Rock’s Greatest Covers: Patti Tops the List


HorsesJesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine…

When Van Morrison wrote the classic Gloria as the B-side to Them’s 1964 hit Baby Please Don’t Go, he couldn’t have suspected what a kid from New Jersey would do with his song a decade later. But I suspect he was thrilled. After all, Patti Smith’s cover of Gloria on her incredible 1975 debut album Horses stands as the greatest rock cover performance (studio release) of all time.

At least, that’s my choice. You may cue up something else. But consider the guidelines: we’re talking post-Beatles, singer-songwriter era. And we’re talking interpretation, ownership, stye. And Patti’s Gloria leaps to the top. Even now, 30 years after I first heard it, the song can bring chills - that opening, the free-form poetry, the anger and sexual tension, the drive of the band, as it swings in and around Smith’s lyrical riffs. Christ, it is rock. No matter that Patti didn’t write the song - she wrote the track.

Over five and half minutes, the song presents an apocalyptic vision that unfolds in slow, throbbing chords, then picks up speed:

people say “beware!”
but I don’t care
the words are just
rules and regulations to me, me

Then, blam - the more familiar chords of Morrison’s brilliant B-side, but with lyrics he couldn’t have released in 1964 - red hot homoerotica, in this case, but you almost don’t notice it because of the momentum of the band. Took me a while when i was 14 or so to realize, hey man, that’s a girl singing about a girl:

humpin’ on the parking meter, leanin’ on the parking meter
oh, she looks so good, oh, she looks so fine
and I got this crazy feeling and then I’m gonna ah-ah make her mine
ooh I’ll put my spell on her

And onward it goes, every second fiery, living-breathing rock-and-roll. It feels incredibly live, with Jay Dee Daugherty’s singer-focused cymbals and fills and Lenny Kaye’s understated but omnipresent guitar. This song feels like it could only have been released in this performance, in this actual cut, in the recording that was made on that one day with this one band in this one studio. And to me, that’s what great covers are about: building on somebody else’s song, putting your own meat on the bones, creating a singular performance.

Here are a few more to chew on - my top 10 - of course, I want your own nominations (the Viscount gave us one last week, which tickled my post).

Gloria - Patti Smith (Horses, 1975)
Just My Imagination - The Rolling Stones (Some Girls, 1978)
Respect - Aretha Franklin (1967)
Satisfaction - Devo (Are We Not Men?, 1978)
Jolene - The White Stripes (2003)
I Won’t Back Down - Johnny Cash (Solitary Man, 2000)
I Fought The Law - The Clash (The Clash, 1979)
Oops I Did it Again - Richard Thompson (A Thousand Years of Music, 2003)
Stand By Me - John Lennon (Rock-n-Roll, 1975)
Don’t Start Me Talkin’ - New York Dolls (Too Much, Too Soon, 1974)

And that’s just off the top of my head - undoubtedly there are some I can’t bring to mind this fine Saturday afternoon. So help me out.

Oh, and here’s your bonus - Patti Smith Band from SNL in 1976 doing Gloria:

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March 10th, 2007
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Viewing 85 Comments

    • ^
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    Well, I posted my first choice here last week, but I'll add a few more.

    First off, I love your choices of Imagination, Stand By Me, I Fought The Law, and Respect which is so good that many people are shocked when they hear it's not the original.

    I'll add these off the top of my head:

    All Along The Watchtower - Hendrix - and obvious choice I guess.
    Stormy Monday Allman Brothers
    (What's So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding - Elvis Costello
    She's A Woman - Jeff Beck
    Ruby Baby - Donald Fagen
    While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Jake Shimabukoro
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    Good ones, Viscount - not sure how I left off Watchtower, except that perhaps it was so obvious. Heck, Dylan started playing it the Hendrix way. Allmans have a bunch of good covers, of course. And the Costello track - great one, but I'm not sure if it fits, since I've never heard the Nick Lowe original...
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    and Respect which is so good that many people are shocked when they hear it’s not the original.

    Hell's bells. I never knew that! I learn something new on the Intertubes every single day.
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    Otis Redding - who didn't like Aretha's version when it came out.
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    Great post. I agree that Jimi's version of "Watchtower" is one of the greatest covers of all time. Talk about making a song your own. I bet more people mistakenly think Jimi played it first than those who know Dylan was the one who penned it.

    My favorite covers I've listened to today:

    "I Wish I Knew" - Derek Trucks Band (Trucks' solos are incredibly melodic and distinguishable from anyone else's guitar sound, and Mike Mattison's vocals fill me with such a deep and genuine joy.)

    "High and Dry" - Jorge Drexler (His voice is as smooth and sweet as honey, and just as thick with emotion, too.)

    "Jesus Just Left Chicago" - Phish (On the live album Slip, Stitch and Pass; piano/guitar solos that build and build so, so slow, then release with a bang, kinda like a... Well, you know.)

    "Cortez the Killer" - Warren Haynes and Dave Matthews Band (Version from the Central Park show; I watch/listen to this song on the DVD, and my hair stands on end throughout the whole thing.)
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    ...And the Costello track - great one, but I’m not sure if it fits, since I’ve never heard the Nick Lowe original…

    I cheated a little here. It was from his early days with Brinsley Schwartz and I think only about 5 people ever heard it. I stuck the Elvis' classic as an opening track on one of my mix CD's and followed it up with Monkey to Man and it got me through some of the darkest days of the Bushco - to this day the song kills me, especially when he sings, Where are the strong / who are the trusted?


    An as far as this is concerned:

    Trucks’ solos are incredibly melodic and distinguishable from anyone else’s guitar sound

    I couldn't agree more. I think he is the best guitarist to come along in many a year. Just brilliant.

    And thanks for the tip on Warren jamming with DM. I just queued it up on YouTube
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    Yeah, Trucks and Haynes are keeping up the Allman circle's history of incredible covers. Phish almost doesn't count - they made such a rep on being the coverer's cover band.
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    Trucks and Haynes never cease to blow my mind. If you haven't heard them play, either with the ABB, or with their respective bands, you're in for it; their guitar solos will run you over like a pack of wild horses.

    Haynes really kills it with DMB during the Central Park concert - DMB gets a bad rep I think because of their overzealous frat-boy fans, but they are insanely talented.

    As for Phish, I'll say this: When they're off, they're way off, but when they're on, magic happens. Their cover of "Jesus" really is worth a listen, I think.
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    Tom, you'll be happy to know that Patti Smith is releasing a whole album of covers next month called Twelve.
    Here's the lineup, although the early discs shipped out for review say the order could change:
    1. Are You Experienced?
    2. Everybody Wants To Rule The World
    3. Helpless
    4. Gimme Shelter
    5. Within You Without You
    6. White Rabbit
    7. Changing Of The Guards
    8. Boy In The Bubble, The
    9. Soul Kitchen
    10. Smells Like Teen Spirit
    11. Midnight Rider
    12. Pastime Paradise

    Also, I really like her cover of Dylan's Wicked Messenger.
    • ^
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    Yeah, I remember hearing about that - interesting lineup. Hmmm, what do I look forward to hearing most - going with Changing Of The Guards.
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    Actually I don't think it's quite true that the Big O disliked Aretha's "Respect"....I think he is remembered as saying "That little girl came along and took my song from me" because she had so utterly made it her own and slayed the original. That's a great choice.

    I can't say I have a hierarchacal list. The lines are too fuzzy. For example, producer Norm Whitfield recorded "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" with Smokey and the Isleys (unreleased) before hitting w/ Gladys Knight and then a year later w/ Marvin Gaye. Is Marvin's verison a cover? Maybe. It certainly hit after Gladys Knight's making it a prime candidate for #1 on any covers list.

    However, I will offer a couple worth noting:

    First, The Beatles' "Twist & Shout." As Aretha did w/ "Respect," The Beatles seized that song and held on to it forever; and it may be John Lennon's greatest vocal.

    Second, Elvis Presley's volcanic (Arlen Specter's word, but I like it!) 1973 version of Chuck Berry's "The Promised Land." The Kings last great moment and one of his best. Rocks like a mother. And the song fits him like a leather jump suit.

    Third, Warren Zevon's version of "Back in the Highlife" which I think was on Mutineer. Completely remade the song as a down tempo broken boozer's lament for a comeback he knows is never coming. Brilliant!

    Fourth, the Band's version of Marvin Gaye's "Baby Don't You Do It" from Rock of Ages just flat out smokes! (A list of the best rock covers of Motown songs would be a much more managable list to assemble.)

    One I don't love is Hendrix' "Watchtower." I adore Hendrix and actually believe almost ever facet of his music is dramatically UNDERrated. But I think his "Watchtower" slogs rhythmically. He fluffs the lyrics badly and not because he's altering 'em creatively, he just has no idea what the words are or what they're about. One of the most overrated records of all time. And I don't think Dylan ever played Jimi's arrangement. What he said in an interview was that it was weird to play the song because it felt like he was playing a tribute to Hendrix. I guess that says Jimi seized the song despite my personal beefs with the performance (I can think of two dozen Jimi performances I'd save first from a burning building, including another cover, "Hey Joe").

    Patti Smith is a genius of covers. Among the greatest covers I've seen her perform in concert are: Paint It Black, When Doves Cry, and maybe best of all, George Michael's Father Figure. Can't wait to hear her do Changing of the Guard and Pastime Paradise. And yeah, her Wicked Messenger was fabulous.
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    Jason:

    For the sake of clarity, as I think you already know this, it should be noted that while Gladys Knight and the Pip's version was released first, Marvin's take was actually recorded earlier but rejected by Berry Gordy for release. Whitfield convinced Gordy to revisit and change his decision after Knight's version was a hit.
    • ^
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    Here are some that come to mind along with links to the videos on YouTube where i could find them:

    You Really Got Me - Van Halen covering the Kinks
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=0YRqkRmRocQ

    I Can't Quit You Baby - Led Zeppelin covering Otis Rush
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=NZNMWtI0N_A

    Everything on The Rolling Stones record England's Greatest Hitmakers but especially their cover of Slim Harpo's I'm A King Bee. I love that track so much that I play the record regularly just to hear it.

    Sweet Jane - Mott The Hoople's cover on the All The Young Dudes record.

    North Country Girl - Dylan and Johnny Cash [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmLL4Fzmo8c], The Eels, and Pete Townshend
    http://avc.blogs.com/a_vc/2006/08/song_of_the_d...
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    Jason - i think the version of Watchtower from Live at Budakon is very close to the Hendrix version - you're right tho, even if Hendrix is great, that's not his best really.

    Twist and Shout - yeah, that's a great choice and you know I love Promised Land - left Elvis off because he did so msny covers, really and was from a different era. (Then again, I did put Johnny Cash on there).

    But the gem in your list is the Zevon track - I love that recording and play it all the time.

    Fred, I know your obsession with that Cash-Dylan track! It is a great one...
    • ^
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    I must admit I've never really been clear on the session dates and release dates on the Grapevines, which underlines my point about the difficulty, for me at least, of narrowing down this category which is full of fuzzy distinctions.

    Hell, Elvis's Sun recordings of That's Alright Mama, Mystery Train, and Good Rockin' Tonight would, in my book, push everything but Respect off Tom's list. Hound Dog too, if the criteria include singers who made the songs their own, these definitely belong w/ Twist & Shout, Watchtower and Respect. The King's Blue Suede Shoes too!

    BTW, just thinking about this, that first Aretha Atlantic album is full of classic covers. Besides Respect there's A Change is Gonna Come and Drown in My Own Tears, all great versions.
    • ^
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    Fred, here's another one for you, Led Zep's Whole Lotta Love, which is a re-make of Muddy Waters' You Need Love (I would have loved to have heard Muddy fronting Zep on a version of that tune.)
    • ^
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    I've always liked the Who's insane metal version of Summertime Blues as well...Townshend destroys the song and puts it back together.
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    Does Sly Stone's Que Sera, Sera count?

    That's spectacular.
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    Which came first The Who's verison or Blue Cheer's? Same arrangement.
    • ^
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    The Red Hot Chili Peppers' cover of "Higher Ground" is near the top of my list:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS3hEuAbuLE

    And the new Pearl Jam cover of The Who's "Love, Reign O'er Me" is surprisingly good, too.
    • ^
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    How could we have forgotten Ike & Tina's Proud Mary?
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    And does something like the Animals version of House of the Rising Sun count? Or are folk songs of unknown authorship off limits?
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    I'll also nominate Otis Redding and Carla Thomas' incendiary version of Lowell Fulsome's Tramp
    • ^
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    Yeah, Tramp is great. Levon Helm's cover of Springsteen's Atlantic city is pretty great - with the mandolin lead. Not sure about folk tunes ... but I don know my playlist the next few days is gonna have a buncha new tunes.
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