The Clash’s cover of “Pressure Drop” comes to mind.
I guess Richard Thompson’s cover of “Oops, I Did It Again” would qualify, although I didn’t realize it was a good song until he covered it.
The Beatles and The Rolling Stones did great covers early in their careers. The former’s “Money” and “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” and the latter’s “It’s All Over Now” are a few of my favorites.
I won’t bother with Dylan covers; there are too many great ones to list.
And Mott the Hoople’s version is even better. Well, maybe not better, but just as good.
I always post this to these threads.
M Ward does a haunting cover of Bowie’s Lets Dance. It’s a pefect storm of cover goodness.
Second for the Ramones’ cover of the Searchers’ “Needles and Pins”.
Also, though I merely like Metallica, their cover of Queen’s “Stone Cold Crazy” just blows the lid off.
This doesn’t really qualify because I don’t love the original artist, but… coincidentally, yesterday I turned on the radio and heard a tune I’d forgotten about for lo these many years: the Lords of the New Church’s fantastically over-the-top cover of “Like A Virgin”. Pure joy!!!
Styx - I am the Walrus:
I also like Dennis DeYoung’s cover of Fire (Jimi Hendrix) but I can’t find a link to it.
The Fireballs did an amazing hard rock cover of Bottle of Wine that was a hit. But it was written and originally recored by Tom Paxton.
And of course the utterly brilliant Hurt.
Kate Bush’s There Goes A Tenner brilliantly re-interpreted by the J. Davis Trio.
Two of my favorites are The Offspring’s cover of The Police’s Next To You, and Seether’s cover of George Michael’s Careless Whisper.
Toots and the Maytals fabulous reggae cover of Take Me Home Country Roads.
And Yannick’s C’est Soiree La a French cover of Oh, What a Night that was added to the Jersey Boys cast recording.
The Glee version (Naya Rivera) is even better…
“Romeo and Juliet” - Indigo Girls
“Satisfaction” - Devo
Holly Cole’s version of Tom Waits’ I Don’t Wanna Grow Up is every bit as great as the original. And I’ll make it the threads first trio with the Ramones.
Seconded.
Tori Amos’ cover album Strange Little Girls I quite like, but especially the title track, which is my 2nd favourite Stranglers tune.
I’m quite partial to the French band Nouvelle Vague. Not to everyone’s taste, but their version of Love Will Tear Us Apart is catchy, although it’s not my favourite. That honour goes to Swans
On a related note, the Young Gods did a good album of Kurt Weil songs. September Song is great. (It’s no Longue Route, though)
And then there’s David Bowie doing the Pixies. How cool is that?
WORD! My favorite version as well.
Though I don’t like her versions of the songs, Mariah covered Foreigner and Phil Collins.
**The Dickies **version of *Knights in White Satin *is a punk classic!
I love Yes’s versions of America and* Every Little Thing*.
Sheena Easton does a beautiful cover of Joan Armatrading’s “Love And Affection”
Belinda Carlisle’s “Band of Gold” is also great
Olivia Newton-John’s does good covers of “I Want To Be Wanted” and “Where Have All The Flowers Gone.”
Juice Newton is the country queen of covers, and she usually does a good job on them all.
I love Holly Cole’s version of I Can See Clearly Now.