Great list. I would throw in Hour Glass' (proto-Allman Brothers) "Norwegian Wood" and the live version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from Concert for the People of Bangladesh.
"Tomorrow Never Knows" is a rarity found on the Mas y Mas compilation. An impressive live interpretation. I'm guessing you need to be old and square to like the George Martin version from the Hard Day's Night soundtrack. There's a nice live version of "We Can Work It Out" by Stevie Wonder from a 2010 White House performance.
Marvin Gaye, probably the greatest singer of all time, performs the most covered song of all time better than anyone - even, dare I say, The Beatles (who I love). Their version seems like a demo for Marvin. Others, naturally, may disagree.
Your list has a number of my favorite Beatles covers, but my personal favorite is by the Argentinian band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. Their 1995 Rey Azúcar was produced by Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth, and they wrangled Debbie Harry to feature on this ska-flavored take on "Strawberry Fields Forever":
Flaco Jimenez (the brilliant accordionist who played with Ry Cooder) absolutely murders "Love Me Do" here, turning it into rollicking Tex-Mex rockabilly:
I think of Otis Redding covering "Day Tripper." In addition to being a great cover, there are the added elements that (1) the bass line in "Drive My Car" reportedly borrowed from Redding's "Respect." So the Beatles were aware of his music and (2) Otis Redding at age 25 performing his version live in London in 1967 feels like a clear statement of his own confidence in feeling like he could go toe-to-toe with the Beatles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0LumYo3M2Y
Not only is it a lovely version, I remember (many years ago) hearing him play it at a house concert, and afterwards, when someone stepped out of the room carrying their child who had fallen asleep he quipped, "there goes the son"
And then there's John Daversa's entire album of covers, Kalidoscope," which he arranged for his progressive Big Band- and there are YouTube videos of every track, all masterpieces of arranging. Here's two:
And to toot my own shoehorn: Inspired by Matty Matlock's 1958/59 band, John Ellis' Double-Wide which just dropped a new release on BandCamp), and James Booker - during Covid, I arranged over 30 Beatles songs for my band in little Nanaimo - each in a different style/idiom which came out of New Orleans. "The Beatles Go To New Orleans".To present my inspirations, I booked two concerts - Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. We did it twice: Salt Spring Island and Nanaimo. In total, about 400 people on this planet attended our concerts.
You touched on so much in this post. Great job! The Chet Atkins Beatles cover album is a favorite. Definitely his versions of Michelle and Things We Said Today. Stevie Wonder's We Can Work it Out should be included as well. Other favorites are Jimmy McGriff and Junior Parker doing Oh Darling, Marcia Griffith's rocksteady version of Don't Let Me Down, Ray Charles' Eleanor Rigby, Nina Simone Revolution and pretty much any track by Jose Feliciano.
Do you think Cher's calling out "Luther Vandross" was a flub, or an intentional credit to the the more important artist [in her mind] that was sampled? I kind of thought it was the latter while watching.
Great list. I would throw in Hour Glass' (proto-Allman Brothers) "Norwegian Wood" and the live version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from Concert for the People of Bangladesh.
https://youtu.be/m4LdBF9-c_M?si=fpzsrHaZ7NHYe7qk&t=1
https://youtu.be/cVHA-GzBiEI?si=TBQzKekfPd06Lh6p&t=1
And Prince on "My Guitar"
https://youtu.be/dWRCooFKk3c?si=BizaFOG-VoI6VKWb&t=1
But can't argue with any in your list nor in Lindsay Zoladz' list
Marvin Gaye's Yesterday reminds me once again of too many great artists gone too soon. What a voice! Never equalled.
"Tomorrow Never Knows (Live)" by Los Lobos
"We Can Work It Out" by Stevie Wonder
"And I Love Her" by the George Martin Orchestra
"Tomorrow Never Knows" is a rarity found on the Mas y Mas compilation. An impressive live interpretation. I'm guessing you need to be old and square to like the George Martin version from the Hard Day's Night soundtrack. There's a nice live version of "We Can Work It Out" by Stevie Wonder from a 2010 White House performance.
https://youtu.be/uznnHd5thXE?si=ev5A7Yq02rhiXuZE
In my opinion, "Hey Jude" by Wilson Pickett stands above all other Beatles' cover versions.
101% agree about Wilson Pickett singing hey Jude! Plus the huge bonus of Dwayne Allman playing guitar on it.
Marvin Gaye, probably the greatest singer of all time, performs the most covered song of all time better than anyone - even, dare I say, The Beatles (who I love). Their version seems like a demo for Marvin. Others, naturally, may disagree.
Your list has a number of my favorite Beatles covers, but my personal favorite is by the Argentinian band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. Their 1995 Rey Azúcar was produced by Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth, and they wrangled Debbie Harry to feature on this ska-flavored take on "Strawberry Fields Forever":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bnRRLcPyXo
Flaco Jimenez (the brilliant accordionist who played with Ry Cooder) absolutely murders "Love Me Do" here, turning it into rollicking Tex-Mex rockabilly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVsGOjlFwjo
My personal favorite, Siouxie and the Banshees’ version of Helter Skelter: https://youtu.be/uoAFWBofj1Y?si=sMwz_mcibE_oX09M
I think of Otis Redding covering "Day Tripper." In addition to being a great cover, there are the added elements that (1) the bass line in "Drive My Car" reportedly borrowed from Redding's "Respect." So the Beatles were aware of his music and (2) Otis Redding at age 25 performing his version live in London in 1967 feels like a clear statement of his own confidence in feeling like he could go toe-to-toe with the Beatles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0LumYo3M2Y
In a completely different mood, I enjoy Rick Ruskin's arrangement of "Here Comes The Sun" for solo guitar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAAAA6R5iV0
Not only is it a lovely version, I remember (many years ago) hearing him play it at a house concert, and afterwards, when someone stepped out of the room carrying their child who had fallen asleep he quipped, "there goes the son"
Some great Beatles covers here. I've aways enjoyed Esther Phillips take on "I Love Her" (or "I Love Him" in her rendition): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cwrnqj2T4A
Have you ever heard Junior Parker's version of "Tomorrow Never Knows"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k70IbfAqzGg
Thanks for presenting this great topic - and the wonderful links.
Have you heard NOLA legend, pianist James Booker do "Eleanor . . ."?
As with Jelly Roll's piano solos, you can hear every instrument in the band - trumpet, clarinet, trombone, bass & drums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrKpAF5DszU&list=RDwrKpAF5DszU&start_radio=1
And then there's John Daversa's entire album of covers, Kalidoscope," which he arranged for his progressive Big Band- and there are YouTube videos of every track, all masterpieces of arranging. Here's two:
"Listen . . ."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8o1VKIvaOU&list=RDz8o1VKIvaOU&start_radio=1
"G'Day . . ."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBWABBYGDCE&list=RDBBWABBYGDCE&start_radio=1
And to toot my own shoehorn: Inspired by Matty Matlock's 1958/59 band, John Ellis' Double-Wide which just dropped a new release on BandCamp), and James Booker - during Covid, I arranged over 30 Beatles songs for my band in little Nanaimo - each in a different style/idiom which came out of New Orleans. "The Beatles Go To New Orleans".To present my inspirations, I booked two concerts - Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. We did it twice: Salt Spring Island and Nanaimo. In total, about 400 people on this planet attended our concerts.
You touched on so much in this post. Great job! The Chet Atkins Beatles cover album is a favorite. Definitely his versions of Michelle and Things We Said Today. Stevie Wonder's We Can Work it Out should be included as well. Other favorites are Jimmy McGriff and Junior Parker doing Oh Darling, Marcia Griffith's rocksteady version of Don't Let Me Down, Ray Charles' Eleanor Rigby, Nina Simone Revolution and pretty much any track by Jose Feliciano.
Uncle George with the quote!!!
Do you think Cher's calling out "Luther Vandross" was a flub, or an intentional credit to the the more important artist [in her mind] that was sampled? I kind of thought it was the latter while watching.
this is an unmissable opportunity to mention "in naples 1980/81" by the shampoo, the neapolitan prank version of the beatles. stop.
https://www.discogs.com/it/master/1279530-Shampoo-In-Naples-198081
https://youtu.be/xhempeEjGUA?si=Yyio59r4a-2RSEDp