Top 10 Most Underrated Cover Songs

Top-10 Most Underrated Cover Songs

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten cover versions that sometimes get forgotten about in the ‘greatest of all-time’ discussions.

#10: “After the Gold Rush”

Trio (Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt)

The stripped-down and delicate performance that Neil Young gave on his iconic track “After the Gold Rush” was part of the reason it has since become a signature song for him. Country legends Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt don’t lose sight of the track’s core identity, while letting their three-part harmonies carry the tune. A song like “After the Gold Rush” doesn’t need a massive string section or huge climax to get its point across, just a piano and an authentic vocal performance in front of it. These icons certainly succeeded in that regard.

#9: “Jealous Guy”

Roxy Music

John Lennon has rarely sounded as vulnerable as he did on his solo career highlight “Jealous Guy”. All the hallmarks of a Lennon classic are on full display: the strong melody, the raw vocals, and, of course, the simple but poignant lyrics. When Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music covered it in 1981, it ended up becoming their first UK number-one hit. They don’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to adapting Lennon’s work, but while they keep the sincere vibe of the source material, they certainly gave it a bit more of a new wave punch. Even though Lennon never released it as a single, it has since gone on to be considered among his most beloved compositions.

#8: “Light My Fire”

Stevie Wonder

For most fans, Stevie Wonder could sing the phonebook and it would be worth listening to. For as much as he is rightly regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of the twentieth century, his ability to interpret and cover other people’s work also stands out. For our money, his take on The Doors’ breakout hit “Light My Fire” is a version that really does deserve your attention. Gone are the brooding and mysterious vocal croons of Jim Morrison, replaced by the far more upbeat and direct Wonder’s phrasing. The song doesn’t fully lose its darkness; it’s just repackaged into something that sounds a little closer to the ‘Motown’ sound, and to say it works would be an understatement.

#7: “My Way”

Sid Vicious

The idea of a troubled punk star taking on the signature song of the great Frank Sinatra makes very little sense based on that description alone. However, when Sid Vicious performed “My Way”, it became clear that it wasn’t a throwaway cover, done for irony’s sake. In the hands of Sinatra, the song was a statement of personal pride and contentment. When Vicious got hold of it, it became something far more cynical and chaotic. Against all odds, this cover works far better than it has any right to. Unfortunately, the additional context of how Vicious’ short and tragic tale unfolded makes it all the more impactful.

#6: “Ohio/Machine Gun”

The Isley Brothers

Two covers for the price of one come in next in the form of The Isley Brothers' take on two of the most important protest songs of the era. Neil Young’s “Ohio” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Machine Gun” are combined into one nine-minute epic in this 1971 release. Their version is mainly rooted around “Ohio” with parts of “Machine Gun” interpolated within, and the transition between the two is pulled off with an incredibly effective end result. Rather than simply performing two songs back-to-back, The Isley Brothers succeeded in creating a dialogue between them, amplifying their shared theme.

#5: “Crossroads”

Cream

When the 1960s blues revival happened, many British bands got their hands on those iconic recordings of the great Robert Johnson from back in the 30s. These songs were quickly adopted into the genre’s canon, and few received more attention than the “Cross Road Blues”. Most notably, it was the legendary power trio Cream that electrified Johnson’s original with the greatest level of success. Although other versions had existed up to that point, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce gave it some additional fire and intensity, taking it to an entirely new level.

#4: “The Sound of Silence”

Disturbed

The idea of a heavy metal band taking on the sweetly sung harmonies and folk arrangements of Simon and Garfunkel may sound like a terrible idea on paper. However, in practice, Disturbed well and truly managed to knock this one out of the park. Their performance is an exercise in restraint before the eventual explosion. They don’t mess with the original’s formula too much, although it’s clearly updated for modern times. Instead, it creeps towards its peak, but never takes it too far. These days, the view count on the Disturbed version of the track has ended up outstripping Simon and Garfunkel’s original several times over.

#3: “Baby Please Don't Go”

Them

While the song “Baby Please Don’t Go” existed in many iterations over the years, dating all the way back to the 1930s, it was Van Morrison and Them who really made it their own. In the hands of this Irish band, the song received a more urgent tone, making it a perfect fit for the mid 1960s. They almost injected this blues standard with a proto-punk energy, an energy that was swiftly followed by subsequent covers of the song from there onwards. Though Morrison would go on to carve out an incredibly consistent solo career when Them ended, this cover was arguably one of his best releases.

#2: “Take Me to the River”

Talking Heads

Released during a formative time in their career, Talking Heads didn’t strive to copy Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” note-for-note. They instead put their own unique touch on it, turning it into a funky and more psychologically tense piece of music. Whereas Green took his influence from gospel and R&B, David Byrne and co. leaned into the awkward and almost robotic delivery that eventually would make them legends. The song was a surprise hit for Talking Heads, edging them a little closer to the chart dominance that would follow. Extra points must be given for the second reinvention that the song received on the band’s live album “Stop Making Sense”.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Blue Sky”

Joan Baez

The Allman Brothers Get a Folk Makeover From Joan Baez

“Lay Lady Lay”

Ministry

A Darker and Moodier Version of This Dylan Classic

“The End”

Nico

The Doors Debut Album Closer Gets a Total Upheaval

“Waiting in Vain”

Leslie Odom Jr.

A Warm and Understated Cover of This Reggae Staple

“Across the Universe”

Scorpions

One of the Most Underrated Beatles Covers Out There

#1: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

Devo

If you go toe to toe with The Rolling Stones in terms of swagger and rock ‘n’ roll presence, prepare to fail. Thankfully, the wonderful oddballs that are Devo decided to take an entirely different route. In their version of the legendary Stones track “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, they uproot the blues-rock flavour of the original, replacing it with something rigid and a little unsettling. When Mick Jagger sings about not getting any satisfaction, you could put it down to a bad day… or maybe even a bad week. When Mark Mothersbaugh says it, you kinda believe it’s been quite a while. Jagger himself was supposedly a big fan of the cover, giving it his blessing.

But what do you consider to be the most underrated cover version of all-time? Let us know in the comments below.