Reggae Tracks that are rock covers.

[TheGreek]

There are many, many Reggae tracks which are covers of Rock tracks but the only one I can think that was a Reggae track first and covered by a rock artist is "I shot the Sherriff" by Bob Marley/ Eric Clapton.

There must be others....

[Reggaebass]

Police and thieves by junior Murvin was covered by the clash 

[Waddo Soqable]

Did Grace Jones do Private Life before the Pretenders version ?

[Reggaebass]

1 hour ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Did Grace Jones do Private Life before the Pretenders version ?

I think grace Jones covered it , and didn’t Robbie Shakespeare play the Bassline 

[Waddo Soqable]

31 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

I think grace Jones covered it , and didn’t Robbie Shakespeare play the Bassline 

Sly and Robbie were on it with her I'm sure... I always thought of Grace's version as the original but probably I'm wrong there !

[Reggaebass]

4 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said:

Sly and Robbie were on it with her I'm sure... I always thought of Grace's version as the original but probably I'm wrong there !

Not sure you are wrong there, apparently chrissie wrote it , here’s what songfacts says 

• This was written by Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, as "like all the other London punks, I wanted to do reggae." It was included on The Pretenders 1980 self-titled debut album but when the singer heard Jones' version she conceded, "That's how it's supposed to be done."
• Jamaican musical legends Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare supplied the backing to this track.

[Waddo Soqable]

2 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Not sure you are wrong there, apparently chrissie wrote it , here’s what songfacts says 

• This was written by Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, as "like all the other London punks, I wanted to do reggae." It was included on The Pretenders 1980 self-titled debut album but when the singer heard Jones' version she conceded, "That's how it's supposed to be done."
• Jamaican musical legends Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare supplied the backing to this track.

Didn't realise C Hynde actually wrote it !.... Oh well we can't have that one as "was a Reggae first" then, pity ! Still, Grace's version beats it by miles !

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[SteveXFR]

4 minutes ago, Jus Lukin said:

Am I remembering right that there is a full album Reggae cover of Dark side of the Moon?

Dub Side of the Moon?

Yes, by Easy Star All Stars. Really good album. I heard an interview where Nick Mason was asked his opinion of it an he was really positive about it. 

They also have albums called Radio dread and Sargent Peppers Lonely Heart Dub Band

There's also Doom Side Of The Moon by Sword

Edited May 30, 2021 by SteveXFR

[TheGreek]

Yeah...Easy Star All-Stars have done a few albums including Thrilla, Dubber Side, Sgt Peppers....all on my phone..

I'm thinking that there aren't many that went the other way.

Edited May 30, 2021 by TheGreek

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited March 14, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[SteveXFR]

I can think of loads of reggae inspired punk, metal and rock but not really covers.

I'm a big Rancid fan and they owe a lot to reggae. 

 

[Raslee]

There are a lot of great reggae versions of pop/rock tunes out there.

We do quite a few with my band, admittedly not practiced since 2020 though, lots of Amy Winehouse etc

 

[GBH]

Kate Bush's version of rocket man.

[Reggaebass]

There’s lots the other way round, but I’m struggling with rock bands covering reggae 

[casapete]

Ooops, too much wine this aft, sorry.

 

Edited May 30, 2021 by casapete

[Dankology]

John Martyn doung Johnny Too Bad? But, if anything, his cover is skankier than the original...

[Waddo Soqable]

1 hour ago, Reggaebass said:

There’s lots the other way round, but I’m struggling with rock bands covering reggae 

Me too !  I was wondering if any early stuff , Ska or Rocksteady might have been plundered but not really come across anything

[TheGreek]

Wasn't there a cover of "No woman no cry" in the 80s? Googled but couldn't find anything.

Thankfully nobody's referred to the bastardisation of "Night Nurse" by Simple Red

[SteveXFR]

1 minute ago, TheGreek said:

Wasn't there a cover of "No woman no cry" in the 80s? Googled but couldn't find anything.

Thankfully nobody's referred to the bastardisation of "Night Nurse" by Simple Red

Surely Simply Red can't be made worse?

[ezbass]

Robert Palmer covered Toots & The Maytals' Pressure Drop

[TheGreek]

4 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

Wasn't there a cover of "No woman no cry" in the 80s? Googled but couldn't find anything.

Fugees!!

[Reggaebass]

Apparently, manfred manns earth band covered Bob Marley’s Redemption song 

[Lozz196]

Johnny Was by Bob Marley

Doesn’t Make it Alright by The Specials

Both covered by Stiff Little Fingers

[Reggaebass]

Santana covered Exodus