Artists who have never recorded a cover?

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One artist who's never recorded a cover on any of his studio records is Bruce Springsteen. But he has contributed a couple covers to tribute records and the like.

technically true, but the dude has had four, count 'em four, chart or radio hits with covers: "trapped," "war," "jersey girl" and "santa claus is comin' to town."

not to mention that his not-so-good studio album "human touch" had two three-quarter covers: "cross my heart," largely borrowed from sonny boy williamson (to whom springsteen gave a co-writing credit) and the traditional children's tune "pony boy," on which springsteen gave himself a co-writing credit.

― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 13 August 2003 03:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, cool - I didn't know that about Human Touch! I remember listening to both those when they came out and basically dismissing them. I've actually been curious to hear them again lately. Yeah, on the other stuff that's why I said "studio albums" - but you're right, the sheer number of stray covers makes them more than just an anomaly..

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

The Tragically Hip covered "Limelight", didn't they? I don't know if it's a studio recording though.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Has Bon Jovi recorded any covers? I know they do "I Don't Like Mondays" in concert.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I know nothing about Bon Jovi - but reading through this list there are very few mainstream-ish pop/rock acts with a ten-year career who remain unchallenged. I can only see Kraftwerk and the Go-Betweens, and maybe Pink Floyd.

― Susan (Susan), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:37 (twenty-two years ago)

And don't Kraftwerk come under 'noodling electronics' anyway?

I thought you were joking about ruling out New Order for Ceremony.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter Gabriel?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 08:00 (twenty-two years ago)

**I thought you were joking about ruling out New Order for Ceremony.**

OK then, what about Turn The Heater On?

― Susan (Susan), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 08:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I know, but there was some question about whether radio sessions counted.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 08:11 (twenty-two years ago)

if it was released officially then it counts

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 10:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Can covered the "Can-Can" (yes, that one) on one of their later records as part of their "Ethnological Forgery Series".

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 12:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I think there's a very-hard-to-find version of "Night Time" (originally by the Strangeloves, also covered sloppily by Bauhaus on Swing the Heartache) that Joe Jackson did for a beer commercial at some point in the 80'.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 12:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter Gabriel did Strawberry Fields

― Susan (Susan), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 12:26 (twenty-two years ago)

if it was released officially then it counts

What if someone secretly records them jamming and then releases it legally when the 75 year copyright period passes?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

joe jackson also covered "the harder they come"

― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 13 August 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think Pink Floyd, Rush, Supertramp, or Fugazi were challenged either. Boston? Iron Maiden?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Iron Maiden have covered "Crosseyed Mary" by Jethro Tull as a b-side.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 15:36 (twenty-two years ago)

aha, The Lilac Time!

also,
Throwing Muses
Dire Straits

― derrick (derrick), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Rush definitely qualifies, however I actually have a bootleg of a live show where they cover "Bad Boy", the old Larry Williams R&B song (Geddy, of course, announces it as "a Beatles song").

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 17:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, they did an instrumental take on "Paint It Black" at the SARS benefit too. I don't think they've recorded any covers though.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Not sure about the studio version, but on their live album Exit Stage Left, in the middle of "La Villa Strangiato," Rush bust into a rendition of "Powerhouse" by Raymond Scott.

There's also a bit of the 1812 Overture in "Temples of Syrinx"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

i think fugazi hasn't. minor threat did a few....but i don't think fugazi.
m.

― msp, Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Rush's first single was a cover of 'Not Fade Away'.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Dire Straits is a very good call.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Throwing Muses is not (Manic Depression, Cry Baby Cry, Ride Into The Sun).

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

So, Boston, Dire Straits, Fugazi, The Go-Betweens and Pink Floyd then?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Has Bon Jovi recorded any covers? I know they do "I Don't Like Mondays" in concert.

Holy SHIT this must be the worst thing ever

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 13 August 2003 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't think peel sessions should count.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Holy SHIT this must be the worst thing ever

They've also done "London Calling," which I beg to submit must surely take the cake.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Soundgarden? (I only know of an mp3 floating around of "Big Bottom" from Spinal Tap.)

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 21:14 (twenty-two years ago)

That was semiofficially released on a promo EP (in a medley with "Earache My Eye," wasn't it?).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

They've actually done a bunch. The Ohio Players' "Fopp" on their 2nd EP. Also there are officially released B-sides with Sabbath ("Into the Void") and Devo ("Girl U Want") covers.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

If you just go by studio albums of new music then Billy Joel has never recorded a cover. Has contributed them to other projects though. (soundtracks, tribute albums)

― Alex Firtzin (AlexZ), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Soundgarden? (I only know of an mp3 floating around of "Big Bottom" from Spinal Tap.)

They also covered "Girl U Want" by Devo, "I Can't Give You Anything" by the Ramones, something by Fear (possibly "I Love Livin' in the City" or "I Don't Care About You") all as appended tracks to singles and I saw them do "Earache My Eye," "Big Bottom" and Body Count's "Cop Killer" live.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I think The Cult would be in here if it weren't for "Faith Healer" on their rarities collection.

― Kim (Kim), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Say what? What about their cringe-inducing skewering of "Born to Be Wild" on Electric?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 22:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Lilac Time did a Leonard Cohen cover on the b-side of "Madresfield"

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

If you just go by studio albums of new music

I don't know why you would do this. Why wouldn't singles and tracks on compilation albums count?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Billy Joel covered Dylan on his last greatest hits album

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Crap - oh well. This is harder than I thought.

― Kim (Kim), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 23:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Smog's been going for >10 years yeah? i don't recall Smog covering anyone..

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 23:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Smog's done covers on Peel Sessions - not released on record though.

Apparently the Go-Betweens' latest single 'Caroline And I" includes a cover of a Titanics song, "Taxi Taxee"

― Susan (Susan), Thursday, 14 August 2003 08:24 (twenty-two years ago)

These 'new Go-betweens' have ruined it for everyone.

Actually they haven't. They've left the 'no covers' mantle to the wankers, which simplifies matters.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 14 August 2003 08:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Have to say I really like the new Go-Betweens record. I like the stripped-down sound, it's a bit more humble than their emotional epics of the eighties, but they're doing something fresh, which is rare for fortysomethings. Compare with Nick Cave's latest album - yet more plodding piano-led ballads - hearing Rock Of Gibraltar I inwardly cringe for him.

― Susan (Susan), Thursday, 14 August 2003 08:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I genuinely can't think of Blur having ever recorded a cover... but there must be one. There *must*.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 14 August 2003 08:31 (twenty-two years ago)

There is. Or rather, are.

― Susan (Susan), Thursday, 14 August 2003 09:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Blur covered Maggie May. Think it was on the Chemical World single.

― olli, Thursday, 14 August 2003 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I genuinely can't think of Blur having ever recorded a cover... but there must be one. There *must*.

And they didn't write "Daisy Bell" either (though I couldn't tell you who did).

Daisy....Daisy....Give me your answer do.......

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 14 August 2003 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't be sure, but instinct tells me that apart from those early Australian sides (& OK the Sgt Pepper soundtrack), the Bee Gees never recorded a cover in their 40 year career.

― harveyw (harveyw), Thursday, 14 August 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

twenty years pass...

Fairly sure Talk Talk only recorded original material.

Tough to think of any recent acts who fit the bill. Only one I could think of was Vampire Weekend, but no doubt someone will prove me wrong.

― Dan Worsley, Monday, 17 June 2024 18:01 (one year ago)

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