Off-Beat Covers 

of 

Classic Songs

Compiled by Anthony Servante

Introduction: 

You've heard them. You either love them or hate them, but you can't ignore them. They're the songs we know and love, but done by some other artist, in a different way. 

No, I am not here to mock these versions. Why, some of them are in my forever playlist. I'm here to point out what you may have overlooked, to introduce you to a new angle on an old classic. 

So, let's get to our top ten list of "Off-Beat" Covers.

The Songs: 

1. Brian Eno - Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash). With ambiance and reverb, Eno performs a subdued version of the upbeat Cash version written by June Carter. Although I lean toward my favorite version by Wall of Voodoo, which is straight up 80s Rock, I enjoy Eno's Ring of Fire on a cool evening with a cup of hot cocoa. 

2. Barbra Streisand - Life on Mars (David Bowie). Barbra has the voice to make any song sound good, but when it's a great song, she can add additional greatness. And that's speaking as a critic. As a fan, it surprises me that she took on Bowie's song when her oeuvre aims down a different path. Still, got to give her credit for turning away from her fan base to record some Rock and Roll. 

3. Lulu - Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie). Although Lulu found fame with her hit pop song, To Sir, With Love, from the movie of the same name, she always leaned toward Rock music, and she proves this by taking on Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World. I'll always prefer the original, but this version will do in a pinch. 

4. Doc Severinsen - In the Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson). Severinsen jazzes up CCK with his famed trumpet work and upbeat arrangement. The song still maintains the KC signature overtures, but Doc punctuates them with horn flourishes and big band back-up. One of my favorites and a constant for my playlist when on the road. 

5. St. Vincent - Some of Them are Old (Brian Eno). Somewhere between Cabaret Jazz and Emo, Annie Clark has found a blend of music that quiets anxiety. To me, her version of Brian Eno's Some of Them are Old tames anxiety, keeps it on a leash, if only for the duration of the song. You can hear the Robert Fripp influence in there as well, droning in the background. One of my favorite covers by St. Vincent. 

6. Jose Feliciano - Light My Fire (The Doors). I was lucky enough to hear Jose Feliciano play Light My Fire when he played a promotional gig for a bunch of us DJs from various radio stations back in the day. His version reached a wider audience with its eclectic range, from Rock, to Soul, and Country. Although I am not a big fan of this cover, Feliciano did make the song his own, and I have to admire him for his creative take on The Doors classic. 

7. Klaus Nomi - Lightning Strikes (Lou Christie). KLAUS NOMI!! What more is there to say?! Alright..., Klaus covers Lou Christie's pop classic with his usual theatrics and falsetto vocals. It's a masterpiece. Listen to it. It just gets better and better with each listen. Yes, and listen to Christie's original as well. For contrast. 

8. Tom Jones/Art of Noise - Kiss (Prince). Tom "Mr. Las Vegas" Jones himself does some magnificent covers. What makes this cover of Kiss by Prince so much more different than the rest on this list is that he is backed up by Art of Noise, a great musical band in their own right. Tom Jones booms the lyrics out with gusto and confidence, the kind that he performs onstage to screaming old fans who throw roses, hotel room keys, and underwear at him. Not for me, mind you, but we're talking covers, and this is a good one. 

9. Frank Sinatra - Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack). Frank Sinatra is famous for his ties to John F. Kennedy and to The Mob. So when Kennedy went after The Mob, they got mad at Frank and (allegedly) discussed putting a hit on the singer. Rumor has it that they decided not to whack him because they liked the way he sang, Chicago. Well, that's the way I look at Frank: If he didn't sing as well as he did, he'd have been a goner before he became a legend. And that goes for his covers as well. The Roberta Flack cover doesn't do it for me though, but it did chart good enough to sell some records. For me, I wouldn't whack him over it, but it's not one of his best. 

10. CCS - Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin). Yeah, I know the history. Willie Dixon wrote a song called  You Need Love and Muddy Waters recorded it, and there was a big lawsuit brought on by the Dixon estate against Led Zeppelin. It was settled out of court (I believe) and Dixon received a co-writing credit for the song. So is CCS covering LZ, Dixon, or both? Who cares! It's a great cover of the song we know from the LZ lp. And much the way Doc Severinsen covers King Crimson, CCS covers Whole Lotta Love. Big brass, flute instead of vocals, and some great guitar work. This cover of a classic is on my morning coffee playlist. Good job by CCS. 

 

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