Spin Picks the Fifty Greatest Cover Songs

Cover songs have been with us since the first musicians played their first notes. The Crew Cuts covered the Chords (Sh-Boom). Pat Boone covered Fats Domino's (I'm Walkin') and Little Richard's (Tutti Frutti). Even actor Tab Hunter covered country's Sonny James (Young Love).

You won't find any of those songs on Spin's new list of the fifty greatest cover songs of all time. The editors at Spin have chosen covers that are a credit to the original vision of the song, sometimes they are near note-for-note salute to the original, while other veer widely away from the original song. But they all have one thing in common, they make the origianl artists songs more popular and even make them better in some cases. But, like all lists, they are very subjective, it depends on who compiles them. For instance, the Indigo Girls do a killer cover of Neil Young's "Down By The River" and certainly the cover of the Kinks' song "You Really Got Me" by Van Halen would be higher on my list that it is on Spin's list (#42). Take a look and make up your own list, I am sure there will be some that you think that Spin omitted.

Here's a peak at the top 20. To see all fifty of Spin's picks along with their commentary and the ability to listen to the track, go to their website. www.spin.com


1. The Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana (David Bowie)
2. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
3. Take Me to the River - Talking Heads (Al Green)
4. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Devo (Rolling Stones)
5. Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor (Prince)
6. Guns N' Roses, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan)



7. Summertime - Zombies (George Gershwin)
8. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - Elvis Costello (Nick Lowe)
9. Elliott Smith, "13" (Big Star)
10. Police and Thieves - Clash (Junior Murvin)
11. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
12. Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)
13. Tainted Love - Soft Cell (Gloria Jones)
14. Do You Wanna Dance? - Ramones (Bobby Freeman)
15. José González, "Teardrop"(Massive Attack)
16. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Al Green (Bee Gees)
17. Twist and Shout - Beatles (Isley Brothers)
18. Lemonheads, "Mrs. Robinson"(Simon and garfunkel)
19. Pavement, "Killing Moon" (Echo and the Bunnymen)
20. I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Slits (Marvin Gaye)