Post Title
by Robert Hackman
Photograph by Javier Penas on Unsplash
Cover me, come on, baby, cover me
Lyric from the song ‘Cover Me’
By Bruce Springsteen
Time to share my second installment of worthy cover songs – for fun!
Thanks to several kindred spirits who sent me some of their favorite cover songs of their own. That is precisely what I wanted, and I greatly appreciate it.
I forgot to include an Honorable Mention rocked-up rendition of a Simon and Garfunkel song, Mrs. Robinson, written for the classic movie The Graduate by the Lemonheads.
Simon and Garfunkel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C1BCAgu2I8
The Lemonheads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fRc7yH4ZW4
A friend wrote to inform me I had missed a well-regarded cover of I Don’t Need No Doctor by Humble Pie with a young Peter Frampton on Guitar.
I am grateful for it; I had not missed it, although I include it here.
Humble Pie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lxyRjzXvxo
I make no pretense about creating a comprehensive list. I include only songs I particularly like—usually, the original and the cover, or at least the cover version.
I had previously selected some of the songs you sent me, and I enjoyed listening to the others.
However, I already have more covers than I can fit, and the process takes me much longer than you might think.
I request you put your songs in the comment section on social media, as I post these on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. I have finished selecting pieces for the third and final installment. Thank you again.
I hope you enjoy these too:
- Naïve Melody (This Must Be the Place) – is David Byrne’s best and most touching song, including a couple of lyrics that choke me up every time I utter them. Those lyrics are most clearly felt through Shawn Colvin’s version. Colvin has put out two excellent albums of cover songs, Cover Girl and Uncovered.
Talking Heads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsccjsW8bSY
Shawn Colvin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=486JJ6HaSyc
The String Cheese Incident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOTF3J8m_ms
- Walk on By – written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick, who sings it brilliantly. Isaac Hayes stretches the song out on his classic album, Hot Buttered Soul. I have included both the single and the 12-minute version of his here.
Dionne Warwick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsGsCvJWEo8
Isaac Hayes (single) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=—eDafFBhg
Isaac Hayes (full) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XjOYCbyIrQ
- When the Levee Breaks – initially released by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in the 1920s. How do they find these songs? Led Zeppelin made it all their own, as was their habit, including cover songs that fit so seamlessly with their original music that you never realize they are covers. As with many of these covers, they add some lyrics and extend the song length.
Memphis Minnie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5VmVvsjyKw
Led Zeppelin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b97hqSDRspw
- Honorable Mention Traveling Riverside Blues
Robert Johnson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq83yq2u3_E
Led Zeppelin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIHFJdvzBms
- The second honorable Mention You Shook Me was initially performed by Muddy Waters. It has been covered many times. Yet another cover, Led Zeppelin, turned into something entirely different on their first album in 1969 and The Jeff Beck Group’s 1968 recording. Incredibly, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck all spent time as guitarists for The Yardbirds.
Muddy Waters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgAPHNgHJdw
Led Zeppelin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS1Tz6dzcjU&list=RDYS1Tz6dzcjU&start_radio=1
Jeff Beck Group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7VNqSozhfw
- She’s Not There – initially written by Rod Argent of the Zombies, who performed the original, the group’s first single. However, Santana blows the initial rendition out of the water.
The Zombies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycP6yiupDPM
Santana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4jdiJA2TtQ
- Honorable Mention is Black Magic Woman, written by Peter Greene and performed initially by (Peter Greene’s) Fleetwood Mac (a very different group after he left). Santana performs the definitive version.
Fleetwood Mac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbKREkuDh3s
Santana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_SOAdAxFfo
- Second honorable mention Well Alright, by Buddy Holly and the Crickets (the Beatles chose their name in tribute to Buddy Holly). An excellent original and two fine cover renditions.
Buddy Holly and the Crickets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5AnUctpQXI
Blind Faith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj5u3Yf28LE
Santana https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=well+alright+
- Turn Your Lights Down Low – the initial reggae version is performed by Bob Marley and the Wailers. Both are fabulous. I have come to like the cover more.
Bob Marley and the Wailers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRid8Tjw_bU
Jim James https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9dmrTQ6mFo
- Honorable Mention People Get Ready, a classic rhythm and blues track turned into reggae gold.
The Impressions (Curtis Mayfield) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG-KNy1MRTc
Bob Marley and The Wailers One Love/ People Get Ready https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g94A1R8xHcQ
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers (Bob Marley’s son and 4 of his other 11 children) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sqbwwbxABM
- The Letter – performed initially by the Box Tops, Joe Cocker provides a stretched-out, full band performing live on his album Mad Dogs and Englishmen – honorable mentions from the same album include the Feelin’ Alright and the Beatle’s A Little Help from My Friends. Cocker is best known for his Beatles cover, yet I like the other two more. Leon Russel led the band, which Tedeschi Trucks modeled their group after.
The Box Tops https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyq3PUTnpd0
Joe Cocker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlX5IWwizGg
- Honorable Mention Feelin’ Alright was written by Dave Mason when he was with the band Traffic.
Traffic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDVS0tW39E4
Joe Cocker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No7t7UfnIIo
- The second honorable Mention is With a Little Help from My Friends
The Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C58ttB2-Qg
Joe Cocker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFO_Z8M9GNs
- Fever – was originally written, recorded, and then shelved by Bruce Springsteen because he did not like it. It would not be widely released until 30 years later. He offered the song to Johnny Lyons (Southside Johnny) at the request of ‘Little’ Stevie Van Zandt, who worked with both bands. Springsteen arranged the cover version, which could not be more different. I love them both.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aDLeWoxbms
Bruce Springsteen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXPDwAYdCsg
- Honorable Mention Because the Night was written by Springsteen during his Darkness on the Edge of Town period and performed by the E-Street band in concert. He finally released a version of his own on The Promise, an album of outtakes from the Darkness recordings. Patti Smith performs the definitive version.
Patti Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aDLeWoxbms
Bruce Springsteen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6ju0VGFKHs
- Honorable Mention Trapped, initially performed by Jimmy Cliff.
Jimmy Cliff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCgY4Qpl74Q
Bruce Springsteen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzzOs0Da43Y
- The second honorable Mention, Jersey Girl, is written and performed by Tom Waits. A perfect song for Springsteen to sing live for a New York/New Jersey crowd.
Tom Waits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-ROB8kI_fw
Bruce Springsteen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78pdEP9Pr4s
- The Harder They Come, The Harder They Fall – initially written and performed by Jimmy Cliff for the movie soundtrack of the same name, in which Cliff played a fictional musician on the run.
Jimmy Cliff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Znh0OM9jiA
Jerry Garci, Merl Saunders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH4CE-gpkBE
- Honorable Mention is Second That Emotion, written and performed by Smokey Robinson, shows Garcia’s range while he continued to stretch out with the Grateful Dead.
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp32JdgG6hg
Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rKoW7SoiTU
- Papa Was a Rolling Stone – original music by the Funk Brothers without lyrics. The definitive cover by the Temptations with verses sung by the entire group after David Ruffin left to pursue a solo career.
The Funk Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYEOLvPEQ4k
The Temptations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYEOLvPEQ4k
- Honorable Mention Mr. Magic. The original is a long catchy instrumental jazz groove by Grover Washington Jr. that never gets old. Amy Winehouse adds lyrics and shortens it.
Grover Washington Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLLF6iWzZ3s
Amy Winehouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsON0tbNzqA
- Gloria –originally written and performed by Van Morrison with his group Them. Patti Smith turns into a punk version with additional lyrics.
Them (Van Morrison) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlWiQ69DGE0
Patti Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPO0bTaWcFQ
- Hound Dog – initially performed by Big Momma Thornton and then covered by Elvis Presley and others. I think these are all excellent and have come to appreciate the original version more and more.
Big Momma Thornton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoHDrzw-RPg
Elvis Presley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eHJ12Vhpyc
Koko Taylor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIP-qU4oPQY
- Beast of Burden – Stanley Doral, aka Buckwheat Zydeco, is one of the few Zydeco artists to achieve mainstream success with well-selected versions like this one.
The Rolling Stones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlV-ZFyVH3c
Buckwheat Zydeco (Stanley Doral) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBSv4u-iulw
- Honorable Mention I Can’t Get No Satisfaction. I find the Devo version more interesting than enjoyable. I thought it was worth sharing.
The Rolling Stones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SPsn2w_i_k
Devo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip-BMGK9bVg
- Seven Nation Army – written by Jack White and performed by the White Stripes. I was introduced to the jazz version by Pete Costello, a friend from my men’s group, who sent me their version of Creep, along with the original from Radiohead, among several others. I chose this one instead.
The White Stripes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcn5rvwwvhM
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox featuring Hailey Reinhart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq0m-aXOnTI
- Song for Adam – initially written and performed by Jackson Browne from his first album, covered beautifully by Gregg Allman on his last album. Allman was dying of cancer and was supposed to record his own backing vocals but never made it back to the studio. Brown contributed the backing vocals instead. You can hear Gregg’s voice crack when he sings the lyric ‘Still, it seems he stopped singing in the middle of his song,’ which causes me to believe he was thinking of his brother Duane who died in a motorcycle accident just as the Allman Brothers were gaining fame after releasing Live at Filmore East.
Jackson Browne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSmKhW2jUEM
Gregg Allman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcunn2YlNH0
- Honorable Mention, These Days, for which he is better known.
Jackson Browne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcunn2YlNH0
Gregg Allman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCUxJFtTFNk
- One – initially written and performed by the Irish band U2 the tune is turned ‘country’ by Johnny Cash. The renditions are very different, the original is challenging to surpass, and both are strong.
U2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBF_jCLO1l0
Johnny Cash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGrR-7_OBpA
- Honorable Mention Hurt, his better-known cover, was initially performed by Nine Inch Nails as a slow, heavy metal build, which is not my preferred style. By contrast, the Johnny Cash rendition sings it matter-of-factly, with feeling too.
Nine Inch Nails https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty-bLdf8Bsw
Johnny Cash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG-1JDi4240
Please contact me if you want help exploring and honing your own versions of leadership, to benefit you, your family, 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.