Name a cover song that was better than the original..

[sendero]

... go ahead, I'm waiting. I'm sure there are a handful :)

[TroubleMan]

1. "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" & "For The Good Times" Al Green

both better than the originals

[sendero]

I love Al Green..

... "Let's Stay Together" is a favorite of mine, but I'm not familiar with the originals. But I have no problem believing you 'cuz Al Green is fantastic. :)

[TroubleMan]

25. "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart " was originally a Bee Gees song

Al completely changed it up and made it his own.

"For The Good Times" has been remade a million times, but IMHO (and the overall consensus) is that Al did that one the best. Most people attribute that song to him.

[sendero]

26. Oh THAT How Can you Mend..

... well, Al could beat that with one arm tied behind his back! :)

[TroubleMan]

31. Here's a sample:

http://sg1.allmusic.com/cg/smp.dll?link=jf7sxjv7jz4ykf37if176dh&z=MP3&r=20.asx


lol....compare it to the original Bee Gees

http://sg1.allmusic.com/cg/smp.dll?link=gw6ip39cquv27e0j55sbycn&z=MP3&r=20.asx

[JAbuchan08]

2. I say this every time this topic comes up

The Electric Chairs version of Barbie Girl. I'm not sure if thats "Electric Chairs" or "The Electric Chairs"

[ghostsofgiants]

3. Ben Folds' cover of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's "Bitches Ain't Shit"

Gary Jules' cover of Tears For Fears' "Mad World"
Muse's cover of The Animals' "House Of The Rising Sun" (I think it's better anyway. Others might disagree.)

[name not needed]

12. STOP READING MY FUCKING MIND, GODDAMMIT!

BTW, The Animals didn't write House of the Rising Sun. Theirs was just a cover.

[ghostsofgiants]

16. I knew that...

But I don't know who did it before them, and was too lazy to look it up.

[name not needed]

17. Bob Dylan did a version I think

besides that, no fucking clue.

[Bossy Monkey]

35. Nope. Was original. Written by this guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Price

[ghostsofgiants]

102. Well I'll be damned

I was always under the impression that The Animals version was a cover too.

[ghostsofgiants]

119. Nope, it was a cover

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_the_Rising_Sun

[Spider Jerusalem]

107. "House of the Rising Sun" wasn't an Animals song...

The original writer of the lyrics isn't known, AFAIK, but there are recorded versions going back to the 1920's (Leadbelly recoreded it c. 1941 or so, too)

[LostInAnomie]

4. "Children of the Grave" by White Zombie

WAY better than the Black Sabbath version.

[KG]

5. every Jimmy Lafave cover of a Bob Dylan song.

[Scout1071]

6. Billy Idol remaking "Don't you forget about me" by the Simple Minds

Seeing him live a few summers ago was great and he said the song had been written for him but that he chose not to record it. Hearing it now, even when the Simple Minds are singing it, I can only hear him.

Next time it comes across the radio, take a listen. You can definitely tell that it should have been him.

[sendero]

24. Interesting..

... thinking of the lyrics, you are right. I can hear Billy singing that one :), and really, Jim Kerr never did seem the right vocalist for that lyric.

[Scout1071]

32. He did finally record it 2-3 years ago. I think it's available as a bonus

track on his Greatest Hits CD that was released in 2001.

Pound for pound, that greatest hits album is pretty damn good.

[bicentennial_baby]

7. Dr. Love by Tool

I think it was Tool, at least it had Maynard singing on it.

[XemaSab]

8. Almost anything covered by

Johnny Cash (with the possible exception of "Hurt," which was best covered by David Bowie and is frankly pretty kickass in the original).

edit: the word almost added.

[TroubleMan]

11. His cover of "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley wasn't too hot

That one just didn't seem right, but Johnny Cash is a great artist, and I'm glad he covered different genres.

[XemaSab]

14. Edited my post

to reflect the inferiority of "redemption song," as covered by Cash.

[ghostsofgiants]

15. Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros did a great cover of "Redemption Song"

Whether or not it was better than the original might be up for debate though.

[TroubleMan]

18. I never heard that one

It would be hard to top the original, though.

However, Johnny Cash's cover of it wasn't that good, which is unusual for him.

[ghostsofgiants]

22. It's on their 'Streetcore' album...

The last album they released before Joe died. Great album, and that cover is especially worth checking out.

[FourStarDemocrat]

96. Indeed it is.

:)

[JimmyJazz]

105. the album was release posthumously

which makes it that much more poignant. It was definitely his best work as a solo artist :cry:

BTW - apparently there is a Strummer/Cash duet of the Redemption Song. I am still trying to find it though :hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

110. So it was

Does that make him the 2pac of punk?

[JimmyJazz]

98. Better? That's a tough call. It's a great cover, but it's very different

from the original. I love it, though :hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

101. Like I said, it'd be up for debate

I prefer it myself, but preference doesn't always mean better. (I was discussing this topic with someone outside of DU and they said they thought Limp Bizkit's cover of "Behind Blue Eyes" was better than The Eho's. I was speechless.)

[TroubleMan]

9. Probably Lalah Hathaway's cover of "Forever, For Always, For Love"

Luther's version was really good, but that song seemed like it was made just for Lalah.

It's hard to tell with that song still being new, and the emotions over Luther's death and all.

Time will tell, but the remake is at least just as good as the original.

[GOPisEvil]

10. The Bangles' 'Hazy Shade of Winter'.

Even Paul Simon said it was better than the original.

[Scout1071]

19. True dat GOPisEvil.

True dat.

[giant_robot]

33. Speaking of Simon and Garfunkel,

How about the Lemonheads' cover of Mrs. Robinson? Also better than the original, imho.

[usedtobesick]

13. Guns and Roses cover of

Knocking on Heavens Door

[last_texas_dem]

65. Interesting

That's actually one of the Dylan songs that many have covered where I prefer his original. I like how understated and solemn the original is; I think it puts the mood across really well. Eric Clapton and Guns 'n Roses both do nice covers, though.

[grannylib]

117. I liked Clapton's version; can't say the same for GNR...but it's funny, my

daughter LOVED that song, never knew it was a Dylan tune, and she knew I hated GNR and she so wanted me to like some of her music, so she made me listen to it, "Mom, you'll love this song, I know you will..." and I listened and it was all I could do to not laugh/leap up and turn off the CD player, *lol* And when it was over and I got done gritting my teeth (while smiling, of course!) I told her who originally did it and it almost ruined the song forever for her, she HATED Bob Dylan with a passion, didn't get him at all...
Poor kid. She was crushed. *lol*

[intheflow]

20. Jimmy Buffet - Mexico

I'll take it over James Taylor's original any day. Same thing with Carole King's cover of Taylor's "You've Got A Friend"

[EST]

21. Kenny Rogers' version of "Desperado"

[Reverend_Smitty]

23. Rage Against the Machine's...

version of The Ghost of Tom Joad. Their version of that song rocks, it's better than the Springsteen...and coming from me, that's saying a lot!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

27. "Easy" by Faith No More

better than the Lionel Richie version, imho. (I see they've made a Levi's commercial using this song now)

I always liked FNM's version of War Pig's better too. but I'm pretty much a sucher for anything FNM.

Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley way better than Cohen's. Although it could be argued tha Nina Simone's version (which Buckley modelled it after) was just as good.

"Sacrifice" by Sinead OConnor is really good too, probably better than Elton and Bernie's.

I could go on like this all night, I love covers.

[Scout1071]

28. Jerry Garcia and Dave Grisman remaking "Wild Horses" on

Old and in the Way. Beatiful.

[Dukkha]

29. Bauhaus cover of Ziggy Stardust

I also like their cover of Dead Can Dance's Severance.

[sendero]

34. I've never heard that!

(Bauhaus cover of Severance).

I'll have to procure that because I love that song. But I'm warning ya - I don't see how anyone could improve on it :)

[Dukkha]

41. It's on the Gotham CD

Both live & studio versions. I saw them play it live.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000031KB7/qid=1122346103/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/103-6687249-5288618?v=glance&s=music

[Dukkha]

30. dup

[RetroLounge]

36. A few come to mind

SRV - Little Wing

Cake - I will survive

Paul Anka - Van Halen's Jump

Oasis - anything by the Beatles :sarcasm: :D

RL

[DS1]

37. Metallica's cover of Queen's Breadfan kicks some serious ass

B-Side to 'One' cassette

[LoZoccolo]

38. "I Am The Walrus" covered by Oasis n/t

[LoZoccolo]

39. Also, "Common People" covered by William Shatner

And no, I am not kidding. It's really good.

[Bucky]

45. Or his reading of the Declaration of Independence on Star Trek

Turned those Yangs around, I tell ya. Way better than Jefferson's cut

[XemaSab]

86. you're shittin' me

that was one of the most appalling things I have ever heard.

[Pithlet]

125. It is!

I never would have expected to like a cover done by William Shatner. But I love it.

[IChing]

40. Come on...it's no doubt...Hendrix "All along the Watchtower"---dylan

this is one the greatest cover song of any of dylan's songs or anyone's else song by any given artist.

[chaska]

48. Like a Rolling Stone too ... but then pretty much all Dylan covers...

are better than the originals.

[Jade Fox]

103. Yeah!!! That's the best!

[warrens]

42. Jump by Aztec Camera

Poor ol David Lee got skunked.

[Bucky]

43. How has this thread gone this long without Devo's "Satisfaction"?

Or Devo's "Workin' in a Coal Mine"?

[Bucky]

44. But the real best cover improvement is Whitney's "I Will Always Love You"

I'm a huge Dolly fan, but Whitney Houston sang the hell out that song.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

118. Are you experienced? (nt)

[democracyindanger]

46. Stevie Ray Vaughan's cover of Hendrix's "Little Wing"

[chaska]

47. Oh, that's offensive.

and sacrilege.

[democracyindanger]

49. I'm tellin'ya,

it's the truth, all due worship to Jimi...SRV's version is better.

[chaska]

52. No, I've heard both and you are not entitled to your opinion.

Opinion revoked for the rest of the night.

Sorry, but it had to be done.

[democracyindanger]

56. Well, maybe you're right.

But that's just my opinion, which has been revoked. So I guess you're not. :evilgrin:

[chaska]

57. Hold on a dang minute here....

You tricked me.

[sundog]

50. tori amos' cover of lloyd cole's 'rattlesnakes'

:hide:

[arwalden]

51. Who First Recorded "You've Got A Friend"?

I like the Carole King version better than the James Taylor version.

[blondeatlast]

55. I believe it's her song, and she did do the better version, IMHO.

Tapestry is the first album I ever bought. I still love it.

[blondeatlast]

53. Aretha's "Respect"--am I the first? Otis kicked serious ass on the tune,

but Aretha OWNS that baby now.

[kwassa]

111. Otis wrote the song

and Otis was great, but Aretha was better.

[Initech]

54. I'm VERY surprised no one has mentioned this one yet (Zappa fans)

Frank Zappa's cover of Stairway To Heaven

Zappa has a couple of other gems - like his hilarious renditions of Ring Of Fire and Louie Louie.

[NNadir]

58. Rikki Lee Jones's version of Jefferson Airplane"s "Coming Back to Me."

[Jade Fox]

104. Richie Havens does and excellent version of that song too. n/t

[last_texas_dem]

59. Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" covered by Joe Cocker

Badfinger's "Without You" covered by Nilsson (although the original comes very close; they're pretty different interpretations)

Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings" covered by the Association, "It Ain't Me Babe" covered by the Turtles, and several covered by the Byrds

Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' on" covered by the Vanilla Fudge

The Shirelles' "Baby It's You" covered by the Beatles, though I think I like the later cover by Smith the most

There's just a few off the top of my head.

[KitchenWitch]

60. Hendrix version of "All Along the Watchtower"

[blue northern]

62. That was kinda spooky kitchen witch. n/t

[IChing]

64. I already said in #40 and totally agree it still stands as the very best

in imagination, sound, vocals, lead,

"and the wind began to howl"
you can hear his guitar scream even now.



I still think it's the best out of all the coversongs

[blue northern]

61. All Along The Watchtower

Dylan's version can't compare to Hendrix, IMO.

[KitchenWitch]

73. Wow, it is spooky

That is the only one I could think of as better than the original...Dylan's puts me to sleep.

[Evergreen Emerald]

63. "Missing you" by Tina Turner

The original was John Waite, I believe. Beautifully re-made.

[jobycom]

69. John Waite, former singer of the Babies. Beautiful song, both times.

[dajoki]

66. eurythmics-"whiter shade of pale"

:woohoo:

[astral]

75. Whiter Shade of Pale

"dajoki
66. eurythmics-"whiter shade of pale"

Yes! I was blown away by that song, having loved the old Procul Harum version when I was about 10 years old with my first a.m. radio. With a plug-in to the wall instead of AA batteries!

I'd met the fella who wrote that too 15 years ago or so, and told him, OMG! You're a star! You wrote one of my favorite songs!

. . . . that song might just knock my socks off by anybody.

[dajoki]

77. that's cool,

i really like procol harum too, but annie lennox just does something to me. and you met the song writer, awesome, that is one of my favorite sonds of all time.:bounce:

[CanuckAmok]

67. "Hurt" (Nine Inch Nails) as covered by Johnny Cash.

There's more hurt in one of Johnny's fingertips than in Trent Reznor's entire being.

[XemaSab]

91. I'm still sayin'

Bowie did it better.

[derby378]

122. YES!!

Trent Reznor made it personal, but Johnny Cash made it his.

[jobycom]

68. "My Maria" by Brooks and Dunn.

[jobycom]

70. Sheryl Crowe, Sweet Child of Mine.

[Lilith Velkor]

71. Rammstein, "Stripped" (Depeche Mode)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

72. "Me and Bobby McGee"

written by Kris Kristofferson, covered by Janis Joplin.

[dajoki]

78. and the dead

:hi:

[LoZoccolo]

74. "Baby It's You" covered by Smith n/t

[trackfan]

76. Twist and Shout

Beatles' cover version tops Isley Brothers original.

[kmla]

79. Heard it through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye's version...

Best. Cover. Version. Ever.

[kwassa]

112. Original by Temptations, great covers also by Gladys Knight and CCR

being Creedence Clearwater Revival

[bikebloke]

80. Alabama

by the Leningrad Cowboys. I never cared for the original.

[indigo32]

81. Indigo Girls - Romeo and Juliet

and alot of those mentioned here.

[Richardo]

82. Pink Floyd's 'Brain Damage' by Austin Lounge Lizards

Speed bluegrass! :rofl:

[terrya]

83. No Doubt's version of "It's My Life" - better than the original

[Richardo]

85. I think you and I are the only ones on this one, terrya...

But I really like Gwen's treatment of almost anything.

[terrya]

93. Well, Richardo, really...isn't that enough? :-)

I agree.

[Richardo]

94. You got it, pal

:pals:

[billyskank]

84. Tainted Love, (not) by Soft Cell.

[liontamer]

87. patti smith because the night

[liontamer]

89. indigo girls "all along the watchtower"

[liontamer]

90. tiffany " i think we're alone now"

[blondeatlast]

108. Absolutely. She made it hers. nt

[Taverner]

88. "I Think I'm Losing You" by Rod Stwart

Ironic too, since most of Rod's covers really sucked. For some reason, this one worked.

[kwassa]

113. this sucks compared to the Temptations original

[kwassa]

116. "Crossroads" by Cream

Original very different version by Robert Johnson, of course.

[KFC]

92. Ain't Talking Bout Love - Minutemen

Better and shorter than Van Halen

[Squatch]

95. "Kashmir" aka "Come With Me" when P Diddy did it.

I actually like that version a tad better.

[NNadir]

97. How about Elliot Smith's cover of the Beatle's "Because."

It was the one that played in "American Beauty."

[JimmyJazz]

99. I fought the law

the Clash - It doesn't even seem like a cover at this point.

[I Know How To Do it]

120. That was probably my first guess.

[I Know How To Do it]

121. La Bamba - Los Lobos. Even if you hate the song. The cover

has pretty much become the standard.

[MrSlayer]

100. "Helpless" and "Stone Cold Crazy" from Metallica.

Back when Metallica was good.

[Spider Jerusalem]

106. Cowboy Junkies' cover of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane".

Lou Reed's cover of "This Magic Moment"

and David Bowie's cover of "China Girl" (better than Iggy's original, IMO)

Also: Concrete Blonde's cover of "Everybody Knows", by Leonard Cohen.

Editied to add one more: Patsy Cline's version of "Crazy" (the original was a Willie Nelson song)

[sendero]

126. and David Bowie's cover of "China Girl" "

... ok, ok, well.... Bowie's version of Iggy's "Tonight" sucked! :)

Actually, I prefer the the Iggy version of China Girl a lot, but Bowie's is pretty good :)

"oh Jimmy, just you shut your mouth"

[immoderate]

109. Dylan's "Open the Door, Homer" covered by Jake and the Family Jewels.

--IMM

[Greyhound]

114. All of the TV theme songs by "Me first and the Gimme Gimmes" n/t

[grannylib]

115. Loved The Sundays' version of Wild Horses. Great, underrated band.

[derby378]

123. THE WAIT by Metallica (originially by Killing Joke)

Hell, yeah. I like.

[Jersey Devil]

124. Pinball Wizard sung by Elton John

I love The Who but I think Elton John's cover was much better.

[sendero]

127. Ok...

... so there's more than a handful :)

I don't agree with every suggestion here, but I have to admit that most of them are correct.

But... sometimes I think the version of a song you like best is the version you heard first. :)