I prefer Boyz II Men’s version of “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” compared to the original by G.C. Cameron.
Also I’ll take the Black Crowes’ version of “Hard to Handle” over Otis Redding’s.
And Billy Idol’s “Mony, Mony” over Tommy James and the Shondells’.
I really liked it, although I wouldn’t call it better than the original, especially the original without Phil Spector’s over-production. Here’s the “naked” version:
That was really good. Clean. Was it another recording entirely? Lennon’s voice sounds higher.
You’re not kidding - there are some great cuts (and great players!) on that album. Thanks for pointing it out!
Nice find Leaffan! 
Tell us all about it.
Well, I could, but look at the Wikipedia article for the whole reissue of the “Let It Be…Naked” album.
Let It Be - Wikipedia…_Naked
“Let It Be… Naked is an alternative mix of the Beatles’ 1970 album Let It Be, released in 2003. The project was initiated by Paul McCartney, who felt that the original album’s producer, Phil Spector, did not capture the group’s stripped-down, back-to-their-roots intentions for the album.”
Listen to “The Long and Winding Road” especially.
Original speed. Phil Spector slowed it down, for some unknown reason.
My go to in this game is White Lion’s take on Radar Love. Love Golden Earring’s, but the White Lion version is just so powerful and soulful.
And a couple of Van Halen covers not usually mentioned, You’re No Good (Ronstadt) and Summertime Blues (Cochrane). Summertime Blues isn’t on a VH album, but there are a number of live versions out there, most notably South America 1982.
I agree with all the American Woman outrage, but we should also be jumping all over this remark.
Not just better, but “Far better”??. I’m wondering if **Gato **is even referring to the Springsteen version.
mmm
Vito Bratta puts on a clinic of advanced hard rock guitar technique in that song.
It’s only half a cover, but the Run-DMC/Aerosmith cover of Walk This Way is better than Aerosmith’s version.
I prefer Naked Eyes’s version of Always Something There to Remind Me.
Richard Thompson – “Oops I Did It Again”
Yeah, I’m sure we’ve done this thread before, and I’m pretty sure I’m about to repeat what I said last time. And I don’t care. The Pet Shop Boys had the ability to take anthems and make them sound like they had written them. I give you Go West and Always On My Mind.
And yes, I’m perfectly fine arguing that these are now the definitive versions.
Speaking of me repeating myself:
Someone said exactly this last time round. Was that you, Sam?
j
You’re No Good has quite the history. It was first recorded by Dee Dee Warwick (Dionne’s sister) in 1963. The following year it was a hit in the UK for Swinging Blue Jeans. The best known version, by Linda Ronstadt, was released in 1975. Everybody wanted to cover this song, including:
Elvis Costello
(Kind of an annoying take)
As I always post in these threads, Wilson Pickett owns “Hey Jude.”
I like Manfred Mann’s “Blinded by the Light” better than Bruce’s.
Personally I think that Siouxsie and the Banshee’s cover of ‘Dear Prudence’ is much better than the original:
Someone already mentioned Fiona Apple’s version of Across the Universe, I also would prefer the Bowie, Laibach and other versions to the original.
I have something like 4 covers of ‘All Tomorrow’s Parties’ that I prefer to the original.
I’m surprised we’ve come this far with no mention of “With a Little Help from My Friends.” It’s usually brought up rather quickly in these threads. Joe Cocker’s version is vastly superior to the Beatles’.
I’ll also throw my support behind Manfred Mann’s version of “Blinded by the Light.” Much better than the original.
‘2000 Man’.
I like KISS’ ( Ace Frehley ) version much better than the original one from the Rolling Stones.
I wasn’t aware of the history. Thank you!
I like that version a lot, but I can’t go so far as to say it’s better than MJs in any way. It’s one of MJs top 5 songs.