Today, I’m taking a look at the stats, courtesy of Chartmetric, to settle once for all:
What is the best *:
The Original…
…or the cover.?
All figures are correct as at New Year’s Eve, 2024.
* Spotify streaming statistics are in no way a signifier of musical value. But feel free to put forward your own arguments for these.
“Mr Tambourine Man”
1965: Bob Dylan
118.6m
1965:
The Byrds
120.6m
Never released as a single by Bob. The Byrds took it to #1 on both sides of the Atlantic. I always thought of theirs as the definitive version but it’s a lot closer than I expected.
“Knockin’ On Heavens Door”
1973: Bob Dylan
545m
1990:
Guns N Roses
799.6m
“Live And Let Die“
1973: Wings
178.9m
1991:
Guns N Roses
282.9m
“Knockin’ On Heavens Door” is Bob’s most popular song on Spotify, racking up an impressive half a billion streams. But despite it only being fifth on the GNR list, they’re still around 250m ahead.
They do a number on Paul McCartney and Wings too. Not in the same league as KOHD but the GNR treatment pulls in the listeners over the original.
“Respect”
1965: Otis Redding
12.2m
1967:
Aretha Franklin
677.4m
Exactly as you’d expect. Aretha beat Otis hands down on the Hot 100 (#1 vs #35) and is still doing it, just 665.2m ahead. There must be some people who prefer Otis’ original, or are most of his 12.2m streams from people giving it a one off listen to compare it to Aretha?
“Hurt”
1994: Nine Inch Nails
101.2m
2003:
Johnny Cash
650.2m
Onto another where the cover has overshadowed the source material. Not quite as convincing a thrashing but Johnny is still outperforming NIN by a ratio of 6.5 to 1. I don’t think Trent would mind on this one.
“Always On My Mind”
1972: Brenda Lee
152.8k
1972: Elvis Presley
207.7m
1982: Willie Nelson
114.1m
1987:
Pet Shop Boys
311.3m
Now, for a song that has several memorable recordings. Brenda might have got in there with the first recording but she barely registers. Elvis’ version may not have appeared on the Hot 100 but it’s one of his most popular late period songs. Over here in the UK it won a viewer poll in a 2013 TV show to find The Nations Favourite Elvis Songs.
Willie did better on the charts, but he’s no match for the star power of The King.
None of them can match Pet Shop Boys, though. They recorded the song in 1987 for another UK TV show commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Elvis’ death. It also won a BBC poll in 2014 to find the best cover version ever.
“Hallelujah”
1984: Leonard Cohen
139.9m
1991: John Cale
4m
1994: Jeff Buckley
382.4m
2001: Rufus Wainwright
173.8m
2004: k.d. lang
20.9m
2008: Alexandra Burke
110.7m
2016:
Pentatonix
523.3m
Another classic sees a multiple version pile up. And this time it is a surprising result.
Leonard Cohen’s signature song but he’s only 4th. Rufus Wainwright takes 3rd which may be due in part to it’s inclusion on the Shrek soundtrack. Despite the fact that it’s John Cale’s version that is used in the film.
It was the debut single for Alexandra Burke having won the UK X-Factor in 2008. Despite not charting in the US it’s doing decent numbers.
Jeff Buckley maybe the man responsible for the veneration of the song, but it’s Pentatonix who are doing the big numbers. As I said, streaming stats do not necessarily signify quality.
“Proud Mary”
1969:
Creedence Clearwater Revival
410.9m
1971: Ike and Tina Turner
195.6m
You want another surprise result? It’s a surprise to me, at least. CCR charted higher (#2 vs #4) but it’s Ike & Tina’s version that I’m more familiar with, especially as a staple of singing shows.
CCR though, have more than double the number of streams. The perennial runners up, taking the honours on this occasion.
“I Shot The Sheriff”
1973:
Bob Marley & The Wailers
180.3m
1974: Eric Clapton
111.7m
Onto some where justice has been served.
Bob was just coming to international renown when “I Shot The Sheriff” came out in 1973. A #67 chart placing in the UK easily surpassed by Eric taking it to US #1 the following year. At least Eric helped bring further notice to the original artist so that Bob and The Wailers version is comfortably clear as the most streamed version.
“Tutti Frutti”
1955:
Little Richard
141.4m
1956: Pat Boone
1.7m
1956: Elvis Presley
17.3m
“Long Tall Sally”
1956:
Little Richard
112.9m
1956: Pat Boone
163.5k
1964: The Kinks
1.2m
1964: The Beatles
5.8m
Justice really has been served. Pat Boone’s piggybacking on the raucous hits of the day, serving up a more palatable (i.e. bland) version for those unable to cope with the exciting new sound has been well and truly vanquished.
Although: the British Invasion brought back some of the excitement Little Richard is untouchable.
“With A Little Help From My Friends”
1967: The Beatles
23.2m
1968:
Joe Cocker
186.1m
1988: Wet Wet Wet
5.6m
This time it’s The Beatles who provide the source material. In its own, limited way, Ringo’s voice may be as distinctive as Joe Cocker but it’s no competition. It’s Hot 100 placing is only a meagre #68 in comparison to being a UK chart topper but The Wonder Years helped it do the business.
Wet Wet Wet also had a UK #1 with it but their lame version deservedly trails in far behind.
“We Can Work It Out”
1965:
The Beatles
132.1m
1971: Stevie Wonder
62m
Not top tier Beatles, but a solid effort. Stevie gave it a funky overhaul, but it’s not enough to get close to the original in the standings.
“Higher Ground”
1973: Stevie Wonder
142.4m
1989:
Red Hot Chili Peppers
181.3m
Turning the tables with a Stevie original. Once again he’s outdone. It wasn’t a big hit for the Chili Peppers but their version is comfortably ahead.
“How Can You Mend A Broken Heart”
1971: Bee Gees
71.1m
1972:
Al Green
124.7m
On the face of it, it should be no contest. One is a US #1 by a legendary act. The other is an album track by an act who also deserves legendary status but can’t compete when it comes to commercial success.
It’s the album track that has that something special though and is not too far off double the streams of the original.
“Venus”
1969: Shocking Blue
114.9m
1986:
Bananarama
169.8m
Moving on to those songs that have reached #1 for two artists. Bananarama take the honours with their pop infused take on “Venus.”
“You Keep Me Hangin’ On”
1966: The Supremes
57.6m
1967: Vanilla Fudge
25.6m
1986:
Kim Wilde
98.6m
Three versions covering different genres but the same result. The original may be better, and Vanilla Fudge’s rendering more dramatic, but the 80s British pop update takes it again.
“Lady Marmalade”
1974: Labelle
77.3m
1998:
All Saints 4m
2001:
Christina Aguilera/ Lil Kim / Mya / Pink
465.3m
Changing the formula a little, the 90s British R n’ B inflected pop fails to do the business. Although All Saints was a UK #1 it struck out in the US and is dwarfed by Labelle which in turn is left behind by the multi headed star vehicle from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.
“The Loco-Motion”
1962:
Little Eva
91.3m
1974: Grand Funk
22.2m
1988: Kylie Minogue
63.5m
Proving that the modern take isn’t always the go to. Little Eva’s main competition comes from Kylie who fell short of #1. She falls short again but is still clear of the Railroad-less Grand Funk.
“Please, Mr Postman”
1961:
The Marvelettes
202.8m
1963: The Beatles
31.6m
1974: The Carpenters
93.1m
The Beatles fare better than on their take of Long Tall Sally but they’re still an afterthought.
Stereogum reviewer Tom Breihan would approve of The Marvelettes superiority, scoring it 7, compared to the 2 that he gave The Carpenters. Maybe that was harsh on Karen and Richard, but the streaming stats bear out The Marvelettes as the definitive edition.
“Go Away, Little Girl”
1962:
Steve Lawrence
4.1m
1971: Donny Osmond
3.2m
Unfortunately covering the songs that were Number 1 for different artists means including this one. Steve may be ahead of Donny but music and taste are the losers. Having ‘achieved’ the dubious accolade of a double 1 from Tom B, the low numbers do at least evidence this isn’t a beloved classic.
“Lean On Me”
1972:
Bill Withers
340.9m
1987: Club Nouveau
9.6m
Speaking of beloved classic…there’s Bill. And then there’s Club Nouveau. I’m surprised they’re as close as 330m apart.
“I’ll Be There”
1970:
Jackson 5
152.7m
1992: Mariah Carey
80.3m
Mariah may be in possession of a whole host of accolades and chart records, but she wilts in the presence of a squeaky voiced Michael and brothers.
“When A Man Loves A Woman”
1966:
Percy Sledge
235.1m
1991: Michael Bolton
233.4m
This is the only double #1 that is close. Though for the life of me I have no idea why. Percy Sledge is rightly in front but its a precarious lead.
“Fast Car”
1988 Tracy Chapman 992.9m
2015:
Jonas Blue
1.2b
2023: Luke Combs
681m
Closing in on 1b streams, you’d expect Tracy Chapman to have it sewn up. Luke Combs has made a lightning start from zero to 681m in a little over a year suggesting that at some point in the next couple of years he might overtake her.
He’s some way to go to reach Jonas Blue, though. His tropical house take only crept onto the Hot 100 at #98 but has eased past 1b and left Chapman behind. Another one where the public can’t be trusted to pick the right version.
“Fever”
1956: Little Willie John
6.8m
1958:
Peggy Lee
167.3m
1992: Madonna
6.5m
2010: Beyonce
6.8m
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how many versions come out. Its only ever going to be associated with one artist. Peggy Lee wasn’t the first to record “Fever,” but it’s all about her. The Little Willie John original is far behind in the rear view mirror and on a par with Madonna and Beyonce.
“Baby I Love Your Way / Freebird”
1975: Peter Frampton
95.2m
1974:
Lynyrd Skynyrd
719.7m
1988: Will To Power
53.8m
1994: Big Mountain
356.1m
Lastly, two songs, one medley, four artists. And it’s the only one that topped the charts that isn’t standing the test of time.
Lynyrd Skynyrd are rocking the iconic status though “Freebird” charted the lowest of any of these. Peter Frampton’s numbers aren’t setting the world on fire, but it’s Will To Power’s Frankenstein melding that now pales in comparison to the originals.
Big Mountain’s reggae lite rendering of “Baby, I Love Your Way” may not be music to my ears, but the public have decided theirs’s is the one that they want.
All of which proves:
Absolutely nothing.
Legacy isn’t a given. Sometimes the original is the biggest, sometimes not…
And sometimes Pentatonix come from nowhere to take everyone by surprise.
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GnR? Kim Wilde? Jonas… Who?
I’m reminded of being a kid, listening to countdowns that featured a tepid record triumphing over a beloved song, leaving it in the dust. There was no justice.
I love “Cruel Summer,” I really do. But can someone please explain why anyone would prefer to give up 3 minutes and 18 seconds of their life to choose the Bananarama version of “Venus”?