Audience - Raviole
Van Morrison - Big Time Operators
Elvis - Puppet On A String

Audience - Raviole
Van Morrison - Big Time Operators
Elvis - Puppet On A String

“Without You” - Nilsson
“Anybody Seen My Baby” - Rolling Stones
“Creep” - Radiohead
“Big Love” - Fleetwood Mac
“Helter Skelter” - Beatles

How about:
Velvet Underground: “Sunday Morning”
The Faces: “Oh La La”

Dancing in the Dark by Springsteen
rocky racoon by the beatles

12 Golden Country Greats by Ween

It didn’t dawn on me that a friend of mine had put the new Ween album on until I heard “Mister Richard Smoker”, which is pretty close to the end.

It’s only in recent years that you hear “Creep” and you think, “Oh yeah, that WAS Radiohead back when they weren’t so damned on making disturbed music.”–not that it’s not good; it’s just nothing I want to sing to when I’m driving. Radiohead didn’t have a “sound” back then to make you say, “That was who?”

“Am I Going Insane” - Black Sabbath.

abacadabra- steve miller band

Great suggestions abound on this forum…

As mentioned before, “Long Cool Woman” by the Hollies - I thought for a long time it was Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Now, I’ll throw a couple in the hat:

The entire “Workingman’s Dead” and “American Beauty” albums by the Grateful Dead. They completely re-invented themselves from a jammy/acid-drenched/psychedeli c rock band into an earthy/roots/acoustic/country- rock group, to great effect, I might add.

Santana’s “Winning” - I had no idea that was them when I first heard it. Not even Carlos’ guitar was as recognizable as it usually is. Clearly an attempt at a hit (that paid off) for better or worse.

“Owner Of A Lonely Heart” shocked many-a Yes fan when it came out. Sure, you can tell it’s Jon Anderson singing, but it was pure MTV-driven ’80s pop (like Santana, a blatant and successful attempt at a hit).

“Uptown Girl” was a dead-on homage to the Four Seasons. Yes, Joel’s whole “An Innocent Man” album was aimed at the Boomers’ ’60s nostalgia market, but “Uptown Girl” was the most successful attempt.

“Hot Dog” - Zep - the boys really showed their love of rockabilly on that one! Sloppy as hell, but fun nonetheless.

“Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman - I just didn’t realize the girl had a blues side.

The “Astral Weeks” album blew everyone away that was used to Van Morrison singing with “Them” and then “Brown-Eyed Girl” - talk about a departure! Of course, NOW we understand.

There are countless examples to be sure, of bands and artists changing their sound unexpectedly to boost sales as tastes change, but I was never surprised at the roads taken by Bowie, Neil Young, or Dylan. They always let their hearts guide them into what they wanted to do, instead of their wallets.

The Stone Temple Pilots did a cover of “Revolution” by The Beatles, and when I first heard it, I had NO idea who was covering it. They sounded a lot different in that song.

-”feel flows” by the beach boys
-”suspicious minds” by elvis
-”take it back” by pink floyd
-”living in the u.s.a.” by steve miller band

i second “eminence front” by the who. also fleetwood mac got weird for a while too.

Love Is The Ritual/Styx – their 1990 comeback single which sounded little like anything they’d done before, and was sung by new member Glen Burtnik. Any wonder no one knew who it was?

Soldier Of Love/Donny Osmond – only because he’d been gone from the charts for so long, and was now coming back with this George Michael-soundalike song.

Work It Out/Def Leppard – their stab at grunge/alternative, which wasn’t at all a bad song.

Big Bang Baby/Stone Temple Pilots – and pretty much the entire “Tiny Songs From The Vatican” CD (is that the most calculated pseudo-pretentious album title ever or what?)

Beauty/Motley Crue – one of the weirder tracks on their already-weird “Generation Swine” album. This sounded even less like the Crue than anything they did on the album where Vince Neil wasn’t singing.

Discotheque/U2 –A great song by a great band. But you know what? “That’s The Way (I Like It)” by KC & the Sunshine Band is also a great song. And the White Stripes are a great band. Does that mean I want to hear the White Stripes do “That’s The Way (I Like It)”? Hell no. Why U2 tried to be INXS I don’t know.

“Old Forgotten Soldier” Harry Nilsson off of Pussy Cats. This was shocking in that suddenly the guy who had the best voice of his generation (and likely any generation in Rock) with a 3.5 octave vocal range, can’t hit the high notes and his voice cracks like crazy.

Harry’s partying with Lennon and Ringo (And plenty others) at the time caught up with him and he ruptured his vocal chords and was coughing up blood in the studio.

John Lennon produced the record, and Harry was too nervous to let Lennon know he ruptured his vocal chords in fear that Lennon would abandon the project, so he recorded through it.

In typical Harry Nilsson fashion though, he used his cracked vocals to his advantage and made the song a winner.

Unfortunately Harry would never get his voice back to where it was pre Pussy Cats, and outside of a few good songs here or there, Harry basically ended his artistic career.

Dylan - lay lady lay

boys and girls by Blur. Definitely!

mama i’m coming home-ozzy
home sweet home -motley crue

hitsville uk the clash

“Sea of Love” by the Honeydrippers
Not so much that it didn’t “sound” like Robert Plant - it was just such a departure to hear that voice singing an bombastic old sixties love song complete with full strings.

Also, if you’re looking for some pre-fame or pre-established persona surprises (a la Kenny Rogers’ “Just Dropped In”), check out early recordings by Bryan Adams and Allanis Morrisette. Definitely not the sound they are known for now.

“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” - Queen

“Sad Eyes” - Bruce Springsteen

“Transformer Man” - Neil Young (or anything else from the Trans album)

“Mother” - The Police (possibly THE worst song of the 80’s, definitely the worst Police song ever…way to go Andy!!!)

Could anyone who doesn’t own “Sandanista” identify “Hitsville UK” as The Clash?
And have we repressed the great WTF moment of Steve Miller’s “Abracadbra”? Apparently, he no longer wanted to fly like an eagle, he just wanted to be fly.

“higher ground” - RHCP

to answer mikesq q about the hives find yourself antoher girl.
it weas origanlly done by the impressions, curtis mayfield, jerry butler in the late 50s. great song.

genesis- mama. this song rocks
yes-drama cd features trevor horn and a slightly different lineup dont think steve howe plays on it.

not a official relase but aty the grammys a few years ago springsateen costello little steven n dave grhl did the song london calling as a tribute to joe strummer. springsteens voice was very much like strummer and not like that hillbilly from nj troubaodo9r voice we here nowadays.

to answer mikesq q about the hives find yourself antoher girl.
it weas origanlly done by the impressions, curtis mayfield, jerry butler in the late 50s. great song.

genesis- mama. this song rocks
yes-drama cd features trevor horn and a slightly different lineup dont think steve howe plays on it.

not a official relase but aty the grammys a few years ago springsateen costello little steven n dave grhl did the song london calling as a tribute to joe strummer. springsteens voice was very much like strummer and not like that hillbilly from nj troubaodo9r voice we here nowadays.

Brian,

The Wanderer was vocalized by Johnny Cash. That might be why it doesn’t sound like U2, even though they wrote it.

“Last Kiss”, Pearl Jam - a rare song where Eddie Vedder is actually coherent!

Alice Cooper - Only Women Bleed was completely out of context after Dead Babies, Desperado, The Ballad of Dwight Fry, Public Animal #9, etc. Alma Mater (from School’s Out)with the McCartneyesque vocals is a close 2nd.

Kudos to Doc D on the Tommy James and The Shondells Cellophane Symphony - truly a very odd track.

Hit that by the Offspring.. Awkward!

All the tired horses–Bob Dylan (on his Self Portrait album)

Holy sheet.. Somebody mentioned R.E.M. and their Shiny Happy People..

How could I forget?

What a truly out-of-character-moment THAT was!!

why dont we do it tn the road and helter skelter by the beatles

caged rat by soul asylyum

The first time I heard ‘Eminence Front’ by the Who, it sounded like Traffic to me. I was very shocked to find out it was The Who. I could have swore that was Steve Winwood!

“find yourself another girl” by the hives…was that a cover?

“juicebox” by the strokes. i guess it sort of sounds like them, but it just sucks way more than anything else they’ve done.

emotional rescue the rolling stones
magnificent 7 the clash
fashion bowie

Liz Phair -why cant i was the biggest freaking shock to me ever i didnt know she could make that kinda music UGH catchy ass song though

oh and Becks - Sea Change love the album reminds of Dylans Nashville SKyline

ruby tuesday, its the rolling stones all right but it sounds like they are trying to be the beatles or the animals or any other tripped out 60’s band instead of the blues rock they are.

“Sucker” Peeping Tom Featuring Norah Jones at her nastiest

Pop is Dead more than Creep… don’t cha think?

“under pressure i thought it was by the two best bands ever xMY CHEMICAL ROMANCEx and xTHE USEDx but it’s originally by some crappy band called queen. too bad, those two bands are so br00tal”

That’s gotta be the most stupid statement I’ve ever heard in a forum. Yes, I know, we’re all entitled to our own opinion. But think about it, if too crappy emo bands covered a song by an 80s band, it figures that that band must have been doin something right to cover the damn song. I’m sorry, it’s statements like that that really piss me off about emo fans. They have no regard for the classics and all music to them is just “emo”, nothing more.

Pearl Jam-”Who You Are” (it’s their first single that was really experimental and non-commercial) or “ManKind” (I don’t think Vedder is singing in that one)

Lupe Fiasco-”I Gotcha” (feels more like a Nick Cannon-esque song)

Metallica (don’t know the name of the song, but the one that goes “..so can’t you hear your people dying”)

Nirvana-About a Girl

Radiohead-Creep

The Rat Cage by the Beastie Boys, Friends by Ween, Eleanor Put Your Boots On by Franz Ferdinand, The Guns of Brixton by the Clash, Make It Wit Chu by Queens of the Stone Age, Shiny Happy People by R.E.M., and Mysterious Ways by U2

how about the 1st half of stevie wonder’s “you are the sunshine of my life”–it doesnt even sound like him til later in the song

“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”–Green Day

“Alabama Song”–The Doors

“Paint It, Black”–The Rolling Stones

“Red Light” U2 (strange female vocals)
“Take a picture” Filter
“My Girl” the JAMC (pointless cover)
“Every Breath you Take” Police (thank god its the exception)
Faith No More “Stripsearch” (same template/writer as Madonna’s Justify my Love)

Ragin Johnny Chubb | 7/29/2007, 3:57 pm EST

“that Air Supply was NOT women.” —

LOL. Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
Neither were Leo Sayer or that singer from Supertramp.

I think some folks missed the point of this. It’s supposed to be out of character for the band. e.g. How is Hotel California out of character for the Eagles when it is a defining song for them. Anyway, how about:
Going through the motions - B.O.C.
Mother Freedom - Bread (Hard rock)
Oh My Lady - Barry Manilow (Funky Rock, with respectable guitar lead)
Tommy James and the Shondels: Cellophane Symphony: (Psychedelic opus)

I agree with most songs I have seen on this list, but however, like the topic, I am going to namedrop a band I hate more than anything…well, except maybe the fan-boys that like them: Insane Clown Posse. That one song that they did that was not over-explicit where the video shown them on a wagon. Great fucking song.

REM-shiney happy people

REM-shiney happy people

Bang the Drum All Day - Todd Rundgren

steve earle- transcendental blues
here i am.
rick springfield- shock anger acceptance whole cd. put out about 3 years ago very hard edge asked a few people who were springfield fans from the 80s and they didnt recognize the voice.

little steven- born again savage
preety much same thing as springfields. power trio sound from late 60s tribute.

bruce springsteens first band steel mill 1969-70- hard rock guitar based psychadellic music

bob segers first band the last herd= psychadellic garage based detriot rock n soul with a dylan influence.

the jam- town called malice

bruce springsteen-sad eyes, does a falsetto voice great song.
dancing in the dark- keyboard driven 80s style rock

bob dylan- dark eyes

here are a few artists who not one particular song sounds very different but their bodies of work is eclectic.
joe jackson,steve earle, elvis costello,matthew ryan,pretenders,fleetwood mac., the jam,paul weller.

paul mccartney - put out a techno album called the fireman. nothing recognizeable about it that you would know its mccartney in the least bit.-

hotel california the eagles
while my guitar gently weeps beatles
dream on aerosmith

Sidewalk Talk - Madonna
Sweet Sixteen - Billy Idol

because that one song is better than any one song on ok computer

and no i dont think it will grow on me.
ive already listened to it very many times.

What I don’t quite understand is that you are comparing “one” hit song to an entire album compilation. I can’t speak for anybody else, but the more I listen to OK Computer, the more it grows on me.

you radiohead fans are hilarious!
if someone doesnt like ok computer, the response from you guys is always that the offender is too stupid to appreciate it.

appreciate this
its rather boring

the bends is my favorite radiohead album actually, and yes i love creep.

i just appreciated them much more when they were writing actual music instead of sonic noise. not that ok computer was devoid of any musical characteristics. i dont hate the album, i merely dont understand the hype. there isnt a single stand out track on that album, and no, dont give me the “its meant as a full album” crap that all radiohead fans have given me. a truly great album should have all stand out tracks, and should be a great listen, whether one only listens to one song, or listens to them all, and i must tell you, the album housing “fitter happier” cannot possibly fit this description.

“haha you radiohead fans. cant stand to hear that ok computer is possibly the most overrated album of all time”

considering the source - nah, it really doesn’t bother me too much. you’re kindof an idiot.

i think what’s really funny is that there are still people out there who apparently freely admit they couldn’t get their head around radiohead doing anything other than generic britrock.

“creep” by radiohead belongs in this list, though: who’da thunk such a great, genre-pushing band could’ve done such absolute treacle, complete with orchestrated f-bombs to make the kiddies swoon. most undeservingly overplayed song, ever.

Anonymous | 7/29/2007, 5:45 pm EST

“creep is far and away the best radiohead song ever. certainly kicks the crap out of the entire ok computer album. radiohead should have made that their sound.”

I hate you. I hate you so much.

haha you radiohead fans. cant stand to hear that ok computer is possibly the most overrated album of all time

The Fever by Bruce Springsteen
Rocky Racoon by The Beatles
Patience by Guns ‘n’ Roses
Losing My Touch by The Rolling Stones
Jump by Van Halen

Easy (cover) by Faith No More- originally by the Commodores.

The following are songs I heard, like, and had no idea who the artist was. Upon learning, my jaw properly dropped.

Barenaked Ladies - One Week… cause nothing sounded like this, especially that damn ‘If I had a million dollars song.’

Oasis - Fucking in the Bushes…
it doesn’t sound like a Beatles song

“We Are the Lamest Fake-Angst, Faddy Tweener-Punk Bands in the World” by My Chemical Romance featuring Fall Out Boy. I had no idea they sang that, but it so fits them.

The entire Big Generator album by Yes doesn’t sound anything like 90125 and prior.

Kinda Ready,
Song2 came out in 1997.

any song by bad finger, they sound like the beatles in almost every way.

Song 2 I thought it was by Nirvana when I first heard it.

“creep is far and away the best radiohead song ever. certainly kicks the crap out of the entire ok computer album. radiohead should have made that their sound.”

I hate you. I hate you so much.

Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity, until I saw the video I thought Jay was black.

Metallica - Mama Said, what the hell where they thinking?

Rush - Roll The Bones - I knew it was them obviously, but adding that rap stuff in there SUCKS!

Def Leppard - anything after Hysteria…why lord why?

creep is far and away the best radiohead song ever. certainly kicks the crap out of the entire ok computer album. radiohead should have made that their sound.

The Bee Gee’s “Stayin’ Alive” they don’t really have any other songs, but i could not believe that a man, let alone a white man, sang that song.

Where does Cream’s Badge (on Goodbye) come from? A light touch with the rhythm and soft romantic vocals, a poignant arpeggio, from a band that always wanted to put a spike into your head, it was all Clapton.

Atlanta - Stone Temple Pilots

nigger pardise- 2pac
2pac is the king- n.w.a.

that Air Supply was NOT women.

Las palabras de Amor - Queen

Beastie Boys “I Don’t Know”

At first the almost metalish “Little Cream Soda”, by the White Stripes seemed way off course to me. Not so much anymore though

the new fallout boy and panic at the disco songs! so original! so creative and unique! really shows their growth!

“Wrapping Paper” by Cream
“Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” The Hollies
“Lay Lady Lay” Bob Dylan

Tom Petty did a great cover of “Something’s in the air”, but the original recording was by “The Thunderclap Newman”. Whoever that was …

Ask me anything by the Strokes. Its great but…different

“Boris the Spider” - the Who

under pressure i thought it was by the two best bands ever xMY CHEMICAL ROMANCEx and xTHE USEDx but it’s originally by some crappy band called queen. too bad, those two bands are so br00tal

‘I Was Made For Loving You’ by KISS - it’s DISCO!!

Girl from the north Country By bob dylan featuring johnny cash…bob dylan doesn’t sound in the slightest bit like himself…when i found out it was bob dylan i believe my exact words were no fucking way

Sail on Sailor - Beach Boys
Man of Constant Sorrow - Alison Krause and Union Station
Wonderboy - Tenacious D

One More - Ryan Adams - The eighteen rap and metal albums he put online

Oh yeah - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl (entire album)

U2 - The Wanderer

how bout “warped” by RHCP? its a metal and psychadelic song that sounds nothing like anything they’ve ever done. the only way to tell thats a RHCP song is maybe because of Anthony Kiedis voice, buts its still hard to tell

“You Can Do Magic” by America.

Long haired super folk pop does a 180 degree turn around complete with the cheesy video with soft bright coloured polo shirts.

Re: Jon | 7/29/2007, 8:09 am EST

“Bruce Springsteen - Because the Night…Heard this song, originally written by the Boss but performed by Linda Ronstedt I believe, after Ronstedt’s version and felt strangely guilty for liking it”

Jon,
Your guilty pleasure would be early punk rock pioneer, Patti Smith, who also co-wrote the song.

Liz Phair : “Why Can’t I Breathe?”

Chris Cornell needs to get laid!
He should never have disbanded Sound Garden! Give your head a shake!

oh yeah - YOUR MOTHER - was way over rated!

I Don’t Like Mondays - Boom Town Rats. I expected better things from Bob Geldof.

Sex Type Thing - Stp…thought it was Guns and Roses.
Patience - GNR
Which Way’s it to Free - Suicidal Tendencies.
Know Your Enemy - Rage Against The Machine.

“Hot Hot Hot” — Buster Poindexter

When I found out Buster Poindexter was aka David Johansen of the New York Dolls, I thought for sure this was someone’s elaborate form of a joke. Seriously, who knew that it was a New York Doll getting them doing conga lines at every cheesy wedding reception since 1982?

Don’t get me wrong I like some of Radiohead’s music, but my god some of you people feel the need to include them on every one of these weekend rock lists. What’s the greatest Beatles song of all time? Well, one time Radiohead covered Hey Jude, and it was better than the Beatle’s version. Who was the best performer at Woodstock in 69′? Well um, if Radiohead were there they would have stolen the show and stuff. The Radiohead cult will go to any lengths no matter how insignificant to push their favorite band.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

It always reminded me so much of Elvis for some reason.

Pearl Jam’s version of soldier of love exerts its brawny dominance over Donny Osmond throughout all existence

Pete Townshend - Let my love open the door (to your heart) or whatever that song is called

Pearl Jam - Parachutes…if you couldn’t tell eddie’s voice right away you’d have no idea

Tom Petty - The Last DJ (entire album)…someone was angryyyy

Audioslave - Revelations (the entire damn album)…self titled was outstanding, Out of Exile had its moments, but this album was pathetic, with about one song worth listening to.

Bruce Springsteen - Because the Night…Heard this song, originally written by the Boss but performed by Linda Ronstedt I believe, after Ronstedt’s version and felt strangely guilty for liking it

I was really surprised when I heard that the song Lost Cause was by Beck.
Was also a bit surprised when I heard No Surprises by Radiohead, hehe.

Even more amazing I find are the “co-writers or colaboraters” to songs.Prince may have wrote “Manic monday” for the Bangles,but JOHN LENNON co-wrote or helped influence “Fame” by Bowie?!.Then again,listen to the lyrics.

the B52’s travelled 1000000 light years from planet claire to love shack

Oh, and…

Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel

1. Creep - Radiohead
2. The Cross - Prince
3. Song 2 - Blur
4. The Sweetest Thing - U2 (their boyband thing)
5. Frozen - Madonna (momentarily blessed with skills, sister?)

I’d like to mention something by David Bowie too, but hasn’t he made a carrier (in the 1970s, particularly) out of making surprise records - like “Young Americans”’s r’n'funk following up on a, erh, glam record and then “Low”’s chilly Weltschmerz electronics)?

“real wild child” - iggy pop

glad he recovered from that one

Yeah, The Cure’s “Hot Hot Hot” should definitely be on here.

“Hot Hot Hot” by The Cure

“Straight To The Top” (both Vegas and Rhumba versions) - Tom Waits

“Like a Prayer” - Madonna

“Landing On Water” (album) - Neil Young

The White Stripes’ “Fell In Love With a Girl.” It kinda sounds like the Violent Femmes…

Uptown Girl, Billy Joel
Big Shot, Billy Joel
Movin’ Out, Billy Joel
Only The Good Die Young, Billy Joel
OK, everything done by Billy Joel!

‘i turn my camera on’ by spoon… very different to the rest of their stuff.
‘coffee in the pot’ by supergrass.
‘close to me’ by the cure… i wasn’t born then, but i can imagine it was quite a shock when it came out… i was shocked to hear it on the same best of as ‘boys dont cry’ and ‘a forest.’
the first time i heard liars’s second album i was sure someone had made a mistake.
’sleeping lessons’ by the shins… great song but pretty different to their indie-pop stuff.
‘on call’ by KOL… the voice is unmistakable but its still surprising, even more so since it was the lead single.

“Intuition” by Jewel. I swear that I thought that Britney was the singer.

“Discoteque” by U2. That song not only sucks: it also sounds like a cheap song written by DJ Assh*le.

Bob Dylan - Lay Lady Lay

He sounds nothing like himself in that song. He positively croons.

I’ve only heard the singles, but “Just Can’t Get Enough” by Depeche Mode still sounds too upbeat and perky to actually be performed by that band.

“Jump” by Van Halen…

“Like a Virgin” - Madonna

“Cemetery Gates” by Pantera…

Welcome to the Black parade I had no idea that it was by MCR.

“Another One Bites the Dust”– Queen

“White Lines” or “911 is a Joke” (both covers)–Duran Duran

The Fever by Bruce Springsteen
Rocky Racoon by The Beatles
Patience by Guns ‘n’ Roses
Losing My Touch by The Rolling Stones

I’ve never had this experience myself, but when I played Achtung Baby for a friend who had only listened to 80s U2, her first reaction was “woah, this is NOT the U2 sound I’m used to.

She is Love - Oasis. Not known much for doing love songs. Then again the Heathen Chemistry album was pretty different for them. Good tune though.

lay lady lay- bob dylan

i was shocked when i found out it was him.

The Fly - U2
Just coming out the 80’s with that “heartland America” vibe and then they start of the 90’s with the sounds of the European underground… come on.

Aerosmith - Dream On

Easy Faith No More
How Soon is Now? The Smiths
Creep Radiohead
and…
Everything I Do (I Do It For You) G.O.B.

“Emotional Rescue,” The Rolling Stones

Straight lines by silverchair if I wasn’t told who it was I never would have known.

Waiting on the world to change by John Mayer is deeper then the rest of his stuff.
Four Winds by Bright eyes sounds like bluegrass
Juicebox has metal distortion and is bass driven something the strokes didn’t do.
Led Zeppelin were thiefs they stole songs, I go over this all the time.

How about “Fame” by David Bowie. Since when did he do funk?

Props to HarryOatmeal; forget about that vocal, have we all forgotten about The KLF, period? Such a great album.

creep- radiohead

Although I’ve always liked STP, the first time I heard Plush, I thought it was Eddie Vedder.

“Easy ( like Sunday morning)” Faith No More

“What ya waiting for” Gwen Stefani

“Super Massive Blackhole” Muse

I thought of some more:

On Call - Kings of Leon

Only Ones Who Know - Arctic Monkeys

Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne. That was a sad day.

Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado. T__T

see what condition my condition was in - kenny rodgers (shocked me)

Satan - Clap your hands say yeah

Crazy lil thing called love - queen

note to musebag. don’t EVER compare muse (or any other band for that matter) to radiohead. totally disrespectful.
plus idiotech by radiohead is odd for radiohead but so radiohead at the same time i can’t include on the list

To give a recent example, Moneymaker - Rilo Kiley.

“A girl like you”. Great song, but nothing near the Edwyn Collins that I knew and loved.

(Looking Out For) Number one - Bachman Turner Overdrive

Oh also Weezer’s “I Just Threw Out The Love Of My Dreams”…. mainly b/c Rachel Haden is singing lead vocals

ween - friends

f**kin’ in the bushes by oasis

The Beatles- “Within You, Without You”

Weezer- “Freak Me Out”

The White Stripes- “Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn”

More in a lyrical sense, Billy Joel’s “Goodnight Saigon” and Dashboard Confessional’s “Slow Decay”

Pixies- “Havalina”

Queens of the Stone Age- “Make It Witchu”

Even though it’s a cover, RATM’s “Beautiful World”, the only Rage song Zach actually sings on

The Strokes- “Ask Me Anything”

tusk - fleetwood mac

I don’t understand why “Here Comes Your Man” is on this list at all? Only the Pixies could have recorded that one originally… I think something like “The Navajo KNow” or “Alex Eiffel” were far more different sounding to Pixies fans.

Portland, Oregon by Loretta Lynn. Sounds like Led Zeppelin! Great underrated song.

whitesnake-slow and easy

Guns N Roses - “November Rain”
Pearl Jam - “Do the Evolution”
Metallica - “Nothing Else Matters”

Have we all forgotten Tammy Wynette’s lead vocal on KLF’s “Justified and Ancient”?

long cool woman by the hollies
carousalumbra by zeppelin

Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
Would I Lie to You? - Eurythmics
Human - Human League
Jeopardy - Greg Kihn
Walk the Dinosaur - Was (Not Was)
Simple Sister - Procol Harum
Money - Pink Floyd
All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople
Rainy Day, Dream Away - Jimi Hendrix

blink 182- I miss you

Tempted - Squeeze
Love is a Drug - Roxy Music
Still, You Turn Me On - ELP

“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”–Green Day.

That Was Then, This Is Now - ABC
Pandora’s Golden Heebie Jeebies - The Association
Sign O the Times - Prince
Squeeze Box - The Who
I Got a Line on You - Spirit

1) “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by the Hollies….they go from “Dear Eloise”, “Bus Stop”, “Carrie-Anne” to suddenly completely change their style in “Long Cool Woman…”

2) “You’re Breaking my Heart” by Harry Nilsson. Before my time as was #1, but I’m sure this was pretty shocking to some after Harry went relatively soft on the Point and was sentimental on Nilsson Schmilsson (I guess Jump into the Fire was foreshadowing a bit too).

3) “I Zimbra” by the Talking Heads…..they suddenly went from nervous energy to weird (Awesome) african funk.

4) Anything by the Beatles post Beatles for Sale was undeniably shocking at their growth and ability to change styles so quickly, I mean one minute they are singing “Eight Days a Week” then 2 years later they’re singing “Love you Too” and “Tomorrow Never Knows”….I’m sure “Revolution 9″ was even stranger.

5) The entire Soft Bulletin album by the Flaming lips….Clouds Taste Metallic was a great album, but it was still overly goofy and very much disposable, and suddenly the band who wrote the most disposable song of the 90s “Vaseline” writes heartfelt, gripping songs and makes one of the best albums of the past 10 years.

What Condition My Condition Is In, by Kenny Rogers. Couldn’t believe it when I got the Big Lebowski soundtrack. This guy sang The Gambler?

On first hearing “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum I thought it was Steve Winwood

bruce springsteen’s “hungry heart”

Why is it news that Green Day covered Working Class Hero? It’s off a JOHN LENNON COVERS ALBUM!!! And, though I love Green Day, and respect them, to you really think Billie Joe could have written those lyrics?
And to Kinda Ready, what the hell? Led Zeppelin is one of the greatest bands of all time. If you think you can do better prove it. on other notes, Four Winds, Waiting on the World to Change, Juicebox? Those are all songs that are what those artists do best. They don’t sound like another band. They sound like Bright Eyes, John Mayer and the Strokes.
thank you all for your time.

long cool woman in a black dress

I always though that America’s “Horse With No Name” was Neil Young.

Huh?

“More Than Words” - Extreme

“!!!!!!” by the roots…seriously…wow…

“i turn my camera on” by spoon…sounded a little like the scissor sisters

“hound dog” by elvis presley…i swear i thought it was a black lady singing it…oh wait…

worst list ever

Billy Joe didn’t write “Working Class Hero” John Lennon did.

Dyer Maker and Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Zep and Queen). And Green Day didn’t write Working Class Hero, they coverd the John Lennon Song

“working class hero” was such a weird song for green day, what was billie going through when he wrote it??

“when the children cry” by white lion. The rest of the album was totally death pop metal and this ballad moved me to tears. Mike Tramp’s vocals mixed with Vito Bratta’s inspired guitar techniques really shook up the radio in ‘87

I Am the Warlock - Jack Black in (Probot) CHECK OUT THAT SHIT, IT’S FUCKING BAD ASS!

Back in the U.S.S.R - The Beatles

How about when “Soldier of Love” came out on the radio by what people were calling a “mystery artist”? How many people were shocked to find out this “mystery artist” was none other than Donny Osmond?

The song “Poop” by the supergroup “Poopy Bu-hoe” from the album Too Pop for Poop.

discoteque-U2

they sounded like the pet shop boys

Take your Mother out- when I first heard this on the radio I was like “Wow Elton John has finally put out a great new song!”..but than the announcer was like “Oh its from the new band scissor sisters’….

Has anyone heard the new Silver chair? I heard it and I thought it was freakin Savage Garden!

You’ve got to hide your love away by The Beatles sounds more like Bob Dylan than The Beatles

“Mr. X-Citement” by They Might Be Giants:

In which guest vocalist Mike Doughty raps over a horn-laden tune about how “Flansy in a soda can” is “Trooky trooky trooky.”

“NYC” by Interpol:

I personally didn’t expect such an atmospheric and ambient tune, considering the rest of their discography.

Everything the Moody Blues did before Days Of Future Passed:

Admit it. You can’t see the Moody Blues as an RnB band either. Especially not now.

“I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” by Wilco:

Regardless of this, I think I like the experimental Wilco of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot moreso than any other incarnation.

all of Dread Zeppelin:
Un-Led-Ed…
or… 5,000,000 Tortelvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong

1. “D’yer Mak’er” Led Zep

2. “So Alive” Love and Rockets

3. “Don’t Go Back to Rockville” REM

4. “Simple Kind of Life” No Doubt

5. “Angel of Harlem” U2

6. “Last Kiss” Pearl Jam

7. “The Tide Is High” Blondie

8. “Underground” Bowie

9. “Bedbugs and Ballyhoo” Echo and the Bunnymen

10. “Lay Lady Lay” Dylan

i had a hard time believing “godzilla” was blue oyster cult. maybe because the only other song i know is “dont fear the reaper”. big contrast.

A lot of people think “Horse with No Name” is Neil Young– but it’s America. I wonder if that bugs good old Neil…

Also, Neil’s own “Cinnamon Girl” doesn’t even sound like him, probably because Danny Whitten’s voice drowns out Neil’s signature whine.

Half of the David Bowie catalog. The man could never stick to one sound.

Crawdad Freight Train Wreck by the Goody Two Shoes freaked me out.

I knew that D’Yer Mak’er was a Led Zeppelin song because it sucked.
Juicebox-The Strokes
Four Winds-Bright Eyes
Waiting on the world to change-John Mayer

Dancing in the Dark - Springsteen
Stop - Against Me!
Revolution 9 - Beatles(damn I hate that song)
Misery - Green Day

fool in the rain by led zeppelin

fool in the rain by led zeppelin

“When Love Comes To Town”- U2
“Lay Lady Lay”- Bob Dylan
“Let My Love Open The Door”- Pete Townshend
“Love Song”- ACDC

When Korn did “Kob”. That was so wrong!

To the guy who said “Pump It Up”…have you even HEARD “This Year’s Model”?!

To me, at least, “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths is pretty different from the rest of their catalogue.

Patti Smith’s “Because the night” (who would’ve thought it’s a springsteen song too!); PIL’s “Rise” - although you know it’s Lydon from the moment he opns his mouth it’s still one of the wierdest songs he did; the track “Heroes” from Neu’s “‘75″ album - to me that’s a punk track before punk started!; Genesis’ “Follow you, Follow me” - what a shitty song! but it still is different from the crap they were doing at the time.

as if people are saying “don’t cry” and “patience” from Guns N Roses….

half their damn catalogue was bunk ballads (not that theres anything wrong with that)

we should recognize “MY World” from Use Your Illusion II as the best “That was who?” song

“Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones. I thought that this was a classic Monkees’ tune. Who knew…?!

one toke over the line…can’t remember who ACTUALLY sings it, but it certainly isn’t the Grateful Dead like I had thought for a while.

That happenes when you download…most people are dumb and mislable songs.

Pump It Up-Elvis Costello

“Lay Lady Lay” by Bob Dylan. This does not sould like any other Dylan song to me. I learned it was his when Biograph came out. I still wasn’t 100% sure even then.

i just found out like 3 days ago that “drive” was by the cars.

“athena” by the who. what the heck was that all about?

I remember when The Monkees did a wonderful synth ditty called ‘Daily Nightly’ which had the “serious” rock audience taking notice.

Queen - crazy little thing called love

I thought it was an Elvis cover

Queen - crazy little thing called love

I thought it was an Elvis cover

“Brown Eyed Girl” I still have a hard time believing that it’s not the stones.

Hard Luck Woman- Kiss. How many of you thought this was Rod Stewart at first? Similarly, It’s A Heartache by Bonnie Tyler sounds a lot like Rod. Interestingly, he covered it on his latest album.

“Say it isn’t so” by bon jovi

The first time i heard “daugter” by pearl jam… i couldnt believe it…. and then everything they did after that made perfect sense.

Oh, also, when Metallica did the Black album. I thought they hated all the overproduction of the other hair metal bands… and then they go with Bob Rock.

“Before They Make Me” - The Rolling Stones

Doesn’t sound anything like ‘em.

time is running out-muse

always thinks its radiohead. but then again that goes for all muse songs.

why is it that everytime i look at these lists, everyone suggests the same bands no matter what the list is. and its the most mundane over recognized musically inept wanker bands too, def leppard? journey? give me a break. maybe it’s the readers, not the writers who are allowing rolling stone to fall into a state of musical irrelevance

“Excuse Me” by Peter Gabriel. Who knew he had a secret love for barbershop music?

I think even stranger than Led Zeppelin’s “D’yer Maker” is their later song “Carouselambra.” That mid-section synth riff is pure Atari cheese.

More for song title than actual style, U2’s “Big Girls are Best” is certainly a goofy outtake.

“Excuse Me” by Peter Gabriel. Who knew he had a secret love for barbershop music?

I think even stranger than Led Zeppelin’s “D’yer Maker” is their later song “Carouselambra.” That mid-section synth riff is pure Atari cheese.

More for song title than actual style, U2’s “Big Girls are Best” is certainly a goofy outtake.

foo fighters - virginia moon

“Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds sounds like it should be a Billy Idol song. He even covered it eventually, I believe.

“Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by the Hollies

“Bringing On the Heartbreak” by Def Leppard. I thought AC/DC wrote a ballad!

metallica-mama said

Jump by Van Halen, when I first heard that one, I wondered what the heck was going on.

I notice Mojopin already mentioned it, so I just second it.

How about Discotheque by U2? I didn’t see that one coming. Although I was there the first time they played it on the Vertigo tour, and it was great! But out of character when it was released.

Anyones Daughter - An attempt at a comedy country song by old rockers Deep Purple.

The Cross - Power chords and straight ahead rock drums from Prince.

Poor Boy - A jaunty happy full band song from Nick Drake, complete with backing singers and guitar solo.

Patience by GnR

i’m with Dan…stuck in the middle with you…its a puzzler it is…i was abolutely shocked to hear it wasnt bob dylan…i actually didnt believe the person who told me for quite some time…

2000 light years- the rolling stones
I’m not your stepping stone- the monkeys
the flame- cheap trick

“Drive” by the Cars.

don’t forget to dance - the kinks

they have many ballads but they sound pretty much different in this one. You can recongnize them that easy.

Silverchair’s “Straight Lines”
AC/DC’s “Love Song”
Metallica’s “Hero of the Day”
Most of Linkin Park’s new album

Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart”; Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay.” Whhhaaaa?

Clash “Train in Vain”

Yes-I’ve Seen All Good People

I thought it was CSNY for a long time

The fact that “Stuck in the Middle With You” wasn’t Bob Dylan. I remember hearing that when I was a kid and being absolutely floored.

nigger hatin’ me - johnny horton

While, technically not a “JOHNNY CASH SONG”, “The Wanderer” off of U2’s “ZOOROPA” shocked the hell out of me when I first heard it. That legendary baritone with bouncy burbling synths in the background……good stuff

Foreigner “waiting for a girl like you”
Journey “open arms”
Def Leppard ” two steps behind”

enough said!

ever heard a song called “Everyone’s Born To Die” by ELO? It sounds like Dylan meets Mott The Hoople!

Helter Skelter-The Beatles
I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing-Aerosmith (I mean, come on, from the guys that did Walk this Way and Love in an Elevator….)
Jump-Van Halen
Don’t Cry-Guns n’ Roses
Dreamer-Ozzy Osbourne

Numb - U2

“Long Cool Woman” by the Hollies.

Only God Knows Why - Kid Rock.

It was the beginning of the end for rap-metal, once they had to start writing power ballads to get radio airplay.

Come on, everyone who heard that song at that point was thinking “When did they start playing Bob Seger on the Radio again?”

Half of Chris Cornell’s latest album “carry on”. What the hell were you thinking, Chris?

“Jump” By Van Halen. Prior to 1984, they were straight up hard rock.

emmanence front, the who

D’yer Mak’er is Zep’s lame attempt of merging reggae with “Unchained Melody.”

By far their most craptastic song.

:pushesforwardontheca rstero:

WORST ROCK LIST EVER

“Sock Fumes” by Phil Colins. Who knew?

I don’t think so. Not everyone pays attention to the details. Most the time, the chord progression, lyrics and maybe instruments played will be what people use to discern what band is playing. Vocal style sure, probably not the sound of the guitars themselves and definitely not placement of the beat.

D’yer Mak’er could not be mistaken for anyone but zep. The obvious vocals, the texture/timbre of the guitars, the dragging beats… it all screams zepellin. I bet that 9/10 anyone who has listened to a fair share of other zep songs would know who is playing in D’yer Mak’er.

“Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House.

Always thought Paul Young wrote it, but noooo - he just copped the cheesy cover.