What cover version of a song is better than the original artists' version?

[bobweaver]

For example, I believe that Linda Ronstadt's cover of "All That You Dream" is far superior to Little Feat's original version. I have other examples but I would rather know what you think are covers superior to the originals.

[ET Awful]

1. I've always liked Joe Cocker's

version of "With A Little Help From My Friends" better than the Beatles. I just think Joe's version had a hell of a lot more feeling to it.

[boilerbabe]

27. Luv your kitties!! n/t

[NightTrain]

2. Much of what Elvis did for Sun.

Forsooth (with the original artist in parentheses):

BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY (Bill Monroe)
GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT (Roy Brown)
I DON'T CARE IF THE SUN DON'T SHINE (Patti Page)
MY BABY LEFT ME (Arthur "Big BOy" Crudup)*
MYSTERY TRAIN (Little Junior's Blue Flames)
THAT'S ALL RIGHT (Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup)

*Actually, Elvis did this one on RCA, but it sure did sound like one of his vintage Sun recordings!

[Skittles]

3. I like the Lemonhead's version of MRS. ROBINSON

not necessarily BETTER than the original but it surely does kick ass! :thumbsup:

[LincolnMcGrath]

30. It sure does kick some tail.

Where are you Evan?

[EstimatedProphet]

4. Hazy Shade of Winter

Not a fan of the Bangles but they did do a bangup job on that song.

[dolo amber]

5. Pixies cover of Jesus and Mary Chain's "Head On"

They rip the shit outta that song! :D

[Cobalt Violet]

6. Alien Ant Farm- Smooth Criminal

Better than Micheal Jackson Imo.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Jimi Hendrix Version of Bob Dylan's All along the Watchtower

[gater]

8. The Lemonhead's "Mrs. Robinson"...

if only because Paul Simon hates it sooo much!

[blue neen]

9. "You'll be a Woman Soon" by Urge Overkill

LIGHTYEARS beyond Neil Diamond's version.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Any Bob Dylan song

He's a great songwriter but his songs always sound better to me when someone else performs them.

[KG]

16. beat me to it. dylans' a great lyricist, but not a much of a composer.

[cestpaspossible]

11. Yes America

[blue neen]

12. Are you talking about a song by Yes

or a song by America?

[cestpaspossible]

25. Yes

covering the Simon and Garfunkel song 'America'

[TroubleMan]

13. "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" - Al Green - "For The Good Times"

Al Green's versions are better than the originals.

[goodboy]

14. Replicants version of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl"

Ken Andrews of Failure, with James Maynard Keenan of TOOL.

enough said.

[gmoney]

15. Travis's "Hit Me Baby (One More Time)" orig. by Britney

They manage to turn it into a real song.

[Shadowen]

17. Depending on whether you like upbeat music better than minor-key stuff...

A Perfect Circle's cover of Imagine is arguably better than John Lennon's original.

[warrens]

18. Aztec Camera's "Jump" puts Van Halen to shame

And the Sex Pistol's version of Not Your Steppin Stone is better than the Monkees' version, although that one is pretty good too.

[gmoney]

21. Megadittos on the Aztec Camera...

I think it's the only cover they recorded, isn't it?

[warrens]

22. As far as I know, and I think I have all their stuff

Including the 10" EP of Jump

[brentspeak]

43. Now that's a rarity

I still proudly play my old official cassette of "Knife", even though I recently upgraded to the Wounded Bird reissue (which has the 'Aztec Camera' ep included).

[vixengrl]

19. I prefer Guns and Roses' version of "Live and Let die." eom

[ok_cpu]

20. Biz Markie singing

"Benny and the Jets"

Ok, it's not better (that's one of my favorite Elton John songs) but it's oh so entertaining...

[Tikki]

23. UB40's version of 'Red, Red Wine'

I'll give Neil Diamond credit for writing this song..... it was so superbly adapted by UB40 with a reggae/pop sound and style.

[Cobalt Violet]

24. Marilyn Manson's cover of Sweet Dreams.

[Placebo]

26. "Nothing Compares To You" by: Sinead O'Connor...

cover of the Prince original.

[boilerbabe]

28. I love that song, didn't know Prince did it first! n/t

[Turn CO Blue]

38. Beat me to it!

That has to be one of the most perfectly sung and recorded songs ever.

[Placebo]

42. I totally agree.

Such a beautiful and perfectly executed song.

[Queen Jane]

29. elliott smith's cover...

of Big Star's "Thirteen" and "Nighttime".

[LincolnMcGrath]

31. Hurt, by Johnny Cash.

[Queen Jane]

32. yes! that video is incredible. nt

[Mike Niendorff]

33. Two for the list :

"Got the Time" : Anthrax covering Joe Jackson
"Man Who Sold the World" : Nirvana covering David Bowie


MDN

[Lady Effingbroke]

34. "Summertime Blues" - Blue Cheer

"Good Golly Miss Molly", "Cotton Fields", "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" - CCR

"Ice Cream Man", "You Really Got Me", "Big Bad Bill", "Where Have All The Good Times Gone", "You're No Good" - Van Halen

"Crossroads", "Born Under A Bad Sign", "Spoonful" - Cream

[donheld]

35. Seal's cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Hey Joe"

Seal kicked ass on that song on the "Set It Off" CD. It got little attention, but Seal was very good on it.

[kodi]

36. John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery" as done by Bonnie Raiit

as good as the lyrics are sung by the author, Raiit's version is tops.

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

37. Several....

I like Superchunk's cover of "Brand New Love" better than the Sebadoh original. I go back and forth regarding the Bauhaus cover of Eno's "Third Uncle". Die Toten Hosen (there should be umlauts in there somewhere) did a cover of "Blitzkrieg Bop" which impressed me as superior to the original at the time of its release, but I'm not so sure, now. And. Hmm. The Saints' cover of "Kissing Cousins". The Mekons' cover of Rod Stewart's "You Wear It Well". There are others, but I can't think of them right now.... Hmm.

[mitchum]

39. Anyone's cover of a Kris Kristofferson song...

great writer, lousy singer (even worse actor)

[brentspeak]

40. "Always Something There To Remind Me" - Naked Eyes

The original version of this Bacharach/David song but I can't even remember, it was so lame. But Naked Eyes made it into a classic.

[brentspeak]

41. "Get Together" by the Youngbloods

The original was by its songwriter, Dino Valenti. The first real electric version was by the Jeffersn Airplane -- it was remarkably lame.

The Youngbloods' version is one of the best of the 60's period. Time stands still when "Get Together" by the Youngbloods is played.