best use google for this,
i aint too sure who nina simone is although i recognise the name
but leonard cohens works have spanned most of the modern decades, & he is very highly regarded by musicians. chances are alot of his songs have been covered here or there.
my favourite song by him is dance me to the end of love, or Suzanne was a good early song by him.
Roy Buchanan-Hey Joe (a must BLUES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z55XF9HlV…
Rory Gallagher-Million Miles Away (from irish tour74 recognised as a landmark in live albums BLUES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxiEMpcI8…
Rory Gallagher- Cradle Rock (just incase his blues song was to slow ROCK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k4iocWUR…
Elbow- Forget Myself (they should have been famous years ago, i found them there like 4 years ago they are brilliant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDddtQN7F…
Ash-Burn Baby Burn (very underrated irish band Alt Rock)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW8mEMqiN…
ANY ramones songs they were so influential
a funny one now The BEatles- Octopus Garden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgPqmRNjo…
Avett Bros- Murder In The City (acoustic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7rkSELM…
Seasick Steve (legend hobo guy Rock/Blues)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNoPNC3eb…