Cover version

In pop music a cover version is a new rendition of a previously recorded song. Pop musicians may play covers as a tribute to the original performer or group, to win audiences who like to hear a familiar song, or to increase their chance of success by using a proven hit or to gain credibility by its comparison with the original song. Covering material is an important method in learning various styles of music. Bands may also do it simply because they enjoy playing it.

History of the term "cover version"

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The term "cover version" is in wide use today, among musicians and record collectors; however, there is little agreement on exactly what it means.

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In the first few decades of the recording industry, it was common practice for record companies to record all the songs they expected to become "hits." When a new song was released, it was the job of the "song plugger" to convince the record companies, as well as performers, that the song would become a big seller. As a result, many?in some cases, most?record companies issued versions of those songs successfully promoted, sometimes even by the same artist. When the average record buyer went out to purchase a new record, he/she usually asked for the song, not the artist, although there were a few exceptions, such as artists like Al Jolson or John McCormack.

Related Topics:
Al Jolson - John McCormack

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This began to change in the later 1930s, when the average age of the record-buying public began to drop. During the Swing Era, when the bobby soxer went looking for "In the Mood", she wanted the popular Glenn Miller version, not someone else's. However, record companies still continued to record different versions of songs that sold well.

Related Topics:
1930s - Swing Era - Bobby soxer - In the Mood - Glenn Miller

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After the pop music doldrums of 1946-54, rock 'n' roll began to emerge, and with it a new way of thinking among record buyers. When a teen went out to buy "Rock Around the Clock", he/she wanted the same recording they heard on the radio. Since this was before the emergence of artist/songwriters, anyone could have recorded the tune, and some did, but their records simply did not sell.

Related Topics:
Rock 'n' roll - Rock Around the Clock

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However, a new trend began to emerge. When a recording became popular in a specialty field?such as country & western, rhythm & blues or even ethnic music?"name" artists often did "cover versions" of the songs in a more staid style. Several of Hank Williams' c&w hits were so treated, as well as a number of black artists' discs. The term, as used today, is usually applied to the latter records.

Related Topics:
Country & western - Rhythm & blues - Ethnic music - Hank Williams - Black

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While it is all but impossible to trace the actual history of the term "cover version," it is likely the term began to be used by record collectors once the early rock'n'roll records had become collectible. For example, many of Pat Boone's hits were copies of popular records by black artists, as well as some by Ricky Nelson, and these are usually dismissed as "cover versions."

Related Topics:
Pat Boone - Ricky Nelson

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Today, the term even applies to live music: a band who performs mostly hits in their chosen genre is known as a "cover band," since their performances "cover" older hit performances. This is distinguished from a "tribute band," a band which tries to perform the hits of a well-known band in the same style and as closely mimicked as possible.

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The actual term "cover" may have its origins in the fact that the artist who recorded the newer version of the song would have his records literally "cover" the original version... if, indeed, it was available in most record stores.

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