Covers that are better than the original:

[JimmyJazz]

I like Bananarama's version of Venus better than Shocking Blues.

and you?

[johnnie]

1. "I Looked Away"

I like Mike Nesmith's version better than Derek and the Dominos' version.

[hippywife]

2. Panama Red

by New Riders of The Purple Sage. I also like Old and In The Way's version, too. Peter Rowan wrote it and I've heard him sing it before but prefer the others.

My theory is that I think we usually (but not always) tend to automatically cling to the first version we've ever heard of a song.

Another case in point were two songs I first heard sung by Suzy Bogguss: Outbound Plane by Nancy Griffith and Drive South by John Hiatt. I love both Griffith and Hiatt but tend to like Bogguss' rendition of these songs better.

Also like Mary Chapin Carpenter's version of Passionate Kisses better than Lucinda Williams.

[usedtobesick]

3. Joe Cockers version of With a Little Help from my Friends

What would you think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing out of key.

I do love the Orignal but...

[HEAVYHEART]

102. I love his version too!

:toast:

[Left Is Write]

4. The Beatles' version of Twist And Shout.

[Spacemom]

5. Foo Fighters

Darling Nikki

[RetroLounge]

6. Cake's version of I will Survive.

RL

[Blue-Jay]

9. seconded

Cake kicks ass.

[ofrfxsk]

43. Thirded

I love Cake's version.

[Fox Mulder]

77. Fourthed!

[dpbrown]

94. Fifthed!

pdbtdtedddd...too!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

95. Yeah baby!

[HEAVYHEART]

97. Sixthed!!!!!!!

I LOVE CAKE!!

[mainegreen]

7. Faith No More's version of War Pigs

Un-real. So much better!

[flvegan]

12. Hell, yes! And to almost blaspheme...

I liked their cover of "Easy (Like Sunday Morning)" better, too.

[Initech]

23. Raymond "Pig" Watts (of KMFDM fame) did an awesome cover of that song too!

[Left Is Write]

8. The Mavericks' version of Here Comes My Baby

(written and recorded by Cat Stevens and also made a hit in the 60s by the Tremeloes)

[asthmaticeog]

10. Devo, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"

Power Station, "Get it On, Bang a Gong"
Camper Van Beethoven, "I Love Her All the Time"
Clash, "I Fought the Law"
Voivod, "Astronomy Domine"
Richard Thompson, "Oops, I Did it Again"

On edit: Dead Kennedys, "Theme from Rawhide"

[tuvor]

30. Great minds and all that.

:hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

11. Muse's version of "House Of The Rising Sun"

And Ben Folds' cover of "Bitches Ain't Shit" is pure brilliance.

[Dave Reynolds]

13. Dynamite Hack,

"Boys in the hood".

[ghostsofgiants]

48. If you like that, you'd love Ben Folds' "Bitches Ain't Shit"

[flvegan]

14. Rise Against did a kick-ass "Any Way You Want It" cover.

Journey, love ya, but they passed ya.

[ghostsofgiants]

39. Good call

Isn't that the hidden track on Revolutions Per Minute?

[flvegan]

62. I believe so, yes.

It rawks.

God, but I just love those guys.

[ghostsofgiants]

72. How can you not? They're amazing.

[Tikki]

15. I have nothing against.....

Neil Diamond's ..."Red, Red Wine"....but, UB40's cover of this song is great .



Tikki

[Left Is Write]

16. On Lenny Kravitz and The Guess Who...

"American Woman"

This is a case of my liking the remake just as well as the original, liking each version for different reasons.

[asthmaticeog]

17. Don't suppose you've heard

the Butthole Surfers' version of "American Woman?" They take it to unexpected new places.

[Left Is Write]

21. No, I haven't.

I'd be interested.

[johnnie]

18. More

The Who - Heatwave
Johnny Cash - One
Elvis Costello - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding?
Sex Pistols - Steppin' Stone

[CrownPrinceBandar]

19. Bobby Fuller's "I Fought the Law"............

Remade by some English band who's name escapes me... :eyes:

[Left Is Write]

20. Fats Domino's version of Blueberry Hill.

[Initech]

22. Zappa's cover of Stairway to Heaven

[Merrick]

24. Rage Against The Machine - "The Ghost of Tom Joad"

[CBGLuthier]

25. Dweezil and Ahmet's

Do it to me one more time.

[Chovexani]

28. They actually make some good covers

I swear to god, they did a cover of Britney Spears' Hit Me Baby One More Time and it was actually a great song! :wtf:

[CBGLuthier]

91. that's the one I meant

Got the name wrong but yes, it was great.

[yo-yo-ma]

26. jason roe's cover of what i am

edie brickell and the new bohemians

(what a joke band)

but jayce does it great and into something else -- seriously

[DelawareValleyDem]

27. Little Wing

Clapton/Dominoes version over Hendrix

Yeah, I dissed Jimi. So sue me.

[Blue-Jay]

32. Tuck & Patti do a wonderful version of Little Wing as well.

Tuck Andress might well be one of the most underrated guitar players in the history of lutes.

[driver8]

105. OMG, that is so funny that you mention Tuck and Patti. We were

sitting at home last weekend and my wife put on a Tuck and Patti cd. I wasn't paying attention at first, but I started listening to the guitar and I said, "Wow! This guy is amazing!" I had never heard them before and was absolutely blown away.

[democracyindanger]

100. HA! Stevie Ray Vaughan over Clapton and Hendrix.

Sue me twice.

[lady raven]

108. Sue me too.

I like Clapton/ Dominoes, Clapton/ Sheryl Crow, and Concrete Blonde's versions all more than the original Little Wing.

[tuvor]

29. Without a doubt (and no surprise, I'm sure)

Devo's "Satisfaction".

"Yo, dawg, you took that song and you made it your own!" --Randy Jackson

[Spider Jerusalem]

31. Lou Reed's cover of "This Magic Moment".

[Graf Orlok]

Marilyn Manson's version of "Personal Jesus"

The Ataris version of the "The Boys of Summer"
Metallica's version of "Astronomy"
Orgy's version of "Blue Monday"

Edit: I can't spell today.

[Left Is Write]

35. I need to hear this MM version of Personal Jesus.

PJ is one of my favorite songs.

[ghostsofgiants]

41. Manson's cover of "Tainted Love" and "Sweet Dreams" are great too

[Left Is Write]

45. Sweet Dreams is kind of freaky, but I like it anyway.

[Graf Orlok]

49. Ah, yes...

I forgot to add those.

Thanks for reminding me. :)

[NewJeffCT]

128. yes, that is a good cover

they took a good original song & totally changed it into a very good song.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

98. I like Johnny Cash's cover better

[gollygee]

33. The Clash's version of I Fought the Law

Like that one

[JimmyJazz]

116. Yes, but NOT their cover of "Police and Thieves"

HEY! I can be impartial :)

[samdogmom]

34. I like The Pretenders' version of "Forever Young" better than Bob Dylan's

[Scout1071]

36. Billy Idol's version of 'Don't you forget about me' of the Simple Minds

fame. Saw him sing it and he told the audience it was actually written specifically for him, but due to drugs and bravado he refused to record it at the time. It is excellent.

Think of the song. You can hear Billy singing it even when you hear the Simple Minds version. Those guys lucked out.

[ghostsofgiants]

40. On a Billy Idol note..

The band HIM does an amazing cover of "Rebel Yell".

[ofrfxsk]

55. How strange. I never heard that but

when it was popular my friends and I (early teens then) were convinced Billy was singing parts of it. Listen to the line "I'll put us back together at heart, baby" and tell me that's not him.

The weird things you remember. lol

[NervousRex]

37. The Liverbirds...

version of Peanut Butter.

[bridgit]

38. metallica ~ turn the page

:thumbsup:

[Blue-Jay]

46. .

:thumbsdown:

The original was bad enough, but Metallica made it suck worse.

[bridgit]

47. whatever...

[Blue-Jay]

54. ouch.

[Graf Orlok]

58. I like Metallica's version of "Astronomy"

better than Blue Oyster Cult's version.

[bridgit]

89. i hear'ya talk'n but you better keep it to yourself...

:rofl: :hide:

[CrownPrinceBandar]

92. No friggin way.

[yo-yo-ma]

109. sacrilege!!

boc (i have to say) rocks == before you judge don't fear the reaper, check out secret treaties

[HuskerDU]

118. Dig the Blue Oyster Cult?

Catch 'em tonight live in Marengo Iowa! (Not kidding)

[TroubleMan]

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

both better that the originals....the first one considerably so.

[anarch]

44. Spacemen 3's version of "Transparent Radiation"

The Red Krayola was innovative and all, but for sheer listening pleasure, I gotta go with the cover version....

[ofrfxsk]

50. Blue Monday

I'm probably going to get creamed for this but Orgy's version is better than New Order's! There I said it.

[Graf Orlok]

59. I agree with you.

See my post above. :)

[NewJeffCT]

127. no way

New Order's version is one of my all time favorites.

[never cry wolf]

51. Summer Breeze

By the Isley Brothers, it's to die for!

[swimboy]

52. Lene Lovich's "I think we're alone now"

Lene is the Leader.

[jonnyblitz]

64. i love her.

"my lucky number's two" :thumbsup:

[swimboy]

71. She grabbed my hand during Lucky Number at the Warner Theater.

Many years ago. I had pushed my way to the front. It was a defining moment for me.

[jonnyblitz]

83. I saw her also, many years ago, at the paradise in boston..

what a great show. I love the songs, the writing on the wall, monkey talk, and new toy.

[catbert836]

53. A lot of Dylan songs

For instance:
All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix
Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds
Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Guns and Roses

just to name a few

[samdogmom]

63. I made a compilation CD of Dylan songs back-to-back with covers

It's fun to directly compare his version to another artist's take. In many cases, I agree that the other artist's version is preferable to his.

[samdogmom]

65. Aretha Franklin's "Respect" blows away Otis Redding's original.

[atomic-fly]

69. Robyn Hitchcock does a whole double cd of Dylan Covers

"Robyn Sings"...some very good covers.
One cd is all acoustic and the other is electric.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

56. Johnny Cash's version of NIN "Hurt"

[atomic-fly]

57. brilliant version...

Best song I've heard in years.

[johnnie]

61. One of the best videos ever made too

I miss Johnny.

[atomic-fly]

66. i agree

Who was his producer for his last few albums...they really created some great stuff. That video is amazing.

[johnnie]

67. Rick Rubin

They made a lot of great records. Unfortunately I haven't been able to buy the box set yet, but it is filled with a hell of a lot of stuff they did together.

Rubin is working with Neil Diamond now.

[atomic-fly]

73. that could be interesting...

,

[johnnie]

74. I think Neil has written some great songs

I'm looking forward to it because Rubin wouldn't just work with any hack. I'm sure it will be interesting too.

[atomic-fly]

78. I'll keep an eye out for that. nt

[thinkingwoman]

70. Hear, Hear!

That one beats all in my book!

[Parrcrow]

60. Janis Joplin's version of Me and Bobbi McGee

[Lydia Leftcoast]

99. That's the first one that came to my mind

:-)

[Nevernose]

111. I was under the impression that Kris wrote it for Janis

No?

[ofrfxsk]

68. Baker Street - Kind of a toss up

I like the Foo Fighters version but the original has that nostalgic appeal.

[chknltl]

75. Spooky Tooth's "Son of your Father"

...so put that in yer pipe and smoke it.

[atomic-fly]

76. I got one...Tori Amos version of "Strange little Girl" by

the stranglers.

[cedahlia]

124. yes, Tori's done some fabulous covers!

to name a few more...

Elton John's "Daniel"
"Abraham Martin and John"
"Desperado"

...all damn near guaranteed to start the waterworks going. If you like sad songs, she is the queen!

[cedahlia]

125. Jonatha Brooke's cover of "Eye in the Sky"

is beautiful. Gives a whole new life to that song.

*****************

oops, didn't mean to reply to my own post...meant to reply to the OP...oh well!

[SalmonChantedEvening]

79. Wonderful Tonight by Clapton

Although the original is a doo-wop classic I love, Clapton's cover is pure magic.

[ofrfxsk]

86. I always thought Clapton was the original artist

Do you know who was? I'm really surprised. Ya learn something new everyday.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

93. Well I'll be damned....

I have it backwards. The acapella doowop version is the cover. My bad.

"When Reunion recorded "Wonderful Tonight" in 1985, they ushered in a new era in the popularity of Acappella music. With distinctive lead vocals and their tight harmonies, the group easily travels from Doo Wop to the hits of today. They're joined on this album by special guest Willie Winfield of The Harptones, one of the great Doo Wop singers of the '50s."


http://www.dell.oldies.com/product/view.cfm/id_55612.html#description

[swag]

80. Pussy Galore's "Yu Gung", from the original by Einsturzende Neubauten

Both versions brilliant, but Pussy Galore incorporates Link Wray's "chicken walk" guitar lick into the pounding sonic dread, along with the puzzling interrogatory exclamation, "telephone?!?" by Spencer, after the live Bargeld.



Sugarshit Sharp. Got no complaints.

"I am the whole Chinese people. And Yu Gung can move mountains!"

[CanuckAmok]

81. Laibach - Get Back (Beatles), Nick Cave - Death is Not the End (Dylan)

Einsturzende Neubauten do an amazing version of Nancy Sinatra's "Sand".

[swag]

84. Nice choices. Yeah,

and Lydia Lunch teamed with Roland S. Howard (from the Birthday Party) for an incredible single of "Some Velvet Morning" by Sinatra and Hazelwood.

Lee Hazelwood and Kim Fowley are the two most demented men in Hollywood history, bar none.

Oh, and speaking of Kim Fowley, that Sonic Youth cover of "Bubblegum."

[CanuckAmok]

85. Oh, and Lydia Lunch's version of "Heart Attack and Vine".

..

[khashka]

82. A few

I agree - Bananarama's Venus is superior. (Clashgirl listens to Bananarama and LIKES it? Jimmy you either have hidden depths or hidden shallows.....)


Marilyn Manson's Personal Jesus. MM's Tainted Love (and I feel like a traitor saying it). MM's "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). The boy can do covers!

Sinead O'Conner's "Love Hurts"

Kate Bush's "The Man I Love"




Khash.

[Lethe]

87. i keep waiting for someone to say It's My Life that No Doubt covered.....

and i would have to say in advance, Talk Talk's version is better, although No Doubt did do a good job.

[spacelady]

88. Oingo Boingo's "You Really Got Me" & Elton John's "Pinball Wizard".

[CanuckAmok]

101. That made me think of the Dickies' "Nights in White Satin"

...

[KitchenWitch]

90. The Byrds "Mr Tambourine Man"

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

96. Shawn Colvin's cover of Killing the Blues., Annie Lennox's Train in Vain

not really on the Lennox song, I was just fucking with ya :D

[JimmyJazz]

112. Fucking with me? You almost *killed* me!

:o

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

113. Well she does a great job on the song, you gotta admit

and proves how versatile the Clash's music really is

[HEAVYHEART]

103. Same here

:thumbsup:

[HEAVYHEART]

104. I love this thread!

So many songs covered by said artists I didn't know about! I can't wait to check them out. I agree with most of the selections too. Very cool!! :bounce:

[driver8]

106. I like Nirvana's version of The Meat Puppets "Lake of Fire"

much more than the original.

[cssmall]

107. Immigrant Song covered by Demons and Wizards

:hide:

[Nevernose]

110. Piece of My Heart -- Janis Joplin

[bridgit]

114. faith hill ~ piece of my heart

[Burma Jones]

115. Camper van Beethoven had two

Photograph - I liked it better than Ringo's

Pictures of Matchstick Men - Originally by Status Quo - Well, maybe they're equal

[taterguy]

121. at least three

Don't forget their version of Black Flag's Wasted, and the material they did on the Camper Van Chadbourne albums

[bridgit]

117. ub40 ~ red red wine

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

119. The Honeydrippers: Sea of Love

[HuskerDU]

120. My favorite cover is the New York Dolls doing

'Give Her a Great Big Kiss'. Complete with the 'call' and girl-group type harmonies intact. Plus it rocks balls out.

No offense to Jimmy Jazz, but I like the Dead Kennedy's version of 'I Fought the Law' better than the Clash's version. (which I also like better than the original.)

One more, The Rolling Stones doing Robert Johnson's 'Love In Vain'.

[recoveringdittohed]

122. Eva Cassidy cover of "Over the Rainbow"

Also better than the original, Jerry Lee Lewis cover of Hank Williams" "You Win Again" and Johnny Dowd cover of Hank Williams "A Picture From Life's Other Side".

[El Fuego]

123. "Word Up" by Korn

[cedahlia]

126. Smashing Pumpkins cover of "Landslide"

I'm probably going to get yelled at by Fleetwood Mac fans, but I like SP's better! It's beautiful!

[NewJeffCT]

129. Bruce Springsteen & Van Halen

I love Edwinn Starr's original version of "War", but I think Bruce did a bit better with his live version of it.

I also think Van Halen's version of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" injected energy & vibrancy into an already good song.

Both took very good originals & did something different to the song, but also made the covers excellent.