Cover versions that are quite good

Most cover versions are rubbish, but there are some hatchet jobs that actually make the world a better place. Here's my non-exhaustive list in no particular order:

Aerosmith "Come together" (Beatles) and "Walking in the sand" (Morton, orig. performed by Shangri-Las). It's worth mentioning that the Aerosmith/Run DMC version of "Walk this way" is incredibly dull and leaden, compared to the original, and that the Girls Aloud/Sugababes version was absolutely dire.

Ron Wood "I can't stand the rain" (orig. performed by Ann Peebles, beating Eruption to it by several years)

The Clash "English civil war" ("When Johnny comes marching home", trad.)

Keith Richards "Run rudolph run"/"The harder they come" (respectively Marks/Bradie, orig. performed by Chuck Berry; and Jimmy Cliff)

The Toy Dolls "Nellie the elephant" (Butler/Hart)

The Dickies "Banana split song" (from the TV show, itself the inspiration for "Buffalo soldier" by Bob Marley")

Soft Cell "Tainted Love" (Ed Cobb, orig. performed by Gloria Jones)

UB40 "I'll be your baby tonight" (Bob Dylan) and "Red red wine" (Neil Diamond)

Aretha Franklin "Jumping Jack Flash" (Rolling Stones)

Primal Scream "Loaded" and Guns'n'Roses "Sympathy for the devil" ("Sympathy for the devil" by Rolling Stones)

Guns'n'Roses "Knockin' on heaven's dooor" (Bob Dylan). At this juncture I should mention the "Rise" by Gabrielle, which would be a great song, but they messed up the sample - there's an awkward split-second gap every time it repeats. Incredibly irritating.

Rolling Stones "Like a rolling stone" (Bob Dylan)

Sugababes "Freak like me" (lyrics from "Freak like me" by Anita Howard and music from "Are friends electric?" by Tubeway Army)

Britney Spears "I love rock'n'roll" (orig. by Arrows, and more famously covered by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)

Marylin Manson "Tainted Love" and Rihanna "SOS" ("Tainted Love" by Soft Cell)

Girls Aloud "Jump" (Pointer Sisters)

Marilyn Manson "Personal Jesus" and Jamelia "Beware of the dog" ("Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode)

Kid Rock "All summer long" ("Sweet home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Coda: I'd always complained that my iPod just isn't loud enough. I used proper big headphones when compiling this list, rather than the little in-ear ones, and I am staggered at how loud it really is. You live and learn.

Those little foam pads you put over in-ear headphones

I bought a pack of six from HMV a year or two ago for 99p, and I lost the second-to-last one yesterday. HMV no longer sell them. Neither do Zavvi (fka Virgin) altho' the bloke was very helpful (he spoke to two other members of staff). At this stage, I was sorely tempted to just buy some more headphones, but they didn't sell Sennheiser MX-500 (the best mid-price headphones there are - my current pair has lasted over two years) so on I marched to Comet. Nope, they didn't sell them either, but the lass referred me to Maplins. Who did sell them - pack of six for £2.49. So I bought two packs.