What’s up dudes,

I hope that everyone is doing well.  As I was on my way to work last week, when a song came on the radio.  It was a song that I’m a big fan of.  It was Mott The Hoople’s , “All The Young Dudes”.  This got me thinking.  While I love that song, I realized that I love the original much more.  The original was done by David Bowie and has a sax riff which I just love.  Of course with my train of though, this got me to thinking about what my favorite top 10 cover songs are. so without further ado, here is my list of my top 10 cover songs

10 – The Siamese Cat Song – Dave Steward and Barbara Gaskin (Originally done by Peggy Lee) – This song off the album Up from the Dark, (which also included another Peggy Lee remake, It’s My Party) is just a great song.  Even though it’s kind of a silly Disney song, there is something about it that just fits Dave Steward, (who along with Anne Lenox was in the band The Eurythemics) avant guard style. 

9 – Blinded By The Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (Originally done by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band) – A top ten hit for Manfred Mann, this song brought him back to the limelight after having been gone since the late sixties where they had such hits as The Mighty Quinn and Do Wah Diddy.  Also one of the best ending ever and has the line “Revved up like a deuce”, which everyone thinks is “Revved up like a douche”.

8 – New York Groove – Ace Frehley (Originally done by Hello) – In 1978 the four members of Kiss all decided that they wanted to released solo albums,and while, in my opinion, Paul Stanley had the best album, it was Ace Frehley who scored a top 20 hit with New York Groove, hitting number 13 on the Billboard top 100.  It was the only song from any of the solo albums to chart that high and the only one that the band performed together live.

7 – Always On My Mind – Elvis Presley (Originally done by Brenda Lee) – A song that has been recorded by over 300 performers including B.B. King, Willie Nelson, The Pet Shop Boys, Iron and Wine, and of all people, David Hasselhoff.  The song hit number 16 on the Hot Country charts in 1972, this has to be one of Elvis’ most tender, heartbreaking songs.  I can’t believe his version never hit number 1.  Played at the 2006 FILA world cup and included on the compilation album, Voices From The World Cup.  If you hear Elvis’ version, you’ll never consider listening to another version, ever.

6 – Woodstock – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Originally done by Joni Mitchell) – The song which was written by Joni Mitchell for her boyfriend Graham Nash, was a top 20 hit for the band in 1970, hitting number 11 on the Billboard charts.  While having been recorded by other bands, the lyrics of the song take on special meaning by CSNY since they actually played Woodstock    Great song.

5 – I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye (Originally done by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles) – The third version of this song actually charted after the fourth version was recorded and released, (The one by Gladys Knight and The Pips).  Also covered by CCR, The Temptations, The Average White Band and of course, The California Raisins. 

4 – Little Wing – Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble (Originally done by Jimi Hendrix) – Released shortly after his death in 1990 on the Album The Sky Is Cry, Vaughan’s instrumental version showed the world what it lost when he died.  Peeking at number 26 on Billboards Mainstream Rock Tracks, this song makes my heart ache every time I hear it.  It barely beat out another one of my favorite Vaughan covers, another Hendrix tune called Voodoo Chile, (Slight Return).  (I didn’t want to include two songs by the same artist)

3 – Hurt – Johnny Cash (Originally done by Nine Inch Nails) – Hitting the top forty on three different charts, (Modern Rock Tracks, Hot Country Singles, and Hot Digital Songs), This song and the accompanying video shows a man clearly at the end of his life coming to terms with himself.  The power of this song done by this man is so great, that even the songs writer, Trent Reznor said, “Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps… Wow. I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn’t mine anymore… It really made me think about how powerful music is as a medium and art form.”  Anyone who has heard or seen the video knows that Reznor just spoke the truth.

2 – When The Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin (Originally done by “Kansas Joe McCoy” and “Memphis Minnie”) – The last song on the famous Led Zeppelin IV, (Aka Zoso), this reworked version highlights the blues influence that formed the famous Led Zeppelin sound. 

1 – Roll Over Beethoven – Electric Light Orchestra (Originally done by Chuck Berry) – Beginning with the first strands of Beethoven’s Fifth, this song just kicks all kind of ass.  Speeding the tempo up, adding violins and other string instruments, the song is an eight minute musical masterpiece.  While this 1958 Berry classic has been covered by everyone from The Beatles to Iron Madien, it’s ELO’s version that ranks at the top for me.

There you have it my friends.  My top ten list of cover songs.  Feel free to use this list as a topic starter with your friends, or you can leave a comment and tell me what you think should have made it or should have been left off.  Later dudes,

The Sliver Fox