Five Neil Young covers that are better than the original
Neil Young played Glastonbury recently and delivered an intimate set, one with low lighting, simple set design, and a range of hits spanning his discography. Given the massive plethora of options available, it must have been incredibly difficult for Young to choose the songs he wanted to play; however, despite the choice, he still managed to put together a great set.
With so many songs, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a lot of different artists have covered Young’s music. Songs new and old have had the covers treatment, some of which are good, some are bad; however, the sheer number is a testament to the appeal that Young’s music has across the music industry.
The art of the cover isn’t lost on Young either. Even though a lot of people play his songs, that doesn’t mean that he is so self-obsessed that he won’t also play somebody else’s. Throughout his career, he has covered a number of songs, some by well-known artists, and others which fly slightly further under the radar.
Some of Young’s covers are truly extraordinary, as he puts his own spin on classics so effectively that he winds up sounding better than the original. This applies to a range of songs that he’s played, all of which will be listed below. Here are five Neil Young covers which are better than the original.
The best covers Neil Young has ever played
‘All Along the Watchtower’
Let’s get one thing clear: when we say the original, we are referring to Bob Dylan’s original, not the Jimi Hendrix reimagination of the song. That Hendrix version is so good that even Bob Dylan changed the way he played it because he preferred Hendrix’s version. It doesn’t matter how good Neil Young is; there is no topping that.
It has to be said, though, that while he might not trump Hendrix, Young’s version of the track is pretty good. He does it in a similar style to Hendrix, but uses a much more droning guitar effect, which almost sounds grunge-like in its execution. Young’s voice also matches the tone of the lyrics wonderfully. Great guitar, great vocals, an infectious energy… what’s not to love?
‘Imagine’
We’ll start by talking about how this song sounds, given that it’s a pretty important part. Young’s version of ‘Imagine’ stays true to the original, but his delivery is more convincing than John Lennon’s, and the string accompaniment in the background takes the song to new heights.
Now, let’s look at context. The reason why Young sounds so much more emotional than Lennon on his cover is likely because of the time he sang it. Young sang the track during the broadcast of America: A Tribute To Heroes. This was a telethon held after September 11th to raise money for emergency services and victims’ families. The setting, paired with Young’s excellent delivery, truly makes for a magical moment.
‘I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times’
The Beach Boys have one of the most unique sounds in music. Their excellent vocal harmonies are truly something to strive for, and it’s not a sound that many people can copy. Neil Young doesn’t even try on his cover of ‘I Wasn’t Made For These Times’; instead, he makes the song his own, and it’s truly exceptional.
The song was recorded for the 2018 film Echo in the Canyon, and it saw Young duet with Jakob Dylan. Young takes a back seat on the song, but his accompanying high-pitched vocals on the chorus and excellent musicianship really make for an excellent listen. It’s a great example of how Young knows that sometimes less is more, and he shows that wonderfully on this cover.
‘My Hometown’
Well, define “better”. Bruce Springsteen’s original version of ‘My Hometown’ is truly something special, and the way that the entire band play on it gives the track great depth. It’s hard to say whether or not Young’s rendition is better or not, as they’re so different, but there is something uniquely charming and moving about Young’s version.
Young doesn’t have a band backing him with his version; instead, he plays the guitar and sings the song. It’s incredibly grainy and is by far not a final recording; however, this raw delivery of the track seems to add to the sentiment. There are no bells and whistles here, just a musician pining for home. It feels like a true love letter and is certainly a cover worthy of a place on this list.
‘On The Road Again’
As a man who has spent his life touring and making music, this seems like an incredibly fitting cover for Neil Young. While Willie Nelson’s version is a masterpiece, there is something enchanting about Young’s version that is difficult to ignore.
On the second note of the verse, he seems to opt for a minor chord instead of a major, which is an interesting choice, but it makes the track sound slightly more ominous, as if there is excitement for the journey but also trepidation, A warning to headphone users, the mouth organ in this version is quite squeaky and can be piercing. But other than that, it’s fantastic.
