10 Cover Versions Of Songs I Would Love To Hear

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Did you ever hear a song and think, “You know, so-and-so would be perfect to record a version of this tune”? I don’t think I’m the only one who’s had that thought run through my mind hundreds of times when listening to music. There are certain songs that popular artists have written, and some not-so-popular ones, that always seem to be just begging to be covered by a particular artist, and you wonder why they haven’t. Or perhaps you just wish you could make a phone call and set everything up. But of course, that’s pretty much just nonsense because who really wants to hear from someone like me telling them they should record a particular song? But I can write about it, and that’s what I’ve decided to do. So here are ten songs that I love, and I wish would be covered by a particular artist. I would love to hear your thoughts, not just on my song choices, but on which songs you would love to hear a certain artist cover.
Our only guidelines for this article were that the music artists we chose to cover someone else’s music had to still be alive, so that there was a slim possibility that it could actually be done.

# 10 – Classic Grand Funk Covering The Beatles “Day Tripper”

We open up this list with one of our favorite bands. There are 100 songs I would love to hear Mark Farner sing. The classic lineup of Grand Funk was just pure rock and roll heaven. Mark Farner was not only an incredible vocalist but definitely an underrated guitar player, and I think he would have been perfect to play that riff on the Beatles’ “Day Tripper,” and he would have killed it vocally. The rhythm section of Mel Schacher and Don Brewer on that riff would have knocked off your rock and roll shoes. “Day Tripper” was released as a double A-side single with “We Can Work It Out” on December 3, 1965. It was recorded during the Rubber Soul album sessions at EMI Studios in London. “Day Tripper” topped the charts in several countries, including the UK, and became one of the band’s best-selling singles of the 1960s.
Read More: Mark Farner Of Grand Funk: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview

# 9 – Boz Scaggs Covering Garland Jeffreys “I May Not be Your Kind”

We are trading one rock and roll soul singer for another on this one. It would be tough for anyone to match the soulfulness and sensational vocal that Garland Jeffrey delivered on the original recording. Nonetheless, I just think it would be fun to hear Boz Scaggs’ take on this classic, soulful reggae-infused ’70s tune. I just think it’s a perfect match. Garland Jeffreys originally released a song on his 1976 Ghost Writer album. If you don’t have that in your collection, I highly recommend it.
Read More: Top 10 Garland Jeffreys Songs

# 8 – The Dropkick Murphys Covering Willie Nile’s “House Of A Thousand Guitars”

If you’re a fan of the Dropkick Murphys, all it will take is one listen to this fantastic Willie Nile song for you to hear exactly what I’m talking about. This one will be perfect for the Murphys’ rowdy spirit-fueled music.
Read More: Top 10 Willie Nile Songs

# 7 – Belinda Carlisle Covering The Beach Boys “In My Room”

This one just feels perfect for Belinda. Additionally, she just released an album of cover songs, so she may just be in the mood to do it. Are you listening Belinda?
Read More: Belinda Carlisle: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview

# 6 – Bruce Springsteen Covering Billy Falcon’s “Power Windows”

Long Island’s own Billy Falcon was often compared to Springsteen in the early days of the late 1970s. However, Billy Falcon would ultimately work with Bon Jovi as a co-songwriter on many of their hits much later on. I’ve always been a big fan of Falcon. I love his spirit, his lyrics, and his passionate energy, and this song, although it’s a deeply personal and wonderful Billy Falcon number, I think would just fit perfectly, fueled by Springsteen’s energy.
Read More: 10 Essential Billy Falcon Songs

# 5 -Warren Haynes Covering Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen The Rain”

I think this one makes a lot of sense. I think most fans of Creedence Clearwater Revival were also fans of the Allman Brothers Band, and of course, if you are a fan of the Allman Brothers Band, you have to be a big Warren Haynes fan. The man Warren Haynes has done his fair share of covers in his career, releasing cover albums and performing spectacular versions of classic songs throughout his career during live shows. He is one of the most exciting guitar players and singers of the past 30 years. I would love to hear Warren sing this one.
Read More: Warren Haynes: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview

# 4 – Samantha Fish Covering Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walking”

First things first, if you are unfamiliar with Samantha Fish, then you need to check her out immediately. She is one of the most exciting guitar players and vocalists to have come around in the past 20 years. Her main focus is the blues, and she has dived in and done some great cover versions of 60s classics. Her album Chills & Fever was very much bathed in 60s music. I would love to hear Fish play that guitar line to this classic song, and with that incredible voice of hers, she would just totally rock this one out.
Read More: Top 10 Samantha Fish Songs

# 3 – Beth Hart Covering Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody To Love”

You have to hand it to Beth Hart, not many artists would take on covering Led Zeppelin, let alone record an entire album of Led Zeppelin covers. But that’s exactly what she did, and she killed it. It was a spectacular record. Hart stands as one of the most passionate rock and roll blues singers in recent memory. I would love to hear her take on Grace Slick’s sensational “Somebody to Love” vocal. I think Beth would take it someplace else, and it’s a place I’d want to go visit.
Read More: Top 10 Beth Hart Songs

# 2 – Electric Light Orchestra Covering Paul McCartney & Wings “Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five”

Well, we knew we just had to do it; we had to have Jeff Lynne cover something Beatles-related. I mean, if there ever was a fifth Beatle in the post-Beatles era, I think Jeff Lynne should get the title. Although, of course, he’s much more associated with George Harrison, being an ex-band member with him in the Traveling Wilburys and producing a lot of his music, I think just the sound of ELO would be perfect for this deep album track from Band on the Run.
Read More: 10 Most Rocking Electric Light Orchestra Songs

# 1 – Elton John Covering Gilbert O Sullivan’s “Get Down”

I just had to include Elton John in this list. The question was, do we use him as the artist who covers someone else’s songs, or as the one whose songs are covered by another? As he is such a brilliant songwriter and performer, that was a little tough to choose between. Yet, we thought this was the perfect match of acatchy piano style tune, a to-die-for melody, and a song that a lot of people may not be familiar with, although old school, die-hard pop fans over sixty will definitely remember this one by Gilbert. I always loved this song, and I think it would have been cool to hear Elton do a version of it, although this is the longest shot on the board by far.
Read More: 20 Best Elton John Songs To Turn Up To Eleven