The list focuses on pop, rock, R&B, country, and folk. I excluded classical, jazz, and blues covers, except in few cases where pop, rock or country artists covered a jazz standard or blues song. The list is presented in chronological order.
- That’s All Right (1954) – Elvis Presley.
Original: Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (1946).
2. Mystery Train (1955) – Elvis Presley.
Original: Junior Parker (1953).
3. Hound Dog (1956) – Elvis Presley.
Original: Big Mama Thornton (1953).
4. Twist and Shout (1963) – The Beatles.
Originals: Top Notes (1961); The Isley Brothers (1962).
5. Long Tall Sally (1964) – The Beatles.
Original: Little Richard (1956).
6. Not Fade Away (1964) – The Rolling Stones.
Original: Buddy Holly (1957).
7. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue (1966) – Them.
Original: Bob Dylan (1965).
8. Try a Little Tenderness (1966) – Otis Redding
Originals: Ray Noble & His Orchestra (1932); Bing Crosby (1933).
9. Respect (1967) – Aretha Franklin.
Original: Otis Redding (1965).
10. Alabama Song (1967) – The Doors.
Original: Lotte Lenya (1930).
11. All Along the Watchtower (1968) – Jimi Hendrix.
Original: Bob Dylan (1967).
12. I Put a Spell on You (1968) – Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Original: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (1956).
13. I Ain’t Superstitious (1968) – Jeff Beck Group (w/ Rod Stewart).
Original: Howlin’ Wolf (1961).
14. With a Little Help From My Friends (1969) – Joe Cocker.
Original: The Beatles (1967).
15. I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1970) – Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Originals: Gladys Knight & the Pips (1967); Marvin Gaye (1968).
16. Proud Mary (1970) – Ike & Tina Turner.
Original: Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969).
17. Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1971) – Carole King.
Original: The Shirelles (1960).
18. (I Know) I’m Losing You (1971) – Rod Stewart.
Original: The Temptations (1966).
19. One Way Out (1972) – The Allman Brothers.
Originals: Elmore James (1960); Sonny Boy Williamson II (1961).
20. Baby Don’t You Do It (as Don’t Do It) (1972) – The Band.
Original: Marvin Gaye (1964).
21. Baby Don’t You Do It (1972) – The Who.
Original: Marvin Gaye (1964).
22. America (1972) – Yes.
Original: Simon & Garfunkel (1968).
23. Take Me Home, Country Roads (1973) – Toots and the Maytals.
Original: John Denver (1971).
24. Willin’ (1974) – Linda Ronstadt.
Original: Little Feat (1971).
25. Angel from Montgomery (1974) – Bonnie Raitt.
Original: John Prine (1971).
26. Love Hurts (1974) – Gram Parsons (w/ Emmylou Harris).
Original: The Everly Brothers (1960).
27. I Shot the Sheriff (1974)– Eric Clapton.
Original: Bob Marley & the Wailers (1973).
28. When Will I Be Loved (1975) – Linda Ronstadt.
Original: The Everly Brothers (1960).
29. Stand by Me (1975) – John Lennon.
Original: Ben E. King (1961).
30. The Acid Queen (1975) – Tina Turner.
Original: The Who (1969).
31. Gloria (1975) – Patti Smith.
Original: Them (1964).
32. Runaway (1977) – Bonnie Raitt.
Original: Del Shannon (1961).
33. She’s Not There (1977) – Santana.
Original: The Zombies (1964).
34. Cocaine (1977) – Eric Clapton.
Original: J.J. Cale (1976).
35. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (1978) – Devo.
Original: The Rolling Stones (1965).
36. Take Me to the River (1978) – Talking Heads.
Original: Al Green (1974).
37. I’m Gonna Love You Too (1978) – Blondie.
Original: Buddy Holly (1957).
38. Money (1979) – The Flying Lizards.
Original: Barrett Strong (1959).
39. I Want You Back (1979) – Graham Parker.
Original: The Jackson Five (1969).
40. Downtown (1979) – The B-52’s.
Original: Petula Clark (1964).
41. I Fought the Law (1979) – The Clash
Originals: The Crickets (1960); Bobby Fuller Four (1965).
42. Stop Your Sobbing (1979) – Pretenders.
Original: The Kinks (1964).
43. Tears of a Clown (1979) – The English Beat.
Original: Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1967).
44. In the Midnight Hour (1980) – Roxy Music.
Original: Wilson Pickett (1965).
45. It’s Bad For Me (1980) – The Roches.
Original: Ray Noble and His Orchestra (1933).
46. Jealous Guy (1981) – Roxy Music.
Original: John Lennon (1971).
47. Absolutely Sweet Marie (1983) – Jason and the Scorchers.
Original: Bob Dylan (1966).
48. Baby It’s You (1984) – Elvis Costello & Nick Lowe.
Original: The Shirelles (1961).
49. Jersey Girl (1984) – Bruce Springsteen
Original: Tom Waits (1980).
50. I Got You Babe (1985) – UB40 with Chrissie Hynde.
Original: Sonny & Cher (1965).
51. Jump (1985) – Aztec Camera.
Original: Van Halen (1984).
52. Suspicious Minds (1986) – Fine Young Cannibals.
Originals: Mark James (1968); Elvis Presley (1969).
53. Venus (1986) – Bananarama.
Original: Shocking Blue (1969).
54. Peace Train (1987) – 10,000 Maniacs.
Original: Cat Stevens (1971).
55. Cupid (1988) – Graham Parker.
Original: Sam Cooke (1961).
56. Sweet Thing (1988) – The Waterboys.
Original: Van Morrison (1968).
57. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (1988) – Cowboy Junkies.
Original: Hank Williams (1949).
58. Walking After Midnight (1988) – Cowboy Junkies.
Original: Patsy Cline (1957).
59. Sweet Jane (1988) – Cowboy Junkies.
Original: The Velvet Underground (1970).
60. Lock, Stock & Teardrops (1988) – k.d. lang.
Original: Roger Miller (1963).
61. Stand By Your Man (1989) – Lyle Lovett.
Original: Tammy Wynette (1968).
62. On Broadway (1989) – Neil Young.
Original: The Drifters (1963).
63. Just Like Heaven (1989) – Dinosaur Jr.
Original: The Cure (1987).
64. I Can See Clearly Now (1990) – Hothouse Flowers.
Original: Johnny Nash (1971).
65. All Come True (1990) – Rosanne Cash.
Original: World Party (1986).
66. Hey, Good Lookin’ (1990) – Buckwheat Zydeco (w/ Dwight Yoakum)
Original: Hank Williams (1951).
67. Nothing Compares 2 U (1990) – Sinead O’Connor
Original: Prince (1985).
68. Androgynous (1991) – Crash Test Dummies.
Original: The Replacements (1984).
69. Mama Told Me Not to Come (1991) – The Wolfgang Press.
Originals: Eric Burdon (1966); Three Dog Night (1970).
70. Wild Horses (1992) – The Sundays.
Original: The Rolling Stones (1971).
71. Truckin’ (1992) – Dwight Yoakum.
Original: Grateful Dead (1970).
72. Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon (1992) – Urge Overkill.
Original: Neil Diamond (1967).
73. Tenderness on the Block (1992) – Shawn Colvin.
Original: Warren Zevon (1978).
74. Something in the Air (1993) – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Original: Thunderclap Newman (1969).
75. Hallelujah (1994) – Jeff Buckley.
Original: Leonard Cohen (1984).
76. The Man Who Sold the World (1994) – Nirvana.
Original: David Bowie (1970).
77. Baby, Now That I’ve Found You (1995) – Alison Krauss.
Original: The Foundations (1967).
78. Our Little Angel (1995) – Rosanne Cash.
Original: Elvis Costello (1986).
79. Wrecking Ball (1995) – Emmylou Harris.
Original: Neil Young (1989).
80. Black Hole Sun (1997) – Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme.
Original: Soundgarden (1993).
81. Sleep Walk (1998) – The Brian Setzer Orchestra.
Original: Santo and Johnny (1959).
82. One (1999) – Aimee Mann.
Originals: Harry Nilsson (1968); Three Dog Night (1968).
83. Burning Down the House (1999) – Tom Jones and the Cardigans.
Original: Talking Heads (1983).
84. Travelin’ Prayer (1999) – Dolly Parton.
Original: Billy Joel (1973).
85. I Want You to Want Me (2000) – Dwight Yoakum.
Original: Cheap Trick (1977).
86. One (2000) – Johnny Cash.
Original: U2 (1991).
87. I Won’t Back Down (2000) – Johnny Cash.
Original: Tom Petty (1989).
88. Trouble Man (2000) – Rickie Lee Jones.
Original: Marvin Gaye (1972).
89. Barrytown (2000) – Ben Folds Five.
Original: Steely Dan (1974).
90. Wish You Were Here (2000) – Wyclef Jean.
Original: Pink Floyd (1975).
91. Take Care (2003) – Yo La Tengo.
Original: Big Star (1978).
92. I’m So Excited (2004) – Le Tigre.
Original: The Pointer Sisters (1982).
93. Bird on a Wire (2004) – k.d. lang.
Original: Leonard Cohen (1969).
94. Sunrise (2005) – Petra Haden.
Original: The Who (1967).
95. Handle with Care (2006) – Jenny Lewis, et al.
Original: The Traveling Wilburys (1987).
96. Killing the Blues (2007) – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Original: John Prine (1979).
97. Come On Up to the House (2009) – Sarah Jarosz,
Original: Tom Waits (1999).
98. Ring Them Bells (2011) – Sarah Jarosz.
Original: Bob Dylan (1989).
99. Words of Love (2011) – Patti Smith.
Original: Buddy Holly (1957).
100. The Great Curve (2018) – Angelique Kidjo.
Original: Talking Heads (1980).
101. Go Where You Wanna Go (2018) – Jakob Dylan and Jade Castrinos
Original: The Mamas and the Papas (1965).
What are your favorite cover songs? Please share in the comments!