10 Best Rock Covers Of Stevie Wonder Songs

Photo: Pete Souza, official White House photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Our 10 Best Rock Covers Of Stevie Wonder Songs presents a list of songs written by Stevie Wonder that other musical artists have covered. Covering a Stevie Wonder song can be both challenging and rewarding. On the one hand, as an artist, you are trying to cover a song that has already been recorded and performed by one of the most talented musical artists of all time. Stevie Wonder’s vocal performances are pitch-perfect and full of more soul than the entire city of New Orleans. On the other hand, by covering a Stevie Wonder song, you start with a pretty good mind-blowing song. Just don’t screw it up. In the end, we have found that those who have covered Steve Wonder songs and have been successful at it are usually legendary artists in their own right. This all makes for a pretty spectacular list of songs

# 10 – Higher Ground – Eric Clapton

We open our 10 Best Covers of Stevie Wonder Songs list with a song that appears twice: “Higher Ground.” It stands as one of Stevie Wonder’s most iconic pieces. The Eric Clapton version differs significantly from the Red Hot Chili Peppers version, which also appears later on the list. Clapton’s version embodies the spirit of how Stevie Ray Vaughan covered Wonder, which makes sense since Clapton and Vaughan are considered two of the greatest guitarists to have ever lived.

# 9 – You Haven’t Done Nothin – Lucky Peterson

Continuing with our list of the 10 Best Covers of Stevie Wonder Songs, we stick closely to the blues rock genre. While Lucky Peterson may not be as well known as Eric Clapton, I guarantee you will be impressed with his playing. Lucky Peterson hailed from Buffalo, New York. He released his first album when he was only five years old in 1969. That’s a pretty young start.

# 8 – I Gotta Have a Song – Jeff Beck Group

While this song is not one of the most popular Stevie Wonder songs to be covered, it was covered by one of the most famous guitar players ever. That’s all you need to know about this one. Jeff Beck and his Jeff Beck Group covered this song on the album Jeff Beck Group. The album was released in 1972 and produced by Steve Cropper, who was no slouch on the guitar himself. Clive Chaman played the bass, and Cozy Powell played the drums.

Read More: Top 10 Jeff Beck Songs

# 7 – I Wish – Coven, Pitrelli, O. Reilly

In the number seven position on our 10 Best Covers Of Stevie Wonder Songs list is a cover version you may have never heard of. It was released on the lone CPR album that was created by the brilliant musicians Al Pitrelli, Randy Coven and John O’Reilly. The album was released in 1989.

# 6 – Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Yeah, yeah, I know. Peter Frampton covered this song; of course, we will hear people yelling at us that we did not include Frampton’s version on this list. But the truth is we just like Elton John’s version so much better. What we love about Elton’s version is just how soulful he sings on it. This is really early Elton John before anyone knew who Elton John really was. And it’s just so cool.

Read More: Top 10 Elton John Songs

# 5 – Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer – Three Dog Night

Well, we had to have at least one rock ballad on this list, and who better to present a Stevie Wonder rock ballad than one of our favorite bands of all time, Three Dog Night. This killer version of Stevie Wonder’s “Never Dreamed Of You Leaving In Summer” was released on Three Dog Night’s album Harmony. The album was released in 1971. Can you guess who was singing lead vocal on this one? Well, if you guessed Chuck Negron you’re correct.

Read More: Top 10 Three Dog Night Songs

# 4 – Maybe Your Baby – The Derek Trucks Band

What makes this Stevie Wonder cover version song so much fun to write is that it contains recordings of Stevie Wonder songs by some of our favorite guitar players of all time. Here’s one of them right up there at the top. While still a member of The Allman Brothers Band, before he formed the Tedeschi Trucks band with his wife Susan, he recorded a great live version of Stevie Wonder’s “Maybe Your Baby.” The song was released on the Songlines live EP. Just listen to his solo; it’s out of this world.

Read More: Top 10 Derek Trucks Band Songs

# 3 – I Was Made To Love Her – The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys cover of Stevie Wonder’s I Was Made To Love Her stands as an outlier in their catalog. Most fans had never heard the Beach Boys sound like this. For this recording, the group put on their Motown hats and turned their California-sounding harmonies into some soulful Detroit vocal riffs that resulted in a remarkable cover. Their cover version of Stevie Wonder’s “I Was Made To Love Her” was released on their Wild Honey album.

Read More: Top 10 Beach Boys Songs

# 2 – Superstitious – Stevie Ray Vaughan

I could listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan play guitar and sing all day and night. Hands down, he is one of my favorite musicians of all time. There are not many I can mention in the same breath who played with as much passion as Stevie Ray Vaughan did. Stevie Ray Vaughan made “Superstition” his own. The only way he knew how. He wasn’t a musician that adapted to other people’s styles. When David Bowie tried hiring him to be his guitar player for the Last Dance Tour, it didn’t work out because Stevie Ray Vaughan was such a distinctive voice in rock and roll. He is one that is definitely missed.

Read More: Top 10 Stevie Ray Vaughan Songs

# 1 – Higher Ground – Red Hot Chili Peppers

We close out our 10 Best Covers Of Stevie Wonder Songs list with the Red Hot Chili Peppers’s sensational cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” This one starts out with Flea’s extraordinary funky bass skills, soloing on that iconic opening line. Chad Smith shows off his Thor-like power blasting into the mix while John Frusciante tightens it all up for Anthony Kiedis to deliver the goods on lead vocals. The Red Hot Chili Pepper’s cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” was released on the band’s fourth album, Mothers Milk in 1989.

Read More: Top 10 Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs