My Favorite Rock and Roll Covers / Part 1 / Ep. 65

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(Some of) My Favorite Covers:

From the earliest days of rock and roll, cover songs have been a vital part of the music’s forward movement, drawing on its past.

Long before we knew about digital discovery, one of the fastest ways for new artists to connect with audiences was to reimagine an existing hit and put it on an album or 45—infusing it with their own style, energy, and attitude. A Chuck Berry riff might get filtered through the Beatles’ harmonies, or an old blues song could get a new spin in the hands of the Rolling Stones. Musicians have always looked back to reinterpret the songs that shaped them, essentially creating a conversation across decades of music.

Great rock and roll covers often redefine the song. Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” transformed Bob Dylan’s stark folk ballad into a guitar-rock, psychedelic stomper. Aretha Franklin took Otis Redding’s “Respect” and made it a soul-rock anthem of empowerment. Nirvana’s raw take on David Bowie’s "The Man Who Sold the World" introduced the track to an entirely new audience. In each case, the cover didn’t just honor the original—it expanded its reach.

The best covers don’t just repeat the past—they rewrite it, proving that a great song can live many lives.

10 Iconic Rock and Roll Covers and How They Transformed the Original

1. Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower (1968)
   Originally by Bob Dylan, Hendrix electrified the song with guitars and redefined it as a rock classic. Dylan himself later performed it in Hendrix’s style.
2. The Beatles – Twist and Shout (1963)
   Originally recorded by The Top Notes and popularized by The Isley Brothers, the Beatles turned it into their own via John Lennon’s famously shredded vocal take.
3. Aretha Franklin – Respect (1967)
   Originally by Otis Redding, Aretha flipped the perspective, injecting it with feminist firepower, gospel-inspired vocals, and made it an anthem for empowerment and equality.
4. The Rolling Stones – Little Red Rooster (1964)
   Originally by Willie Dixon (recorded by Howlin’ Wolf), the Stones slowed it down, leaning into the deep Chicago blues feel, introducing American blues to a younger audience.
5. Nirvana – The Man Who Sold the World (1993)
   Originally by David Bowie, Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged version stripped it to a haunting acoustic vibe that resonated with ’90s alternative fans - and (re)introduced Bowie to them,
6. Joe Cocker – With a Little Help from My Friends (1968)
   Originally by The Beatles, Cocker turned the Sgt. Pepper and Ringo song into a soulful, slow-burning rocker.  Killer organ and gospel vocals.
7. Janis Joplin – Piece of My Heart (1968)
   Originally by Erma Franklin, Joplin’s version with Big Brother and the Holding Company was a raw and bluesy.
8. The Clash – I Fought the Law (1979)
   Written in 1958 and first released in 1960 by The Crickets (after Buddy Holly left) and popularized by The Bobby Fuller Four, The Clash injected punk. It was their first single in the United States.
9. Creedence Clearwater Revival – I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1970)
   Originally by Gladys Knight & The Pips and made famous by Marvin Gaye, CCR turned the Motown hit into an 11-minute swamp-rock jam.
10. Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (1994)
    Originally by Leonard Cohen, Buckley’s haunting performance influenced artists in the decades that followed.

Further Listening: 4 Lesser-Known but Brilliant Beatles Covers

1. The Black Keys – She Said, She Said (2002)
   A gritty, stripped-down garage-rock take on The Beatles’ psychedelic classic from Revolver.
2. Siouxsie and the Banshees – Dear Prudence (1983)
   The Beatles’ ballad morphs in goth-tinged new wave..
3. Gov’t Mule – She Said, She Said / Tomorrow Never Knows (1998)
   A jam-band fusion of two Beatles tracks
4. Fiona Apple – Across the Universe (1998)
   Slowed to a languid pace, Apple leans into the cosmic melancholy