Original Artists of These Great Cover Songs Quiz

Answer: Steve Miller Band

It was the title track on the 1982 album 'Abracadabra' by the Steve Miller Band. Written by Steve Miller, it was the first single released by the band off this album, and was inspired by the singer Diana Ross whom the band met whilst filming TV shows in the 1960's.

Answer: Bob Dylan

This track originally appeared on Dylan's album 'John Wesley Harding' in 1967, although it has appeared on most of Dylan's subsequent compilation albums.
It has been covered by many artists from various genres, the version best remembered is that of Jimi Hendrix.

Answer: The Doors

The song was written by Willie Dixon. who also played the double bass on the original track recorded by Howlin' Wolf.
In the southern states of the USA, it refers to a man who is having an affair with a married woman and using the back door as an exit before the husband comes home.

Answer: Leonard Cohen

In 2008 the song reached number one on 'Billboard's Hot Digital Songs' and shot straight past gold and platinum status, due to the resurrection of interest shown towards it, eleven years after Buckley was tragically drowned in an accident with a riverboat whilst swimming in the Wolfe River Harbour on May 29, 1997.
It has also been featured in many film and TV dramas, for example, 'The West Wing', 'Scrubs', 'Without a Trace', 'ER' and 'Criminal Minds', to name but a few, and yet it was barely noticed when Cohen recorded it as a track on his album 'Various Positions' in 1984.

Answer: The Beatles

The song was written by McCartney, with assistance fron Lennon, in 1967 and recorded on the Beatles album 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' in their usual inimitable style.
Although there have been more than 50 cover versions done, Cocker's version, in his unique blues/rock style, is the one remembered by most people. It was also performed by him at the Woodstock Festival in 1969.

Answer: Fleetwood Mac

Peter Green, of Fleetwood Mac, wrote the song and the band brought it out as a single in 1968, and it peaked at number 37 in the UK Singles Chart, whereas the Santana version appeared more popular, reaching number four on the Billboard Top 200.
Interestingly, Carlos Santana was told, prior to the band's appearance at Woodstock, that they would never make it on the San Francisco music scene with their Latin fusion style!

Answer: Billy Joe Royal

Joe South was the writer and composer of the song, which he wrote for Billy Joe Royal.
Billie Joe's version peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard 100 in 1967.
The Deep Purple version established them as a serious Rock band, and has been featured in several big films, notably 'Apollo 13' (1996), 'When Strangers Appear' (2001) and, most recently, 'Strange Wilderness' (2008).
It has also featured in video games soundtracks ('Guitar Hero II' and 'Battlefield: Vietnam'), as well as in the TV series 'Prison Break'.

Answer: Bob Marley

The theme is a protestation about a man who is accused of shooting both the sheriff and deputy and, who admits to killing the sheriff in self defence, totally denies shooting the deputy, stating that this is a false accusation.

When Bob Marley first wrote the song he wanted to write 'I Shot the Police', but felt the government would have made a fuss so he changed it to sheriff.
Marley points out that it is all the same really as the song is about justice.

Answer: Cy Grant

'Feeling Good' is one of the most covered songs around, but it was originally written as part of the score for the musical 'The Roar of the Greasepaint- The Smell of the Crowd'.
It was originally written by the partnership of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse.

Answer: Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Peppers version was ranked as the second greatest cover song ever in 'Total Guitar 2000'.
Their rendition has been used in several films, including 'Passenger 57' (1992), 'Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie' (1995), 'Centre Stage' (2000), 'Walking Tall' (2004), 'The Longest Yard' (2005) and 'The Karate Kid' (2010).