Sold on Song - Song Library

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COVER VERSIONS

SONG HOME

IN-DEPTH

YOUR VIEWS

Strange Fruit
Billie Holiday

Listen to the other versions of this song then take the vote.

Vote for your favourite
Which version do you think is the best?

Siouxsie & The Banshees
This song is so intrinsically linked to Billie Holiday that it's brave of others to record it. Do any of them come close to portraying the sentiment behind the song though?

Listen to Siouxsie Sioux

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Josh White
Despite intimidation by Billie this black blues/folk singer recorded this version in the early 40s.

Listen to Josh White

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Nina Simone
A passionate version from another jazz legend and black civil rights campaigner.

Listen to Nina Simone

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Robert Wyatt
From his 1986 compilation album and the track which inspired Clive Langer to write the music for "Shipbuilding".

Listen to Robert Wyatt

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Sting
Shortly after Meeropol's death, the former Police frontman recorded this for an Amnesty International charity CD.

Listen to Sting

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UB40
The Brum band give the song a reggae makeover on their Signing Off album.

Listen to UB40

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Shipbuilding
Elvis Costello



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