Adam TylerList RulesNo obscure musicians.
Artists who have inspired the best covers include legendary musicians and bands like The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, but this list also includes some lesser known singer-songwriters who's songs have become iconic -- all thanks to someone's brilliant cover of one of their tunes. A good example of this: Tom Waits, whose catalog is stunning, but who might be better known (to mainstream audiences) through cover songs (like Rod Stewart's "Downtown Train"). This list includes a lot of major artists who have inspired phenomenal covers by others in the industry. I've added several videos of these cover songs, where possible. This is a VoteRanked list, meaning the Ranker community sets the bar by voting for favorites. Be sure to cast your vote, and add any artists that you think inspired the best covers.
Occasionally, a cover song will eclipse the original version by a brilliant singer-songwriter in chart popularity. Examples of this include Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded By the Light" (covered by Manfred Mann), Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine" (covered by UB40), David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World" (covered by Nirvana) and Prince's "Nothing Compares to U" (covered by Sinead O'Connor). This doesn't always mean the cover version is better - just that it's more well-known and associated with the cover artist, instead of the original writer.
Great cover songs pay tribute to the original artists who inspired the music, though covers don't always sound like the originals: The song's melody and/or arrangement might be vastly different, like the Lemonhead's punked-out version of Simon & Garfunkel's classic song "Mrs. Robinson" or Chris Cornell's remarkable version of Michael Jackson's iconic song "Billie Jean."
Enjoy this list of incredible artists who have inspired the best covers throughout music history, and be sure to a) vote and b) add anyone I've left off.
1553268The Beatles
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Abbey Road, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Rubber Soul
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14453Alice Cooper
Glam metal, Experimental rockAlbums: Welcome to My Nightmare, Hey Stoopid, Brutal Planet, Trash, Constrictor
![Bob Dylan]()
3451275Bob Dylan
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Bringing It All Back Home
![David Bowie]()
4370229David Bowie
Rock music, Psychedelic popAlbums: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Hunky Dory, Diamond Dogs, Aladdin Sane, "Heroes"
![Joni Mitchell]()
515784Joni Mitchell
Pop music, Folk musicAlbums: Blue, Court and Spark, Ladies of the Canyon, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Clouds
![Prince]()
6244180Prince
Hip hop music, SynthpopAlbums: Purple Rain, Sign 'O' the Times, 1999, Love Symbol Album, Around the World in a Day
![The Who]()
7174129The Who
Popular music, Pop musicAlbums: Who's Next, Tommy, Quadrophenia, Live at Leeds, The Who Sell Out
![Leonard Cohen]()
8219173Leonard Cohen
Synthpop, Pop musicAlbums: Songs of Leonard Cohen, Songs of Love and Hate, Old Ideas, The Future, Live in London
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8346Carole King
Adult contemporary music, Blue-eyed soulAlbums: Tapestry, Wrap Around Joy, Music, Love Makes the World, Colour of Your Dreams
![The Kinks]()
10221176The Kinks
Music hall, Pop musicAlbums: The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur (or The Decline and Fall of the British Empire), The Kink Kronikles, Something Else by The Kinks, Face to Face
![The Clash]()
11191155The Clash
Hip hop music, Pop punkAlbums: London Calling, The Clash, Black Market Clash, Give ’Em Enough Rope, Combat Rock
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188156The Velvet Underground
Noise rock, Blues-rockAlbums: The Velvet Underground & Nico, Loaded, The Velvet Underground, White Light/White Heat, Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground Featuring Nico
![Johnny Cash]()
13201173Johnny Cash
Outlaw country, Christian musicAlbums: American V: A Hundred Highways, American IV: The Man Comes Around, At Folsom Prison, American Recordings, American III: Solitary Man
![Led Zeppelin]()
14213188Led Zeppelin
Blues-rock, Classic rockAlbums: Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin II, Physical Graffiti, Houses of the Holy
![Oasis]()
159772Oasis
Rock music, BritpopAlbums: (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Definitely Maybe, Don’t Believe the Truth, Dig Out Your Soul, Be Here Now
![Jimi Hendrix]()
16202193Jimi Hendrix
Blues-rock, Rock musicAlbums: First Rays of the New Rising Sun, Band of Gypsys, Voodoo Child: The Jimi Hendrix Collection, Live at the Fillmore East, Live at Woodstock
![Bob Marley]()
17162163Bob Marley
ReggaeAlbums: Sun Is Shining, One Love, Rainbow Country, Lively Up Yourself, Forever Gold
![Depeche Mode]()
18123126Depeche Mode
Synthpop, New WaveAlbums: Violator, Songs of Faith and Devotion, Music for the Masses, The Singles 86-98, Black Celebration
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3829Dead Kennedys
Psychobilly, Anarcho-punkAlbums: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, Nazi Punks Fuck Off, Bleed for Me, Plastic Surgery Disasters, California Über Alles
![Pink Floyd]()
20141156Pink Floyd
Rock music, Space rockAlbums: The Wall, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Meddle, Animals
![Simon and Garfunkel]()
21125138Simon and Garfunkel
Pop music, WorldbeatAlbums: Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sounds of Silence, Bookends, The Graduate, The Concert in Central Park
![Ramones]()
22127143Ramones
Pop punk, Rock musicAlbums: Ramones, Rocket to Russia, End of the Century, Ramones Mania, Loud
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4746Elton John
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Disney's Sing-Along: The Lion King, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Madman Across the Water, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player
![Elvis Presley]()
24120142Elvis Presley
Christian music, Pop musicAlbums: Jailhouse Rock, The Sun Sessions, From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters, Can’t Help Falling in Love / Rock-A-Hula Baby, Elvis Presley (Legacy Edition)
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101Aaliyah
Hip hop music, Pop musicAlbums: Aaliyah, One in a Million, I Care 4 U, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, Back & Forth
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