Author Topic: Cover Versions that are better than the Originals (Read 131396 times)

Djibriliant · « **Reply #160 on:** June 12, 2008, 10:57:13 am »

Quote from: deadlybuzz on June 8, 2008, 01:52:21 am

You Sexy Thing sung by the Stereophonics is a good one I've heard lately.

Aye, I agree with that

coolbyrne · « **Reply #161 on:** June 12, 2008, 04:47:05 pm »

The already mentioned "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor (Prince) and "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi (Dylan)

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say "better than", but these covers stand on their own as good versions:

Vanilla Fudge- Keep Me Hangin' On (Diana Ross and the Supremes)
Manfred Mann's Earth Band- Blinded by the Light (Bruce Springsteen; many people don't even know that's a cover)
Cream- Crossroads (Robert Johnson)
Metallica- Tuesday's Gone (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Orgy- Blue Monday (New Order)

Oingy Boingy · « **Reply #162 on:** June 12, 2008, 05:02:44 pm »

American pie....Madonna brilliant twist on a classic

Live and let die.....Guns and roses cracking rock version of maccas tired song

Red_Isle_Chap · « **Reply #163 on:** June 12, 2008, 10:41:58 pm »

Very rare for me that a cover is better than the original. I usually like covers that are completely different takes on the original. For example Tori Amos's version of Raining Blood (Slayer) is fucking amazing. The utter genius's that are Ulver covered Black Sabbath's "solitude" on their latest album and it's also fucking superb, it's got trumpets and all kinds of shit going on in it.

Franck Le Poof · « **Reply #164 on:** June 12, 2008, 10:44:58 pm »

Somebody's watching me, Raunchy cover

Samio · « **Reply #165 on:** June 13, 2008, 11:25:42 am »

Not better than the original I don't think, but it's still good ... Fall Out Boy doing Michael Jackson - Beat It

Fairytale of 2005 · « **Reply #166 on:** June 13, 2008, 05:35:36 pm »

Not too many come to mind, but I'd like to nominate:

Live & Let Die - Guns n Roses.

Edit: Just seen it mentioned above.

sheff-jim · « **Reply #167 on:** June 13, 2008, 09:19:58 pm »

Here's a few decent cover versions.

The Jam - So Sad About Us (The Who)

The Jam - David Watts (The Kinks)

The Jam - Disguises (The Who)

The Jam - Heatwave (Martha and the Vandellas)

The Jam - I got you, I feel Good (James Brown)

The Jam - Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett)

The Jam - Move on up (Curtis Mayfield)

The Jam - Sweet Soul Music (Arthur Conley)

The Lambrettas - Poison Ivy (??)

Cross Section - High Heel Sneakers (??)

Did The Jam do any of their own stuff!!

Kashinoda · « **Reply #168 on:** June 14, 2008, 08:45:04 pm »

Gerry and the Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone? (Can't believe that took 5 pages)

Edit
Newton Faulkner - Teardrop (Maybe?)

redchiz · « **Reply #169 on:** June 15, 2008, 07:37:01 pm »

Quote from: sheff-jim on June 13, 2008, 09:19:58 pm

Here's a few decent cover versions.

The Jam - So Sad About Us (The Who)

The Jam - David Watts (The Kinks)

The Jam - Disguises (The Who)

The Jam - Heatwave (Martha and the Vandellas)

The Jam - I got you, I feel Good (James Brown)

The Jam - Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett)

The Jam - Move on up (Curtis Mayfield)

The Jam - Sweet Soul Music (Arthur Conley)

The Lambrettas - Poison Ivy (??)

Cross Section - High Heel Sneakers (??)

Did The Jam do any of their own stuff!!

DAVID WATTS is good. The rest are pants.

Noel Gallagher's version of TO BE SOMEONE, on the other hand, is excellent. Complete with tweaks:

"Wasn't it such a nice time?
I can't remember if I had a nice time..."

Dr. Beaker · « **Reply #170 on:** June 19, 2008, 12:52:15 pm »

Black Magic Woman - Santana

highland red · « **Reply #171 on:** June 19, 2008, 02:39:40 pm »

Bright Eyes - Puressence
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

skidz73 · « **Reply #172 on:** June 19, 2008, 08:59:34 pm »

I'm kind of partial to the Foo Fighters cover of Baker Street. Sounds better than the cheesy Saxamaphone in the original

MJL · « **Reply #173 on:** June 19, 2008, 11:25:52 pm »

YNWA??

ewok-red · « **Reply #174 on:** June 19, 2008, 11:50:43 pm »

nirvana - mollys lips - though the drumming on the original is killer
bizarre love triangle (i think) frente (i think)
song to the siren - tmc - mentioned elsewhere
a monkeys - love machine - " "
clash - police + " "
christy moore - beesting
pete doherty - another girl / planet
ukulele orchestra - everything !!!! esp shaft

Dan86 · « **Reply #175 on:** June 26, 2008, 08:01:18 am »

One - Johnny Cash

Love the original but just heard the man in black's version, it's beautiful.

stevie h g · « **Reply #176 on:** June 26, 2008, 11:01:34 am »

Quote from: David Sanction on October 15, 2007, 02:06:59 am

all along the watchtower by Hendrix.

when I saw the title of this thread this is what immediately came to mind. Also with a little help from my friends by Joe Cocker.

BCCC · « **Reply #177 on:** June 26, 2008, 07:54:50 pm »

Many Rivers to Cross - UB40

Claire. · « **Reply #178 on:** August 10, 2008, 12:25:30 am »

Dunno if it's been posted already, but Radiohead covering Sunday Bloody Sunday. Lovely stuff.

Can't youtube it, so you'll have to believe me that it's ace if you've never heard it.

Mike Doyle · « **Reply #179 on:** August 10, 2008, 12:34:57 am »

Feeling Good by Muse

Even if I think it's Muse worst studio track, it is still better than the original IMO

Carras Left Foot · « **Reply #180 on:** August 10, 2008, 06:02:48 pm »

Oasis' version of I Am The Walrus is better than The Beatles version IMO

I prefer the more Rock N Roll style of it.

DizzyMunchkin · « **Reply #181 on:** August 10, 2008, 06:56:42 pm »

Quote from: Oingy Boingy on June 8, 2008, 03:11:11 am

Girls aloud and the Sugababes cover of "walk this way" by Run Dmc is fantastic

HELL NO are you tone deaf!! that was fucking awful & I don't mind some of the stuff both groups do. Aerosmith by themselves or with Run DMC are the best

Motorhead do a mean version Louie Louie & Def Leppard with Warrants Cherry pie

wacko · « **Reply #182 on:** August 10, 2008, 07:03:58 pm »

I think Faith No More's versions of Easy and War Pigs are superior to the originals: they get the tempo spot on, whereas the originals were too fast and too slow respectively.

I loved a lot of the Tracks on Tom Jones' Reload, in particular Burning Down the House.

I guess it's my odd taste in music but I also love some of Richard Cheese's stuff. Smoke Two Joints is a great cover, but I think I prefer the original.

Finally, this is a brilliant cover:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/MC-zUWJgEUo&hl=en&fs=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/MC-zUWJgEUo&hl=en&fs=1</a>

Slave · « **Reply #183 on:** August 10, 2008, 07:45:31 pm »

Quote from: ¡Basta Ya! on October 16, 2007, 07:23:29 am

Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana (Original by Bowie)

Never. Not in my eyes.

OsirisMVZ · « **Reply #184 on:** August 10, 2008, 08:09:20 pm »

Local H - Toxic

Tomaldinho · « **Reply #185 on:** August 10, 2008, 08:31:53 pm »

This is an odd shout especially from myself a 21 year old, but I was watching Kill Bill last nite and my Mum insisted that the original of "Bang Bang" was Sonny and Cher but I was sure it was Nancy Sinatra.

Turns out it was written by Sonny and released in 1966 but re-released only a year later by Nancy Sinatra, definitely a better version.

AndrewLFC_1971 · « **Reply #186 on:** August 10, 2008, 08:43:26 pm »

Quote from: corkboy on October 14, 2007, 11:18:50 pm

Here's two.

Alien Ant Farm: Smooth Criminal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxeNZOLNh4c

Wheatus: Respect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqgGfC8A5-c

Neither of those are better than the original.

TheKid. · « **Reply #187 on:** August 10, 2008, 08:48:52 pm »

obviously a lot of Johnny Cash here, but no mention of The Mercy Seat? I know there's a few Nick Cave fans here, but come on!!

I also have a guilty fondness of No Woman, No Cry by the Fugees! Helps that it's on possibly my favourite album ever tho, time and place and memories of being 15 all evoked by it

kingmonkey007 · « **Reply #188 on:** August 10, 2008, 08:52:17 pm »

(Bob Dylan's) Knocking on Heaven's Door, by ~~Avril Lavigne~~ Eric Clapton.

The Bill Hicks Appreciation Society · « **Reply #189 on:** August 10, 2008, 09:01:24 pm »

Quote from: wacko on August 10, 2008, 07:03:58 pm

I think Faith No More's versions of Easy and War Pigs are superior to the originals: they get the tempo spot on, whereas the originals were too fast and too slow respectively.

Best covers band ever

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/6J6EzuNuYBs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/6J6EzuNuYBs</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/590lnic4kUo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/590lnic4kUo</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/zQ4yoYJV_ZY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/zQ4yoYJV_ZY</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/j-XzqcP79vQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/j-XzqcP79vQ</a>

tried to find their version of Engelberts 'Blue Spanish Eyes' but it's not on youtube :shock

Corkboy · « **Reply #190 on:** August 10, 2008, 09:12:38 pm »

Quote from: AndrewLFC_1971 on August 10, 2008, 08:43:26 pm

Neither of those are better than the original.

Funny, I heard the Jacko version of Smooth Criminal on the radio today. I stand by my original view.

mbroon · « **Reply #191 on:** August 10, 2008, 09:24:51 pm »

Behind Blue Eyes by Limp Bizkit

hooded claw · « **Reply #192 on:** August 10, 2008, 09:26:13 pm »

Quote from: TheKid. on August 10, 2008, 08:48:52 pm

obviously a lot of Johnny Cash here, but no mention of The Mercy Seat? I know there's a few Nick Cave fans here, but come on!!

I also have a guilty fondness of No Woman, No Cry by the Fugees! Helps that it's on possibly my favourite album ever tho, time and place and memories of being 15 all evoked by it

They're on a par for me; just as I See A Darkness matches the original. Close call, but as NC himself said, once JC covers one of your songs, it doesn't get any better than that.

And I've mentioned it 3 or 4 times. Just not in this thread

TheKid. · « **Reply #193 on:** August 10, 2008, 09:29:17 pm »

I know, that's how I knew it was a Nick Cave cover!! I just love all versions that Cash does, can't even listen to The Beatles' In My Life any more, much preferring Cash's!!

Slightly Less Mediocre Baron Bennekov · « **Reply #194 on:** August 10, 2008, 10:21:50 pm »

Guns n' Roses' cover of "Sympathy for the devil" (Original by The Rolling Stones) for the soundtrack to "Interview with a vampire" is not too bad either. Is it better? For me it's a mood thing...

I dunno if this one has been mentioned: "Go West" by Pet Shop Boys (original by Village People) is better imo.

Speaking of Johnny Cash - Social Distortion covered "Ring of Fire". Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i2ESgR0FUM&feature=related

js2212 · « **Reply #195 on:** August 10, 2008, 11:07:29 pm »

dizzee rascal's cover of thats not my name

lurganboy · « **Reply #196 on:** August 11, 2008, 06:08:46 pm »

Quote from: Carras Left Foot on August 10, 2008, 06:02:48 pm

Oasis' version of I Am The Walrus is better than The Beatles version IMO

Oh my sweet Jesus, now I've heard some things in my life......

Quite a few have mentioned Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah. But his arrangement of the song on Grace was actually nicked from John Cale, who covered it on a Leonard Cohen tribute album called 'I'm Your Fan' about four years earlier. Cale's is far superior IMHO.

I'll suggest One Night by Elvis Presley. Originally done by Smilely Lewis as One Night (of sin) as a song about VD, with the lines 'One Night of sin/Is what I'm now paying for.'
Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino. Orginally by Gene Autrey.
Joe Cocker's With A Little Help From My Friends, Van Morrison's All In The Game, and Stairway to Heaven by Rolf Harris.

Salty Dog · « **Reply #197 on:** August 12, 2008, 01:54:02 am »

Quote from: Frog on October 15, 2007, 03:53:07 pm

Tool - No Quarter (Original by Led Zeppelin)

Great shout! I've noticed a fair few Nirvana songs mentioned, but 2 that have been overlooked for me are "In the Pines" (trad. American folk, but Kurt credits it to Lead Belly) and "Oh Me" (Meat Puppets). Both are on Unplugged album.

I am a huge Jerry Garcia fan, so I'd like to throw a few of his arrangements of classic tunes into the mix. NOT that they are better (well some are) but he always makes a song his own when he covers it:
After Midnight (JJ Cale) - Clapton's version is amazing as well
The Way You Do The Things You Do (Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers)
Simple Twist Of Fate (Dylan)
Tangled Up In Blue (Dylan)
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry (Dylan)
Dear Prudence (Lennon/McCartney)
I've Been All Around This World (Trad.)
Stealin (Trad.)
Man Of Constant Sorrow (Trad.)
and for me these 2 are better than the originals:
Deep Elem Blues (Trad.)
That's What Love Will Make You Do (James Banks, Eddy Marion, Henderson Thigpen)

Sorry for that, but I couldn't have Jerry go unmentioned.

A few covers that are better than the original:
Smashing Pumpkins - Landslide (Stevie Nicks)
Tegan and Sara - Walking With A Ghost (The White Stripes)
Albert King - Stormy Monday (T-Bone Walker)
Eric Clapton - Cocaine (JJ Cale)
Sublime - Jailhouse (Bob Marley)
Led Zeppelin - Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You (Joan Baez)

...sorry

I'll stop now.

donniebrasco · « **Reply #198 on:** August 12, 2008, 03:37:45 am »

Stevie Ray Vaughan's instrumental version of Little Wing.

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

If you like guitar playing check it out...

litliper · « **Reply #199 on:** August 12, 2008, 10:05:37 am »

Marilyn Manson - Sweet dreams and Tainted love