Rolling Stone Reader's Poll: Greatest Live Cover Songs

[Thunderface]

10. The Who -- Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran)
9. Pearl Jam -- Rockin' in the Free World (Neil Young)
8. Pearl Jam -- Baba O'Riley (The Who)
7. Jimi Hendrix -- Star Spangled Banner (Francis Scott Key)
6. White Stripes -- Jolene (Dolly Parton)
5. The Who -- Young Man Blues (Mose Allison)
4. Joe Cocker -- With A Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles)
3. Jimi Hendrix -- All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan)
2. Nirvana -- Where Did You Sleep Last Night? (Lead Belly)
1. Nirvana -- The Man Who Sold The World (David Bowie)

The two Nirvana covers came from their MTV Unplugged performance, while Pearl Jam regularly throws RitFW and Baba O'Riley into their ever-changing setlist rotation. I've often said that if Pearl Jam didn't have success on their own, they would be the worlds greatest cover band.

 

[walrus]

As with most of these lists, there is room for disagreement. My only question is - how can Hendrix's cover of "Banner" not be number one????

walrus

 

[coastie99]

Wrong ! Wrong ! Wrong !

#1 - #6, in any order that you like. The Who "Live at Leeds"

#7 - #10. Anybody else. They're distant also-rans !!

 

[Qvart]

Sorry folks, but the all-time kings of cover songs are Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. I just spent an hour looking for the best one to pick and couldn't decide. And when I'm done posting this I'm going to watch more. They take unbearable songs and make them \m/'-_-'\m/. Especially when they start of with a riff from a classic punk song and then go into the cover song...like SO.

 

[dreadnut]

When I was in Olongapo City, Philippines in the Navy, "Smoke On tHe Water" was covered by so many bands in so many bars we came to know it as the Filipino National Anthem :lol:

Why wouldn't The Allman Bros cover of Muddy Waters' "Stormy Monday Blues" be on the list?

 

[Qvart]

Especially when they start of with a riff from a classic punk song and then go into the cover song...like SO.

Or when they start off with The Cars.

Or the Sex Pistols mashed up with Whitney Houston.

 

[6L6]

How could they not include Stevie Wonder's cover of "High Heel Sneakers"???????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFiKvHBVKg4

It doesn't get any better!

Bill

 

[Alan_M]

Uh, The Clash - I fought The Law not on the list?

 

[FNG]

When I was in Olongapo City, Philippines in the Navy, "Smoke On tHe Water" was covered by so many bands in so many bars we came to know it as the Filipino National Anthem :lol:

Why wouldn't The Allman Bros cover of Muddy Waters' "Stormy Monday Blues" be on the list?

How many times will a country and western band in Olongapo play Ghost Riders in the Sky for 5 dollar American? :lol:

 

[Qvart]

Uh, The Clash - I fought The Law not on the list?

I forgot about that one. Good call!

Also...Ring of Fire.

 

[Qvart]

One of my all-time favorites is Stiff Little Fingers covering The Specials (search for Stiff Little Fingers or LTG'er Carol for an SLF connection).

 

[CA-35]

Don't get mad :lol: ......consider the source. Where's their demographic strength? 18-36?

 

[Qvart]

Don't get mad :lol: ......consider the source. Where's their demographic strength? 18-36?

Who? The members of MFATGG who have been in bands since the early '80's or SLF who have been rockin' since '77? Yeah, lotsa geezers around here but welcome to Qvartland - rockin' at 38.

 

[CA-35]

Sorry. It's all good.

I like the list however I'd make a few changes. Probably because I'm a bit older and very opinionated. (As if you couldn't tell)

 

[dreadnut]

How many times will a country and western band in Olongapo play Ghost Riders in the Sky for 5 dollar American?

As many times as you want, Joe.

 

[jmac]

Its Rolling Stone....they'll print whatever is going to sell the magazine (as they should).

But I would think that, ideally, the list should be based upon comparing a studio recording to a live cover, and hearing a noticeable improvement in the live recording (presumably due to the fact that its live), list the live recording as particularly noteworthy.

so what should the list have looked like?

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Van Halen's, You Really Got Me. It launched their careers!

 

[Thunderface]

+1 for Alan_M's "I Fought the Law" and Grot's "You Really Got Me."

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

"The Star-Spangled Banner"
tie between Hendrix and Feliciano

 

[adorshki]

Uhhh...NO Hot Tuna?!?!
Let's just start with "Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning" (the one on "First Pull up Then Pull Down") and maybe toss in "Death Don't Have No mercy" and even another Mose Allison cover (like the Who's "Young Man Blues"): "Parchman Farm" on "Live at Sweetwater".
:wink: