The Beatles, “Chains” from Please Please Me (1963): Deep Beatles
This King and Goffin track typifies the Beatles’ early era, a time when the band was forming their own identity.
This King and Goffin track typifies the Beatles’ early era, a time when the band was forming their own identity.
“Devil in Her Heart” exemplifies the early Beatles, representing their eclectic song selection, willingness to take risks and ability to transform a cover.
Chicago swung for the fences repeatedly on this first album, and that included taking on a popular rock song – perhaps the height of hubris for a new band.
For the next few columns, Deep Beatles spotlights some of their best covers – beginning with Ringo Starr’s rousing rendition of the Shirelles’ “Boys.”

Glenn Danzig has a pretty good history with covers, and ‘Skeletons’ makes a direct reference to that with another Elvis Presley song.

George Harrison paid tribute to Smokey Robinson both with the Beatles and as a solo artist, including a key cut on ‘Thirty Three and 1/3’ from November 1976.
The Electric Light Orchestra never rocked harder than they did on “Do Ya,” released this week in 1976 as part of ‘A New World Record.’

Randy Brecker knows his way around both pop and modern jazz. He puts both together so convincingly on this update of a Donald Fagen classic.
Jimmie Vaughan’s ‘Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites,’ released five years ago this summer, shined a needed spotlight on some largely unheard covers.

‘Hits the Hits,’ a 13-song collection of covers, allows Bob Wayne to put his unique spin on classic rock – and some much stranger pop choices.