Covers that are better than the original

Forums: Covers, Music, Lyrics, Video, Remakes
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Ok, so it's not often that I think the cover is an improvement on the original, and I'm sure this has a lot to do with both respect for the composer's vision as well as just having heard one first (because sometimes when I hear the cover first it can seem more authentic to me).

But this is a beast that I'm sure does exist so I want examples from you mélomane a2kers, what covers improve on the original? Here are a couple of my picks:

Jimi Hendrix covering Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower.
Nirvana covering David Bowie's Man Who Sold the World

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@Robert Gentel,

I'm no expert on pop music, but for me anything recorded by Jimi Hendrix has to be vastly superior to anything done by Bob Dylan, regardless of who the composer is.

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@Robert Gentel,

I liked John Cash's version of Hurt better than nine inch nails.

he gave it more depth and meaning.

and I prefer Joan Jett's crimson and clover to the original...

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@Rockhead,

That's a great example, even the composer said it was Cash's song after that.

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@Robert Gentel,

Simply Red and If you don't know me by now, (originally performed by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes).

Much of the covers from Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead, a CD compilation of various artists from 1991.
1. Bertha - Los Lobos
2. Jack Straw - Bruce Hornsby
3. U.S. Blues - The Harshed Mellows
4. Ship of Fools - Elvis Costello
5. China Doll - Suzanne Vega
6. Cassidy - Suzanne Vega
7. Truckin' - Dwight Yoakam
8. Casey Jones - David Lindley, Warren Zevon
9. Uncle John's Band - Indigo Girls
10. Friend of the Devil - Lyle Lovett
12. Wharf Rat - Midnight Oil

[red]My favorites from the album.[/color]

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@Merry Andrew,

Dunno, I think Jimi Hendrix would butcher a Dylan song like Forever Young or Mr. Tambourine.

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My favorite cover of an Elvis Presley song:

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I like Apocalyptica's version of Nothing Else Matters more than Metallica's

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see i liked xtc's cover of all along the watchtower best

marianne faithful does an excellent version of cohen's tower of song

1 Reply

@djjd62,

Neil Young hits watchtower pretty hard as well...

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@Robert Gentel,

Ive always stood Arlo Guthrie's version of the Beatles Tune "Ive Just Seen a FAce" as the best version of that song.

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@Rockhead,

someone once heard the xtc version playing at my work station and said, who the **** is that murdering that great song, high praise indeed

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I never cared for Hendrix. Sacrilege, some would say, but that's tough.

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@djjd62,

I'm listening to it now, and I agree with whoever said that.

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Joan Baez - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Such a Night by Elvis Presley

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@farmerman,

Elanor Rigby- cover by Ray Charleshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0iI6k4NHE&feature=related

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@Robert Gentel,

i like discord, what can i say

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Any version of "Hallelujah," not sung by Leonard Cohen.

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Johnny Cash - Rowboat by Beck
Dinosaur Jr - Just Like Heaven by The Cure
Husker Du - Eight Miles High by The Byrds
Molly Hatchet- Dreams by The Allman Bros

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@Robert Gentel,

I liked Power Station's cover of "Get it on" better than T. Rex.
(I’m getting a Déjà vu feeling at this topic.)

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Covers that are better than the original

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