The S4L Top 50 Cover Versions Part One 50 - 41

At the moment over on the BBC they are looking at finding the top cover versions and have chosen 50 tunes for folks to vote on to discover the best one. There's actually only twelve on their list that I would consider to be of any great worth. So, just for the sake of it here's The Soundtrack4Life Top 50 Cover Versions.

These are my choices and if you click on the links provided you can have a good old listen for yourselves.

50. The Shape of Things to Come - Slade. 

Released as a Single in 1970 and featured on the album 'Play It Loud'. Original by Max Frost and the Troopers.

49. One Step Beyond - Madness. 

First appeared as a B-Side for Prince Buster's 'Al Capone' back in 1964. The Nutty Boys released it in 1979 on Stiff Records and achieved a Top Ten hit, peaking at #7.

48. Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache - Dexy's Midnight Runners.

Was the B-Side of their massive hit 'Geno' in 1980. The Original was released in 1968 by Johnny Johnson and The Bandwagon.

47. Move On Up - The Jam. 

Originally released by Curtis Mayfield in 1970. The Jam's version first appeared on as a B-Side to their final sing 'Beat Surrender' in 1982. There was also a version on a Live EP from their final show at Wembley Arena, given away with the 'Snap' album.

46. Rockin' in the Free World - The Alarm. 

First released by The Alarm on their final album 'Raw' by the original line up. The band had been playing the song live ever since 1989 after hearing Neil Young playing it in concert before it had actually been released. The original version of course was released as a single by Neil Young in 1989.

45. Helter Skelter - Siouxsie and the Banshees. 

First recorded by Siouxsie and the Banshees for their 2nd John Peel Session 6th February 1978 and eventually released on their debut album 'The Scream' in November 1978 almost ten years to the day when the original was released! The Beatles of course had released the original song as part of their 'White Album' in November 1968.

44. Paint It Black - Mo-Dettes.

Originally recorded and release by Rolling Stones in May 1966. The Mo-Dettes cover was released in 1980 and reached #42 on the UK Singles Charts.

43. Johnny Was - Stiff Little Fingers. 

Released as part of  their debut album 'Inflammable Material' on Rough Trade in 1979. The song has been a live favourite for decades now and is often a show closer for the band. The song, written by Rita Marley, but actually written by Bob Marley - it's complicated, featured on 'Rastaman Vibration' album by Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1976.

42. Get Out Of Denver - Eddie and the Hot Rods.

From the 1976 Island EP 'Live at The Marquee' and also another live version was included on a Reissue of their debut album 'Teenage Depression'. The EP went to #43 in the UK Charts. The original version of the song can be found on Bob Seger's album 'Seven' released in 1974.

41. Police Car - The Members.

A live favourite with fans of The Members and their version appeared on their 2nd album '1980 - The Choice Is Yours'. The original by Larry Wallis was released on Stiff Records (Buy 22) in 1977.