I’ve been on a ‘cover songs’ kick lately. I’ve heard some great and some weird stuff.

Now virtually every cover of Sugar, Sugar by The Archies is better than the original (there’s a version by The Germs that is god-awful, but that is to be expected from them). I realize that isn’t difficult. Still, how did it end up being a reggae and soul standard? With big names. And most of them are pretty damn good too. They took this bubblegum pop song and turned it into good music.

Reggae:

Bob Marley and the Wailers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jOmB6kr4rM

The Silvertones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpYARcahrio

Big Youth and Junior Byles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur63nrIib1M

Ken Lazarus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXrWktzTACQ

(This Ken Lazarus one isn’t all that great, still better than the original.)

Soul:

Ike & Tina Turner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNdVyeiJJuA

Wilson Pickett - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrZluYnMJUY

Gladys Night and the Pips - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8OGG1FGpF4

Tom Jones - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCh_zQfhyfw

And while I’m listing covers of that song, here’s a few more for you…

Psychedelic rock version:

Jonathan King - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAWkntVyoDI

(I think psychedelics were heavily involved in the recording too.)

Neil Sedaka gave it the Sedaka touch with an almost big band feel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv8RQDHoawA

Chet Baker did a jazz version- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtYr69OfPvg

No idea what to think of this one. A Santana-esque group called El Chicano - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_uenTn7cps

And finally, and I can’t tell you why, a young Kurt Russell recorded a very vanilla version which is only worth listening to for the sake of curiosity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze8X8ha8Myw