MUSIC OPINION

10 Plus 1 Covers That Blow The Living Shit Out of The Original

Prepare to be annoyed or to be amazed — your choice

Having just read Pierce McIntyre’s story (a couple of months ago by now), 20 Cover Songs I Prefer Over The Originals, I decided to write a version of my own. He had asked for the ideas in the comments, but I thought, “Fuck that. I’ll write my article and make a buck or two myself.”

I’ve included a playlist at the bottom of the article, with the original and the version that kicks its ass, for your enjoyment. And, with no further ado, here is my list.

1) One More Cup Of Coffee — The White Stripes

Dylan, incredible songwriter, terrible performer. The one time I saw him, at the CNE grandstand in Toronto in the late 80s, G.E Smith kept upstaging Bob. At that time, I wondered why Dylan would have somebody in his band constantly upstage him, but now I realise somebody has to have some showmanship. Like I said, incredible songwriter. Almost as good as Townes Van Zandt.

2) Downbound Train — The Smithereens

Springsteen’s version is great, but the Smithereens are better — at least on this song. My issue with Bruce is that he has too big of a band and he’s too orchestral. Just give me the bare bones, and I’m a rockin’ all night long.

3) Stepping Stone — Sex Pistols

Which manufactured boy band does it better? The Monkees or The Sex Pistols? Always the Pistols! Love them or hate them, they are far more important a band than 99.9999% of other bands.

4) Louie, Louie — The Sonics

It’s harder to name a band that hasn’t banged away on this classic song. The original is pretty swingin’, and so are most of the covers. I was definitely torn here. The Stooges do a stellar version, as do Motorhead and Black Flag, but I had to go with The Sonics. The Kingsmen’s cover is OK, but feels lame when played alongside The Sonics. They rip the lid off the joint.

5) Eve of Destruction — The Dickies

There have been a million covers of Eve of Destruction, originally by P. F. Sloan. Everybody — from The Turtles to Barry McGuire to The Forgotten Rebels — has covered it, but it was The Dickies that moved it out of folk-rock hell and into punk rock legend.

6) Help — The Damned

Fuck the Beatles! Wait, did you hear that right? Fuck the Beatles? Who could say that? Oh, me. Let me say it again for the cheap seats — FUCK THE BEATLES. I like some of their songs, like Help, but hate the ascension to godhood that so many people would like the Beatles to have. Fuck the Beatles, and long live The Damned.

P.S. Did I already say FUCK THE BEATLES?

7) Communication Breakdown — D.O.A.

Whoaaa, dude!!!! Whacha’ been smokin’ Zep rules forever, man! Take what I said about the Beatles and apply it double to Led Zeppelin. I love Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones, but I can’t stand Robert Plant’s attitude and vocals. It’s like someone is torturing a cat, and the cat is going “Baby, baby, baby” over and over again while worshipping Lord of the Rings drivel. At least Zep brought people to the LOTR, unlike that shitbag band Rush spiking sales to the douchebag Anne Rand.

Dread Zeppelin does a good version of lots of Zep songs, but it’s DOA on their Hardcore 81 album that truly does the song justice.

8) (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction — Devo

I like the Stones, and very few covers are better than their originals, but Satisfaction was so overplayed by every two-bit bar band in the ’70s that it was a breath of fresh air to hear such an original version.

8B) Satisfaction — Guitar Wolf

Devo’s version was shocking for the sheer audacity of doing that many changes to a song viewed in reverence by millions. It was my favourite version of Satisfaction until I heard Guitar Wolf’s. And it’s even better live.

9) Wild In The Streets — The Circle Jerks

The Garland Jeffries' version was good “for its time,” but The Circle Jerks took it from mild to wild.

10) Get Out Of Denver — Eddie and the Hot Rods

I love pre-1980s Bob Seger. He was truly a great of Detroit rock. And then the music contracts came, and I suspect the cocaine and the general Yuppie decadence of that decade from hell. My interest in his work sank like a rock. However, Eddie and the Hot Rods definitely do justice to the Chuck Berry inspired Get Out of Denver.

10+1) Absolutely Sweet Marie — Jason and the Scorchers

I started the list with a Dylan cover, and now I’m ending it for the last, since pretty much every cover of a Dylan song blows away the original. The Byrds made a career out of this truth. Dylan is an amazing songwriter, but his performances after the motorcycle accident have been lacklustre, in my jaded opinion. The occasional flash of brilliance, but mostly just great. However, his songs have raised the level of many musicians, even legendary musicians — The Byrds, Hendrix, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, to name but a few.

Absolutely Sweet Marie, in Jason & the Scorcher’s hands, absolutely rocks.

The complete playlist, with the original and then the blistering cover. Enjoy.

Paul Mansfield is a writer, a photographer, a guitar player, a philosopher — some he does well, some not so well, but he still tries them all. You can follow him on Twitter @pmansfield.

Here is another of his stories on music.