Category one: Songs that there are a million versions of, and this band does the best.
Category two: A badass song that is a cover of a less badass song, or at least does a really incredible song due tribute.
My votes:
One:
Sympathy For The Devil by Skrew. There are SOOO many versions, but this hardcore industrial version is second only to the original.
Two:
The Ghost of Tom Joad by Rage Against The Machine. I like the original a lot, but I LOVE this version. From Tom’s helicopter-guitar effect at the beginning to Zack’s echoing voice, to when the bass and guitar come in together to rock it out social-reform style, it rules.
Nevermore - Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel Ozzy Ozbourne & Miss Piggy - Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf
Category two:
In Flames - Everything Counts - Depeche Mode Ten Masked Men - Blue (Da Ba Dee) - GABUTTI Fall Silent - Sesame Street - (?) Yngwie Malmsteen - Gimme Gimme Gimme - ABBA Sodom - Hazy Shade of Winter - Simon & Garfunkel Limp Bizkit - Faith - George Michael (even tho I hate LB) Gamma Ray - Its a Sin - Pet Shop Boys
Sheryl Crow- Sweet Child O’Mine (Guns n’ Roses)
I never liked this song until S.C. sang it, then I realized Axle Rose is a fucking genious (uh…in a way, maybe just for that one song).
Ooh she also did a cover of D’yer Maker by Led Zepplen, I thought it was pretty good.
Sundays- Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)
Gotta love Harriet’s Voice. She is an angel.
Hole- Hungry Like the Wolf (Duran Duran)
I love Courtney and Duran Duran too. Hmmm… which version? I just like her’s cause she kicks ass with heels on.
Unchained Melody – Heart. A live cover on their Greatest Hits LP (not CD) from 1981. They turned the schmaltzy 6/8 ballad into a 4/4 rocker. It’s the only version of this song I can stand.
Category Two:
Going Down to Liverpool and Hazy Shade of Winter – Bangles. Originally recorded by Katrina and the Waves and Paul Simon, respectively.
Tears of a Clown - English Beat
Mrs. Robinson - Lemonheads
Police and Thieves - ** Clash**
Brand New Cadillac - ** Clash**
This One’s For You - Teddy Pendergrass
It’s Not Unusual - Wild Colonials
Me and My Uncle - Grateful Dead
Any cover by either Ritchie Havens (just one example: Just Like A Woman), Leo Kottke (joe: Twilight Time) or Eva Cassidy (joe: Time After Time) is likely to be better than the original.
If you like female vocalists and covers, I highly recommend Shawn Colvin’s album Cover Girl.
Respect by Aretha Franklin - yeah, Otis Redding’s original was great, but this the Queen of Soul’s cover of it is one of the greatest rock songs ever - certainly top 5. Just like the general consensus (you don’t have to agree, but you do have to acknowledge the general opinion) is that the Beatles are the greatest rock band, Aretha’s respect is the greatest cover.
Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye - okay, it was written for him, but first recorded by Gladys Night and the Pips, then recorded by him, but it doesn’t get much better
All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix - the one most people realize is a cover (most folks I talk with don’t realize that Respect or Grapevine are even covers) - amazing stuff…
In Category 2: Alien Ant Farm’s cover of Smooth Criminal is pretty rockin’! The lead singer of AAF even does all the vocal yelping that MJ made famous.
Bonzo Dog Band’s cover of “Monster Mash” is much better than the original.
Joe Cocker’s versions of “The Letter” is the definitive category two – the Box Tops were great, but Cocker (and Leon Russell) is greater. Cocker also did terrific covers of “A Little Help from My Friends” (category 1), “Feelin’ Alright?” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” and “Cry Me a River.”
Megadeth’s cover of the old Nancy Sinatra tune “These Boots Are Made for Walking” is an absolute riot…of course, they did change the lyrics a bit, too, which helps.
