What Is a Cover Song? A Brief History of Cover Songs

A cover song is a new recording or performance of a song by an artist other than the original composer or performer(s). A cover song is colloquially known as a cover version or cover. Bands and solo acts record cover songs as album filler, singles, or reimaginings, releasing them on live albums, studio albums, or a greatest hits compilation, or perform them at award shows or concerts.

Cover bands, or tribute acts, are singers or music groups that perform cover songs by other artists or music groups. Some cover bands offer remakes, which attempt to reproduce the exact sound of the original songs, while others reframe the material in unique or humorous ways. Beatallica plays Beatles songs in the hard-thrashing style of Metallica, while Dread Zeppelin plays reggae covers of Led Zeppelin songs with an Elvis Presley impersonator as a vocalist.

Here is an overview of the history of cover songs in popular music:

• Early cover songs: In the early days of the music industry, it was common practice to record and release multiple versions of the same song by different artists at the same time. Live performances of songs and sheet music, which allowed individuals to perform a hit song in their own homes, were less valuable than recordings.
• Labels released multiple versions: Record labels continued to release more than one version of a song in the 1930s and 1940s. This practice benefited songwriters and music publishers, not artists who only received payment for their own versions. However, record-buying trends began changing during this period. Teenagers were the catalyst, making record purchases based on the artist, not the song itself.
• Changes to the concept: Many hit songs by early rock ‘n’ roll performers generated safer, softer cover versions by other artists who crafted conservative images, such as Pat Boone’s cover of Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti.” As a result, cover versions lost some of their value to teenagers, who supported the original songs and original artists with their increased buying power in the 1950s.
• Standards: Despite shifting trends, cover versions made up a considerable part of most artists’ recordings in the 1950s and 1960s. Covers of standards and older popular songs filled out many long-playing albums during this period to showcase the artists’ versatility. Even the Beatles’ debut album, Please Please Me, featured eight songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and six cover songs.
• Notable cover songs: Cover songs remain a staple of most recording artists’ catalogs. Sometimes, these reinterpretations are better known or achieve more success than the original version. Examples include Santana’s 1970 cover of the 1968 Fleetwood Mac single “Black Magic Woman,” Gary Jules’s 2003 version of Tears for Fears’ “Mad World,” Janis Joplin’s posthumous 1971 version of Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” The 1990s saw the release of Lenny Kravitz’s 1999 cover of the 1970 Guess Who single “American Woman” and Nirvana’s live version of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World,” one of three covers featured on their classic 1994 live album, MTV Unplugged in New York.

Consult an intellectual property law attorney before recording or releasing a cover song. The following breakdown is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for legal advice:

1. 1. Find the copyright owner. Music copyright law in the United States protects the song owners’ rights to record, perform, and distribute the song, so you’ll need to find the copyright holder or owner and reach out to them before releasing your cover. Major music publishers, like BMI and ASCAP, or the US Copyright Office’s database have listings of various copyright owners.
2. 2. Contact the copyright owners. Once you obtain their info, you’ll need to send a notice of intention to the copyright owner—the publishing company or original songwriter—about the song you wish to cover. Send the letter thirty days before the song’s release and include information about your intentions to record a cover of the song. If you cannot locate the copyright holder, send an “address unknown” notice of intention to the US Copyright Office.
3. 3. Pay royalties. Finally, you’ll need to pay a fee to obtain a mechanical license for the song, which allows you to create an audio recording. (This license does not cover syncing or using the song in a video.) You’ll need to pay statutory mechanical royalties for each use of the song based on the rates that the Copyright Royalty Board has set forth for physical and digital formats. You must continue to pay royalty fees for the song after it’s available for sale to the public. You may not need to obtain a mechanical license for live cover song performances. Some venues obtain a blanket license from their local performance rights organization that permits them.

Popular artists have recorded countless cover songs throughout music history. Some of the most famous are:

1. 1. “All Along the Watchtower”: Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan wrote, recorded, and released “All Along the Watchtower” as the second single from his 1967 album, John Wesley Harding. It did not chart, but guitarist Jimi Hendrix’s version, recorded for his 1968 album, Electric Ladyland, reached No. 20 on the Billboard singles chart and became his most successful US single. In concert, Dylan performs “Watchtower” with an arrangement similar to Hendrix’s version.
2. 2. “Blue Suede Shoes”: Though frequently attributed to Elvis Presley, fellow rockabilly artist Carl Perkins wrote and first recorded the song in 1955. Perkins’s version was a crossover hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the country singles chart. Presley’s version, recorded a year later, only reached No. 20 on the singles chart.
3. 3. “Hallelujah”: Leonard Cohen’s soaring ballad “Hallelujah” went largely unnoticed upon its release on his 1984 album, Various Positions. But its inclusion on the 2003 soundtrack for Shrek brought worldwide attention and sent the song to No. 20 on the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Numerous performers have recorded covers, including indie folk-rock artist Jeff Buckley. Rolling Stone included his 1994 cover, released posthumously as a single in 2007, on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
4. 4. “Hurt”: Country/rock icon Johnny Cash recorded the Grammy-nominated Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt” for his 2002 album, American IV: The Man Comes Around. Many media sources cite the music video, featuring a frail and somber Cash (who died seven months after filming), as one of the best made.
5. 5. “I Will Always Love You”: Dolly Parton penned this heartfelt ballad in 1973, and it topped the Billboard Hot Country charts on two occasions: once during its initial release in 1974, and later, with a re-recording in 1982. Whitney Houston’s cover, recorded in 1994 for the soundtrack to The Bodyguard, spent fourteen weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, making it the best-selling single by a female artist in music history.
6. 6. “Respect”: R&B powerhouse Otis Redding wrote and recorded the soul anthem “Respect” for his 1965 album Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul. The track was a crossover hit for Redding, landing at No. 5 on the Black Singles chart and No. 35 on the Hot 100. Aretha Franklin’s 1967 cover bested Redding’s performance, topping both the Hot 100 and Hot R&B singles chart. Critics, fans, and music scholars regard it as Franklin’s signature song and a female empowerment anthem.
7. 7. “Tainted Love”: US soul singer Gloria Jones released “Tainted Love” as the B-side on her 1965 single “My Bad Boy’s Comin Home.” The track was not a hit but found new life with a 1980 cover by the UK New Wave band Soft Cell. Their version—a much slower, menacing take—spent nineteen weeks on the Billboard charts before peaking at No. 8. A reprise recording by Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond reached No. 5 on the UK Charts in 1991.

There is one key distinction between a cover song and a remake: the interpretation of the song. A cover song is a new performance or recording of a previously recorded song by someone other than the original artist or composer. The new recording is typically similar to the original song in terms of structure, though the arrangement may differ.

“Remake,” “reinterpretation,” and “remix” are synonyms for a new version of the song that differs substantially from the original recording. Two covers of the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” illustrate the difference between a cover song and a remake. Otis Redding’s 1965 take is a cover: Though it differs in terms of some lyrics, his version follows the original song structure. DEVO’s 1977 cover is a remake because of a substantial difference in beat, tempo, and instrumentation.

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