Question - Instances when the cover song was better than the original?

[dominattorney]

A good many of these responses have got me to thinking: some of the songs we're talking about here could almost be classified as "standards" in the sense that old jazz tunes used to be.  The correction regarding "Not Fade Away"  and it's original author is the perfect example.  I'd note that Going Down the Road Feeling Bad was first recorded (as far as I know) by Woody Guthrie as "Blowing Down that Old Dusty Road."  All Along the Watchtower has also been done by many other bands aside from the Jimi Hendrix Experience.  I should have flushed out my original remarks on Bob Dylan a bit better.  I didn't mean to pan him when I said lots of people play his songs better than he does.  That could be taken as a dig, but in many ways it's the opposite.  There's something about his lyrics that inspires musicians to interpret them over and over again.  His versions are often the most simple.

[BuzzArd]

I've always favored Thin Lizzy's version of Whiskey in the Jar over The Dubliners' version. Although who knows when it was first recorded as it's an old Irish folk tune. Metallica's version hits hard too, but TL does it for me. 

 

[Ken Gargett]

21 hours ago, MrGlass said:

This was the first thought that came to my mind.  The original is terrible.

 

funny enough, this was the first song i thought of as well, but for different reasons.

now, no way on earth is the original terrible. i still love it, but i also loved the mann version (his band did three or four bruce songs and did them all well).

BUT, the "cover version" of this that absolutely rocks and is one of the greats is Bruce with the Sessions Band on "Live in Dublin". one of my all time Bruce faves. he takes it to an entire new level and blows away his early version and that of mann. i am assuming you can 'cover' your own song.

otherwise, agree with john. even though i might be a huge bobness fan, hendrix's version of 'all along the watchtower' is a cut above (although the bobness version on 'Budokan' is pretty hot). and it did everything john suggests.

one huge disagreement - i do not care if god himself does actually exist and comes down and does a new version of 'sound of silence'. it would not get close to simon and garfunkel.

and didn't we do this exact thread about 18 months ago?

[Ken Gargett]

15 hours ago, madandana said:

Van Halen's version of Dancing in the street VS Martha and the Vandellas or Mick Jagger and David Bowie.

 

Metallicas Whiskey in the Jar VS, The Dubliners.

not necessarily better but i love both orbison's 'pretty woman' and the van halen cover.

and possibly more controversial, nina simone's 'i did it my way'.

[jat]

I vote for Sid Vicious version of "I did it my way" over old blue eyes, but then again I'm getting older and grumpier so the angst is relatable .

[Homebrew]

Got a bunch, but here is an example.

This cover is 10 times better

But I like anything Broken Peach covers better than the original.

Dave (A.K.A Homebrew)

[OB1]

Interesting cover... wouldn't say it's better than the original but still:

 

 

[joeypots]

13 hours ago, dominattorney said:

A good many of these responses have got me to thinking: some of the songs we're talking about here could almost be classified as "standards" in the sense that old jazz tunes used to be.  The correction regarding "Not Fade Away"  and it's original author is the perfect example.  I'd note that Going Down the Road Feeling Bad was first recorded (as far as I know) by Woody Guthrie as "Blowing Down that Old Dusty Road."  All Along the Watchtower has also been done by many other bands aside from the Jimi Hendrix Experience.  I should have flushed out my original remarks on Bob Dylan a bit better.  I didn't mean to pan him when I said lots of people play his songs better than he does.  That could be taken as a dig, but in many ways it's the opposite.  There's something about his lyrics that inspires musicians to interpret them over and over again.  His versions are often the most simple.

The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration for Bob Dylan at MSG in 1992 showcases the genius of Dylan's song book. Take issue with his singing or not, I don't know too many covers of the songs on Blood On The Tracks that beat the original and I don't think any one could beat Dylan's tour de force, Hurricane.

 

[westg]

Clearly the world has gone quiet mad... good thread Roberto

[PigFish]

... well I cannot say that I have heard the original! -LOL

While I love organ works (music) they can get monotonous. I therefore I far and away enjoy this version. The transcription retains the simplicity yet enhances the beauty without clutter. The original, intense and ominous. The transcription, well hear for yourself.

This piece known as a horror movie classic is noting less than a beautiful journey to wherever it takes you.

 

 

 

[PigFish]

I also love the music of Aaron Copland... and the knockoffs!

 

[Fuzz]

6 hours ago, PigFish said:

... well I cannot say that I have heard the original! -LOL

While I love organ works (music) they can get monotonous. I therefore I far and away enjoy this version. The transcription retains the simplicity yet enhances the beauty without clutter. The original, intense and ominous. The transcription, well hear for yourself.

This piece known as a horror movie classic is noting less than a beautiful journey to wherever it takes you.

 

 

 

This used to be my phone's ringtone for many years. My co-workers hated it, as the version I used had a very loud and sudden opening, which used to scare the bejeesus out of them.

[earthson]

Only 2 instances spring to mind:

All Along the Watchtower (sorry Bob)

China Girl (although Bowie had a hand in engineering Iggy's version, it was written by Iggy.  Bowie knocked it out of the park.  I can only assume it's because Iggy recorded it while in the late stages of withdrawal, while Bowie waited years after quitting smack to record his version).

I'd also have to give an honorable mention to Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt," though his and the original are neck-and-neck.

[avaldes]

Some GREAT covers on this thread!! That Enter Sandman bit reminds me of being in my buddies college dorm room recording a similar cover with whatever "instruments" we had at the time...including a teaspoon tapping on his...uh..."water pipe."

 

Personally I think Disturbed has some killer covers. Land of Confusion

 

And Living After Midnight:

 

[bigharpoon]

 

Puddles version is much better than the Cheap Trick original

[PigFish]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

This used to be my phone's ringtone for many years. My co-workers hated it, as the version I used had a very loud and sudden opening, which used to scare the bejeesus out of them.

I used this for many years...

 

 

[joeypots]

Compare this

To this

 

[joeypots]

I might get in trouble with this one, but I'm going with Rod on this.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8WM90VuOcA

 

 

 

[Pootana]

http://

Glen Campbell cover of the Richard Harris original


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[mbflash80]

The almighty Priest covering Joan Baez...

 

[dvickery]

Pipeline ... by dick dale and Stevie ray vaughn

superior to the venturers by a mile or so .

derrek

[dvickery]

In my opinion ... Just about anything "lead belly" wrote and sang was covered better .

derrek

[feral]

What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong

Cover version by Joey Ramone recorded while dying of lymphoma

[KnightsAnole]

Fats Domino’s version of Blueberry Hill blew away the original 1940s country and western version. RIP

 

 

[ErikB]

Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson


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