What are the Best Beatles Covers? Link Drop
A round-up of the most important stories in music right now
This is the monthly newsletter where I roundup important stories in the music world, argue about controversial topics, highlight some wild YouTube videos, and a whole lot more.
This is usually only available to paid subscribers, but today’s edition is free to all! If you want more stuff like this in the future, consider taking out a paid subscription to this newsletter. Paid subscribers get access to four additional newsletters per month.
What are the Best Beatles Covers?
In honor of Black History Month, Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times highlighted 13 great Beatles covers by Black artists. This got me thinking of the greatest covers of The Fab Four, race aside.
If the massive covers and samples database maintained by Second Hand Songs is to be trusted, The Beatles are the most covered artists of the 20th century, outpacing George Gershwin, Richard Rogers, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Burt Bacharach, and Bob Dylan by a wide margin. In other words, there’s a lot to choose from.
I love Beatles covers because they usually demonstrate just how rich and varied their catalog is. Below are my 13 favorites, though you can see a playlist with some more if you click here. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
“Savoy Truffle” by Ella Fitzgerald: In my mind, Ella Fitzgerald exists in a completely different timeline than The Beatles. But The First Lady of Jazz lived until 1996, giving her lots of time to cover The Fab Four. And she did it a few times. I love this cover because Fitzgerald sings George Harrison’s ode to chocolate like a true dessert lover.
“Day Tripper” by Sergio Mendes: Who knew that one of The Beatles’ greatest guitar riffs worked well with bossa nova flair? Sergio Mendes, apparently.
“Rocky Raccoon” by Scary Pockets: Though I’m not a fan of “Rocky Raccoon,” this version makes the country and western song groovier than many funk songs.
“Got to Get You Into My Life” by Earth, Wind & Fire: Speaking of groove, this funky cover of Paul McCartney’s love letter to marijuana is magnificent. Fun fact: This song was recorded for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, a horrendous movie starring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton, with guest appearances by Steve Martin, Alice Cooper, and George Burns.
“Here, There and Everywhere” by Emmylou Harris: I love Beatles performances so much that I often prefer covers that reimagine their songs. But Emmylou Harris’s voice is so pure that her faithful rendition of “Here, There and Everywhere” gives Paul McCartney a run for his money.
“She Came In Through the Bathroom Window” by Joe Cocker: If you were to ask a random group of strangers what the best Beatles cover was, there’s a good chance they’d say Joe Cocker’s rendition of “With a Little Help From My Friends.” For all intents and purposes, that’s the canonical recording of the Lennon-McCartney song. But I prefer Cocker’s version of “She Came In Through the Bathroom Window.”
“Happiness is a Warm Gun” by The Breeders: In recording one of The Beatles strangest structural songs, The Breeders make it feel like John Lennon invented punk rock.
“And I Love Her” by Kurt Cobain: When Brett Morgan was making the documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, he uncovered a bedroom recording the Nirvana frontman made of “And I Love Her” before founding his famous band. The recording makes clear the oft-discussed point that Cobain’s songwriting combined Beatles-esque melodies with punk aesthetics.
“Hey Jude” by Wilson Pickett: It’s really hard to outdo the magnificent crescendo in The Beatles version of “Hey Jude,” but the husk in Wilson Pickett’s voice and lead guitar from Duane Allman really gives those musical Liverpudlians a run for their money.
“Let It Be” by Aretha Franklin: A few years ago, Rolling Stone ranked the greatest vocalists of all time. I don’t think anyone disagreed with their top pick: Aretha Franklin. Her recording of “Let It Be” makes the song seem like it was written by the hand of God.
