Covers that are better than the original

[manicm]

Many are going to be infuriated by my (slightly left of field) selection, but A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall by Bryan Ferry.

 

[manicm]

Now that he's accepted into mankind again, I actually liked those old soul/Supremes covers Phil Collins did.

 

[BigH]

Best version of (Call it) Stormy Monday?

 

[jameshay12]

roxy music "jealous guy"

 

[BigH]

Not sure there are enough for this to get legs, but new versions of songs was discussed on another thread which prompted me to go listen to some of my favourites.

So to try to get a thread running, I'll start with my favourite cover (I think the original was a cover of a trad song anyway - might be wrong):

Whiskey In The Jar by Metallica.

Never heard it before but sounds just like a copy of Thin Lizzies version? But what is the original?

 

[BigH]

Hurt by Johnny Cash

Love Hurts by Gram Parsons with Emmylou Harris

 

[DIB]

Have a listen to Richard Thompson's version of Britney Spears' "Oops! I Did It Again" off his marvellous 1000 Years of Popular Music album.

Who's to say it's better, but it's certainly different.

.

 

[manicm]

roxy music "jealous guy"

Saw Ferry do it live in concert, with a saxophonist, extended solo, what a show.

 

[TomSawyer]

Never heard it before but sounds just like a copy of Thin Lizzies version?

In terms of tune it does but its got guts and drive that the Lizzy version doesn't IMO.

But what is the original?

I'm pretty sure it's credited as a traditional song. The Dubliners did it before Lizzy but again I don't think it was original then.

 

[BigH]

Never heard it before but sounds just like a copy of Thin Lizzies version?

In terms of tune it does but its got guts and drive that the Lizzy version doesn't IMO.

But what is the original?

I'm pretty sure it's credited as a traditional song. The Dubliners did it before Lizzy but again I don't think it was original then.

http://www.avclub.com/article/long-and-winding-road-whiskey-jar-irish-musics-mos-216532

 

[DocG]

Have a listen to Richard Thompson's version of Britney Spears' "Oops! I Did It Again" off his marvellous 1000 Years of Popular Music album.

Who's to say it's better, but it's certainly different.

+1! My favourite too. It's on Spotify!

 

[TomSawyer]

Have a listen to Richard Thompson's version of Britney Spears' "Oops! I Did It Again" off his marvellous 1000 Years of Popular Music album.

Brilliant - although I must declare a view that Britney's "baby one more time" song was a great pop song albeit with a unnecessary video.

A couple of other candidates to consider:

Stairway to Heaven by Rodrigo y Gabriela

Wonderwall by The Mike Flowers Pops

 

[manicm]

Have a listen to Richard Thompson's version of Britney Spears' "Oops! I Did It Again" off his marvellous 1000 Years of Popular Music album.

Brilliant - although I must declare a view that Britney's  "baby one more time" song was a great pop song albeit with a unnecessary video.

A couple of other candidates to consider:

Stairway to Heaven by Rodrigo y Gabriela

Wonderwall by The Mike Flowers Pops

NO, NO,NO AND NO!

 

[Andrewjvt]

The white stripes with a cracking version of Dolly Parton's Jolene on the live album . under the great white northern lights.

plus 1

 

[TomSawyer]

Hey Ya by Obidiah Parker?

 

[knaithrover]

Steely Dan's 'Dr Wu' by the Minutemen from their wildly inventive Double Nickels on the Dime album is brilliant, I only realised recently it was a cover ha!

 

[BigH]

Have a listen to Richard Thompson's version of Britney Spears' "Oops! I Did It Again" off his marvellous 1000 Years of Popular Music album.

Brilliant - although I must declare a view that Britney's "baby one more time" song was a great pop song albeit with a unnecessary video.

A couple of other candidates to consider:

Stairway to Heaven by Rodrigo y Gabriela

Wonderwall by The Mike Flowers Pops

Talking of Led Zepp. I don't mind Beth Rowley's version of Nobody's Fault But Mine.

 

[TrevC]

Almost any cover is better than an original Jackson Browne song. He is so lack lustre as a studio performer IMO. For example, try Nico or Glen Campbell doing 'These Days' or Christy Moore doing 'How Long'.

 

[busb]

Collide - White Rabbit

Claire Guerreso - Tainted Love

Devo - I can't get no satisfaction (amusing, if not better)

Heavy D & the Boyz - Mr Big Stuff

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

@ Trev C

I do love Nico's 'These Days', it's just stunning, and I'll listen out for Glen Campbell doing it too, could be good.

 

[Al ears]

Have a listen to Richard Thompson's version of Britney Spears' "Oops! I Did It Again" off his marvellous 1000 Years of Popular Music album.

Brilliant - although I must declare a view that Britney's "baby one more time" song was a great pop song albeit with a unnecessary video.

A couple of other candidates to consider:

Stairway to Heaven by Rodrigo y Gabriela

Wonderwall by The Mike Flowers Pops

Talking of Led Zepp. I don't mind Beth Rowley's version of Nobody's Fault But Mine.

It makes a change for someone to be ripping off a Led Zeppelin number. ;-)

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Toots & The Maytals - Louie Louie

 

[TrevC]

Have a listen to Richard Thompson's version of Britney Spears' "Oops! I Did It Again" off his marvellous 1000 Years of Popular Music album.

Brilliant - although I must declare a view that Britney's "baby one more time" song was a great pop song albeit with a unnecessary video.

A couple of other candidates to consider:

Stairway to Heaven by Rodrigo y Gabriela

Wonderwall by The Mike Flowers Pops

Talking of Led Zepp. I don't mind Beth Rowley's version of Nobody's Fault But Mine.

It makes a change for someone to be ripping off a Led Zeppelin number. ;-)

John Renbourne's version is better. Led Zep kind of zapped it.

 

[knaithrover]

Big Black doing Kraftwerk's 'The Model' betters the already excellent original. Heavy.

 

[Blacksabbath25]

Greedence Clearwater.... I heard it through the grapevine

Guns n roses ..... Live and let die

Marilyn Manson..... Sweet dreams are made of this

over kill album which is called cover kill .. Covers of black sabbath , led Zeppelin and so on

ozzy osbourne has done a load of cover songs as well