The Torontoist Cover Song Catalogue

November 28, 2006 3:47 AM

The Torontoist Cover Song Catalogue. We tried to avoid some of the more obvious cover hits (like Alien Ant Farm's recent chart-topper "Smooth Criminal") and we stuck with actual recorded covers rather than including those only played in concert. You'll notice that most of these cover versions are pretty chilled-out, which is a byproduct of looking for tracks that were eclectic, odd and often very different from the originals.
posted by soundofsuburbia (31 comments total)

A blog devoted to covers

I particularly like Robyn's version of the Prince's Jack U Off (scroll down)
posted by johnny novak at 4:07 AM on November 28, 2006 [1 favorite]

http://coversproject.com/ too
posted by loiseau at 4:28 AM on November 28, 2006

Another good place to hear such music is the Coverville podcast.
posted by MrGuilt at 5:46 AM on November 28, 2006

Very most excellent. The best: Max Raabbe covering "Oops...I Did It Again".
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:03 AM on November 28, 2006

familiarity + novelty = pleasure
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:12 AM on November 28, 2006

if ( kbps == 96 ) pleasure--;
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:17 AM on November 28, 2006

You nailed it, StickyCarpet. I'm grateful to be reminded of the acoustic Hey Ya cover again. Wonderful.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:21 AM on November 28, 2006

I'm surprised Ben Folds didn't make it anywhere on the list. Since the days of Ben Folds Five, he's been known for sprinkling live set lists and studio EPs with cover songs—Video Killed the Radio Star, In Between Days, Such Great Heights, Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman, Tiny Dancer, etc. If you're going to mention Nina Gordon's kickass cover of Straight Outta Compton, you've got to mention Ben Folds' Bitches Ain't Shit.
posted by emelenjr at 6:32 AM on November 28, 2006

If you're going to mention Nina Gordon's kickass cover of Straight Outta Compton, you've got to mention Ben Folds' Bitches Ain't Shit.

Or one-hit wonder Dynamite Hack's cover of 'Straight Outta Compton'. I find the acoustic-NWA-cover genre strangely compelling.
posted by GuyZero at 6:36 AM on November 28, 2006

Guy Zero: a small correction--I believe you're referring to the Dynamite Hack cover of Boyz in tha Hood.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 7:14 AM on November 28, 2006

Or Sissybar's "Gin and Juice."
posted by schoolgirl report at 7:16 AM on November 28, 2006

Argh, brain went one way, fingers another. Yes, I meant BitH.
posted by GuyZero at 7:19 AM on November 28, 2006

Funny , I've been wondering lately what the greatest cover ever is. At the moment, I'm thinking Sundays' incredible version of Wild Horses is way up there. [If that link is not kosher under MeFi rules, Matt or Jess, please feel free to delete].
posted by The Bellman at 7:44 AM on November 28, 2006

What I said last time. I don't have anything new since then.

But of course, the greatest cover of all time is Soft Cell's "Tainted Love". Like Buckley's "Hallelujah", often not recognized as one. Okay, I'll save some room for the Clash's "I Fought the Law."
posted by dhartung at 8:09 AM on November 28, 2006

Gary Jules haunting rendition of "Mad World" has got to be on the list. Originally recorded by Tears for Fears.
posted by Tablecrumbs at 8:10 AM on November 28, 2006

So many gems. I wish I had more than two ears!
posted by orange swan at 8:52 AM on November 28, 2006

Don't forget our very own covers. Including my favorites.
posted by arcticwoman at 8:53 AM on November 28, 2006

Really like this link, and also all the great links in this thread. Thanks!

And the lovely atmosphere in this thread makes me feel comfortable lowering my defenses and asking... can someone parse StickyCarpet's comment for me?
posted by mosessis at 8:57 AM on November 28, 2006

Really like this link, and also all the great links in this thread. Thanks!

And the lovely atmosphere in this thread makes me feel comfortable lowering my defenses and asking... can someone parse StickyCarpet's comment for me?
posted by mosessis at 8:57 AM on November 28, 2006

Mosessis: If you have a slow modem, downloading songs sucks.
posted by The Bellman at 9:25 AM on November 28, 2006

Or Sissybar's "Gin and Juice."

I've got a kickass bluegrass cover of this that I acquired by completely legal means but which arrived in iTunes mislabeled as a Phish song. It would appear it was by the Gourds, who I know nothing about except that they do an excellent bluegrass version of "Gin and Juice."

Also, it's my current belief that the Toots & the Maytals version of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road" is the greatest cover of all time.
posted by gompa at 9:35 AM on November 28, 2006

Bellman, and mosessis: Actually, no, SC is talking about the bitrate of the mp3s. They're lower-than-average quality.
posted by blacklite at 9:52 AM on November 28, 2006

The best: Max Raabbe covering "Oops...I Did It Again".

I believe you are incorrect and that the best cover is the Flaming Lips' version of Can't Get You out of My Head.
posted by oaf at 10:12 AM on November 28, 2006

I can't believe no one brought up Patti Smith's "Gloria"! (and "My Generation," the bonus track on Horses)
posted by nasreddin at 10:45 AM on November 28, 2006

Tony Penultimate's cover of "Smells like Teen Spirit".
posted by MotherTucker at 11:41 AM on November 28, 2006

They also left off Hayseed Dixie's bluegrass covers of various AC/DC tracks (most notably 'Hells Bells'). They also didn't mention Nine Inch Nail's take on Queen's 'Get Down Make Love' (it may be old, but I'm still convinced it's one of the best covers ever).

Others that I would have liked to have seen:

Anthrax covering The Smiths 'London' or The Temptations 'Ball of Confusion'
Rage Against the Machine covering Afrika Bambaataa's 'Renegades of Funk'

And as much as it pains me to admit, Kid Rock and Nickelback covering Elton John's 'Saturday Nights All Right for Fighting'. (Honestly, it's one of those sum-is-better-than-it's-parts things. Nothing about that equation should end up with a good song, but what can I say. It's a great track.)

[I love a good cover]
posted by quin at 11:44 AM on November 28, 2006

Interesting list I guess, but I can't really tell what the criteria is. Written or performed by Canadians? Even then it doesn't work.

But hands-down-no-question-argument-ender Greatest Cover of All Time (or HDNQAEGCOAT) is Hendrix doing "All Along the Watchtower," and I will fight anyone who disagrees.
posted by kyleg at 3:17 PM on November 28, 2006

Written or performed by Canadians?

It is Torontoist, which normally just writes about stuff in Toronto. This is kind of outside their usual fare.
posted by GuyZero at 3:27 PM on November 28, 2006

Wait a second... no "Hurt" covered by Johnny Cash? If watching that video to that doesn't make you almost tear up a little, you're a robot. An evil robot.
posted by educatedslacker at 4:19 PM on November 28, 2006

I'd add Fountains of Wayne's cover of "Baby One More Time" and Aztec Camera's version of "Jump." Both are excellent and both sound like completely different songs than the original versions.

George Michael has done some great covers, although I'm not sure if these technically count, since the original artists are also involved: "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" (Elton John joins him on this song) and "Somebody to Love" (backed by the rest of Queen). Wham! also did a cover of "Love Machine" (originally done by The Miracles) on their first album.
posted by SisterHavana at 12:25 AM on November 29, 2006

Gary Jules performing Mad World: live, original, Donnie Darko versions.
Tears for Fears: original, disturbing anime versions.
posted by metaplectic at 6:24 AM on November 29, 2006