A truly great song isn’t just confined to its original recording—it transcends, taking on new life in the hands of other artists.
Few bands have inspired as many cover versions as The Beatles, the undisputed masters of reinvention and timeless songwriting. Among their groundbreaking albums, 1966’s Revolver stands tall as a creative high point—a record that pushed the boundaries of rock music and redefined what a studio album could be. With its adventurous spirit and experimental flair, Revolver introduced a kaleidoscope of new sounds, from string quartets and brass sections to tape loops and backward guitar solos, all woven into some of the most beloved songs in pop history.
The sheer brilliance of Revolver has made it a goldmine for artists seeking to reinterpret The Beatles’ work. Over the years, its tracks have been reshaped, reimagined, and reinvented in ways that pay homage while breathing fresh life into these classics.
In assembling this list of my favorite Revolver covers, I’ve sought out versions that go beyond imitation, capturing the spirit of experimentation that defined the original album. These are performances that take The Beatles’ iconic tracks into uncharted territory, offering new perspectives on songs we thought we knew inside and out. (I’ve also included covers of the songs recorded for a single during the Revolver sessions, “Paperback Writer” and “Rain.”)
“Taxman” performed by Junior Parker
From 1971’s Love Ain’t Nothin’ But A Business Goin’ On
Memphis blues legend Junior Parker delivered a soulful and bluesy interpretation of George Harrison’s “Taxman.” This track appeared on Parker’s final album before his untimely passing from a brain tumor at the age of 39. With its rich vocal delivery (reminiscent of Wilson Pickett) and groove, Parker’s rendition gives a fresh perspective on Harrison’s biting critique of taxation.
“Eleanor Rigby” performed by Ray Charles
From 1968’s A Portrait of Ray
In a 1991 interview on Later with Bob Costas, McCartney picked two favorite covers of his songs – both had been originally written for Revolver. Ray Charles’ gospel-like cover of “Eleanor Rigby” was Paul’s first selection. Charles adds a layer of gravitas to the story of Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie with the Raylettes singing the backing vocals, “All the lonely people, where do they all belong.”
Honorable mention: Aretha Franklin’s up-tempo version from Live at Fillmore West.
“I’m Only Sleeping” performed by Rosanne Cash
From 1995’s Retrospective
John Lennon’s ode to the joys of daydreaming finds new life in Rosanne Cash’s country-flavored cover. Featuring rich harmonies from female background singers in place of Paul and George’s, Cash’s version captures the dreamy essence of the original while infusing it with her own Americana style.
“Love You To” performed by The Sour Notes
From 2018’s This Is Not Our Music
George Harrison’s raga-infused “Love You To” got a bold reimagining by Austin-based indie rock band The Sour Notes on their 2018 covers album, This Is Not Our Music. Replacing the sitars and tablas with arpeggiating electric guitars and galloping drums, this version retains the droning feel of Harrison’s original while giving it a modern rock edge.
“Here, There and Everywhere” performed by George Benson
From 1989’s Tenderly
George Benson’s jazz-inflected interpretation of McCartney’s ballad begins with a tender rubato intro, featuring Benson’s warm vocals accompanied by guitar, piano, and strings. As the track progresses, Benson’s electric guitar takes center stage in a beautifully crafted instrumental passage before reprising the song’s second half.
“Yellow Submarine” performed by the Charmaine Neville Band
From 2011’s Before the Storm
Charmaine Neville and her band turn “Yellow Submarine” into a sprawling jazz adventure on this live recording from 2005, captured at the Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro shortly before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Like the titular submarine from Lennon/McCartney’s children’s song, Neville and her band take the audience on a joyful, meandering journey, loosely inspired by the original track.
“She Said, She Said” performed by The Feelies
From 1986’s The Good Earth
New Jersey’s The Feelies bring a punk-pop energy to John Lennon’s psychedelic musings on death. Featured on their second album, The Good Earth (produced by R.E.M.’s Peter Buck), this cover combines jangly guitars and driving rhythms, creating a version Lennon himself would have certainly loved.
“Good Day Sunshine” performed by Roy Redmond
From 1967 single “Good Day Sunshine” b/w “That Old Time Feeling”
Very little is known about Roy Redmond besides the fact that he recorded four songs and two singles in 1967 for Loma Records, a Warner Bros subsidiary. One of those singles was this soulful rendition of “Good Day Sunshine,” the second song McCartney singled out in his Bob Costas interview.
“And Your Bird Can Sing” performed by Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet
From 2006’s Under the Covers, Vol. 1
The Bangles’ Susanna Hoffs and power-pop favorite Matthew Sweet reduced three well-received albums of cover songs dedicated to the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s respectively. For the first album, they created this playful cover of the Lennon original (which appeared on Yesterday and Today in the U.S.), featuring the duetting vocals of Hoffs and Sweet, as well as Sweet’s layered guitars.
“For No One” by Rickie Lee Jones
From 2000’s It’s Like This
Rickie Lee Jones delivers a plaintive version of McCartney’s melancholy breakup ballad, “For No One,” on her album of covers, It’s Like This. Dispensing with the French horn from the original song, she is accompanied by Joe Jackson on piano and Bruce Brody (formerly of the Patti Smith Group) on organ.
“Doctor Robert” by Dr. Sin
From 2005’s Listen to the Doctors
When the Brazilian hard rock band Dr. Sin made an album featuring songs about doctors, there was one doctor that they had to call – Doctor Robert. And this doctor rocks! A rollicking cover of this Lennon song about the doctor all too happy to make you “a better man.”
“I Want To Tell You” by The Smithereens
From 2003’s Songs from the Material World: A Tribute to George Harrison
Harrison’s third Revolver song gets the power-pop treatment from New Jersey’s Smithereens. They straighten out the syncopation in the main riff while keeping the rest of the song relatively intact.
“Got to Get You Into My Life” by Earth, Wind & Fire
From 1978’s soundtrack to the film Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band movie is best forgotten, but it did give us this magnificent cover of “Got to Get You Into My Life” from Earth, Wind & Fire. It’s the most well-known cover in this list, and it won EW&F founder Maurice White a Grammy in 1979 for Best Arrangement, Instrumental, and Vocals. It takes its inspiration from the original song’s brass section, but then transforms the song into a funk and soul classic.
“Tomorrow Never Knows” by Phil Collins
From 1981’s Face Value
Phil Collins’s debut solo album begins with “In the Air Tonight”’s gated drum sound, which would inspire a multitude of recordings in the 1980s. It ends with this reinterpretation of “Tomorrow Never Knows” which melds his signature sound with Ringo Starr’s original, iconic drum part. As an added touch, Collins adds a verse of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as the track fades, transforming Lennon’s musings on meditation into a song of inspiration.
“Paperback Writer” by Livingston Taylor
From 2014’s Blue Sky
Taylor once told me that “Rain,” the B-side of the Beatles’ 1966 single, was one of the most godawful songs he had ever heard. Thankfully, he didn’t feel the same way about the flip side, “Paperback Writer.” Here, he delivers an upbeat version of the Beatles’ 14th number-one single, showcasing a vocal style reminiscent of his older brother James’s cover of the Beatles’ 12th No. 1, “Day Tripper” from his 1979 album Flag.
“Rain” by Lucinda Williams
From 2024’s Lucinda Williams Sings The Beatles From Abbey Road
It’s only fitting that we end this list with the most recent cover and one that was recorded at the same place the Beatles recorded their originals, Lucinda Williams’s 2024 cover of “Rain.” Williams stays faithful to the psychedelic essence of the original song with backing vocals provided by British singer/songwriter Siobhan M. Kennedy and Williams’s long-time guitarist, Doug Pettibone.
Did we miss any great Revolver covers? Please let us know in the comments.
-Scott Freiman
Fair use image of Revolver
Really enjoyed your article Scott and since you asked allow me to shamelessly challenge you to go to YouTube and do a search for Yellow Submarine Richard Short and Rain Richard Short for a truly different version. Less than 10 minutes out of your day and you might enjoy. Open mind required. Any comments are cheerfully accepted. 😊
Great stuff. Thanks for sharing!
A very deserving list of covers, Scott! I would humbly add my own personal favorite Beatles cover of all-time, this live version of “Tomorrow Never Knows” by 801, a prog-rock cast of all-stars. The Bill MacCormick bass alone is stunning:
https://youtu.be/E-6s9JlNSkU?si=ezxwVnaUYEO8gewA
Phil Manzanera – Guitar
Bill MacCormick – Bass
Brian Eno – Synthesizer, Tape, vocals
Francis Monkman – Fender rhodes, Clavinet
Simon Phillips – Drums
Lloyd Watson – Slide guitar
Great article. I have never been much of a Phil Collins fan, but I have always been blown away by his “Tomorrow Never Knows.” Glad you chose to include that.
“And Your Bird Can Sing” as covered by The Kennedys deserves a very special listen!
Another great cover of a great song!
Yellow Submarine by Milton Berle.
Eleanor Rigby by Doodles Weaver.
Nice one!
Thanks for this! Collins does a good job of TNK; my own favorite is the video of Juliet Prowse doing the song with a choreography that fits it perfectly (https://youtu.be/SkpED59PkbY?si=jaSnIYlQ1gI366vf)
Scott- Wonderful piece and wonderful picks
One to add- “Rain” by none other than Lawrence Juber (an instrumntal)..so pretty, I will make you cry!
I saw him do this live at the Fest. Really great.
Yes!…. Me too… loved his technique of hitting the guitar body and letting it ring out the chords !
There’s an album by the Don Randi Trio (he was a member of The Wrecking Crew) called “Revolver Jazz.” It’s from 1966 and one of my favorite covers.
I’m partial to Ricki Lee Jones’s version of “For No One.”
Definitely will check out the Don Randi Trio!
Great selections! I made a YouTube Music playlist of the whole list. It plays out very nicely. https://music.youtube.com/browse/VLPLzrG58vYoFt-bWL7QldGUHAYbJlDXC_AV
Thanks! I also created a playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. Maybe we can get CultureSonar to post those links.
Scott — great list!
I was just telling my wife that you should have added the Jam’s cover of “Taxman”; just checked my memory of that cover … nope [[Memory Damaged]]
The Jam’s “Start!” was the song I was recalling, famously known for liberally borrowing from the main guitar riff (Harrison) and bass riff (McCartney?) of “Taxman”
Anyway – very fun read. We plan to sequentially listen you your embedded YT videos tonight. Thanks.
Love the Jam, but you’re right – they were influenced by Taxman and didn’t cover it. It will make my list of Best Songs Influenced By Revolver Songs. 🙂
Some of these “covers” are too close to the original versions to really be anything “original”, but I like them all. The versions that Vanilla Fudge did of Eleanor Rigby and Ticket to Ride are truly original. Hard to believe those aren’t on this page. I got to see you Scott in Denver many years ago and really appreciate all the work you are doing to educate the work George Martin and the Beatles produced. Now that we musicians all have access to free stem separation software it’s a miracle that we can use to go back and fix a lot of our old music that we couldn’t before. Thanks for all that you do.