‘The Best Covers Ever’ series counts down our favorite covers of great artists.

This weekend, Warren Zevon gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after decades of eligibility. So, as the culmination of a week-long tribute to the 2025 Rock Hall class where we posted covers of every artist (catch up here), we are sharing a countdown of the 30 best Zevon covers ever.
Warren Zevon is one of those musicians that other musicians love, so he bats way above his commercial weight in cover songs. The most casual person probably only knows one Zevon song—and it’s appropriate this list is posting just after Halloween. Many music nerds, though, including many musicians, revere the full catalog. Artists way more famous than Zevon, from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, have paid tribute, as have a host of younger acts that consider him a primary influence.
So whether you always hum along with the air conditioner in “Desperados Under the Eaves” or just like aah-ooo-ing to “Werewolves of London,” dive into the Zevon catalog via thirty amazing versions of his songs.




Thank you for that. I had shit to do, but listened to many of these all the way through, instead. Are you really procrastinating if you’re listening to great music?
On the odd chance anyone wanders in here and wants more, here are a few I like and listen to:
Mutineer – Terence Martin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mTfmJHb7WM&list=RD4mTfmJHb7WM&start_radio=1
Serena Pryne – Keep Me in Your Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSLEf1doxGU&list=RDTSLEf1doxGU&start_radio=1
Zack Seibert and The Red Wagon – Play It All Night Long
https://youtu.be/rJ0OCso1XYo?si=HhkDT6qcXB40OjSD
and a few more ….
I know, Henley …. but I love the reggae lilt and deep groove
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxoeU3vzdEw&list=RDfxoeU3vzdEw&start_radio=1
And, of course …. I love Lindley, took his passing surprisingly hard and still mourn his loss.
Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQpBhjm4zL8&list=RDCQpBhjm4zL8&start_radio=1
Studio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKfKnPUDW0&list=RDvnKfKnPUDW0&start_radio=1
Tight is right!