wrong about that) covering 'we have a technical'. thereafter went through big gary numan phase.

oh and jeeff buckley made me eventually listen to edith piaf.

― Emily B (Emily B), Thursday, 20 April 2006 15:47 (twenty years ago)

Sally Timms' version of "Drunk By Noon" inspired me to check out the Handsome Family, and I'm a serious fan of their music now. Pavement's (live) cover of "It's A Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl" lead me to Faust.

― James, Thursday, 20 April 2006 15:50 (twenty years ago)

NIN covering "Dead Souls"

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Thursday, 20 April 2006 15:51 (twenty years ago)

Minutemen cover of "Dr. Wu" got me listening to Steely Dan.

me too.

and I never really appreciated sex pistols' "submission" until Galaxie 500 did it. i also found red krayola through g-500 cover of "victory garden."

Also, Scott Walker ====> Jacques Brel, and Luna ====> Gainsbourg.

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Thursday, 20 April 2006 15:54 (twenty years ago)

cat power ---> moby grape

― kephm (kephm), Thursday, 20 April 2006 17:45 (twenty years ago)

More Oar into Skip Spence

― christoff (christoff), Thursday, 20 April 2006 17:57 (twenty years ago)

Ian Matthews covered several Richard Farina songs on his albums "If You Saw Thro' My Eyes" and "Tigers Will Survive". It sent me scambling to find the Vanguard Richard & Mimi Farina albums, which I love very much.

― So Ho La (So Ho La), Friday, 21 April 2006 12:32 (twenty years ago)

Fishbone's version of "Freddie's Dead" led me to Curtis Mayfield, for which they have my eternal gratitude.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Friday, 21 April 2006 13:20 (twenty years ago)

i remember hearing this gary numan tribute album a long time ago and hearing i think matt sharp and damon albarn (could be totally wrong about that) covering 'we have a technical'.

Ya, that's right.

A little before that came out Foo Fighters covered Down in The Park for some soundtrack to something and that's what set me on the path to the Gary Numan super-fanboy I became.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 21 April 2006 16:34 (twenty years ago)

Jughead's gut-bucket version of Crazy Train gave me new appreciation for Ozzy Osbourne.

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 21 April 2006 16:40 (twenty years ago)

ooh, i have lots of these...
before the internet, hearing artists namecheck their influence either through cover songs or liner notes was a primary way for me to learn of new stuff

The Wedding Present's version of "Felicity" first got me into Orange Juice (and also Pavement, who I hadn't heard of until I found out they'd covered "Box Elder MO")
Orange Juice "Holiday Hymn" -> Vic Godard, Subway Sect
Jesus & Mary Chain "Mushroom" -> Can
Butthole Surfers "Hurdy Gurdy Man" - > Donovan
This Mortal Coil => Roy Harper, Tim Buckley, Gene Clark

and much as I hate to admit it, hearing REM do "Pale Blue Eyes" first got me into VU

― rentboy (rentboy), Friday, 21 April 2006 17:03 (twenty years ago)

I finally tracked down Jackie DeShannon's original version of "Bette Davis Eyes"...it's all right. I've heard the 80s version so many times I'll need to give the original a bit more time to grow on me, perhaps.

The original does one-up the 80s version in a big way by having the line "she'll expose you/when she blows you". I admit it, I lolled.

― musically (musically), Friday, 21 April 2006 17:20 (twenty years ago)

From Johnny Cash's fantastic version of "The Rock Island Line", first to The Weavers version, then Lonnie Donegan's, then finally to Leadbelly.

I like all versions quite a bit, but if I had to choose it would be The Weavers version pulling up the rear, then the original by Leadbetter, and a tie for first place between Johnny and Lonnie. Like I said though, I'm quite happy to hear each of them. Great song.

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 21 April 2006 17:31 (twenty years ago)

Not sure if it was Bowie's "Amsterdam" or Sensational Alex Harvey Band's version of "Next" that first led me to Jacques Brel.

― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Friday, 21 April 2006 17:46 (twenty years ago)

Jeez I should've been smart like rentboy and listed a bunch in one message. ;)

-I found my love for Kris Kristofferson first from Janice Joplin's version of "Me and Bobby McGee" (some folks claim that Kris claims that he not only wrote the song for Janice, but about her), then from Johnny Cash's "Sunday Morning Coming Down" to Kris's.

Believe it or not, as much as I love Janice and Johnny's versions of the songs, I have to admit that I somehow prefer Kris's. Not sure what it is about his rendition of "Me and Bobby McGee", but for "Sunday Morning Coming Down", Kris's scratchy-voiced, hung-over sounding version just sounds more appropriate to the lyrics than Johnny's somewhat happy version. ;)

-I definitely got into Stevie Wonder due to Red Hot Chili Peppers version of "Higher Ground".

-Jeff Healey's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" gave me an appreciation for a different era of Beatles than I had been into way back then.

-Iggy Pop's version of "Sea of Love" made me seek out the original by Phil Phillips. I still prefer Iggy's version over that one, and certainly more than The Honeydrippers version. Not much of a fan of that version.

-This one isn't really a cover version of a song, but Robert Gordon's assistance with the revival of Link Wray's career by having him play guitar in his band in the 70's made me seek out Link's earlier stuff.

-when it comes to Bob Dylan, I can totally understand Grimly Fiendish's initial reaction. I'm not saying it's impossible to find, but 99% of the time I will prefer someone else's cover of a Dlyan song. Having said that, each and every time I find out that yet another fantastic song was written by Dylan but popularized by someone else, it just makes my respect for the man grow. And I have actually heard Dylan sing quite well... A duet with Johnny Cash comes to mind, but I can't recall the song.

― shorty (shorty), Friday, 21 April 2006 18:03 (twenty years ago)

Annie Lennox "No More I Love Yous" originally done by Lover Speaks, well, ie. without ol' bleachy speaking in tongues through the 2nd half.

― JTS (JTS), Friday, 21 April 2006 19:53 (twenty years ago)

Annie Lennox = Ol' Bleachy ???

― martha tols (JTS), Friday, 21 April 2006 20:12 (twenty years ago)

REM's version of Crazy --> the original by Pylon.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 21 April 2006 22:06 (twenty years ago)

um...

the clash "police & thieves" ---> Junior Murvin, for one.

― sleeve (sleeve), Saturday, 22 April 2006 04:00 (twenty years ago)

The Church led me to Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel via "Ritz".

― Porcupine Kiss, Novacaine Lips (Bimble...), Saturday, 22 April 2006 04:35 (twenty years ago)

I was a teenage/ twentysomething cover song junkie.

some conversions:

rod stewart's "downtown train" led me into Tom Waits fandom.

The "Here Aint the Sonics" tribute lp introduced me to the sonics - especially the screaming trees' version of "Pyscho"

― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Saturday, 22 April 2006 06:22 (twenty years ago)

Mention of the Sonics (and tribute albums devoted to psych artists, more specifically) reminds me that I explored Roky Erickson via Bongwater's sweet cover of "You Don't Love Me Yet."

― Myke. (Myke Weiskopf), Saturday, 22 April 2006 06:41 (twenty years ago)

Thin White Rope "Some velvet morning" -> Lee Hazelwood
Marc Almond "Big Louise" -> Scott Walker
Kendra Smith "She brings the rain" -> Can
any cover played by the Cramps (especially "Lonesome town", best song of all times...)

― Marco Damiani (Marco D.), Saturday, 22 April 2006 07:44 (twenty years ago)

Rolling Stones - Rev. Gary Davis "Prodigal Son", Slim Harpo "Shake Your Hips"

Sebadoh - "Triad"
I had heard most of the Byrds hits, but I didn't know that tune.

Metallica - Budgie

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Saturday, 22 April 2006 13:57 (twenty years ago)

Oh man, Rev. Gary Davis! He was fantastic!

― shorty (shorty), Saturday, 22 April 2006 14:53 (twenty years ago)

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