Cover songs that were better than the originals

[LynneSin]

TZ is right - some songs should never be remakes, but I've heard some amazing covers out there that I'm glad were remade.

What's some of your favorites?

My list include:

• Nine Inch Nails's "Get Down Make Love" (original by Queen)
  
• Sid Vicious's "My Way" (original by Frank Sinatra)
  
• Marilyn Manson's "Personal Jesus" (original by Depeche Mode)
  
• Velvet Revolver's "Can't get it out of my head" (original by ELO)
  
• White Zombie's "I'm Your Boogie Man" (original by KC & the Sunshine Band)
  
• Annie Lennox's "Whiter Shade of Pale" (original by Procol Harem)
  

List yours here

[Lucian]

1. Metallica's version of "Astronomy" was way better than Blue Oyster Cult's version.

[Withywindle]

69. Disagree to the nth power.

Without Allen Lanier's piano, that song is just another hair-metal ballad.

[Lucian]

92. The song has nothing to do with a ballad.

But that's why we have differing opinions.

[Throd]

2. Red Hot Chili Peppers "Higher Ground"

[TZ]

3. Johnny Cash's "Hurt"

No ifs ands or buts about it. And what a surprise, who would have expected him to cover Nine Inch Nails so brilliantly?

[LynneSin]

8. Even Trent Reznor says it's no longer a NIN song - it's Cash's song

:D

[Amerigo Vespucci]

22. That one AND his version of Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage."

LIVE version on "The Tonight Show" with Marty Stuart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nehoakn-LbE

:toast:

[Withywindle]

70. Agreed!

Also his version of Nick Cave's "The Mercy Seat"--also a great song to begin with, but Cave owes Cash pretty much his whole aesthetic and don't think he doesn't know it!

[Orrex]

112. Let's not forget Kermit the Frog's version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ta7mkgrOU

[Glorfindel]

4. Limp Bizkit: "Behind Blue Eyes" (better than The Who, IMHO)

n/t

[MiddleFingerMom]

5. Rickie Lee Jones' "My Funny Valentine"

.
.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDrrvpaM5cA
.
.
.

[hifiguy]

21. Her "Walk Away Rene" is also spectacularly good

but the original by the Left Banke was pure heartbreaking pop perfection. Even RLJ couldn't improve on it.

[MiddleFingerMom]

32. I ALMOST included that -- she's one of those stylists who has made MANY songs her own. n/t

[Ken Burch]

75. The Ricky Lee Jones/Dr. John duet on 'Makin Whoopie"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQR580Iv-PE&feature=related

[MorningGlow]

6. Cowboy Junkies

"Sweet Jane". No disrespect to Lou, but the dude cannot sing. I really like the CJ's version.

[IcyPeas]

40. Lou even said they did it better than him...

[Gabi Hayes]

45. that's cause he's STILL jealous of Hunter and Wagner:

http://thereisasite.blogspot.com/2010/10/lou-reeds-rock-n-roll-animal-lp-review.html


In an interview, Steve Hunter said: "That band definitely took Lou Reed into a different direction. Reed talks bad about the Rock and Roll Animal and Lou Reed, Live albums we played on, now. He puts that whole era down. Well, in every place we ever played back then, the press was always putting down Lou Reed and talking about the great guitars of Hunter and Wagner. He hated that! He came to us during the tour and made us stop playing to the audience and entertaining them because we were stealing his show. We didn’t mean to, we were just hot!"

Don't think that is an exaggeration, because Lou is notorious for that kind of stuff. Robert Quine suffered the same fate in the 80s.

see for yourself...widely considered to be one of the best guitar 'duets' ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayCSA6fk9ZA&feature=related


don't much care for the pretentious, ubercool cowboy junkies, but this is just a matter of taste, yes?

[bikebloke]

7. Sweet Home Alabama by the Leningrad Cowboys

I prefer it over Lynyrd Skynyrd's.

[Bucky]

9. We have this same conversation every couple of years and it always comes down to...

Devo's cover of "Satisfaction." Basically, no one can believe the idea that Mick Jagger doesn't get satisfied on a daily basis.

[Tikki]

11. And I guess everyone knows that Otis Redding's version was....

pretty righteous, also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr4XnP4tAtc
"Satisfaction".....Otis Redding

:)

Tikki

[hifiguy]

29. I think it was Richard Belzer who said

once, back in his standup days, "if Mick Jagger can't get no satisfaction, I am a fuckin' MUMMY."

[Tikki]

10. Not exactly better, but different in an amazing way...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzU10C5dNpg
"I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down"....Sam and Dave ORIGINAL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZrBw6mcSM
"I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down"....Elvis Costello & the Attractions

plus another which is an amazing adaptation....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw-i0zscFaw
"Sunglasses After Dark"....Dwight Pullen....ORIGINAL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSQTmRGPP94
"Sunglasses After Dark".....the Cramps



Tikki

[KamaAina]

12. Jimi Hendrix' "The Star Spangled Banner"

original by Francis Scott Key. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzIE24UEL88

[some guy]

17. Could you post

the Francis Scott Key version? I've never heard it. :silly:

[KamaAina]

19. For some reason, it is difficult to find on YouTube

perhaps because YouTube didn't exist in 1814. :P

[Yavin4]

13. Aretha Franklin's "Respect" (original by Otis Redding)

Ike and Tina Turner "Proud Mary" (original by CCR)
Gary Jules "Mad World" (original by Tears for Fears)

[meegbear]

14. Nicolette Larson "Lotta Love", much better than Neil Young

[Amerigo Vespucci]

24. He tossed her aside like an empty beer can

I'm a big, big, career-spanning fan of Neil Young's music.

The man, not so much. The Nicolette Larson romance is described in this book:



This is an "authorized biography"...the author had full access to Young's inner circle...and the reason why the book ends so abruptly is that Young saw the first draft and said "that's enough."

Young can handle a Les Paul, but he could never handle relationships. He's an elder statesman with his wife and kids these days, but in his earlier days? He'd just walk away from people who no longer amused him. He ended the Stills-Young Band tour by leaving a note for stills in the motel that said "Stephen, funny how some things that begin spontaneously end that way too. Eat a peach, Neil." Stills finished the remaining dates on the tour as a solo act.

[meegbear]

28. I didn't know about that ...

I'll check that out.

[Zephie]

15. I don't know if I'd call it better than the original, but I've always liked Guns N' Roses cover of

Sympathy For The Devil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQn1k9WPeLM

[driver8]

96. I actually was working at the recording studio where they recorded that.

We pretty much witnessed the break up of Guns n' Roses.

Slash said in an interview, "If you want to hear what it sounds like when a band breaks up, listen to our version of 'Sympathy for the Devil.'".

[Zephie]

97. Wow, that's awesome!

Sad, but still awesome. I've always liked it better than the original personally (yes, I know, blasphemy) and that certainly puts a new spin on the feelings I have about it.

[ohiosmith]

16. Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole Somewhere Over the Rainbow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DKWlrA24k&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[kentauros]

18. Dev-O : Satisfaction

Also by Devo, "Working in A Coal Mine" :D

[hifiguy]

20. One by Brian Auger & the Trinity featuring Julie Driscoll

A much under appreciated band, IMHO.

Their cover of "Light My Fire" blows the Doors off any stage ever, and I loved the Doors.

They also covered Bobby Z's "Wheel's On Fire" to spectacular effect.

Then Siouxsie and the Banshees upped the ante in the late 1980s with THEIR incredible, mind-roasting cover/reinterpretation of Auger & Driscoll's cover of WOF.

Also, Jimi Hendrix' "All Along the Watchtower" about which Dylan supposedly said "that's what it's supposed to sound like."

[hifiguy]

35. Link for Auger/Driscoll Wheel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7sQvBkcJdY

[Bennyboy]

23. Grateful Dead, BOB DYLAN Catalog...

Every song the Dead or jerry did is far superior to any that Dylan did. even Dylan agrees there.

In fact the Dead covers are all superior to anyone original for the most part. Big River....

[taterguy]

25. Led Zep's cover of Muddy Waters doing the Willie Dixon song You Need Love

Original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM8_HuQ0b34

Cover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB_DOA2AL7Q

[Fire Walk With Me]

26. Any song sung by Homer Simpson, becomes Homer Simpson's.

[Tikki]

27. Like both Donovan and Terry Reid's..."Season of the Witch"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_kmIsmw2fc ORIGINAL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U85nUWusC54


Tikki

[LynneSin]

31. Oh the Christine O'Donnell theme song

:D

[Gabi Hayes]

47. super session, anyone? Kopper, Bloomfield, Stills:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IGoaYIVyVg&feature=related

[Gabi Hayes]

49. really like the Terry Reid! thanks!

said Robert Plant to the record company man

[Carnage251]

30. No Doubt - It's My Life

[MrScorpio]

33. Here's a few of my faves:

James Blake - Limit To Your Love (James Litherland)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOT2-OTebx0


Soulive - Joyful Girl | feat. Dave Matthews (Ani Di Franco)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JokZeceao74


Open Door - Breathe (Pink Floyd)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tryz3WfDtQQ


Omar - Golden Brown (The Stranglers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIxt_L1Hgok


D'Angelo - She's Always In My Hair (Prince)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz6Nm0xJFB4


The Isley Brothers - Summer Breeze (Seals and Croft)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IkBBTOhfCQ


Randy Watson Experience - Be Still My Beating Heart (Sting)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMuJjqD0Xxw


Yesterday's New Quintet - Déjà vu (Weldon Irvine)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWp-PPELMMQ


Massive Attack - Be Thankful For What You've Got -Perfecto Mix (Wiiliam DeVaughn)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0H71Ps_1jU


Nobody - Porpoise Song (The Monkees)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBr_ZztHULI


Mayer Hawthorne / Haircut - Little Boxes (Pete Seeger)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ_7QrSEtzA

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[abq e streeter]

36. Billy Stewart-Summertime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xrhcQcAJSI

[MrScorpio]

37. Greyboy - Genevieve (Cymande)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw9VSCoB3lc

[Ahpook]

38. I like the original quite a bit, but Zeppelin sent it to the stratosphere:)

Fairly sure Zeppy have owned up to the rip. If not, they should :)

Anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1g7qFaWaLk

or: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auDv6cf2PBM

[MrScorpio]

39. George Benson - Nature Boy (Nat King Cole)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WohwVXR688U

[Arugula Latte]

41. The Feelies cover of Velvet Undergrounds' "What Goes On"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_59XEJxqq5c

[Arugula Latte]

42. Manfred Mann's cover of Springsteen's "Blinded By the Light"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg8cDmi7-U8

[Arugula Latte]

43. Manfred Mann's cover of Dylan's "The Mighty Quinn"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K13hH0pJx5s

[Gabi Hayes]

46. NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! NEVER!!!!! not even once!!!

[Arugula Latte]

51. Heh heh ... I like it better. So sue me.

:P

[Gabi Hayes]

57. I'm drawing up the papers as I type this. in the meantime:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZPIU0wGVkQ

[pintobean]

56. Every Manfred Mann cover of Springsteen songs

[Gabi Hayes]

58. blows?

[pintobean]

79. Yes, blows 'the boss' away

Listening to Springsteen is like walking through a cemetery on a rainy late fall afternoon.

[Gabi Hayes]

98. that sounds beautiful! I used to walk through a lovely, quiet cemetery

every day....very strange spot, right in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Arlington, VA

loved that place

[Bennyboy]

85. Cheesier version surely. but better?

no freaking way.

[hobbit709]

44. Hendrix's version of "All along The Watchtower"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIhtafqZvy8

[Gabi Hayes]

50. hendrix 'sunshine of your love'

favorite version is a live, acoustic version by Jack Bruce I heard on the radio, though

[jmowreader]

48. The Ramones' "Do Ya Wanna Dance" (original by Bobby Freeman)

Freeman's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-CzCDIiylE&playnext=1&list=PL10AA7C2869316D27

Ramones version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9KfHpm4s4w

[meegbear]

95. Bette Midler does an great version of that ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV5KGvQGaMY

[WinkyDink]

52. This thread belongs to The Beatles: "Twist and Shout."

[Maccagirl]

101. Their version of "Long Tall Sally" is also iconic.

[panader0]

53. "All Along the Watchtower" by Bob Dylan

Hendrix did it justice.

[Gabi Hayes]

54. Nobody outsings Jack Bruce......with Rory Gallagher>>>>>Politician

eat your hearts out, Eric/Ginger....Jack was/is the cream of the crop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXk--eL5-kQ&feature=BFa&list=AVGxdCwVVULXfS9g-gUKpLiJeGgnOZrcbJ&index=4

[HughBeaumont]

55. Isaac Hayes' version of "Something"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzSXyRXlqT4

Magic - even though the song is shortened by 2 minutes for YouTube, it's still amazing.

[Gabi Hayes]

59. tingles under my shingles.....Born under a Bad Sign - Ellen Mcilwaine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44UBIB8S20U&feature=related

[shawmut]

60. The Sundays - Wild Horses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9lEd5bIbbQ

[WorseBeforeBetter]

107. Good one. (n/t)

[speedoo]

61. Patti Smith "Changing of the Guards" (Dylan)

Patti:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY2B_9KpRqk

Bob:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1rc_y2cLPg

[GReedDiamond]

62. Spooky Tooth...I Am The Walrus...

...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzVkzBp7kO8

[cemaphonic]

63. How about "Louie Louie"?

Kingsmen version, naturally

It's not exactly good on any sort of technical basis. But it's pretty dammed iconic, and launched one of the stupider moral panics ever.

And I agree with the people upthread nominating Devo's "Satisfaction."

Some others:
Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe
Golden Palominos - I've Been the One
Bruce Springsteen - Jersey Girl
Jane's Addiction - Ripple
Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee

[LynneSin]

87. I have on vinyl 10 remake versions of Louie Louie

Including the Rice University Marching Band

http://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Best-Of-Louie-Louie/release/2057163

[abq e streeter]

64. As great as Dick Holler's original was, The Swingin' Medallions OWN Double Shot

of My Baby's Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDEmmLDyHZc

[abq e streeter]

65. Aretha left Dionne Warwick in the dust with I Say a Little Prayer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBbyglq37E&feature=fvst

[abq e streeter]

66. Ray Charles-Yesterday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Po8TQaBpQ


and I'm a BIG Beatles fan, but Brother Ray's version....

[Orrex]

111. Ray Charles - It's Not That Easy Being Green

With all due respect to Kermit, Ray's version is amazing.

[abq e streeter]

67. Shawn Colvin-Viva Las Vegas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g87Mu9SNqwk

[abq e streeter]

68. Elvis-That's AllRight Mama....and the world never was the same after this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIWlWA1YTBw

[bluesbassman]

71. Suzie Q - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Stu Cook is one of the most underated rock bassists IMO. His basslines were smooth, intricate and driving all at the same time. Great stuff.
http://youtu.be/YJe5sMBpnNY

Dale Hawkins' Original
http://youtu.be/5YorJb5LSu8

[bluesbassman]

72. When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin

I know the purists cap on Zep for ripping old blues tunes, but goddamn this is a badass tune.

http://youtu.be/xbJQT2eDseA


Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie's 1929 original - Great traditional blues.

http://youtu.be/i6C_5wxkuAQ

[cemaphonic]

94. And at least this one was an acknowleged cover.

One neat thing about this track is even though it sounds so raw and primal, it's full of so much subtle studio trickery, they could never really come close to the studio version in live performances.

[Withywindle]

73. Here's a few:

Patti Smith "Gloria" (original: Them/Van Morrison)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxygqSTO1lQ


Toots & the Maytals "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (original: John Denver)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M1JJ8fAXHo


Deep Purple "Kentucky Woman" (original: Neil Diamond)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0rYp19PGVA


Also, Elvis's "Heartbreak Hotel" was a great single, but John Cale took it for his own pretty decisively in 1975:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=john+cale+heartbreak+hotel&aq=0&oq=john+cale+heartbreak

[Ken Burch]

74. The UB40/Chrissie Hynde version of "I Got You Babe"(original by Neil Diamond).

And the Toots and the Maytals version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads"(you KNOW who did the original version).

And whoever did the version of the Elvis classic "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" on the soundtrack to the Irish movie "The Snapper".

[Orrex]

110. Neil Diamond? Did he sing it with Sonny & Cher?

Anyway, I just heard the Hynde/UB40 version three days ago on a local station, and I can't believe how awful it was. I'm no particular fan of the original, but the half-assed UB40 beat-box version is crap with a capital crap.

[Ken Burch]

113. No...Neil sang(and wrote)"Red Red Wine".sorry for the confusion.

n/t.

[Orrex]

114. You will suffer for this effrontery!!!!1!

Well, probably not...

[Ken Burch]

76. Willie Nelson's version of "Blue Skies"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQR580Iv-PE&feature=related

[Systematic Chaos]

77. Kim Carnes' cover of the Smokey Robinson tune "More Love"

I liked it as a kid and still do today.

Even Mr. Robinson agrees that it's a great cover, and it apparently even charted higher than the original.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJm-kG922PI

[eShirl]

78. Art of Noise & Tom Jones' cover of Prince's "Kiss"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17uey_art-of-noise-featuring-tom-jones-ki_music

[wysimdnwyg]

80. Wow, I can't believe this isn't listed yet

Soft Cell's cover of Tainted Love
http://youtu.be/gBWrLhgiX74


Also, on Lynne's cue re: Marilyn Mason, I prefer his cover of "Sweet Dreams" to the original from the Eurythmics
http://youtu.be/m6VojYGrnpg

And can't forget Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt"
http://youtu.be/o22eIJDtKho

[Rabrrrrrr]

81. Joe Cocker - A Little Help from My Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQYDvQ1HH-E

[TuxedoKat]

82. K.D. Lang - Hallelujah

Did anyone hear her performance at the Olympics last year? She was breathtaking. She topped her previous performances of that song.

[PVnRT]

83. Kula Shaker - "Hush"

They play it about twice as fast and suddenly what was once a dull Deep Purple song rocks ass.

[PVnRT]

84. The Clash - "Police and Thieves"

Original by Junior Murvin

[mysuzuki2]

86. Fats Domino's "Blueberry Hill"

much better than Gene Autry's version!

[Deep13]

88. Roll Over Beethoven, The Beatles were better than Chuck Berry. nt

[here_is_to_hope]

89. "Gin and Juice" by the Gourds....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCAM3C3dpIA

Snoops... (nsfw)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6TUhx2wX0M&feature=related

Hell, we have covered it too!

[AtomicKitten]

90. "Across the Universe" by Rufus Wainwright.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8YIsd74b_Y&feature=related

[no_hypocrisy]

91. John Prine's "You Never Can Tell" (original Chuck Berry)

[Brother Buzz]

93. Surfin' Bird by the Trashmen

It's really a cover of a combination of two R&B hits by The Rivingtons: Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow and The Bird's the Word.

[Patiod]

99. Cake's "I Will Survive" (original by Gloria Gaynor)

i love Cake!

[Tikki]

100. Chuck Berry the King of Influences....and these...

I like both versions for what they are:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5q7OTyKCRw
"Around and Around".....Chuck Berry ORIGINAL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhc3E9EQmb0
"Round and Round".....the GERMS


Tikki

[Gabi Hayes]

102. this deserves a thread of its own:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rjex89b1f0&feature=fvwrel

[dddem]

103. Do show tunes count?

If so - check out Willie Nelson's version of "On the Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady

I apologize for being old - I can't figure out how to copy this from you tube. But I promise, it's worth checking out.

[dddem]

104. could this be it?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/RPKHAsDfy7Q

Yay me - it worked!

[Ken Burch]

105. The Patti Smith version of "Gloria"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL2I1krvhIE&feature=related

[WorseBeforeBetter]

106. Cat Power's "New York, New York"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JOy1nM6UoA

(Silly video!)

[bluesbassman]

108. Apache - Jimmy Thackery & The Drivers

http://youtu.be/q9H0RPL5ITc

The Shadows original
http://youtu.be/pY-rPDwzM9M

[GReedDiamond]

109. My Little Red Book...by Arthur Lee & LOVE...

...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSUoYHEJCGI

OR THIS:

My Little Red Book by Tony Middleton w/Burt B...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pruVWiAO9GQ

[Zorra]

115. Cream-Crossroads, Smith - Baby, It's You

[bluesbassman]

116. Highway 61 Revisited - Johnny Winter

Besides being one of the all time great blues/rock/slide guitarists, Johnny's one of the best live players there is. Amazing. :wow:

http://youtu.be/r9j25V4iw94

[lazarus]

117. Fine Young Cannibals, "Suspicious Minds"

it's Elvis's finest song, but FYC did it even better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2aha4uEpEQ