Manfred Mann’s Blinded By the Light. Springsteen’s original was alright, but MM’s was better.
Wilson Pickett owns “Hey Jude.”
And Philly soul singer Bettye Lavette does an amazing version that goes in the opposite direction, even deeper and sadder. It’s here live.
Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” is another tune that most people would think is the definitive version rather than the original (which is Fleetwood Mac). And any number of songs on Ray Charles’ Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music kick the original’s butts.
And while we’re picking on Dylan, try Sean Costello’s version of “Simple Twist of Fate.” None of the various live versions on You Tube do it for me, but if you put the name and title into Google, you can listen to the studio version on La.com.
What!? Although many people may not know that songs are a cover, I’m pretty sure almost everyone knew this one was!
I love this thread, I actually collect cover versions, originals, etc.
I’ll submit:
Joan Jett - I Love Rock and Roll - originally by The Arrows
Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel the Noize only slightly better than the original Slade version.
James Taylor - You’ve got a Friend - I prefer JT to Carole King
Great White - Once Bitten, Twice Shy - more rockin’ than Ian Hunter’s version.
Rick Springfield - I’ve Done Everything for You - Sammy Hagar gave him this hit song.
Goldfinger - 99 Luftballons - originally by Nena
Technically not covers, but with his 1987 incarnation of Whitesnake David Coverdale re-recorded 2 of their own songs from their earlier 1982 album Saints & Sinners; “Cryin in the Rain” and the mega-hit “Here I Go Again”.
Punk covers were all the rage about 10 years ago, and I am a huge fan of “supergroup” Me First and the Gimme Gimmes who only write and perform covers from all eras.
Somebody’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In - covered by dozens of punk bands, was originally written and performed by Fleetwood Mac.
Inez and Charlie Foxx wrote and recorded “Mockingbird.” James Taylor And Carly Simon did it the best.
I could see how you would feel this way. I assume you are not talking about the version on Rock n Roll Animal. That one smokes. One of my favorite song intro’s ever.
Janis Joplin’s cover of Me and Bobby McGee beats Kristoferson’s original.
Joan Jett’s cover of Crimson and Clover is good, but I dunno who did the original.
The Carpenters version is a cover. It was done first by Delany and Bonnie. I think Leon Russel wrote it.
I agree, thanks to Duane Allman.
These are both covers. The original is by John Hartford. Both Hartford’s and Campbells’ recordings of the song won Grammys in 1968. Ironically, Hartford also won a Grammy for for being the songwriter of the Glenn Gampbell record!
I like the Byrds just fine, but I have to say that Husker Du’s “Eight Miles High” is absolutely smoking.
Megadeth’s version of Anarchy in the U.K., though that may not be fair as they made it a tight metal song instead of the “sloppy” song the Pistols likely intended.
Conversely, Motley Crue’s cover of Anarchy may be the most embarrassing cover ever.
I came into the thread to mention the k.d. lang “Hallelujah” and there it was in the OP! Stole my thunder!
Ok, how about David Cook’s version of “Billy Jean”? I like it way, way, way better than the original.
Tommy James and the Shondells.
The New Morty Show is an awesome band from San Fransisco. Their covers of “Enter Sandman” and “Rebel Yell/White Wedding” are wonderful.
House of the Rising Sun - the true original artist is uncertain but the Animals made it famous. I think the Frijid Pink version is much better.
Love that song, prefer the Animals version. Oddest semi-cover-but-not really version I’ve ever heard was The Five Blind Boys of Alabama (gospel group) singing the words of *Amazing Grace *to the tune of House of the Rising Sun. I like both songs…but not together like that.
Ditto! …but I love their cover of Helter Skelter!
The Ramones cover of the Spiderman theme is another classic!
The original version of Louie, Louie (by Richard Berry) is pretty lame. The one everyone knows is the cover by the Kingsmen. (And of course it’s been covered like 500 times since then, in every imaginable style).