All Time Greatest Cover Songs

Steps to making a good cover song: 1) Start with a song that is already good or has potential to be good 2) Improve on the original version or make the song live up to potential and 3) do something special to make the song your own. Whether through better musicianship, vocals, emotion, etc. a great cover version takes the original song and gives it a new life.

This is a collection of the cover songs that were most certainly better the second time through. Don't agree with the list? Place your vote or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on.


Choices Not In The Top Ten

Vote for This Boy - Bruce Roberts (The Beatles) 101) This Boy - Bruce Roberts (The Beatles)

Vote for Thing Called Love - Bonnie Raitt (John Hiatt) 102) Thing Called Love - Bonnie Raitt (John Hiatt)

Vote for I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton (Bob Marley & The Wailers) 103) I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton (Bob Marley & The Wailers)

Vote for Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt (Roy Orbison) 104) Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt (Roy Orbison)

Vote for Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston (Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes) 105) Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston (Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes)

Vote for When Will I Be Loved - Linda Ronstadt (The Everly Brothers) 106) When Will I Be Loved - Linda Ronstadt (The Everly Brothers)

Vote for You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Four Tops (Righteous Brothers) 107) You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Four Tops (Righteous Brothers)

Vote for War Pigs - Sacred Reich (Black Sabbath) 108) War Pigs - Sacred Reich (Black Sabbath)

“Everybody needs to hear this song. These guys really did justice to this song. I’m sure Ozzy gave props.”

Vote for Love the One You're With - Stephen Stills (The Isley Brothers) 109) Love the One You're With - Stephen Stills (The Isley Brothers)

Vote for Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwright (Leonard Cohen) 110) Hallelujah - Rufus Wainwright (Leonard Cohen)

“Truly the greatest cover of this masterpiece.”

Vote for Gringo en Mexico - Maria Muldaur (Wendy Waldman) 111) Gringo en Mexico - Maria Muldaur (Wendy Waldman)

Vote for You've Got a Friend - James Taylor (Carole King) 112) You've Got a Friend - James Taylor (Carole King)

Vote for Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil (Tim Buckley) 113) Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil (Tim Buckley)

Vote for Cocaine - Eric Clapton (J.J. Cale) 114) Cocaine - Eric Clapton (J.J. Cale)

Vote for Street Fighting Man - Rage Against the Machine (Rolling Stones) 115) Street Fighting Man - Rage Against the Machine (Rolling Stones)

“Well Good Song!”

“Well Good Song!”

Vote for Homeless - Leona Lewis (Darin Zanyar) 116) Homeless - Leona Lewis (Darin Zanyar)

“Such power and emotion she delivers it so well with so many vocal decorations!”

Vote for Pieces - aiko (L'Arc~en~Ciel) 117) Pieces - aiko (L'Arc~en~Ciel)

Vote for Flower - Janne Da Arc (L'Arc~en~Ciel) 118) Flower - Janne Da Arc (L'Arc~en~Ciel)

Vote for La Vie En Rose - Mucc (D'erlanger) 119) La Vie En Rose - Mucc (D'erlanger)

Vote for Dear Secret Lover - L'arc~en~ciel (D'erlanger) 120) Dear Secret Lover - L'arc~en~ciel (D'erlanger)

Vote for Baker Street - Foo Fighters (Gerry Rafferty) 121) Baker Street - Foo Fighters (Gerry Rafferty)

“Great song, great cover, the way they translated saxophone into guitar was brilliant, overall great cover”

Vote for Tom Sawyer - Mindless Self Indulgence (Rush) 122) Tom Sawyer - Mindless Self Indulgence (Rush)

“this is a really good song, it has the best guitar riff by msi ever”

Vote for #9 Dream - a-ha (John Lennon) 123) #9 Dream - a-ha (John Lennon)

Vote for Another Brick in the Wall - Korn (Pink Floyd) 124) Another Brick in the Wall - Korn (Pink Floyd)

Vote for Take My Breath Away - Jessica Simpson (Berlin) 125) Take My Breath Away - Jessica Simpson (Berlin)

Vote for Papa Don't Preach - Kelly Osbourne (Madonna) 126) Papa Don't Preach - Kelly Osbourne (Madonna)

Vote for Fever - Madonna (Elvis Presley) 127) Fever - Madonna (Elvis Presley)

Vote for It's Raining Men - Geri Halliwell (The Weather Girls) 128) It's Raining Men - Geri Halliwell (The Weather Girls)


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