The 100 Best Remakes/Covers Of The Rock Era

[M.Maestro]

The songwriter considers it flattering when someone records a different version of their work, & here are 100 of the best!

100. I Can See Clearly Now(1993/94), Jimmy Cliff [Johnny Nash, 1972]
099. Save The Last Dance For Me(2006), Michael Buble [The Drifters, 1960]
098. True Colors(1998), Phil Collins [Cyndi Lauper, 1986]
097. Fly Like An Eagle(1997), Seal [Steve Miller, 1977]
096. So Far Away(1996), Rod Stewart [Carole King, 1971]
095. I Only Want To Be With You(1976), The Bay City Rollers [Dusty Springfield, 1964]
094. Love Is All Around(1994), Wet Wet Wet [The Troggs, 1968]
093. One Fine Day(1980), Carole King [The Chiffons, 1963]
092. Love On A Two Way Street(1981), Stacy Lattisaw [The Moments, 1970]
091. Give a Little Bit(2005/06), The Goo Goo Dolls [Supertramp, 1977]
090. I Want To Know What Love Is(2004), Wynonna [Foreigner, 1985]
089. I'm Leaving It Up To You(1974), Donny & Marie Osmond [Dale & Grace, 1963]
088. Always On My Mind(1988), The Pet Shop Boys [Willie Nelson, 1982]
087. La Bamba(1987), Los Lobos [Richie Valens, 1959]
086. Without You(1994), Mariah Carey [Nilsson, 1972]
085. Theme From Mission: Impossible(1996), Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen [Lalo Schifrin, 1968]
084. It's My Life(2004), No Doubt [Talk Talk, 1984]
083. Always Something There To Remind Me(1983), Naked Eyes [Lou Johnson, 1964]
082. Any Day Now(1982), Ronnie Milsap [Chuck Jackson, 1962]
081. Since I Don't Have You(1981), Don McLean [The Skyliners, 1959]
080. The Way You Do The Things You Do(1980), Rita Coolidge [The Tempations, 1964]
079. Groovy Kind Of Love(1988), Phil Collins [The Mindbenders, 1966]
078. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood(1978), Santa Esmeralda [The Animals, 1965]
077. Blue Bayou(1977), Linda Ronstadt [Roy Orbison, 1963]
076. Rock And Roll Music(1976), The Beach Boys [Chuck Berry, 1957]
075. Misty(1975), Ray Stevens [Johnny Mathis, 1959]
074. Ain't Too Proud To Beg(1974), The Rolling Stones [The Temptations, 1966]
073. Paper Roses(1973), Marie Osmond [Anita Bryant, 1960]
072. I'll Be Around(2005), Daryl Hall & John Oates [The Spinners, 1972]
071. Spanish Harlem(1971), Aretha Franklin [Ben E. King, 1961]
070. Ticket To Ride(1970), The Carpenters [The Beatles, 1965]
069. This Magic Moment(1969), Jay & The Americans [The Drifters, 1960]
068. I Say A Little Prayer(1968), Aretha Franklin [Dionne Warwick, 1967]
067. Dedicated To The One I Love(1967), The Mamas & The Papas [The Shirelles, 1961]
066. When A Man Loves A Woman(1991), Michael Bolton [Percy Sledge, 1966]
065. The Boy From From New York City(1981), The Manhattan Transfer [The Ad Libs, 1965]
064. Let It Be Me(1964), Betty Everett & Jerry Butler [The Everly Brothers, 1960]
063. Da Doo Ron Ron(1977), Shaun Cassidy [The Crystals, 1963]
062. Break It To Me Gently(1982), Juice Newton [Brenda Lee, 1962]
061. Please Mr. Postman(1975), The Carpenters [The Marvelettes, 1961]
060. The Power Of Love(1994), Celine Dion [Air Supply, 1983]
059. I Think We're Alone Now(1987), Tiffany [Tommy James & The Shondells, 1967]
058. Get Ready(1970), Rare Earth [The Temptations, 1966]
057. Hooked On A Feeling(1974), Blue Swede [B.J. Thomas, 1968]
056. Baby, I Need Your Loving(1967), Johnny Rivers [The Four Tops, 1964]
055. Only You(1975), Ringo Starr [The Platters, 1955]
054. All By Myself(1997), Celine Dion [Eric Carmen, 1976]
053. Reach Out--I'll Be There(1992), Michael Bolton [The Four Tops, 1966]
052. Band Of Gold(2007), Kimberly Locke [Freda Payne, 1970]
051. Yes, I'm Ready(1979/80), Teri DeSario w/ K.C. [Barbara Mason, 1965]
050. Morning Side Of The Mountain(1974/75), Donny & Marie Osmond [Tommy Edwards, 1959]
049. It's Too Late(1994), Gloria Estefan [Carole King, 1971]
048. My Special Angel(1968), The Vogues [Bobby Helms, 1957]
047. Hello Stranger(1977), Yvonne Elliman [Barbara Lewis, 1963]
046. We've Got Tonite(1983), Kenny Rogers & Shenna Easton [Bob Seger, 1979]
045. When Will I Be Loved(1975), Linda Ronstadt [The Everly Brothers, 1961]
044. Go Away Little Girl(1971), Donny Osmond [Steve Lawrence, 1963]
043. The Lion Sleeps Tonight(1972), Robert John [The Tokens, 1961]
042. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling(1980), Daryl Hall & John Oates [The Righteous Brothers, 1965]
041. To Love Somebody(1992), Michael Bolton [The Bee Gees, 1967]
040. Signed, Sealed, Delivered(1979), Peter Frampton [Stevie Wonder, 1970]
039. You Can't Hurry Love(1983), Phil Collins {The Supremes, 1966]
038. It's Only Make Believe(1970), Glen Campbell [Conway Twitty, 1958]
037. Shop Around(1976), The Captain & Tennille [The Miracles, 1961]
036. California Girls(1985), David Lee Roth [The Beach Boys, 1965]
035. Crying(1981), Don McLean [Roy Orbison, 1961]
034. More Love(1980), Kim Carnes [The Miracles, 1967]
033. Everybody Plays The Fool(1991), Aaron Neville [The Main Ingredient, 1972]
032. Knock On Wood(1979), Amii Stewart [Eddie Floyd, 1966]
031. I'll Be There(1992), Mariah Carey [The Jackson Five, 1970]
030. How Am I Supposed To Live Without You(1989/90), Michael Bolton [Laura Branigan, 1983]
029. The Tracks Of My Tears(1976), Linda Ronstadt [The Miracles, 1965]
028. Working My Way Back To You(1980), The Spinners [The Four Seasons, 1966]
027. Angel Of The Morning(1981), Juice Newton [Merrilee Rush, 1968]
026. Mony Mony(1987), Billy Idol [Tommy james & The Shondells, 1968]
025. Daydream Believer(1980), Anne Murray [The Monkees, 1967]
024. Everlasting Love(1974), Carl Carlton [Robert Knight, 1967]
023. Turn The Beat Around(1994), Gloria Estefan [Vicki Sue Robinson, 1976]
022. Twist And Shout(1964), The Beatles [The Isley Brothers, 1962]
021. You Don't Know Me(1962), Ray Charles [Jerry Vale, 1956]
020. Beyond The Sea(1960), Bobby Darin [Roger Williams, 1956]
019. Can't Help Falling In Love(1993), UB40 [Elvis Presley, 1961/62]
018. Greatest Love Of All(1986), Whitney Houston [George Benson, 1977]
017. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds(1974/75), Elton John [The Beatles, 1967]
016. The Locomotion(1974), Grank Funk [Little Eva, 1962]
015. Venus(1986), Bananarama [Shocking Blue, 1970]
014. On Broadway(1978), George Benson [The Drifters, 1963]
013. You Keep Me Hanging On(1987), Kim Wilde [The Supremes, 1966]
012. Sea Of Love(1984), The Honeydrippers [Phil Phillips, 1959]
011. I'm Every Woman(1993), Whitney Houston [Chaka Khan, 1978]
010. (Your Love Has Lifted Me)Higher And Higher(1977), Rita Coolidge [Jackie Wilson, 1967]
009. MacArthur Park(1978), Donna Summer [Richard Harris, 1968]
008. If You Don't Know Me By Now(1989), Simply Red [Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, 1972]
007. You're Sixteen(1973/74), Ringo Starr [Johnny Burnette, 1960]
006. Oh, Girl(1990), Paul Young [The Chi-Lites, 1972]
005. I Will Always Love You(1992), Whitney Houston [Dolly Parton, 1982]
004. Unchained Melody(1965), The Righteous Brothers [Les Baxter, 1955]
003. Respect(1967), Aretha Franklin [Otis Redding, 1965]
002. Ain't No Mountain High Enough(1970), Diana Ross [Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, 1967]
001. I Heard It Through The Grapevine(1968), Marvin Gaye [Gladys Knight & The Pips, 1967]--this single for 12 years, was the biggest selling single in Motown Records history, until "Endless Love" broke it in 1981.

[alanstepney]

I nearly always prefer the original to the cover version, but that is just my opinion.

As for No 83, the one I like is Dione Warwick.

[Chris Mulwee]

I have one to add and here it goes:

I Will Follow Him(aka "Chariot") Little Peggy March-1963[Franck Pourcel and The French Fiddlers-1961{instrumental}]

[Chris Mulwee]

Here's a Couple more:

Do You Believe In Magic (2005) Aly & AJ ( The Lovin' Spoonful-1965)
Killing Me Softly(1973) Roberta Flack (Lori Lieberman-1972)

Blue Kentucky Girl (1979) Emmylou Harris (Loretta Lynn-1965)

Papa Was A Rrolling Stone(1972) The Temptations(The Undisputed Truth-also 1972)

Billy Don't Be A Hero (1974) Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods(Paper Lace, 1974)



Hard to Handle (1990) The Black Crowes (Otis Redding ,1968)