Did you know that Keith Richards, guitarist for the Rolling Stones, spent a fat chunk of the 70s living in Jamaica? In fact, nearly the entire recording process of “Goats Head Soup” took place there. He got himself intertwined with the blossoming reggae scene, meeting iconic groups such as Toots & the Maytals, the Wailers, and Black Uhuru. These relationships helped to solidify the blossoming love between the two genres, resulting in some incredible reggae covers of rock ‘n’ roll staples. So, for your listening pleasure, I have assembled what I believe to be the absolute essentials of those covers.
Sublime - “Scarlet Begonias” (Originally by the Grateful Dead)
This one is classic, one of the most beloved tracks of both the Grateful Dead and Sublime. It captures that carefree San Francisco spirit while still incorporating the iconic Long Beach style Sublime made famous. It’s one of those covers that goes beyond the legacy of the original, breathing new life into the song.
Toots Hibbert - “Hard to Handle” (Originally by Otis Redding)
Most of us are probably familiar with the Black Crowes version of “Hard to Handle,” but Toots' version puts a whole new spin on this rock staple. What is usually known as a fast-paced jam is here a mellow bop that feels far more playful than the original or the Crowes version.
Prince Buster - “All My Loving” (Originally by the Beatles)
I’m just going to start this off by saying I’m not much of a Beatles fan. I much prefer Paul McCartney’s Wings to anything the entire Fab Four ever produced. So, it’s probably not much of a surprise that I hold this cover so far above the original. It feels raw and emotional and believable, things I think the Beatles version sorely lacks.
Nicky Thomas - “Lonely Feeling” (Originally “No Sugar Tonight” by The Guess Who)
By this point, you may have found it hard to ignore the fact that reggae covers aren’t quite like your usual cover, and if you haven’t, this one will certainly change that. Reggae covers change significantly more about a song than is common in most other genres. You may get a whole new verse, a rearranged chord progression, or a different title. Why is that? I don’t know. But if you have ever found “No Sugar Tonight” to be a little long and tedious, you will find a much more compact, groovy version here.
Countdown Studio Band - “Start Me Up” (Originally by the Rolling Stones)
Fun fact about “Start Me Up”: it was originally written to be a reggae song. You can still find demos of the Stones playing the reggae version, and if you take the time to look that up, you will quickly find out why it didn’t stay a reggae track. Because it sucked. The Stones weren’t up to the task, but Countdown Studio Band sure was. This tune is most definitely what was in mind when “Start Me Up” was being written, pulled off flawlessly by a group of dudes who knew what they were doing.
Moonraisers - “Hotel California” (Originally by the Eagles)
Here we have what is actually a fairly faithful adaptation of the original track. Moonraisers' version of “Hotel California” plays out just the same as the Eagles'. It hasn’t been shortened, nothing has been dropped, and no extra lyrics have been added. It’s just a great cover with a reggae twist to it, and if you ask me, a much better solo at the end.
Toots & the Maytals - “Country Roads” (Originally by John Denver)
There are a thousand different versions of “Country Roads” by a million different bands. I would say this is one of the better ones by far, but with how popular the poem has become in the last decade, I may be in the minority for thinking that. Quick sidenote: this was actually my class's “senior song.” This was decided last minute at graduation, where it was also determined that the senior choir would perform it at the ceremony. Of course, the senior choir was composed of two kids, so to fill out their ranks, they rushed around the room where the rest of us were getting ready, trying to draft volunteers for the show. They ended up with seven kids who performed one of the most disjointed, out of tune renditions of the song I have ever heard.
Peter Tosh - “Johnny B. Goode” (Originally by Chuck Berry)
“Johnny B. Goode” is another one of those songs that has been covered and covered and covered. Peter Tosh did it, the Grateful Dead did it, and Michael J. Fox did it. If you’re here reading this article, I would bet that you have your own favorite cover of this song, but this is my piece, so forget about that and give my favorite a listen.
Slightly Stoopid - “I’m On Fire” (Originally by Bruce Springsteen)
Unlike the Beatles, I do like Bruce Springsteen's music. Homeboy had some knockouts, but this was not one of them. The original version of “I’m On Fire” has never quite clicked with me. It reeks of the 80s, and it sounds like Springsteen is out of breath trying to sing it. Slightly Stoopid’s cover is all around the superior version, and I will die on that hill.
Long Beach Dub All Stars & Pepper - “Pepper” (Originally by the Butthole Surfers)
This little gem is one of many hits off of Pepper’s reggae cover album “Operation Irie.” For those of you that missed it, this record was a collection of covers of punk and alternative songs done by today’s biggest names in reggae. It’s full of other great tunes, including covers of Green Day, The Offspring, and NOFX. This is my favorite off the album, but there are plenty more awesome songs on there that you should absolutely check out.
