What are the greatest cover songs?

That was the question posed in my Oct. 15 Sunday Arts+Culture article, “Can a cover song be better than the original version? Absolutely! Here are six of the all-time best.”

I made the case for some of my favorites and referenced a good number of other contenders. I also asked readers to weigh in with their favorite cover songs. Many did, from near and far.

Here are some of the responses. They have been edited for clarity and length.

Marvin Gaye

My favorite cover song is “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye. Glades Knight & The Pips’ (1967) recording was a great arrangement, but the (1968) Marvin Gaye recording blew me away. The instrumentation and background voices are wonderful. I haven’t played the Pips’ record in decades. I believe Gaye’s cover is Motown Records’ No. 2 best-selling single.

Love the article. Thank you.

Ed Leonard
San Diego

Johnny Cash’s stripped-down version Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” is a favorite of one of our readers.

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Johnny Cash

For me, one of the greatest cover songs is Johnny Cash’s (2002 version of) “Hurt.” The original, by Nine Inch Nails, lacks the deep emotion and pain injected by Cash. Trent Reznor, who wrote the song has been quoted as saying “That song isn’t mine anymore” after hearing Cash’s version.

Phil Randolph
Nashville

Three Dog Night

I came across your piece on cover songs last night. My favorite cover song is Three Dog Night’s 1970 version of (Randy Newman’s) “Mama Told Me (Not to Come).” Cory Wells sang this song so well — the way it should be sung — kind of fun and rock and roll. I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said about the perplexing lack of respect for Three Dog Night. I will simply say: I love them dearly.

Valerie Miller
San Bernardino

Ryan Adams

Great article.

I love Ryan Adams’ (2003) cover of Oasis’ “Wonderwall.” The Lemonheads’ version of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” is another favorite. Also, check out the cover of The Jawbreaker song, “Kiss The Bottle,” by The Vansaders. Totally changes the vibe of the song.

Jim Lenskold
Asbury Park, N.J.

Donna Summer’s 1978 disco-era version of the melodramatic 1968 pop hit, “MacArthur Park,” is a favorite of one of our readers.

(HBO)

Donna Summer

Donna Summer’s 1978 version of (the 1968 Richard Harris hit) “MacArthur Park,” and Paul Anka’s swing version of (Van Halen’s) “Jump.”

Cameron Sisk
Las Vegas

Jose Feliciano

In college, I was a big Doors fan. But I was floored by Jose Feliciano’s cover of their song “Light My Fire.” The simple acoustic guitar arrangement and his clear voice was genius! I still listen to this day.

Marty DeWan
North Park

The Clash

As you wrote, there are many to choose from. My favorite is the Clash’s 1979 cover of “I Fought the Law.” The energy and power they bring to the song is fantastic! It was written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets in 1960 and was a hit in 1966 for the Bobby Fuller Four when they covered it. Other covers I like are Cheap Trick’s “Ain’t That a Shame,” The Who’s “Summertime Blues” and The Rolling Stones’ “It’s All Over Now.”

Anthony Hawksworth
Rancho Penasquitos

The Hollies

We live in Kauai now, but we’ve been following you for years as San Diego residents from 1970 through 2018. I would like to officially nominate “Stop in The Name of Love” by The Hollies. (Yes, The Hollies.) It was recorded back in 1983 when Graham Nash rejoined the band. I think if they released it again, today, it could still be a big hit.

Thank you for this fun cover-song story.

Kathie Coffey Kobryner
Kauai, Hawaii

Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones’ 1964 cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” Great article.

Harry Loving
Rancho Bernardo

Jamaican reggae music great Frederick “Toots” Hibbert of Toots and The Maytals performs on the Coachella Stage during the 2017 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival in Indio. His version of a John Denver hit is a favorite of one of our readers.

(Katie Stratton)

Toots and The Maytals

My favorite cover song of all time is “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by Toots and The Maytals. It takes an already great John Denver song and puts it to a reggae beat. Add Toots Hibbert’s vocals, some Jamaican local lyric changes and you have a version that is the way I sing along with it anytime I hear the song.

Dale Sedenquist
Ocean Beach

One reader’s top 10

Naturally, you missed a few cover songs that are better than the original versions:

1. Jimi Hendrix Experience, “All Along The Watch Tower” (Editor’s note: This song was included in Varga’s article.)

2. Super Session, “Season of the Witch”

2. Heart, “I Got The Music In Me” (recorded live on the Mushroom Label before they signed with a major label) The song has been recorded by many, but this is by far the best version.

3. Rod Stewart, “(I Know) I’m Losing You.” Musically, I prefer The Temptations’ original but — vocally — Rod is better.

4. Joe Cocker, “Unchain My Heart.” Personally, I get asked why I don’t sing the Ray Charles version instead of Cocker’s. And I reply: “I don’t think I am black enough to do it.”

5. Joe Cocker, “The Letter”

5. Joe Cocker, “With A Little Help From My Friends”

7. The Righteous Brothers, “Unchained Melody”

8. Jay and The Americans, “Cara Mia.” It was originally from an operetta.

9. Janis Joplin, “Me and Bobby McGee”

10. Cream, “Spoonful.” I have Howlin’ Wolf’s (original) version, but Eric Clapton’s version with Cream really does it for me.

Lloyd Allanach
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

Another reader’s top 10

That was excellent article and I really enjoyed it. Here are a few of my favorites to get you started. I have listed the original artist first, then my favorite cover version.

1. “All Along The Watchtower” (Bob Dylan), Jimi Hendrix Experience

2. “Naima” (John Coltrane), David Grisman

3. “I Wish it Would Rain” (John Hiatt), Buddy Guy

4. “Billy Jean” (Michael Jackson), Caetano Veloso

5. “Love is a Long Road” (Tom Petty& Heartbreakers), Del McCoury Band

6. “Here, There and Everywhere” (The Beatles), Emmylou Harris

7. “Respect” (Otis Redding), Aretha Franklin

8. “Baby, Don’t You Do It” (Marvin Gaye), The Band

9. “Compared To What” (Roberta Flack), Les McCann & Eddie Harris

10. “Jungle Strut” (Gene Ammons), Santana

Steve Roche
San Diego

Willie Nelson has written many classics, but can also make songs by other writers indelibly his own. He is shown here performing at the 2022 edition of Farm Aid on September 24, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

(Gary Miller / Getty Images)

Willie Nelson

I love Willie Nelson’s (2012) cover of “The Scientist” by Coldplay. It tears at my heart every time I hear it.

Jerry MacRander
Omaha, Nebraksa

Santana

I really enjoyed your article. I would definitely put Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” and Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” in my list of best covers. I would also include Santana’s version of “Black Magic Woman” in that list, too. They really made that song their own. A lot of people don’t realize that the song is a cover of a Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac song.

Brandi Carlile does a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” that is brave, fun and surprisingly good. Lastly, a local favorite, (mandolinist/singer) Chris Thile recorded a great cover of the White Stripes’ “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground.” Thile and his magic mandolin, accompanied by his accomplished string-playing companions from his band, Punch Brothers, created a fantastic bluegrass version of this Jack White classic.

Chris Lore
Del Cerro

Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan did a cover of Prince’s “I Feel for You” which was outstanding and way better than the original!

Mark Staten
San Diego

The Who

The Who’s (1969) performance at Woodstock” — as magnificently memorialized in the movie — of “Summertime Blues” absolutely gobsmacked me. As soon as it was over, I jumped up, though not quite as high as (Who guitarist Pete) Townshend did, and screamed: “Show that again!”

It was only after that that I ever heard the original version by Eddie Cochran. With all apologies to Mr. Cochran, his just ain’t quite as good! With Pete Townshend playing those power chords, Keith Moon killing his drum kit, Roger Daltrey doing his microphone twirling and lead screaming, and John Entwistle doing his power bass and response singing, well, if that ain’t heaven, it’s in the same ZIP code!

Craig Snapp
El Cajon

The Beatles

I enjoyed your article. My favorite cover is The Beatles’ version of The Isley Brothers’ “Twist and Shout.” Yes, The Beatles did many covers in their early days, as you wrote, as did numerous other bands. And this one is indeed a simple song, but you can feel the energy the way The Beatles did it. Makes me smile every time I hear it.

I’ve heard the rumors that it was recorded in one take, at one in the morning, at the end of a 13-hour studio session, and that John Lennon said he would only do the song once, because his voice was shot. May or may not be true, but if not, it’s a fun urban legend.

Brad McGowan
Scripps Ranch

I second The Beatles!

“Twist and Shout”, by The Beatles. Is there a better song to rock out to?

David Morrison
Del Cerro

Spooky Tooth

Spooky Tooth’s (1970) cover of The Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus.”

Tom Neeley
Cincinnati

I enjoyed your article, but you left my all-time favorite off your list. In my opinion, Eric Clapton’s (1970) version of “Layla” (made under name of Derek and The Dominoes) was greatly surpassed by his (1992) “MTV Unplugged” version of “Layla,” which he (recorded) under his own name.

Ron Herd
League City, TX