# Cover Versions Of Songs That Are Much Better... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 25, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628 "2019-07-25T19:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/101 "2019-07-29T03:35:07Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I like Erasure’s version of “Take A Chance On Me” better than the original ABBA version. Even though I like ABBA a lot. > > My favorite version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” is the Credence version. I’m not sure who gets credit for the “original” version, but it wasn’t CCR. > > And I vastly prefer Tom Jones’ version of “Kiss” to the original Prince version. I can’t stand Prince. Probably the best cover of Abba’s “Take a Chance On Me” is the much, much healthier-sounding [Sockeye version.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y9FXcEBAYc) I’ll take Gladys’s or Marvin’s version of “…Grapevine”. Yes, Tom’s version of “Kiss” kicks total power balls/ass over Prince’s. By boatloads. Also: Joe Cocker’s [The Letter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMtQQ1EfcPQ) kicks total power balls/ass over [The Box Tops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWY8UyW9bw) version. For “Money”, I’ll take The Flying Lizards over The Beatles any day. Never was a fan of Kiss’s “Beth”, so yeah the [Ed Hall\* version](https://youtu.be/xVg-7H_dygc?t=2226) is better. \*One of the greatest trios to come out of Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/102 "2019-07-29T03:58:30Z")
I saw a concert by Postmodern Jukebox a few weeks ago. They do covers of modern songs in old swing and jazz styles. They do a great show; if there was any drawback it’s that I didn’t recognize enough of the original songs to know how much they had changed them. But I did start checking out their online work. They’re all good, but if I had to pick one it’s [Timber](https://youtu.be/GZQJrM09jbU). The original is by Pitbull and Kesha, but it works as '50s doo-wop. ---
**Author:** ![TimfromNapa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TimfromNapa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimfromNapa)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/103 "2019-07-29T19:57:14Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > I am inspired to post this after seeing Mariah Carey’s [cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAZG2duVte4) to _I Still Believe_. Believe it or not, I only later found out it was Brenda K. Starr who originally came out with [the song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI8gsPnCISY). Mariah Carey was apparently a back up singer to Brenda K. Starr (something I also found out, when the song came out). It turns out Carey really liked the song. And the rest is history. > > Anyways, I think Carey does a much better version of it. She belts it out, with passion and conviction. Starr just sings it monotone IMHO. This isn’t the first time this has happened, BTW. I like Kelly Clarkson’s _My Grown Up Christmas List_ over Amy Grant’s version, ironically for much the same reasons. > > Do any of the rest of you have any similar experiences with cover versions? Feel free to mention. And feel free to post links to Youtube if you want. > > BTW, I could have sworn someone asked this exact same question. But I wasn’t sure. I did a Cafe Society forum search for ‘Cover’. And nothing came up. I even thoroughly search the page with my computer (Ctrl+F) just to make sure. And nothing. So it must be alright then. > > :):)🙂 Harry Nilsson’s cover of Badfinger’s “Can’t Live” Nazareth’s “Love Hurts” ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/104 "2019-07-29T21:34:23Z")
Elton John’s Pinball Wizard is almost equal to the original, and I am a big Who fan [Pinball Wizard - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyFB3QjGX0A) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/105 "2019-07-30T05:17:08Z")
Elton John “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Chicago “I’m a Man.” Jimi Hendrix “Like a Rolling Stone.” ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/106 "2019-07-30T07:30:22Z")
> [@TimfromNapa](#): > > … > Nazareth’s “Love Hurts” Yep. Prefer it over both Roy Orbison’s and The Everly Brothers’ versions. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/107 "2019-07-30T08:25:43Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > I have something like 4 covers of ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’ that I prefer to the original. Just guessing here: the Banshees one would be a given 😃 Bad Seeds seems a cert. Japan? Rasputina? Apoptygma Berzerk? Bryan Ferry? Simple Minds? Enquiring minds want to know… ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/108 "2019-07-30T14:35:31Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > On that sentiment, it was suggested to me that covering David Bowie is incredibly difficult. They almost always come out as just lesser imitations. The only cover of his stuff that I could think of which is worthwhile is [Chris Hadfield doing Space Oddity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo) from the ISS. I don’t think it’s musically better, but is still satisfying. I think that Seu Jorge’s Bowie covers recorded for The Life Aquatic soundtrack are stunningly beautiful. Here is a video of him on KEXP (one of my favorite Youtube channels for live music): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TpQ5R3ftRGI/maxresdefault.jpg "Seu Jorge - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpQ5R3ftRGI&t=217) He plays three Bowie songs and I believe they are all amazing. Amazing guitar playing and his voice is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Dahnlor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahnlor/32/533_2.png) [@Dahnlor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahnlor)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/109 "2019-07-30T15:01:06Z")
[Judas Priest - Diamonds and Rust](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOAHpLBNiUw) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/110 "2019-07-30T15:23:06Z")
Janis Joplin, _Me and Bobby McGee._ ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/111 "2019-07-30T15:27:14Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > [Judas Priest - Diamonds and Rust](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOAHpLBNiUw) Yes. (And on another note: I’ll give Jimi “Watchtower”, even Dylan played it that way post-Jimi’s version, but no one can take “Like A Rolling Stone” away from Bob!) ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/112 "2019-07-30T15:31:24Z")
> [@Dahnlor](#): > > [Judas Priest - Diamonds and Rust](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOAHpLBNiUw) Good call! Completely forgot about that one. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/113 "2019-07-30T16:07:40Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > It sounds cheesy because everyone’s more familiar with the original. But if that recording had somehow come out first, the Doors’ version would sound like a sloppy, muddy, tedious cover of it by a drunken bar band. Good grief, you’re serious. Whatever, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/114 "2019-07-30T16:37:37Z")
The Fireball’s Bottle of Wine is a hard rocking version of Tom Paxton’s folk song. As Paxton himself put it: If I tried to sing like that, my throat would jump out of my mouth. And let’s not forget Arlo Guthrie’s City of New Orleans. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/115 "2019-07-30T17:15:32Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Lenny Kravitz’ [American Woman](https://youtu.be/UzWHE32IxUc). Took a mediocre muddy rock song, and cleaned and shined it into a great song. > > The Club Nouveau cover of [Lean On Me](https://youtu.be/kbyjaUJWWmk). The originally just seemed draggy to me. You’ve already been taken to task for the Kravitz cover but how could everyone miss the second? Club Nouveau turned a soulful masterpiece into a teeny bop, bubble gum dance remix. Not to mention the faux-reggae “We be Jammin” that makes music fans vomit when they hear it. > [@Omniscient](#): > > Metallica’s _[Whiskey In The Jar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boanuwUMNNQ)_ over all the previous iterations of the folk song including the Thin Lizzy version most people mention. > > I don’t disagree, but Metllica’s version is Thin Lizzy’s version almost note for note. > [@BrickBat](#): > > ‘2000 Man’. > > I like KISS’ ( Ace Frehley ) version much better than the original one from the Rolling Stones. Same. Of course, Ace’s version of “New York Groove” is also much better than Hello’s version. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I’m a huge fan of Joni Mitchell, but I think her song [Woodstock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_(song)) is [just dreadful](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEBmKi2xmoU). > > IMO the cover by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is _ **much** _ better. Nazareth’s version of “This Flight Tonight” is also much better than Joni’s. > [@Dahnlor](#): > > [Judas Priest - Diamonds and Rust](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOAHpLBNiUw) Let’s not forget “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/116 "2019-07-30T17:34:31Z")
A couple of people have already posted counterexamples, but in general I believe the one you hear first is hard to beat. For example, I happened to first hear Marilyn Manson’s version of Tainted Love before the original by Soft Cell, and while I like both, I tend to prefer the former, even though the latter is more my preferred style of music. There are other examples. It struck me this thread provides several opportunities for me to test this theory on myself. I had never before heard Springsteen’s Blinded By The Light - not sure if it’s better than Manfred Mann’s, I think I just don’t like the song in general. The Sockeye “Take a Chance on Me” - maybe if it were actually sung in tune. The Shatner Common People - no, just no. Conclusion: people have different tastes in music. In other news, Pope still shits in woods, etc. Fun discussion though! ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/117 "2019-07-30T17:59:36Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > A couple of people have already posted counterexamples, but in general I believe the one you hear first is hard to beat. For example, I happened to first hear Marilyn Manson’s version of Tainted Love before the original by Soft Cell, and while I like both, I tend to prefer the former, even though the latter is more my preferred style of music. There are other examples. > > It struck me this thread provides several opportunities for me to test this theory on myself. I had never before heard Springsteen’s Blinded By The Light - not sure if it’s better than Manfred Mann’s, I think I just don’t like the song in general. The Sockeye “Take a Chance on Me” - maybe if it were actually sung in tune. The Shatner Common People - no, just no. > > Conclusion: people have different tastes in music. In other news, Pope still shits in woods, etc. Fun discussion though! Errr… “Tainted Love” is not a Soft Cell original song, it was originally released by Gloria Jones in 1964 and re-recorded and produced by her boyfriend Marc Bolan in 1976. The song was a flop but a british DJ picked it up gave a new popularity in the dance club in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/118 "2019-07-30T23:40:24Z")
I just recently discovered Lou Rawls’s cover of Hall and Oates’s “She’s Gone.” I do like the original, but Rawls’s vocals over essentially the same backing track really knocked me on my buttocks. [Lou Rawls She's Gone - YouTube](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak9TDdLdH9E) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/119 "2019-07-31T01:22:47Z")
[In The Navy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTwq1_9VH68) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628/120 "2019-07-31T02:49:50Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > My favorite version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” is the Credence version. I’m not sure who gets credit for the “original” version, but it wasn’t CCR. Strictly speaking, Gladys Knight and the Pips had the first version, then the Miracles (minus Smokey Robinson), then Marvin Gaye, and finally CCR. There isn’t really a “bad” version of the song, though I personally prefer Gladys’ version with the Pips doing their famous backup. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cover-versions-of-songs-that-are-much-better/837628.md?page=7)