# Cover songs that are better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2010, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505 "2010-04-09T08:50:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/121 "2010-04-12T23:46:12Z")
I much prefer The Sundays’ cover of Wild Horses over the Rolling Stones’ original. -DF ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/122 "2010-04-13T00:32:01Z")
I like a lot of covers, but this version of [Outkast’s Hey Ya](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFj_o1n6WE) is a recent fave. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/123 "2010-04-13T00:52:08Z")
Much prefer Joan Baez version of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” over The Band’s. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/124 "2010-04-13T03:19:02Z")
As a bluegrass fan, I prefer Jim and Jesse’s cover of “Paradise” to the John Prine original: [Paradise (Muhlenberg County)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeDWJqvpat0&feature=related) - Jim and Jesse (cover)[Paradise (Muhlenberg County)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHHR_tA7eg4&feature=related) - John Prine (original - song starts at 2:15) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/125 "2010-04-13T03:51:42Z")
Have y’all heard this version of [I Will Survive](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvsI3jc4pPA) by Cake? ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/126 "2010-04-13T03:57:12Z")
The Carpenters’ [Ticket To Ride](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMJUeEo5Vdk) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/127 "2010-04-13T04:02:13Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > Natalie Merchant’s **Because the Night** in my opinion is the best version of them all. > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14R4ZsMM0E](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14R4ZsMM0E) I like the 10,000 Maniacs version, but to me, no one sings this song like [Patti Smith](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0brHGJ6xqbk&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![IaMoDiNaRy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IaMoDiNaRy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IaMoDiNaRy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/128 "2010-04-13T05:26:58Z")
> [@Dancer\_Flight](#): > > I much prefer The Sundays’ cover of Wild Horses over the Rolling Stones’ original. > > -DF I totally agree with you about Wild Horses. First time I heard it was on an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”. The lead singer for The Sundays has such a sweet voice and really makes this song beautiful. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9lEd5bIbbQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9lEd5bIbbQ) ---
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/129 "2010-04-13T14:45:27Z")
> [@Denis](#): > > I’ve always thought Stevie Ray Vaughn’s cover of Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” is so much better than the original. Sorry Jimi. [Little Wing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGho1QZO4Us) as well ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/130 "2010-04-14T01:22:48Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > I concur. I like them all but Rufus Wainwrights is my favorite. [Hallelujah](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmbQEQltOwM&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/131 "2010-04-14T02:24:58Z")
Greg Scott covering ‘Ashokan Farewell’ written by Jay Unger. [Ashokan Farewell](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFXbK9aZzXk&playnext_from=TL&videos=uNDRLiFBrRE) ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/132 "2010-04-14T03:00:02Z")
> [@Dancer\_Flight](#): > > I much prefer The Sundays’ cover of Wild Horses over the Rolling Stones’ original. > > -DF I haven’t heard that one, but I really like Charlotte Martin’s version. ---
**Author:** ![LittleGreenRosetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c77e96/32.png) [@LittleGreenRosetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleGreenRosetta)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/133 "2010-04-14T03:57:24Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I like the 10,000 Maniacs version, but to me, no one sings this song like > > [Patti Smith](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0brHGJ6xqbk&feature=related) IMHO, you can’t touch this: 😉 [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9DDrO6ij5Zs/hqdefault.jpg "Bruce Springsteen Because the night") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DDrO6ij5Zs) Cool thread- lots of things I want to check out! 🆒 A couple people mentioned _Little Wing;_ I really like Stevie Ray Vaughan’s version as well, but here’s another different version I like, by the Corrs: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jMpEVzrRbe8/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/jMpEVzrRbe8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque I also like Peter Frampton’s instrumental version of _Black Hole Sun_: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nL40Ak5QV6I/hqdefault.jpg "Peter Frampton Black Hole Sun") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL40Ak5QV6I) Speaking of Springsteen, I really like Johnny Cash’s versions of his _Highway Patrolman_ and especially _Further On (Up the Road)_: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QWYrzBuRbEM/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/QWYrzBuRbEM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Also, I loved Eddie Vedder’s cover of _My City of Ruins:_ ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hSnJLSRAUcE/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/hSnJLSRAUcE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque I gotta agree with those who say that Hendrix’s version of _All Along the Watchtower_ is best, and I’d also add _Like a Rolling Stone_ to the list. As for _Hallelujah_, I think the version Justin Timberlake did for the Haiti telethon was lovely, and I’m not a fan of his in general. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OfYmMt92Otg/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/OfYmMt92Otg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/134 "2010-04-14T04:28:36Z")
Have to concur on 1. Jimi Hendrix’s cover of Dylan’s _All Along the Watchtower_ 2. Stevie Ray Vaughan’s cover of Hendrix’s _Little Wing_ And on the topic of covers that people don’t know are covers, how about Soft Cell’s version of _Tainted Love_? It was originally written by Ed Cobb and recorded by Gloria Jones way back in 1964. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/135 "2010-04-14T05:02:46Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > I like them all but Rufus Wainwrights is my favorite. > > [Hallelujah](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmbQEQltOwM&feature=related) I’ll go with the [soundtrack](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB67HO8tkQs) version. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/136 "2010-04-14T05:40:11Z")
> [@NineToTheSky](#): > > Jimi Hendrix’s version of ‘All Along The The Watchtower’ beats Dylan’s original. No competition. Jimi Hendrix’ version of ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ beats Dylan’s original. No competition. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/137 "2010-04-14T06:02:04Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > …l i would offer “Just walk away Renee” by Rickie Lee Jones… I’ll nominate Vonda Shephard’s version of same. Also her cover of Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want to Be with You” Also (mutters of sacrilege aside) her cover of Roy Orbison’s “Crying”. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/138 "2010-04-14T12:41:36Z")
Speaking of Springsteen, I really like Johnny Cash’s versions of his _Highway Patrolman_ and especially _Further On (Up the Road)_: Bruce is smoking hot in this video singing Fire. Hose me down someone… 🆒 [Fire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5PoIrcyd34&playnext_from=TL&videos=tOJ-7_Di1GE) ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/139 "2010-04-14T17:54:20Z")
Townes Van Zandt was a great songwriter, but just like Bob Dylan, he couldn’t sing for shit. Compare [his version of Pancho and Lefty](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtzgwNDZAs4) with the cover version by [Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxzJAF1BxP4) Notice that they had Townes in the video; he shows up in several places, most notably as the guitar player at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505/140 "2010-04-14T18:24:07Z")
> [@natterj](#): > > Joan Osborne’s version of [Son Of A Preacher Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEgbBmU8wh0) I also saw her do a version of “China Doll” that kicked ass over the late Jerry Garcia’s version (I’m not opposed to Jerry’s version; but it was great to hear it sung with a melody and notes and everything). Though it was when she was performing with the remaining members of the Grateful Dead, so I’m not sure it completely qualifies as a ‘cover’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-songs-that-are-better-than-the-original/535505.md?page=8)