# covers that are better than the originals **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325 "2003-07-27T22:54:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![mojave66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mojave66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mojave66)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/61 "2003-07-28T23:23:43Z")
I respect Warren Zevon completely, but Dwight Yoakam and Flaco Jimenez’s take on his “Carmelita” is amazing. Upthread, someone mentioned Aerosmith’s “Come Together.” I think Earth, Wind & Fire did a better job with “Got to Get You Into My Life.” And finally, Emmylou Harris’ take on Neil Young’s “Wrecking Ball.” Just gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/62 "2003-07-28T23:40:59Z")
“Hurt” by Johnny Cash originally done by Nine Inch Nails is really good. Johnny has a lot of great covers. If anybody says Madonna’s cover of American Pie, they should be taken out in the backyard and… ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/63 "2003-07-29T00:35:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Luna do a cracking version of Sweet Child O’Mine. It really does work as a laid-back song. No, it doesn’t. I’ll second Aerosmith’s cover of “Come Together.” I haven’t heard the originals for most of the rest of these, so I really can’t say anything else. I like Guns 'N Roses cover of “Live and Let Die” better than the original (Paul McCartney?) version. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/64 "2003-07-29T00:37:08Z")
Yes, _Live and Let Die_ is by Paul McCartney. Although for my part, I hate every Guns ‘N’ Roses cover I’ve ever heard, _Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door_ most of all. As for a nomination: I’m not going to say Cream’s _Crossroads_ is better than the original, but I think it’s great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Tarrsk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@Tarrsk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarrsk)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/65 "2003-07-29T00:57:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mudshark \* > \*\*They Might Be Giants cover of the Fout Lads _Istanbul, Not Constantinople_. \*\* Don’t forget their cover of _Why Does the Sun Shine?_ (a.k.a. _The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas_)- live version, of course. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/66 "2003-07-29T03:44:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \*\*\*As for a nomination: I’m not going to say Cream’s _Crossroads_ is better than the original, but I think it’s great stuff. \*\* **Marley, SSSHHHHHHH!!!** You could say the same thing about Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Just Wanna Make Love To You,” or Leadbelly’s “Midnight Special,” or “Travelling Riverside Blues,” or “Love In Vain,” or “Train Kep’ A Rollin’,” or … ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/67 "2003-07-29T04:17:57Z")
It’s always just a matter of time before someone says that Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” is orders of magnitude better than Leonard Cohen’s original, so it might as well be me this time. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/68 "2003-07-29T05:31:18Z")
Buckley? Ooh! Ooh! This Mortal Coil - _Song to the siren_ (Tim Buckley) ---
**Author:** ![Apoptosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Apoptosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apoptosis)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/69 "2003-07-29T05:43:28Z")
Hey **Bad News Baboon** : > [@](#): > > Sting’s “Little Wing” Whoa! I’m gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you on that one. Stevie Ray Vaughn’s version I’ll give you, but Sting? No. -Apoptosis ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/70 "2003-07-29T18:30:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dragon Phoenix \* > \*\*It was still a cover - The Fortunes did it first (and much better). \*\* I’ll get me coat… Beach Boys did it as well. And Blink 182. Not found the Fortunes version yet… The Damned - Eloise… better IMO than Barry Ryan. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/71 "2003-07-29T19:48:55Z")
A second for Johnny Cash’s cover of NIN’s “Hurt”. The Bauhaus cover of “Ziggy Stardust” is IMHO vastly superior to the (admittedly cool) original. Thinking of Bowie covers, I thought Beck’s treatment of “Diamond Dogs” on the _Moulin Rouge!_ soundtrack album also improved on the original. But anyone who thinks the Van Halen cover of “You Really Got Me” beats the Kinks version is just a sicko. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/72 "2003-07-29T19:58:47Z")
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal Chris Farlowe - Out Of Time Wayne Gibson - Under My Thumb [Taxi on it’s way just in case…] ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/73 "2003-07-29T20:21:39Z")
Eva Cassidy-Somewhere over the Rainbow (although I got give it up to Me First and the Gimme Gimmes version and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s hybrid with “What a Wonderful World” Emmylou Harris-Love Still Remains (amazing cover of a Kate Wolf song sung with such tenderness) Never The Bride-Going to California (I just love smokey vocals and this band has 'em, very nice cover of a Zep tune). Annie Lennox-White Shade of Pale (Smooth Procol Harem cover) Nanci Griffith-Morning Song for Sally (the saddest song about a short love slipping away originally done by Jerry Jeff Walker) ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/74 "2003-07-29T21:59:47Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Dragon Phoenix_ > **It was still a cover - The Fortunes did it first (and much better).** > > … > > \*Originally posted by mascaroni \* > **I’ll get me coat… > Beach Boys did it as well. And Blink 182. > Not found the Fortunes version yet…** Okay, just to tidy this up … Jacques Brel first wrote the song in 1961. The Kingston Trio sang it in 1964, and as far as I know were the first to sing the Rod McKuen English translation. The Fortunes released it in 1969 as far as I can tell, though they probably were singing it before then. The Beach Boys sang it in 1972 (but didn’t release it, prompting producer Terry Jacks to release his own version a year later.) Not having heard each one I can’t say which is the best, but I can definitely say any of them would be way better than the Terry Jacks version (even if that was the only one to hit #1). REM’s “Wall of Death”, though only subtly different, somehow has way more emotion than the original (by Richard Thompson). And another vote for Tori Amos’s “Time”. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/75 "2003-07-29T23:22:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panamajack \* > \*\*Okay, just to tidy this up … Jacques Brel first wrote the song in 1961. The Kingston Trio sang it in 1964, and as far as I know were the first to sing the Rod McKuen English translation. > > The Fortunes released it in 1969 as far as I can tell, though they probably were singing it before then. The Beach Boys sang it in 1972 (but didn’t release it, prompting producer Terry Jacks to release his own version a year later.) > > Not having heard each one I can’t say which is the best, but I can definitely say any of them would be way better than the Terry Jacks version (even if that was the only one to hit #1). > REM’s “Wall of Death”, though only subtly different, somehow has way more emotion than the original (by Richard Thompson). > > And another vote for Tori Amos’s “Time”. \*\* Thanks PJ, so Dragon Phoenix was wrong… even though I was MORE wrong:eek: Scott Walker - Jackie… better than JB IMO (non parle francais) ---
**Author:** ![glass\_onion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@glass\_onion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glass_onion)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/76 "2003-07-29T23:28:33Z")
Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music’s _Jealous Guy_ is better than John Lennon’s any day of the week ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/77 "2003-07-29T23:47:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by glass onion \* > \*\*Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music’s _Jealous Guy_ is better than John Lennon’s any day of the week \*\* If they had those ‘nodding in agreement’ smilies I’d have posted eight of them to that… ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/78 "2003-07-30T01:55:51Z")
Goldfinger’s cover of _99 Red Balloons/Luftballons_ is way better than Nena’s version. Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards’ version of _To Have and to Have Not_ owns the original (Billy Bragg, IIRC) version. Also, Stiff Little Fingers did a song called _Johnny Was_. So did Bob Marley, who covered who? (I assume SLF covered Marley) **Marley23** , come to my rescue on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/79 "2003-07-30T02:42:42Z")
I like the Dead Kennedy’s cover of “Take This Job and Shove It” better than the Johnny Paycheck version. I’ll also nominate the Pogues’ cover of “Honky Tonk Woman”, though this will no doubt be blasphemy to Stones fans. Cowboy Junkie’s cover of “Sweet Jane” deserves some kind of mention, though I can’t say it’s superior to Lou Reed’s version–equal to it, more like. I’ll second Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt.” I liked the NIN version, but with his voice, Johnny’s able to tap into an entirely different (and maybe deeper) dimension of emotional suffering and loss. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/80 "2003-07-30T04:52:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, Stiff Little Fingers did a song called Johnny Was. So did Bob Marley, who covered who? (I assume SLF covered Marley) _Johnny Was_ came out on Rastaman Vibration in 1976, and it’s Bob’s song. Apparently SLF recorded it in 1979. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325.md?page=5)