Often the topic of much debate and discussion, the cover song has helped and hurt artists along the way. Below are various versions of wonderful songs (originally). While some may have never realized that their favorite was actually a cover, others may discover an interesting take on a much loved original. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject and on my selections. My favorites are highlighted with =0)’s
According to the Guinness Book of Records, “Yesterday” has the most cover versions of any song ever written. The song remains popular today with more than 3,000 recorded cover versions, the first hitting the United Kingdom top 10 three months after the release of Help!.
=0) Ray charles “Yesterday”

Yesterday – Ray Charles
Beatles “Yesterday” 1965

Help! [UK]
Eva Cassidy “Yesterday”

Yesterday – Eva CassidyMarvin Gaye “Yesterday”

Yesterday – Marvin Gaye
Donny Hathaway “Yesterday”

Yesterday – Donny Hathaway
Elvis Presley “Yesterday”

Yesterday (Live Beatles Cover) – Elvis Presley
Count Basie “Yesterday”

Yesterday – Count Basie
Boys II Men “Yesterday”

Yesterday – Bugs & Friends sing the Beatles
“Baby It’s You” is a song written by Burt Bacharach (music), and Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams) and Mack David (lyrics). It was recorded by the Shirelles and the Beatles, both of whom had hits with the song. The highest-charting version of “Baby It’s You” was by the band Smith, who took the song to #5 on the US charts in 1969.
=0) Smith “Baby It’s You” 1969

Baby Its You – Smith
The Beatles “Baby It’s You” 1964

Baby its you – The Beatles
The Shirelles “Baby It’s You” 1961

Baby- Its You – The Shirelles
Carpenters “Baby It’s You” 1970

Baby Its You – The Carpenters
“Respect” is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. “Respect” became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. While Redding wrote the song as a man’s plea for respect and recognition from a woman, the roles were reversed for Franklin’s version. Franklin’s cover was a landmark for the feminist movement, and is often considered as one of the best songs of the Rock & Roll era, earning her two Grammy Award in 1968 for “Best Rhythm & Blues Recording” and “Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female”, and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2002, the Library of Congress honored Franklins version by adding it to the National Recording Registry. It is number five on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[1] It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century, by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.
=0) Aretha Franklin “Respect”

Respect – ARETHA FRANKLIN
Originally Recorded/Written by Otis Redding

Respect (Remastered Mono Single/Album Version) – AL JACKSON

Respect (Remastered 1967 Album Version) – Otis Redding
Reba McEntire “Respect”

Respect – Reba McEntire
The song was first released as a single in the United States in June 1965 and also featured on the American version of Out of Our Heads, released that July. “Satisfaction” was a hit, giving the Stones their first number one in the United States. In Europe, the song initially played only on pirate radio stations because its lyrics were considered too sexually suggestive.[citation needed] In Britain the single was released in August 1965, where it became the Rolling Stones’ fourth UK number one. The song is considered to be one of the all-time great rock songs. In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine placed “Satisfaction” in the second spot on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, while in 2006 it was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.
The Rolling Stones “I can’t get no satisfaction”

I cant get no satisfaction – Rolling Stones
Otis Redding “I can’t get no satisfaction”

(I Cant Get No) Satisfaction – Otis Redding
Devo “I can’t get no satisfaction”

(I Cant Get No) Satisfaction (Album Version) – Devo
=0) Aretha Franklin “I can’t get no satisfaction”

[I Cant Get No] Satisfaction [Live at the Olympia Theatre, Paris, May 7, 1968] – ARETHA FRANKLIN
Jerry Lee Lewis “I can’t get no satisfaction”

(I Cant Get No) Satisfaction – Jerry Lee Lewis
Samantha Fox “I can’t get no satisfaction”

(I Cant Get No) Satisfaction – Samantha Fox
Britney Spears “I can’t get no satisfaction” (this has to be the worst version ever)

(I Cant Get No) Satisfaction – Britney Spears