Sharing the Fun of Cover Songs (Part 3)
by Robert Hackman
Photograph by Lechon Kirb on Unsplash
Cover me, come on, baby, cover me.
Lyric from the song ‘Cover Me’
By Bruce Springsteen
Welcome to the last of my three cover song lists – for fun! Thank you to those who shared some of their favorites with me.
Many deserving songs and artists did not make it, which is part of the joy and the frustration.
I trust you have found this an entertaining diversion as we move towards summer’s end.
When I consider the artists responsible for these songs, I am struck by how many died before their time. Buddy Holly, Robert Johnson, Eddie Cochran, Otis Redding, Duane Allman, and Brian Jones passed away in their 20s, Keith Moon, John Bohnam, Donny Hathaway, Bob Marley, Jeff Buckley in their 30s, and still others in their 40s and 50s.
It is critical to remember that we only think we have time.
Shared laughter and enjoyment in community with friends and family is a vital part of our legacy – our impact on others and what we leave behind. I encourage you to live your life with love in the present moment while focusing on what you find most significant – a proven recipe for living and leading with fewer regrets.
Enjoy!
- Fever – a tune initially performed by Little Willie John in 1956 on his debut album. Peggy Lee sings the definitive version. She is uncredited for the lyric changes she made. I included it in one of my party mixes years ago. The Neville Brothers’ version opens up another. Beyonce’s more current rendition brings us back to a version resembling Peggy Lee’s.
Little Willie John https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szz27BuDgeU
Peggy Lee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGb5IweiYG8
The Neville Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGb5IweiYG8
Beyonce’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGb5IweiYG8
- New York, New York – the song was initially composed to be performed by Martin Scorcese’s movie of the same name. tFrank Sinatra sings the definitive versionhe original sung by Frank Sinatra. T, the cover by Cat Power is almost unrecognizable.,
Liza Minnelli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-pyc_z7WbY
Frank Sinatra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le1QF3uoQNg
Cat Power https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcybnuVH9kM
- Pastime Paradise – initially written and performed by Stevie Wonder on Songs in the Key of Life. Neither Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise nor Public Enemy’s He Got Game are not technically cover songs. They appropriate the songs to such a degree it seems that way to me. Gangsta’s Paradise was the hit song from the movie Dangerous Minds, and He Got Game was the single from the film Dangerous Minds, and He Got Game was the single from the film He Got Gameof the same name. Ray Barretto is an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent, playing Latin music since the 1960s.
Stevie Wonder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0S4SiLxt1s
Coolio featuring L.V. Gangsta’s Paradise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Pm0iVvFXs
Ray Barretto – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk_bJjCh1hs
- Honorable Mention For What it’s Worth
Buffalo Springfield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80_39eAx3z8
Public Enemy (featuring Stephen Stills), He Got Game (contains curse words) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD6_GfkRW2E
- I’m Tore Down – originally written and performed by bluesman Freddie King. However, I think you will agree Eric Clapton’s version is an absolute tour de force.
Freddie King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB52eLfirFA
Eric Clapton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRcUufCKwOo
- Honorable Mention is the song Crossroads, written and performed by Robert Johnson, considered one of the best bluesmen of all time and Eric Clapton’s idol. Crossroads is the better-known song most closely associated with Eric Clapton by fans who follow him.
Robert Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A
Cream (Eric Clapton) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBqZZsurhOY
- Young Man Blues – originally composed and performed by jazz musician Mose Allison, the cover by The Who follows the original, adding a much harder edge.
Mose Allison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X97ykx3rO3s
The Who https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkv_Aa45-dc
- Honorable Mention is Summertime Blues, initially sung by Eddie Cochran. I consider both versions top-notch.
Eddie Cochran https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C38Zevwyx4
The Who https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5jNDQlKDR4
- Take me Home, Country Roads – I never thought I would come to love a reggae version of a John Denver song, yet here it is.
John Denver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vrEljMfXYo
Toots and the Maytals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQFKMar4x-w
- Honorable Mention Hard to Handle, initially written and performed by Otis Redding. You can listen to various versions here.
Otis Redding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZxN9iQM7OY
Patti Drew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHVlvbt8ryw
Toots and the Maytals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn–XqByJfQ
Gov’t Mule with Toots Maytal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ0ClgUQBaI
Black Crowes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1tEu_ByGos
- Hotel California – the original song was written by Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey and initially performed by their group, the Eagles. I am in the minority, as I never liked this smash hit much. However, I do love the cover.
The Eagles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BciS5krYL80
The Gypsy Kings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BIGzZXHfbk
- It’s All Over Now – the tune initially written by Bobby Womack and his sister-in-law Shirley Womack. The Valentinos performed it. The definitive version is the cover by The Rolling Stones
The Valentinos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYEOLvPEQ4k
The Rolling Stones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYiCZ_sNJ6U
- Honorable mention Time is on My Side, written by Jerry Ragavoy and performed by a trombonist and his jazz orchestra.
Kai Winding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcn5rvwwvhM
Irma Thomas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McOmcNwqprA
The Rolling Stones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOxHsuV83KA
- I Know (I’m Losing You) – the song originally performed by The Temptations, an excellent cover by Rod Stewart. Both offer a great mix of rock and soul to differingent degrees.
The Temptations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV_RrxKkcqM
Rod Stewart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p-WDv2sLTw
- The Surrey with the Fringe on Top – originally composed by Richards and Hammerstein for the show Oklahoma, the song became a jazz standard covered by many artists. For some reason, I wanted to include a Broadway Show tune here. My favorite of these is Mel Torme, with Stan Getz a close second.
Original Cast Recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLzYFaJAu24
Lena Horne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Z6I62yvfg
Mel Torme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3svLYZuqw8
Stan Getz and Kenny Barron https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=surrey+with+the+fringe+on+top+stan+getz
Wes Montgomery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddunTwCq_Ag
- I Feel for You – song written and performed by Prince. As many great songs as he had, the definitive versions of both these are performed by others – Chaka Kahn and Sinéad O’Connor.
Prince https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEtx6L4U9rI
Chaka Kahn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbDYrcz21QI
- Honorable Mention is Nothing Compares 2 U, which Prince wrote for his side project Family. Sinéad sings the definitive version is, head and shoulders above the original.
Family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZlzN0Gtpp8
Sinéad O’Connor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wXxsH71YN8
- Mother – covers of Pink Floyd songs are pretty rare. The group’s original version contains one of David Gilmore’s best guitar solos. Natalie Maines performs an Americana version from a mother’s perspective giving it a different feel.
Pink Floyd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe3NUKCnZp4
Natalie Maines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXsJ0gJ60tA
- Love is the Drug – originally written by Brian Ferry and Andy Mackay and performed by Roxy Music. I like them both and think Grace Jones’s cover rendition is superior.
Roxy Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIMJAuKl9Ko
Grace Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHFX3OQDrIg
- Honorable Mention Private Life was initially penned by Chrissie Hynde and performed by her group, The Pretenders. Grace Jones released her cover version the same year. Both songs are on her excellent record of covers songs, Warm Leatherette.
The Pretenders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGb5IweiYG8
Grace Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGb5IweiYG8
- A Song for You – the piece was initially written and performed by Leon Russel on his debut self-titled album in 1970. It has been covered by many performersartists since. Donny Hathaway sings the definitive version. Such a shame Hathaway was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which wrecked his career and life. Still, he was a brilliant artist, incredibly soulful.
Leon Russel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKnb5IEATg
Donny Hathaway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKnb5IEATg
Whitney Houston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kp1uuD9RtU
Willie Nelson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOR5awLuBRU
- There’ll Be Some Changes Made – a jazz standard composed in 1921. Ethel Waters initially performed the piece. It offers the anatomy of a single song, having been recorded over400 times across various musical genres. I have included an early version by the Boswell Sisters. The first rendition I heard was the collaboration of Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins on their largely overlooked album Neck and Neck. British guitarist Knopfler, a longtime country music fan, fulfilled his desire to play with country music guitar legend Chet Atkins. The two seemed to have had a ball recording it together.
The Boswell Sisters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWgOyfYYJPk
The Benny Goodman Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZzFTQMwNk8
Billie Holliday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky2yYyqLeaM
Ray Charles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho_GtNIwrYo
Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pklluASxfA
Please contact me if you want help furthering creativity and innovation in yourself, your team, and your organization. I welcome the conversation.
Robert Hackman, Principal, 4C Consulting and Coaching, helps people live and lead with fewer regrets. He grows and develops leaders through executive coaching consulting, facilitation, and training of individuals, teams, and organizations. He is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He facilitates trusting environments that promote uncommonly candid conversations. Rob is also passionate about the power of developing Legacy Mindsets and has conducted over 50 Legacy interviews with people to date.
A serious man with a dry sense of humor who loves absurdity can often be found hiking rocky elevations or making music playlists. His mixes, including Pandemic Playlists and Music About Men, can be found on Spotify.
Bravely bring your curiosity to a conversation with Rob, schedule via voice or text @ 484.800.2203 or rhackman@4cconsulting.net.