Music #2: Incredible Live Covers

In some instances songs can take on another live or another kind of quality when they get covered by other artists, especially in a live context. Here are some of my favorites.

Heart — Stairway To Heaven (Led Zeppelin)

If you don’t get emotional towards the end there is something wrong with you.

Neil Young — A Day in the Life (Beatles)

Incredible energy. Neil Young still rocking harder than any young band.

Dave Matthews Band — All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan)

The ultimate rambling jam.

Lauryn Hill — Jammin/Master Blaster (Bob Marley/Stevie Wonder)

Putting everything on maximum speed is probably not to everybody’s taste, but it’s a great show of energy and commitment. The band is incredible in the execution.

Joe Cocker (Mad Dogs and the English Men) — The Letter (The Box Tops)

Simply wild. Leon Russel on piano and Bobby Keys on saxophone are next to Joe Cocker the cornerstones of a legendary live setup.

Raconteurs — Bang Bang (Cher)

Raconteurs are always great live. And this version takes the aggressiveness of the song to another level compared to the original by Cher, and the already more edgy famous Nancy Sinatra version.