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Hendrix Gets Best Cover Honour

November 30, 2004 | Other
Jimi Hendrix's reworking of Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower has been named the best cover version of all time topping a list of 50 covers selected by Daily Telegraph music critics.

Pet Shop Boys came in second with their 1987 version of Elvis Presley's You Were Always on My Mind and Sid Vicious's version of My Way was No 3.

Justifying the selection the critics said Hendrix's version of a from Dylan's John Wesley Harding album completely outgunned the original.

The rest, in order, were: Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, 1993, orig. Leonard Cohen, 1984, Respect - Aretha Franklin, 1967, orig. Otis Redding, 1965, Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981, orig. Gloria Jones, 1964, Mr Tambourine Man - The Byrds, 1965, orig. Bob Dylan, 1964, Twist and Shout - The Beatles, 1963, orig. the Isley Brothers, 1960, Comfortably Numb - Scissor Sisters, 2004, orig. Pink Floyd, 1979, Mr Bojangles - Nina Simone, 1971, orig. Jerry Jeff Walker, 1967.
Source:Google
hounddogman wrote on November 30, 2004
Strange list indeed! I don't wanna knock Hendrix, but I believe that the fact that Dylan named Elvis' "Tomorrow Is A Long Time" as the best cover of his songs has a little more weight than a few Daily Telegraph critics. And NO I'm not one of those who think that Elvis' recordings are always better than anything else... But what about all of Elvis' classic 50's recordings that were cover versions - "That's All Right", "Good Rockin' Tonight", "Hound Dog" etc. etc. ?
Mark S. wrote on November 30, 2004
Best of all covers, hmmm. By what standards?
ElvisDayByDay wrote on November 30, 2004
Good to see the Pet Shop Boys disco cover do so well in this "cover" list with mainly rock artist / bands. Their disco version still has the "feel" the song needs. But indeed they forgot some great covers by our man ... or are most of Elvis' versions considered to be his hits?
Cro@kie wrote on November 30, 2004
Maybe by the standards of some people who don't mistake their own tastes with objective quality or people who are not one-track-minded about music. In other terms, not Elvis fans...
King Of Western Bop wrote on November 30, 2004
Croakie. Most people who are passionate about a certain musical genre or artist can be just as one-track minded as any Elvis fan. Laying this trait at Elvis fans' feet alone is rather one-track minded in itself - i.e. we're the only fans who have a bias towards their favourite artist. Perhaps it's because we have to spend more time defending him against narrow-minded fools who haven't got the brains to see past badly researched, badly written garbage pumped out by the tabloid press. They know the general public are gullible enough to believe it. What a shame that many still do. As to Jimi Herdrix's cover version being the best, etc. Well I couldn't really care less. Pound for pound it's Elvis who did more superior cover versions than anyone else. He missed the mark very rarely.
Guy Lambert wrote on November 30, 2004
Please! Can Elvisnews stop mentioning these kind of foolish lists? Who gives a ****what Daily Telegraph music critics think? We shouldn't even give it one single thought. All those lists make me sick: best song, best album, best b-side, best intro, best bassline.... List like that don't say anything about the quality of the music. I mean:the Pet Shop Boys at no. 2, what a joke! You gotta be kiddin' Kees!
Mike M wrote on November 30, 2004
Why report after the survey let us know before they close so we can give our support. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year
Lex wrote on November 30, 2004
King of WB, although I disagree with that Croakie most of the time, I think he is right now. Elvis fans in general are topping any other biased person or group. Look only at the reactions on articles like this ;-).
tcbme wrote on December 01, 2004
How bout a list of people who changed the music world forever!? These lists also make me sick! Like a rolling stone at number one, PLEASE! Give me a break!
glennd wrote on December 01, 2004
AinĀ“t it funny? TCB.
Cro@kie wrote on December 01, 2004
How much do I owe you Lex ? I can't remember what we agreed on......... :-D
Lex wrote on December 01, 2004
Can't remember either, how about 69?
Viva wrote on December 01, 2004
I can't believe it. The bloody pet shop boys?! These lists go from bad to worse. Hendrix I can live with, but the bloody Pet Shop Boys?This has to be the worst version of any of Elvis' songs. Completely devoid of any emotion, pre-packaged sloppily composed brain dead pap. I hate it with a passion, and I did so from the first day I heard it all those years ago. Whatever next? "The Times" greatest ever person to wear a jumpsuit list going to Andy Pandy? "Life" magazines greatest ever singer to be born in 1935 and die in 1977 and be called "Elvis" list going to Elvis the parrot from Droitwich? I'm dreading the next one.
RobIreland wrote on December 07, 2004
Haha Viva very funny reply! Well this list is twisted ! have they heard Elvis do Dylans "Tomorrow is a long time" ? Are they even aware of Elvis" versions of "Bridge over troubled water"? "You'v lost that lovin feeling", "I just can't help believing " etc etc, Looks like Elvis is still getting a bum deal from so called music lovers.