100 of the Best Cover Songs of All Time - Part 5 of 5

Welcome to Part 5 of our selections for some of the Best Cover Songs of All Time. Turn on the radio, or walk into any bar / club / coffee shop in any town and you are sure to hear a musician covering a song by another artist. This list collects some of the absolute best ones out there. As an added bonus, there' a playlist at the bottom of the page that compiles the cover version and original - back to back - so that you can compare / contrast the uniqueness between the two. If you missed the previous parts, you can start at the beginning here. If you'd like to share some of your favorites, please do so in the comments section.

Jane's Addiction - Sympathy for the Devil

Album:  Jane's Addiction (1987); titled 'Sympathy'

The original:  The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet (1968)

Neil Diamond - Mr. Bojangles
Album:  Touching You, Touching Me (1969)
The original:  Jerry Jeff Walker (1968)

The Beach Boys - Sloop John B

Album:  Pet Sounds (1966)

The original:  Traditional West Indies Folk Song, covered by various people before 1966 including Kingston Trio (1958) and Johnny Cash (1959)

Elliott Smith - Trouble

Album:  Thumbsucker Soundtrack (2005)

The original:  Cat Stevens - Mona Bone Jakon (1970)

Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet - Different Drum

Album:  Under The Covers, Vol. 1 (2006)

The original:  Written by Mike Nesmith, first recorded by The Greenbriar Boys (1966)

Nico - The End

Album:  The End (1974)

The original:  The Doors (1967)

Guns N' Roses - Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Album:  Use Your Illusion II (1991)

The original:  Bob Dylan - Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (1973)

The Bangles - September Gurls

Album:  Different Light (1986)

The original:  Big Star - Radio City (1974)

The Lemonheads - Layin' Up with Linda

Album:  Varshons (2009)

The original:  GG Allin (1993)

Steve Earle - Pancho and Lefty

Album:  Townes (2009)

The original:  Townes Van Zandt - The Late Great Townes Van Zandt (1972)

The Black Crowes - Hard to Handle

Album:  Shake Your Money Maker (1990)

The original:  Otis Redding (1968)

Pet Shop Boys - Where the Streets Have No Name (Can't Take My Eyes Off of You)

Album:  How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously [single] (1991), compiled on Discography

The original:  U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987) / Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You written by Bob Crewe and made famous by Frankie Vallie (1967)

Human Drama - Heroin

Album:  14,384 Days Later (1996)

The original:  The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Placebo - Daddy Cool

Album:  Sleeping With Ghosts [bonus disc] (2003), Covers

The original:  Boney M - Take The Heat Off Me (1976)

Mark Kozelek - Rock 'N' Roll Singer

Album:  Little Drummer Boy [Live] (2006)

The original:  AC/DC - T.N.T. (1975), then on High Voltage (1976)

David Bowie - It Ain't Easy
Album:  The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
The original:  Ron Davies - Silent Song Through the Land (1970)

Bauhaus - Third Uncle
Album:  The Sky's Gone Out (1982)
The original:  Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy (1974)

Big Star - Femme Fatale
Album:  Third/Sister Lovers (1978) original, Keep An Eye On The Sky [demo version] (2009)
The original:  The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Morrissey - Cosmic Dancer (live)
Album:  My Early Burglary Years (1998)
The original:  T. Rex - Electric Warrior (1971)

Audra - Walked In Line
Album:  Love's Shattered Pride: Tribute to Joy Division / New Order (2005)
The original:  Joy Division (1978), compiled on Warsaw and Still (1981)

If you're a vinyl enthusiast, check out our feature on the Spin Clean Vinyl Record Cleaning Machine (click image below)

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