Top 5 Chart-Crossing Cover Songs

Some of the music industry depends on the production of cover songs. There are a limited number of original hits being produced and many artists have relied on covering other artist's hits to fill out an album or produce a memorable track for a soundtrack. Some of the most memorable cover songs are produced in a different genre than the original song. Some chart crossing cover songs are popular enough to make it near the top of the music charts.

Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"

This chart crossing cover of a Dolly Parton country song was one of the best selling singles of all time. The original song by Parton was released in 1974 and went to number one on the Billboard Country chart. The Whitney Houston song was included in the soundtrack album for the movie "The Bodyguard" which won the "Album of the Year" Grammy award in 1994. The Houston cover spent fourteen weeks as the number one song on the "Billboard Hot 100."

Eric Clapton - "I Shot the Sheriff"

Originally written and recorded by reggae artist Bob Marley in 1973. Eric Clapton successfully covered the song in 1974. The Clapton version reached number one on the "Billboard Hot 100."

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - "Over The Rainbow"

Originaly written and recorded in 1939 by Judy Garland "The Wizard of Oz" motion picture. Many people think the title is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and Garland used it as her signature song for most of her career. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole recorded a medley cover of "Over the Rainbow" and Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" in 2004. That cover song has been used many television, commercial, and film projects and reached number 12 on the on "Billboard's Hot Digital Tracks" chart.

Jimi Hendrix - "All Along the Watchtower"

Originally written and recorded by Bob Dylan in 1967. Although Dylan's version with acoustic guitar and harmonica did not top the charts, it is one of his most discussed and covered songs. Jimi Hendrix covered the song in 1968 and although it only reached 20 on the Billboard chart, it is number 48 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs Ever". Other artists that have successfully covered this song include U2, Dave Matthews Band, Neil Young, Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam and many others.

CAKE - "I Will Survive"

Originally performed and recorded by Gloria Gaynor in 1978, it has become one of the most famous songs from the disco era. It reached number one the "Billboard Hot 100" and was also number one in Great Britain. It was covered as a rock song in 1996 by the band CAKE. The 1996 version, despite some added profanity, placed in the top 25 on several Billboard Charts.

Many artists record cover songs as a tribute to a favored performer, for a movie soundtrack, or simply because they love the song. Some of the top chart-crossing cover songs are as popular or more popular than the original version.

Sources:

http://www.billboard.com/