The Beatles catalog is basically pop and rock music's equivalent to standards--they're songs that everybody knows, that most people like (even if they're played so damn much you get annoyed by them), and that people want to perform a lot to prove their worth as musicians and singers. And these are the ten best Beatles covers of them all.
10. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band--Bill Cosby: This song just sounds like jello pudding. It's a joke, but unlike when William Shatner would ham up Beatles songs, the Cos jokes are, well, funny. This cover is insane--the fact that anyone thought it was a good idea is hilarious; the fact that he actually did it is too ballsy to ignore. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUlv5FCqpeo
9. Day Tripper--Whitesnake: Whitesnake is an interesting band in that nobody really will admit they like them. But I'm man enough to admit the band has some charms in their more blatant attempts to rip off Led Zeppelin. While this clearly isn't ripping off Zeppelin (a Zeppelin cover would probably be more in line with that), it's amusing. It's not as good as the original. Nobody cares. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub8rPHBXd20
8. Magical Mystery Tour--Cheap Trick: Cheap Trick is somewhere between Cosby and Whitesnake in the musical lexicon--they also happen to be a whole hell of a lot better than either. They aren't a comedy act, but they don't have a scowling seriousness of Whitesnake. Bands don't cover Magical Mystery Tour because they have visions of grandeur--they do it because they think it'll be fun and amusing to do both for themselves and fans. Works for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErGhMwR09r4
7. With a Little Help From My Friends--Joe Cocker: Okay, it's overbearing, pretentious, and Joe Cocker does too many goddamned Beatles covers. What's your point? It takes a Beatles song (scratch that: a RINGO Beatles song) and turns it into an emotional powerhouse. A bit schmaltzy perhaps, but genuinely emotional enough to be worthy of a spot on this list. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCrlyX6XbTU
6. Got to Get You Into My Life--Earth Wind and Fire: The best Beatles album is Revolver, hence the best Beatles covers are songs from Revolver. Here, one of the definitive pop-funk bands, without crazy levels of doctoring, puts a fresh and interesting spin on a Beatles classic. It also seems less about drugs, which is impressive given that, once again, this is a song off Revolver. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL7jUYjAaC4
5. Tomorrow Never Knows--Phil Collins: To me, nothing competes with the original, which might be my favorite song ever, much less my favorite Beatles song. But unlike the extremely dense, musically loaded original; Phil Collins goes the completely opposite direction--a relatively sparse, atmospheric cut from his most sparse, atmospheric album: Face Value. This was before he became a semi-bland balladeer; this sounds like the solo album of a guy who was in Genesis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycS3mrt9niQ
4. She Said She Said--Black Keys: It doesn't sound one iota like the original. It sounds like a Black Keys original. Sure, the Black Keys aren't the Beatles, but they're still damn good. Hence this cover absolutely works for me, not exclusively as a tribute to the original but as a stand-alone gem. Like most Black Keys songs, this sounds like the best band you've ever heard in a dive bar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYzYO-SdGY4
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps--Various: Many great rock and rollers contributed to this impressive live version of George Harrison's classic as the Quiet Beatle was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tom Petty. Jeff Lynne. But really, this is Prince's song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifp_SVrlurY
2. Within You Without You--Oasis: Nobody does Beatles covers like Oasis, and they did something really smart with their cover of Within You Without You--they made it sound like Tomorrow Never Knows. It's a blend of the two songs, really, but it's mostly the latter. It's really unique. And it's really interesting. It also gives credence to my argument that Oasis isn't THAT much like the Beatles--in general, they're much heavier and louder. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoNNZlRYX2M
1. We Can Work It Out--Stevie Wonder: Really, this is an easy call. It's a top ten Beatles song for me, and the cover blows the original away. For as good of a vocalist as Paul McCartney is, Stevie Wonder is unparalleled. This is one of those songs that the first time I heard it as a freshman in college, I thought, "What the hell kind of friends do I have that I'm just hearing this now?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB24z00ajU4
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