The best covers of Rolling Stones songs

The fuck outta here with your Sundays cover of “Wild Horses,” which I hasten to say I enjoy. Linda Ronstadt’s cover of “Tumbling Dice is my favorite cover of a Stones song. Snotty and taut, the version on 1997’s Simple Dreams gleams; the original, which I love, sounds as if recorded in a hayloft; the live version on FM is even better, despite the terrifying ubiquity of Waddy Wachtel’s hair.

Ah, Mick ‘n’ Keef. Besides introducing the world to beefsteak lips, rhythm guitar, rooster hair, and white dancing, they provided KISS with one of their few listenable moments.

1. Linda Ronstadt – Tumbling Dice
2. Devo – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
3. The Feelies – Paint it Black
4. Liz Phair – Mother’s Little Helper
5. Otis Redding – (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
6. Johnny Cash – No Expectations
7. Bette Midler – Beast of Burden
8. Townes Van Zandt – Dead Flowers
9. Lindsey Buckingham – She Smiled Sweetly
10. Bettye LaVette – Salt of the Earth
11. David Bowie – Let’s Spend the Night Together
12. Tegan and Sara – Fool to Cry
13. The Soup Dragons – I’m Free
14. Aretha Franklin – Jumpin Jack Flash
15. Ike & Tina Turner – Honky Tonk Woman
16. Joan Jett – Starfucker
17. Merry Clayton – Gimme Shelter.
18. Girlschool – Live with Me
19. Alejandro Escavedo – Sway
20. Chris Farlowe – Think
21. 5th Dimension – Moonlight Mile
22. Tom T Hall/Earl Scruggs – No Expectations
23. The Damned – The Last Time
24. The Sundays – Wild Horses
25. KISS – 2,000 Man

2 thoughts on “The best covers of Rolling Stones songs

  1. As is so often the case, it’s left to me to advocate for the marvellous, chronically under appreciated Mekons. Their sublime cover of ‘Heart of Stone’ from ‘So Good it Hurts’ really does merit a place on your list!

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