She may be one of the best songwriters around, but Fiona Apple also knows her way around a great cover tune. To wit: Apple has fearlessly taken on classics by the likes of Bill Withers, Jimi Hendrix, and The Beatles, while — perhaps with a bit of endearing trepidation — performed jazz standards made famous by Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and other legends with ease, not to mention a little help from the great multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion on guitar. That said, nothing would beat hearing new material sometime soon. While we wait for Apple’s fourth studio album (reportedly due out this year), enjoy a collection of almost all of her excellent cover versions caught on tape or video over the years below:
“Use Me” (Bill Withers)
“Kissing My Love” (Bill Withers)
“Why Try To Change Me Now?” (Cy Coleman)
“River, Stay Away From My Door” (Traditional)
“I Want You” (Elvis Costello)
“Shabby Doll” (Elvis Costello)
“After You’ve Gone” (Turner Layton/Henry Creamer)
“Angel” (Jimi Hendrix) at 10:54
“Sitting in Limbo” (Jimmy Cliff)
“Across the Universe” (The Beatles)
“It’s Only a Paper Moon” (Harold Arlen/E. Y. Harburg/Billy Rose)
“He’s Funny That Way” (Billie Holiday)
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” (Simon & Garfunkel, Johnny Cash Duet)
“Please Send Me Someone to Love” (Percy Mayfield)
“Tonight You Belong To Me” (Billy Rose & Lee David)
“Everyday” (Live)
“Jolene”