Artists who have never recorded a cover?

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Cocteau Twins

They've done "Strange Fruit" and also two Christmas tunes ("Winter Wonderland" and the deliriously happy "Frosty the Snowman").

Kate Bush

She has covered Donovan's "Lord of the Reedy River" and Roy Harper's "Another Day" (with Peter Gabriel).

Joe Jackson

He covered XTC's "Statue of Liberty."

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 02:13 (twenty-two years ago)

*commits suicide*

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Black Sabbath, to my knowledge...

Er, read upwards.

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

Dead Can Dance (the Sinead song on the live alb) (Wait that's not studio recorded then obv.)

That isn't a Sinead song. It's easy to think so because it was written by another O'Connor. Anyway, Dead Can Dance covered "How Fortunate the Man With None" by Brecht on Into the Labyrinth.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 02:32 (twenty-two years ago)

The Tragically Hip

― Kim (Kim), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 02:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh also Blue Rodeo haven't.

― Kim (Kim), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Blue Rodeo covered Rodney Crowell's 'Til I Gain Control Again on Five Days In July

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn! Missed that one.

― Kim (Kim), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 02:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Also the Pumpkins did a cover of the Animals' "A Girl Named Sandoz" on Pisces Iscariot

If you must be completist...

A Night Like This [Cure]
Clones (We're All) [Cooper]
Dancing in the Moonlight [Thin Lizzy]
Destination Unknown [Missing Persons]
Dreaming [Blondie]
Girl Named Sandoz [Animals]
Jackie Blue [Ozark Mtn Daredevils]
Landslide [Nicks]
My Blue Heaven [Whiting/Donaldson]
Never Let Me Down [Depeche Mode]
Over the Rainbow [Harburg/Arlen]
Rock On [Essex]
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer [traditional]
Sad Peter Pan [Chestnutt]
Soul Power [James Brown]
Terrapin [Syd Barrett]
You're All I've Got Tonight [Cars]

― Girolamo Savonarola, Wednesday, 13 August 2003 03:38 (twenty-two years ago)

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)

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