Great Covers that may be better than originals

[Farin]

good one

[bazooka]

The things you learn surfing the web!

I didn't know that Steve Miller didn't write this classic.

Jet Airliner (original) -- Paul Pena.

It was on an long-withheld album and finally released 27 years after it was recorded.

Paul Pena's life story is very surprising.

[Lucky]

Hey, I really like that. More raw vocally, and much less slick musically.

[Farin]

Love Will Tear Us Apart ~ The Cure

umm, not really 'better' though

[blind-fitter]

Indeed not. That was horrible.

Was it really The Cure? What the ******* were they playing at?

[blind-fitter]

Joy Division covers tend to be a bad idea; I wish more people would just check themselves at the drawing-board stage.

For an example of that rare phenomenon- a worthwhile Joy Division cover- try: Isolation", performed by Therapy?

[KentH]

Don't know if they have been listed yet, but I like Elton John's versions of the Who's "Pinball Wizard" and the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Further, I prefer any Manfred Mann cover over any Bruce Springsteen original.

[TheLizard]

Personally I think what Manfred Mann did to "Blinded By The Light" was unforgivable.

[The Seeker]

I much prefer Manfred Mann's cover.

And I think the originals are far superior to Elton John's cover of both songs.

edit: actually, his cover of Lucy in the Sky isn't that bad. I haven't heard it in years.

Edited December 5, 2008 by Guest

[KentH]

I especially like Mann's covers of "For You" and "Spirits in the Night."

[TheLizard]

Nobody sings Bruce better than Bruce.

[Farin]

Human Behavior ~ The Decemberists

[skybluesky]

I never thought I would prefer Bjork's version of any song, but...

and the cat who uploaded the video must be quite the awersome fella.

[MindCrime]

I think They Might Be Giants did a cover that was surprisingly better than the original, I cannot remember the name of it to save me.

[Farin]

I never thought I would prefer Bjork's version of any song, but...

really? I like this version

maybe not as good as the original, but still very clever

and the cat who uploaded the video must be quite the awersome fella.

[Farin]

I think They Might Be Giants did a cover that was surprisingly better than the original, I cannot remember the name of it to save me.

one of these?

[Levis]

My money's on Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

[skybluesky]

Upon a few more listens I liked it a great deal more. I may even put it on my next originals/covers CD.

[blind-fitter]

I'm surely not alone in thinking that Beth Orton's version of "I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine" outshines The Ronettes' original.

"I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine" - Beth Orton

[bazooka]

Sitting On Top Of The World . is a song that's been covered by dozens of artists in the widest variety of styles.

It is almost hard to tell these two versions are from that same source.

• Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys
  
  
  
  
• Cream

[bluesboy]

Here's the original of Dazed and Confused (1967) by Jake Holmes.

We all know what Led Zeppelin did with it after that.

[edna]

I know they´re quite similar but I prefer the Rubinoo´s version of "Thorn In My Side" than the original by Eurythmics.

Must be the guitar...

...well, the Eurythmivs original is also very good...

[logan01]

Hard to top those, however, I prefer the cover by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[bluesboy]

Time Is On My Side - a great Rolling Stones cover,

before that

a Irma Thomas cover that is also pretty good.

The original Time Is On My Side by Kai Winding

The story behind the release.

[bazooka]

[big]Fever[/big] [smaller] _ the original by [/smaller]Little Wille John

The definitive version by Peggy Lee

I like the Neville Brothers take.

• Elvis made an attempt.
  
  
  
  
• Beyoncé shouldn't have bothered.
  
  
  
  
• Michael Bublé puts it in an unconvincing lounge singer style.
  
  
  
  
• Madonna doesn't add much except a comic book video.
  
  
  
  
• Chaka Khan takes a while but gets cookin'.

Here's a checklist of some other players (The Doors, Dylan, James Brown, Grateful Dead, etc. etc.)