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Rosanne Cash, a 16-time Grammy nominee, has been around music and musicians her entire life.

The eldest daughter of Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash started her own musical career when she was still a teenager, dabbling in songwriting and sometimes singing backing vocals for her dad. She released her debut, self-titled album in 1978 and has pretty much not stopped since.

Of course, having a famous parent has its pros and cons, and Johnny Cash is nothing if not a legend in the music industry.

“I tried to avoid it in the early years,” Rosanne Cash said to Billboard in 2010, “because I couldn’t figure out who I was in the glare of that; it was just too enormous. I don’t think it’s that different for any young person, particularly one that enters the same field as their parent. You have to separate to find out who you are. It so happened that my dad cast a very large shadow. I probably pushed away longer than was necessary or gracious. But fortunately, he completely understood that.”

But she’s more than proved herself with four Grammys, 14 albums and multiple charting hits. She’s also well-versed in other artists’ music and has occasionally put her own spin on them. Here are 10 Classic Rock Covers by Rosanne Cash.

1. “Girl From the North Country” by Bob Dylan

Way back in 1969, when Cash was approximately 14 years old, her dad recorded “Girl From the North Country” as a duet with Bob Dylan for the latter’s album Nashville Skyline. Four decades later in 2009, Cash recorded her own version for an album called The List, which also featured guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Jeff Tweedy. But she was initially hesitant to record the song.

“I told John [Leventhal, The List‘s producer and Cash’s husband] that I can’t do this,” she told Magnet in 2009. “It’s almost sacrilegious. Not only did I have Dad and Bob’s version of it in my head, there’s even TV footage of them doing it, so I had pictures of them doing it, too. So, John said, ‘No, let’s listen to Bob’s original version and approach it that way.’ And Bob’s original version is a classic folk song in the Elizabethan tradition. Also I loved doing it in the folk tradition of the woman singing about another woman. It’s great because it expands the repertoire. I could be singing about my daughter or my sister or my mother. It adds mystery to it, too.”

2. “Hometown Blues” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

In 1996, Johnny Cash released Unchained, the second album in his American Recordings series with Rick Rubin serving as producer. On that album, he was backed mainly by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. But many years before that, Rosanne Cash put her spin on a Heartbreakers song called “Hometown Blues” which originally appeared on their debut album in 1976. Cash’s version was placed on 1981’s Seven Year Ache, an album that went to No. 1 on the Billboard country album chart.

BONUS: Cash also recorded a Heartbreakers song called “Never Be You,” which she put on her 1985 album Rhythm & Romance. The Heartbreakers’ own original version would not come out until the 2024 deluxe edition of 1982’s Long After Dark.

3. “I’m Only Sleeping” by the Beatles

In 1995, Cash put out a compilation album titled Retrospective, which pulled material from her 16 years of working with Columbia Records. It contained quite a few covers, including one of the Beatles‘ “I’m Only Sleeping.” Like many songwriters of her generation, the Beatles were a key influence on Cash. “I deconstructed how those songs were written,” she explained to The Bitter Southerner in 2024, “in both rhyme schemes and the way the choruses and the lyrics were set up, and that was the first imprint.”

4. “Magician” by Lou Reed

Cash was given her choice when it came to what she wanted to contribute to 2024’s The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed. She chose a song from her favorite Reed album, 1992’s Magic and Loss, called “Magician.”

“I thought that record [Magic and Loss] was the most beautiful musical meditation on death I’d heard. I went to see him at Radio City when it came out, and he performed the album in sequence. I wept. It was spectacular,” Cash recalled in 2014 for Talkhouse. “He was always so sweet to me. He couldn’t have been more of a gentleman. I saw the other, difficult side of him in glimpses, but he just seemed like a really sensitive guy who hated pretension and who found it intolerable to compromise on anything that was important to him, whether it was the sound of his monitors or the meal he had ordered. I’ll always respect him.”

5. “The Weight” by the Band

In the spring of 2011, a laundry list of acclaimed musicians gathered at Levon Helm‘s studio in Woodstock, New York to record a charity single called “Toast to Freedom.” Cash was on it, along with Donald Fagen, Carly Simon, Kris Kristofferson and many more, plus Helm himself. But that wasn’t the only time Cash and Helm worked together. Below you’ll see them performing the Band‘s “The Weight” along with Larry Campbell, Helm’s daughter Amy, Benmont Tench of the Heartbreakers and others.

6. “This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore” by Elton John

Back in 2016, Cash posted a photo of herself, her husband and oft collaborator John Leventhal and Elton John, writing that she and John had written two songs that day. What became of those songs, we do not know. What we do know is that Cash has been a longtime admirer of John’s, has performed at several of his AIDS Foundation galas and also covered his song “This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore” as a duet with Emmylou Harris.

7. “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” by Bob Dylan and the Band

Both Johnny Cash and Rosanne Cash performed at Dylan’s 30th anniversary concert in New York City in 1992. The former performed “It Ain’t Me Babe” with his wife June Carter Cash, while the latter did a rendition of Dylan and the Band’s “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” as a trio with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin.

8. “Time” by Tom Waits

In 2019, Cash contributed to the album Come on up to the House: Women Sing Waits, a tribute LP to Tom Waits that featured, along with Cash, Aimee Mann, Patty Griffin, Phoebe Bridgers and more. “What an honor to sing a song like ‘Time,'” Cash said of her cover. “Many years ago, I recorded it just for myself, for the pleasure of singing those words. Maybe I seeded the notion in the deepest part of the creative ether, the place from where these songs travel through Tom. For whatever reason and from whatever source, I’m just thrilled to be a part of this album. There is no other songwriter in the world, past or future, like Tom Waits.”

9. “Things We Said Today” by the Beatles

Here Cash and Joan Osborne offer a beautiful version of the Beatles’ “Things We Said Today.” “I’m still well aware and in touch with the feeling that the Beatles had on me at 10 years old,” Cash said in 2021. “That’s, you know, that doesn’t go away.”

10. “Hello in There” by John Prine

John Prine was a friend to both Cash and her dad. “My dad instantly recognized what a tremendous songwriter John was, but I never saw John get starstruck,” Cash said for Vulture in 2020. “I saw admiration, and I don’t think he lived in that world where he thought about fame or hierarchy. It wasn’t about that — it was about artistry. With my own songwriting, I sometimes think, ‘Would John think this is a good line?’ If it feels self-conscious or pretentious, then my inner Prine meter goes off.”

The story of Poison begins in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett came together in 1983 under the name Paris. The band’s earliest years were marked by ambition and a raw commitment to the hard rock lifestyle that would define them. After guitarist Matt Smith left the band in 1985, the remaining members relocated to Los Angeles in pursuit of a major record deal and a more vibrant rock scene. It was in California that they completed their classic lineup with the addition of guitarist C.C. DeVille. The group changed their name to Poison, and within a few years, they transformed from small club regulars to MTV mainstays.

Their debut album, Look What the Cat Dragged In, arrived in 1986 and proved to be a surprise commercial success. Initially overlooked by critics, the album’s combination of pop hooks, glam-metal image, and raw energy caught on with a young audience. Songs like “Talk Dirty to Me,” “I Want Action,” and “I Won’t Forget You” helped push the album to triple platinum status. Poison’s image — big hair, makeup, and flamboyant clothes — made them instant icons of the 1980s glam metal movement, whether loved or loathed.

The band followed up their debut with Open Up and Say… Ahh! in 1988, a record that cemented their status as a chart-topping act. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and delivered their only number one single, “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” Other hits such as “Nothin’ But a Good Time” and “Fallen Angel” reinforced their popularity. Despite protests over the album’s original artwork, the record’s success continued to grow, eventually reaching five-times platinum status in the United States.

Poison’s third studio album, Flesh & Blood, released in 1990, marked a slight shift in their style, incorporating more serious and reflective lyrics alongside their party anthems. The album featured hit singles like “Unskinny Bop” and “Something to Believe In.” It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and sold over three million copies in the U.S., reinforcing their staying power at a time when glam metal was beginning to fall out of mainstream favor. The album showcased a band striving for maturity without abandoning the swagger that made them stars.

By the early 1990s, internal tensions and changing musical trends began to take a toll on the band. C.C. DeVille was fired after a chaotic performance at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, and he was replaced by Richie Kotzen for the 1993 album Native Tongue. The record, though musically ambitious and featuring more blues-influenced guitar work, did not match the commercial heights of its predecessors. Kotzen’s tenure was cut short when he was fired for personal reasons and was replaced by Blues Saraceno.

In 1996, Poison reunited with C.C. DeVille and released Crack a Smile… and More!, an album that included recordings with Saraceno and previously unreleased material. The band’s next major commercial move came in the form of a greatest hits package — Poison’s Greatest Hits: 1986–1996 — which re-ignited interest in their catalog and went double platinum. This collection became a staple of their live shows and underscored just how many successful singles they had amassed in a relatively short time.

As the late 1990s gave way to the 2000s, Poison capitalized on a wave of nostalgia. Their 1999 reunion tour was a commercial success, and the band became a regular fixture on summer touring circuits. They released Power to the People in 2000, a combination of five new studio tracks and live cuts from their recent tour. Though it did not chart significantly, it demonstrated the band’s resilience and dedication to creating new music while honoring their past.

Their 2002 studio album, Hollyweird, saw the classic lineup return with a more contemporary take on their sound. The album included the single “Squeeze Box,” a cover of the classic by The Who, and while reviews were mixed, it was clear that Poison remained committed to maintaining their presence in rock music. They followed it with The Best of Ballads & Blues and continued to release compilations and live recordings throughout the decade.

In 2006, Poison celebrated their 20th anniversary with a major tour and the release of The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock, which entered the Billboard 200 at number 17 and was certified gold. The album included a new cover of Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re an American Band,” further expanding their connection to the classic rock world. Poison’s place as a live act remained strong, and their touring schedule continued into the late 2000s with co-headlining tours alongside acts like Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe.

Their seventh and most recent studio album, Poison’d!, was released in 2007 and featured covers of classic rock songs by artists such as David Bowie, Alice Cooper, and Tom Petty. The album was a commercial modest success and marked the band’s last full-length studio release to date. Poison’s ongoing popularity on the road continued to make up the core of their business, and they maintained a steady fanbase through constant touring and a willingness to embrace their legacy.

Over the course of their career, Poison has sold more than 16 million albums in the United States and over 50 million worldwide. Their ability to endure — through changing lineups, shifting musical climates, and decades of touring — speaks to the strength of their early work and the loyalty of their audience. Songs like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” have become part of the larger rock canon, often referenced in pop culture and covered by a wide range of artists.

Beyond music, frontman Bret Michaels has kept the band in the public eye through solo projects, reality TV appearances, and his work as a philanthropist. His win on Celebrity Apprentice and continued visibility in media have helped introduce Poison’s music to new generations, even as the band itself has largely focused on live performances rather than studio work in recent years.

Poison’s story is not just one of success but of reinvention and survival. They are a band that embraced their image without apology, delivered hooks that defined an era, and weathered storms both internal and external. More than four decades after forming, they continue to tour with their original lineup, offering fans a chance to relive the energy and excess of the glam metal era — with the same passion they had when it all began.

Complete List Of Poison Songs From A to Z

1. Ain’t That the Truth – Native Tongue – 1993
2. Baby Gets Around a Bit – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
3. Back to the Rocking Horse – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
4. Bad to Be Good – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
5. Ball and Chain – Flesh & Blood – 1990
6. Bastard Son of a Thousand Blues – Native Tongue – 1993
7. Be the One – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
8. Best Thing You Ever Had – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
9. Blame It on You – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
10. Blind Faith – Native Tongue – 1993
11. Body Talk – Native Tongue – 1993
12. Bring It Home – Native Tongue – 1993
13. Can’t You See – Poison’d! – 2007
14. Come Hell or High Water – Flesh & Blood – 1990
15. Cover of the Rolling Stone – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
16. Crack a Smile – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
17. Cry Tough – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
18. Dead Flowers – Poison’d! – 2007
19. Devil Woman – Hollyweird – 2002
20. Doin’ as I Seen on My TV – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
21. Don’t Give Up an Inch – Flesh & Blood – 1990
22. Emperor’s New Clothes – Hollyweird – 2002
23. Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
24. Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
25. Face the Hangman – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
26. Fallen Angel – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
27. (Flesh & Blood) Sacrifice – Flesh & Blood – 1990
28. Get ‘Ya Some – Hollyweird – 2002
29. God Save the Queen – Flesh & Blood – 1990
30. Good Love – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
31. Hollyweird – Hollyweird – 2002
32. Home – Hollyweird – 2002
33. Home – Hollyweird – 2002
34. I Need to Know – Poison’d! – 2007
35. I Never Cry – Poison’d! – 2007
36. I Want Action – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
37. I Won’t Forget You – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
38. Just What I Needed – Poison’d! – 2007
39. Lay Your Body Down – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
40. Let It Play – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
41. Let It Play – Flesh & Blood – 1990
42. Life Goes On – Flesh & Blood – 1990
43. Life Loves a Tragedy – Flesh & Blood – 1990
44. Little Willy – Poison’d! – 2007
45. Livin’ for the Minute – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
46. Livin’ in the Now – Hollyweird – 2002
47. Look But You Can’t Touch – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
48. Look What the Cat Dragged In – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
49. Love on the Rocks – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
50. Mr. Smiley – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
51. Native Tongue – Native Tongue – 1993
52. No Ring, No Gets – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
53. Nothin’ But a Good Time – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
54. #1 Bad Boy – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
55. One More for the Bone – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
56. Play Dirty – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
57. Poor Boy Blues – Flesh & Blood – 1990
58. Richie’s Acoustic Thang – Native Tongue – 1993
59. Ride Child Ride – Native Tongue – 1993
60. Ride the Wind – Flesh & Blood – 1990
61. Rock and Roll All Nite – Poison’d! – 2007
62. Rockstar – Hollyweird – 2002
63. Set You Free – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
64. 7 Days over You – Native Tongue – 1993
65. Sexual Thing – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
66. SexyBack – Poison’d! – 2007
67. Shooting Star – Hollyweird – 2002
68. Shut Up, Make Love – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
69. Something to Believe In – Flesh & Blood – 1990
70. Something to Believe In – Flesh & Blood – 1990
71. Squeeze Box – Hollyweird – 2002
72. Squeeze Box – Poison’d! – 2007
73. Stand – Native Tongue – 1993
74. Stay Alive – Native Tongue – 1993
75. Strange Days of Uncle Jack – Flesh & Blood – 1990
76. Strike Up the Band – Native Tongue – 1993
77. Stupid, Stoned & Dumb – Hollyweird – 2002
78. Suffragette City – Poison’d! – 2007
79. Swampjuice (Soul-O) – Flesh & Blood – 1990
80. Talk Dirty to Me – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
81. Talk Dirty to Me – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
82. Tearin’ Down the Walls – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
83. That’s the Way I Like It – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
84. The Scream – Native Tongue – 1993
85. Theatre of the Soul – Native Tongue – 1993
86. Tragically Unhip – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
87. Unskinny Bop – Flesh & Blood – 1990
88. Unskinny Bop – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
89. Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice) – Native Tongue – 1993
90. Valley of Lost Souls – Flesh & Blood – 1990
91. Want Some, Need Some – Look What the Cat Dragged In – 1986
92. Wasteland – Hollyweird – 2002
93. We’re an American Band – Poison’d! – 2007
94. What I Like About You – Poison’d! – 2007
95. Wishful Thinkin’ – Hollyweird – 2002
96. You Don’t Mess Around with Jim – Poison’d! – 2007
97. Your Mama Don’t Dance – Open Up and Say… Ahh! – 1988
98. Your Mama Don’t Dance – Crack a Smile… and More! – 2000
99. Your Mama Don’t Dance – Poison’d! – 2007

Albums

Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986): 10 songs

Open Up and Say… Ahh! (1988): 11 songs

Flesh & Blood (1990): 16 songs

Native Tongue (1993): 15 songs

Crack a Smile… and More! (2000): 20 songs

Hollyweird (2002): 13 songs

Poison’d! (2007): 14 songs

Check out our fantastic and entertaining Poison articles, detailing in-depth the band’s albums, songs, band members, and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com

Complete List Of Poison Band Members

Top 10 Poison Songs And Album Discography

Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com

Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory

Complete List Of Poison Songs From A to Z  article published on ClassicRockHistory.com© 2025

Biocope, the collaboration between Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery and Tangerine Dream‘s Thorsten Quaeschning have shared their first new music, their brand new single Kaleidoscope.

Last month Prog revealed the pair will release their debut album, Gentō’, through earMusic on August 22, which they describe as “a mesmerising journey through a cinematic landscape of sounds and textures and each of the five tracks takes its inspiration from men’s endearing fascination with the moving image”.

“The project started life in early 2020 and after several five-day trips to Berlin over the years, and a few days in my home studio, it was finally ready to be mixed and mastered! It has taken a little longer than anticipated but it’s really sounding fantastic,” enthuses Rothery.

New single, Kaleidoscope, refers to multiple reflections by two or more reflecting surfaces has been known since the 16th century and was described by Giambattista della Porta in his Magia Naturalis (1558–1589).

Gentō will become available in retail stores as a CD+Blu-ray digipak, including the full album in high-res, Dolby Atmos as well as Dolby 5.1 Surround Mix, and heavyweight black gatefold 2LP gatefold as well as digital audio.

Pre-order Gentō.

Bruce Springsteen had some harsh words for president Donald Trump during his 2025 tour launch in Manchester, England.

“It’s great to be in Manchester and back in the UK. Welcome to the Land of Hope and Dreams Tour,” the Boss declared upon taking the stage. “The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock and roll in dangerous times. In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experience to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring.”

Springsteen – who has never been shy about offering his political views – received thunderous applause for his opening remarks. The rocker then proceeded to launch into “Land of Hopes and Dreams,” his first song of the night. Video of the Boss’ speech can be watched below.

READ MORE: The Best Song From Every Bruce Springsteen Album

Later in the set, Springsteen again took the opportunity to rage against the Trump administration. “There’s some very weird, strange, and dangerous shit going on out there,” the rocker said prior to performing “My City of Ruins.” “In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now. In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now.”

“And in my country, they are taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on loyal American workers,” Springsteen continued. “They are rolling back historic civil rights legislation that led to a more just and moral society. They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom.”

What Did Bruce Springsteen Play at His First Concert of 2025?

Springsteen’s Manchester performance featured an array of tunes from throughout his iconic career. There were timeless hits – like “Born to Run,” “Darkness of the Edge of Town” and “Thunder Road” – but also an assortment of recent material. Among them, “Rainmaker,” an album cut from 2020’s Letter to You that was performed live for the first time. The Boss closed the night with his cover of Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom,” performed for the first time since 1988. The full set list from the concert can be found below.

READ MORE: Bruce Springsteen Album Opening Songs Ranked

The gig was Springsteen’s first official show of 2025, though it wasn’t his first performance this year. In March, the Boss appeared at a star-studded celebration of Patti Smith in New York, and last month he delivered three songs at the third annual American Music Honors event in New Jersey.

Springsteen’s European trek will continue with two more performances in Manchester, followed by further shows in France, Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and the UK. The tour wraps July 3 in Milan, Italy.

Springsteen has announced that these will be the final performances of his tour that began in 2023. In total, the rocker will have played 130 shows with more than 4 million tickets sold.

Watch Bruce Springsteen Perform ‘Because the Night’ at 2025 Tour Opener 

Watch Bruce Springsteen Perform ‘Born to Run’ at 2025 Tour Opener

Watch Bruce Springsteen Perform ‘Because the Night’ at 2025 Tour Opener 

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, 5/14/25, Manchester, England, Set List:
1. “Land of Hope and Dreams”
2. “Death to My Hometown”
3. “Lonesome Day”
4. “My Love Will Not Let You Down”
5. “Rainmaker”
6. “Darkness on the Edge of Town”
7. “The Promised Land”
8. “Hungry Heart”
9. “My Hometown”
10. “Youngstown”
11. “Murder Incorporated”
12. “Long Walk Home”
13. “House of a Thousand Guitars”
14. “My City of Ruins”
15. “Letter to You”
16. “Because the Night”
17. “Human Touch”
18. “Wrecking Ball”
19. “The Rising”
20. “Badlands”
21. “Thunder Road”
22. “Born in the U.S.A.”
23. “Born to Run”
24. “Bobby Jean”
25. “Dancing in the Dark”
26. “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”
27. “Chimes of Freedom”