Why aren't there more knockout Neil Young cover songs?

Not sure how well known he is around here but my favourite musician, Dallas Green, aka City and Colour has a sweet version of Cowgirl in the Sand.

 

Cool video, strong cover, different.

 

emmy lou harris did a great version of wrecking ball

 

my favorite is

 

McKendree Spring - Down By The River

 

THE GENTRYS - Cinnamon girl

 

Cinnamon Girl- John Entwistle

 

Yep. First one I thought of. Just outstanding.

 

Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - Cinnamon Girl

 

Yo La Tengo have done quite a few Neil Covers, most famously their early B side of "For the Turnstiles."
Also, the soon-to-be released covers album by Ty Segall, Fudge Sandwich (I know, I know), has a cover of "The Loner."

 

That's part of a Strombo show dedicated to Neil Young covers IIRC.
Here's another one from it:


you should be able to access the entire thing here: Best of The Strombo Show: Elvis Costello & Neil Young 70 Special (starts about 1:55 in).

 

Heard this go down live over the airwaves and it floored me. He takes some liberties with the lyrics but I don’t mind.

 

Type O Negative - Cinnamon Girl

 

Canadians sure love Uncle Neil!

Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute to Neil Young - Wikipedia
Borrowed Tunes II: A Tribute to Neil Young - Wikipedia

I have the first one but didn't know about the second one. Ron Sexsmith even covers Philadelphia on it!

 

Hearing some of these prosaic renditions of NY songs has given me a new appreciation for his singing/playing and his arrangements (and the Horse).

 

Gord Downie has been known to do a decent version of Barstool Blues from time to time.

 

If your looking for a rocking Neil there's always Pearl Jam...



(oops. already mentioned but still a good version...)

 

Patti Smith does a beautiful cover of "It's A Dream."


Only live recordings.

 

or how about Roy Buchanan's version of Down By The River?

 

The best cover I've ever heard was a street musician in a New York subway station, about 15 years ago, singing Heart of Gold as though his life depended on it.

Bowie's cover of I've Been Waiting for You on Heathen is great.

 

And the album-closer, ‘See the Sky About to Rain’:
[See The Sky] About To Rain

 

One more rocker from that All Woman Cinnamon Girl comp mentioned a page or 2 back

 

First one I thought of when I saw the thread title.

 

Truth and Salvage Co did a nice cover of Sugar Mountain on Daytrotter

Truth and Salvage Co. (featuring Lissie) Daytrotter Session Mar 15, 2012