Seattle radio station KEXP has put up their own list of Best Cover Songs, and this one certainly contains more of my favorites than some of the other lists I’ve posted.
And it’s good to see some recognition for Elvis Costello’s cover of “What’s So Funny…” and the Clash’s “Police and Thieves”, which are so iconic that they should be on EVERY best cover list.
Here’s the whole list – and thanks to Randy for letting me know about this!
You're right, that's a really good list of top covers. Thanks for sharing.
It kills me that 16 years after the Nirvana unplugged album people still attribute that song as: Nirvana — Where Did You Sleep Last Night — orig: Leadbelly. To the best of my knowledge (and Wikipedia agrees, not that it's the last word but still…) it's a traditional song that I didn't think was that obscure. I first knew it as 'Black Girl' but apparently it was originally 'In the Pines' according to Wikipedia. Snakefarm also does an awesome cover of it that I think you played on Coverville at some point.
Without wishing to be picky and there are lots I could mention, if The Polyphonic Spree's "Lithium" can't be in that 60 songs, it does lack some credibility. Man, they own that song now. Same goes for Kate Rusby with "Village Green Preservation Society", Dolly's "Peace Train"….