10 Best Covers Of Beach Boys Songs

10. Sloop John B - Simple Minds

A quintessential Beach Boys song from their finest album, Pet Sounds - Sloop John B was adapted by Brian Wilson from an old Bahamian folk song. It was originally published as The John B. Sails, in 1916, and was included in Pullitzer Prize-winning writer Carl Sandburg's influential collection, The American Songbag (1927).

On its initial release, the Beach Boys' version hit number three in the US and number two in the UK. It's since gone on to even greater acclaim (as has the song's parent album), with Rolling Stone placing the recording at 276 on it's list of 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.

Scottish band Simple Minds formed over a decade later, in 1977, and went on to enjoy a series of chart-topping singles and respected albums throughout the 80s. The group's best known hit must surely be 1985s Don't You (Forget About Me). Their version of Sloop John B, like all the best cover versions, manages to retain the spirit of the original whilst adding an entirely fresh spin.