10 Classic Cover Versions

Many of these covers went on to eclipse the originals, indeed some to such an extent that the cover usurped the original in the public's consciousness, and became the definitive version. We'll start with one of those...

Chaka Khan - I Feel for You (originally by Prince)

A big ol' Wedding Jam favourite, this Prince cover has one hell of a story behind it. Legend has it the stuttered 'Chaka Khan' opening was a studio accident, which the producer decided to leave in, much to Chaka Khan's disgust as she reputedly hated it. She also hated the ensuing rap by Grandmaster Melle Mel. Nevertheless, it became a huge hit, and, perked up by Stevie Wonder's distinctive harmonica, it's probably fair to say it's a big improvement on Prince's slightly low-key original.

Soft Cell - Tainted Love (originally by Gloria Jones)

Gloria Jones' original had been a commercial flop in 1964, but found some success over a decade later on the UK Northern Soul scene, before it finally blew up thanks to Soft Cell. It is the quintessential example of the remake being so good it essentially becomes your own. The night before Britney Spears recorded 'Baby One More Time', she listened to Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' over and over, taking influence from it for her vocal delivery the next day, and so its influence has lived on.

The Clash - I Fought the Law (originally by Sonny Curtis)

You'd do well to find many music heads who could tell you who originated this banger by The Clash. All squalling guitars and galloping drums, they made the song forever theirs. The Clash were, however, covering a cover. In 1978 the band were working on their second album in a San Francisco studio. The studio owner kept his collection of classic jukeboxes dotted around the various rooms of the studio complex, which is where Joe Strummer and Mick Jones heard the Bobby Fuller version of 'I Fought the Law' for the first time.

George Harrison - I Got My Mind Set on You (originally by James Ray)

George brought this song out of near-total obscurity to make it one of the biggest selling singles of 1987, hitting number one in the US Billboard chart and number two in the UK. Aided by a stand-out video during the peak MTV years, George's cover is a hugely infectious take on this song, with its massive drums and trademark Jeff Lynne/ELO backing vocals. The original, too, is a total banger. Check it out!

Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out (originally by The Beatles)

While 'Yesterday' is one of the most-covered songs in history, many musicians view Beatles songs as sacrosanct. Stevie is one of the few who, in terms of both talent and stature, can stand alongside The Beatles. His cover of McCartney's breezy 'We Can Work It Out' is one of the greatest covers ever, and almost certainly the finest Beatles cover ever attempted. A complete re-work, it is Stevie 'trying to see things my way'.

Faith No More - Easy (originally by The Commodores)

In 1992 Faith No More shocked everyone with their cover of The Commodores' 'Easy', which would become comfortably their biggest chart hit. That year, FNM had released 'Angel Dust', one of the most intense and unhinged records you'll hear anywhere, with its wild genre-hopping and singer Mike Patton's insane 6-octave vocal range, leaping from grunting to rapping and crooning to screaming. By playing the slightly cheesy pop-soul ballad completely straight, albeit laced with a heavy nudge and a wink, it was tantamount to trolling the industry and fans alike, subverting all expectations with a top tier straight-bat cover and at the same time absolutely taking the piss.

The Spinners - Working My Way Back To You (originally by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons)

Later in their career, in 1979, The Spinners spectacularly re-imagined this Four Seasons' track to turn it into a superfunkytown disco dancefloor stonker. Frankie Valli was, of course, no stranger to smash hits himself but his more laid-back original went on to be thoroughly eclipsed by the Spinners' cover.

James Blake - A Case of You (originally by Joni Mitchell)

James Blake is most noted for his glitchy, electronic soundscapes, but his other MO tends to be a stripped back, soul-baring rawness. This spellbinding Joni Mitchell cover takes the latter route, with only his naked piano chords and unfiltered vocals on show. His trademark weeping falsetto only serves to ramp up the heartbreak. This was actually given the Joni Mitchell seal of approval, after she saw him perform it live. One can only imagine how satisfying that must have been.

Sinéad O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U (originally by Prince)

Sinéad O'Connor's breathtaking cover gripped us all when it was released in 1990 and it hasn't let go since. She took ownership of the song and the vocal in such a startling and hauntingly beautiful way that it truly is her song, and now always will be. Everything about her interpretation is vivid in the extreme, from her piercing, teary eyes in the video to the jaw-dropping vocal, dripping in pain. A masterpiece.

Aretha Franklin - Respect (originally by Otis Redding)

At the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, Redding jokingly introduced this song by telling the crowd: "This is a song that a girl took away from me, a good friend of mine, this girl she just took this song." A titan of soul music himself, Redding always readily and warmly conceded that Aretha took the track to a new level. And quite rightly, too. The definitive version of this song, and arguably the definitive cover version full stop. They didn't call her 'The Queen of Soul' for nothing!