Stand By Me (song) - Notable Covers, Remixes and Samples

Notable Covers, Remixes and Samples

There have been over 400 recorded versions of "Stand by Me". Some of the more notable ones include:

• Jimi Hendrix also recorded his version that is most like the original, but with more use of the guitar.
• Max Romeo recorded a cover of the song with a reggae influenced twist.
• Ben E. King recorded a song that paraphrased it musically, "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)".
• Little Milton recorded a version for We're Gonna Make It (1965), his first album released on Chess Records.
• Spyder Turner's 1967 version climbed to #3 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
• Adriano Celentano released an Italian and Spanish version of this song (Pregherò) in album Non mi dir.
• The Searchers included the song on their 1963 debut album Meet the Searchers.
• Muhammad Ali (whose name then was Cassius Clay) recorded the song in 1964.
• Billy Joe Royal recorded a version of the song in 1968.
• Otis Redding recorded a version for his album Pain in My Heart.
• John Lennon recorded his version of the song for his 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll. Lennon's cover of "Stand by Me" was his last hit prior to his five-year retirement from the music industry. This version of the song had a more rock sound than R&B. The acoustic guitar introduction of this version is reminiscent of Ringo Starr's "Only You (And You Alone)" from 1974. Lennon suggested Starr cover that song, and Lennon plays guitar on both songs. The B-side of the single was "Move Over Ms. L," a rare and raucous track also covered by The Who drummer Keith Moon. The American single "Stand By Me" and "Move Over Ms. L" reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1977, Capitol Records issued an Oldies reissue 45 on its Capitol Starline label which featured "Stand By Me" and "Woman Is the Nigger of the World."
  • His son Julian Lennon recorded a live version of the song that was included on the soundtrack to the 1986 film, Playing for Keeps. A music video was also created for the song.
• Ry Cooder recorded a version for his 1976 album Chicken Skin Music
• Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller have a version which was featured in the hit musical Smokey Joe's Cafe.
• Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire recorded his version of the song on his 1985 album Maurice White. White's remake peaked at number 6, 11 and 50 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, Adult Contemporary and Billboard Hot 100 charts, respectively.
• Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for the 1987 Alvin and the Chipmunks episode "When the Chips Are Down".
• Mickey Gilley performed a version which was featured in the hit 1980 film Urban Cowboy. It was a #1 country hit for him in August of that year, also reaching #22 on the Pop charts and #3 at Adult Contemporary.
• The Gaslight Anthem has been known to cover the first verse and chorus of the song in the key of B♭ before leading it into their single I'da Called You Woody, Joe, which is also in the same key.
• Pennywise recorded a punk cover which was originally released on the EP Wildcard in 1989.
• Timon and Pumbaa released a music video of Timon performing the song while Pumbaa gets tortured during the chorus.
• Ronnie Milsap recorded a gospel-altered version on his recent album Then Sings My Soul.
• Gigi D'Agostino released a dance version of this song.
• Seal covered the song on his album Soul.
• Lemmy Kilmister performed the song with Dave Lombardo and DJ Baron for the soundtrack of the 2009 Flip Skateboards video "Extremely Sorry."
• Overboard performed an a cappella version of the song for their 2008 album Castaways.
• Big Mean Carl and various Muppet bunnies performed the song in a popular YouTube music video.
• Stephen King and Warren Zevon recorded a version for the charity compilation album Stranger than Fiction.
• Justin Mauriello recorded a version of this song in 2010 for his cover album Justin Mauriello Sings the Hits.
• Prince Royce recorded a bachata version of the song as his debut single, changing parts of the lyrics into Spanish. This version peaked #8 on Hot Latin Tracks and #1 on Tropical Airplay. At the Latin Grammy Awards of 2010, Royce performed a live version of the song along with Ben E. King. Royce's cover received a Lo Nuestro award for "Tropical Song of the Year".
• A version of the song released by American R&B group 4 the Cause in 1998 was a #1 hit in Switzerland, reached #2 of the Austrian and German singles charts and number three in New Zealand, and was a top-ten hit in several other countries.
• George Lam recorded the song in Cantonese in 1986, on his album 千億個夜晚 (100 Billion Nights).
• Anita Mui recorded the song in Cantonese in 1988, on her album 夢裡共醉 (Drunken Dreams).
• "Stand By Me" was the first recording made by the Playing for Change project in 2004, with interpretations of the song by musicians around the world being compiled into a video version that has had over 42 million hits on YouTube.
• "Dildaara (Stand By Me)" by Shafqat Amanat Ali in the original soundtrack of Ra.One recreated by Vishal-Shekhar
• Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Andy Madadian recorded a version of this song on June 24, 2009. The first part of the song is sung by both Jon and Andy in Persian, while the rest continues in English.