Personally, I preferred the Dolly Parton/Vince Gill duet version of I Will Always Love You to her original. And I once got into an argument with a friend over it; she insisted that the Whitney Houston version was the original, and didn’t like the fact that a couple of country singers had dared to redo it. :rolleyes:
I’m making notes on this thread, and will be looking up some of these. I never realized so many groups did covers of “classic” songs. (Metallica did Whiskey In the Jar? I never would have thought of that.)
I was going to mention the “Simple Twist of Fate” on her Greatest Hits album, because she does an excellent Dylan impression on
He woke up, the room was bare
He didn’t see her anywhere.
He told himself he didn’t care, pushed the window open wide,
Felt an emptiness inside to which he just could not relate
Brought on by a simple twist of fate.
I like both of those, but prefer the writer’s (Springsteen) version best. I do have a soft spot for 10,000 Maniac’s “Peace Train” cover too.
Although I did come in to mention a cover of a Springsteen song myself.
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Son Volt’**s cover of *Open All Night *is just incredible. It’s slowed down and almost sad and just awesome.
Earth Wind and Fire’s version of Got To Get You Into My Life
Luther Vandross’ Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me
The Spinner’s Cupid
The Manhattan’s Tomorrow (from Annie)
Sarah Polley’s version of “Courage,” used in the film “The Sweet Hereafter,” is vastly superior to the Tragically Hip original, and its tone and arrangement better suits the song’s subject matter.
I don’t usually make blanket statements like this, but almost any song done by The Detroit Cobras is a better version than the original. They are rock and roll.
I agree that most covers of Leonard Cohen are better than the original, but I would have to make an exception for “Everybody Knows”. Come on, does anyone have a voice like that, to convey that emotion (despair/disillusionment)? The guy sounds like the grim reaper himself.
LOL. That story made me laugh out loud. Dolly has been quoted in the press saying that she loves Whitney’s cover of that song. It has made a boatload of money for her! Personally I prefer Melissa Etheridge’s version…
Now for some of my favorite covers:
Annie Lennox - “Every Time We Say Goodbye”, “Ladies of the Canyon”, and “Something So Right” . She is my favorite singer, and these covers are simply wonderful, especially performed live.
Chris Rea - “Fool If You Think It’s Over” . Very smooth with just a hint of menace.
I have to second an third the mentions of Eva Cassidy . I just wish that I would have known her before she passed away. Her live cd is simply amazing. I also prefer her cover of “Songbird” to Fleetwood Mac’s and that’s saying something.
Fountains of Wayne - “Baby One More Time” . That one makes me giggle too. I happen to like offbeat pop song covers, and this is a good one.
Ooh! Why didn’t I think of that? I love Lovett’s version, and it’s one of my favourite to sing harmony to, in my secret fantasy life where I duet with my heroes. Lyle and I put on a great show…
I’m a diehard Cash fan, so I’m well biased, but I came here to mention Hurt, only to find it right there in the OP. His cover of One was also great.
Are we allowed to include songs in which the cover was the famous one, but the original is preferred? If so, I nominate Kristofferson’s Me and Bobby McGee, which basically walks all over Joplin’s, IMHO.
I think I’m the first to say the two obvious ones. Sinead O’Connors “Nothing Compares 2 U” is much better than Prince’s version, and Ike and Tina’s rendition of “Proud Mary” is superior to CCR’s.
Annie Lennox has done a lot of covers, but I think her covers of Can’t Get Next to You and Whiter Shade of Pale are probably the only ones that beat out the originals.
I absolutely love Roberta Flack, but Laryn Hill’s version of Killing Me Softly killed her version.
And you gotta love Mariah Carey’s cover of I’ll Be There, though the Jackson 5 original is still terrific.
