The Pet Shop Boys’ version of “Always On My Mind” has been voted No1 in a BBC Best Cover Version Poll.

The Pet Shop Boys’ rendition of “Always On My Mind” was the 1987 Christmas number one, famously keeping the Pogues & Kirsty Macoll’s “Fairytale of New York” off the festive No1 spot. As good as the Pet Shop Boys’ version is, for the Record Press author, the Elvis Presley rendition will always be the best.

In the BBC Best Cover Version Poll, Pet Shop Boys were ahead of the Johnny Cash version of “Hurt by Nine Inch Nails” and The Stranglers’ rendition of “Walk On By”, originally a hit for Dionne Warwick. The Stranglers’ bitter, angst ridden cover was so much more realistic than Dionne Warwick’s saccharine sweet song, when it comes to describing the feelings of someone who has been dumped!! Jimi Hendrix’s imperious performance of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” and Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah, originally recorded by Leonard Cohen, make up the rest of the Top 5 Best Cover Versions.

The organisers of the Best Cover Version Poll requested listeners nominate their favourite cover version before a panel distilled them down to fifty, to be put to the public vote. Jeff Smith, head of music for Radio 2 and 6 Music, said: ”The Pet Shop Boys have an enviable catalogue of hits and there have been lots of great versions of this classic song. Whittling down the long list for the vote was tough, but it’s great to see that this track still resonates with people today.”

Other songs in the BBC Best Cover Version Poll Top 10 include Sinead O’Connor’s version of “Nothing Compares 2 U”, which was written by Prince, and Soft Cell’s version of the Northern Soul classic “Tainted Love”, originally recorded and released by Gloria Jones. Here is the BBC Best Cover Version Poll Top 10 in full, all of which automatically go into the Record Press Copycat’s Detention –

BBC Best Cover Version Poll Top 10

1. Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind

2. Johnny Cash – Hurt

3. The Stranglers – Walk On By

4. Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower

5. Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah

6. Soft Cell – Tainted Love

7. Joe Cocker – With A Little Help From My Friends

8. Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U

9. Muse – Feeling Good

10. Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You

Which are your favourite cover songs? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

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