Huh, well I guess I don't have much of an excuse, been speaking English, American and Conchy all me life. Easy as nailing sand to a tree.

It was a mean spirited thing where I grew up. A covert recording was one on which the original artist(s) were not acknowledged by the major recording label/artist, royalties maybe. Think “race” record covers of the 50-60s. Don't recall hearing the term before then.

From there it morphed to any old “copy” or “version.” Covering a few “standards” was a, relatively, safe way for new artists to connect with LP album buyers, familiar fare as it were.

English isn't a language. It's three languages; standing on each others' shoulders; dressed in a trench coat.