# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/121 "2003-08-05T00:07:41Z")
Haven’t seen this thread for a couple days… **Bill H.** wrote, _“Oh, my brother, you must own a copy of **Freaky Styley**. Make the trip first thing tomorrow morning.”_ Thanks buddy! I’m headed to [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) right after I post this! ---
**Author:** ![presidebt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c37758/32.png) [@presidebt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/presidebt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/122 "2003-08-05T00:41:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoke- \* > \*\*I also think the **Cowboy Junkies** version of **Dreaming My Dreams** beat the Waylon Jennings original (which is quite good itself). \*\* Cowboy Junkies have done a number of excellent covers over the course of their lengthy career. On that same album (Trinity Sessions), they do the _Sweet Jane_ version that has completely eclipsed Reed’s or anyone elses version. Also of note, their cover of Neil Young’s _Powderfinger_ (on Caution Horses) and Towns Van Zandt’s _To Live is to Fly_ (on Black Eyed Man–incidentally recorded with TVZ himself) are superb. Additionally, you can find drop dead gorgeous versions of \*Hot Burrito #1 \*(originally by Gram Parsons), _Dead Flowers_ (Rolling Stones), and \*Tired Eyes \*(Neil Young) by Cowboy Junkies on various independent and promotional releases. Their cover of Fred Eaglesmith’s Carmelita is second to none. They did _Highway Kind_ on the Townes van Zandt tribute album (Poet) and _To Lay Me Down_ on Deadicated, the Grateful Dead tribute album. As an aside, I have heard their incredible version of Springsteen’s Thunder Road in concert three or four times, though they have yet to record it. Not a cover band, but when they do it, they do it _so_ well. Almost every one is equal to or better than the original. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![presidebt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c37758/32.png) [@presidebt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/presidebt)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/123 "2003-08-05T00:45:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Emilio Lizardo \* > \*\ ***The The** ’s entire album “Hnaky Panky.” > > \*\* AMEN. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/124 "2003-08-05T00:49:34Z")
**presidebt** wrote > [@](#): > > Cowboy Junkies have done a number of excellent covers over the course of their lengthy career. On that same album (Trinity Sessions), they do the Sweet Jane version that has completely eclipsed Reed’s or anyone elses version. Also of note, their cover of Neil Young’s Powderfinger (on Caution Horses) and Towns Van Zandt’s To Live is to Fly (on Black Eyed Man–incidentally recorded with TVZ himself) are superb. And Working On a Building (also from Trinity Sessions). I haven’t heard John Fogerty’s version, mentioned above by **widdershins** ; I’ll have to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Strychnos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Strychnos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strychnos)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/125 "2003-08-05T03:12:12Z")
No one can possibly beat the Hollies’ take of “The Air That I breathe” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/126 "2003-08-05T03:31:53Z")
I like Disturbed’s cover of Shout, despite the terribly cliche title (Shout 2000). ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/127 "2003-10-18T18:49:23Z")
I prefer BCR’s cover of “Only Want To Be With You” to the Dusty Springfield original (nothing against Dusty though). “Blinded By The Light” is kind of a given. Mamas and Papas did an excellent cover of “Spanish Harlem” If I’m not mistaken, CSN’s “Woodstock” is an excellent cover of a horrible Joni Mitchell original (sorry, Joni fans) “Up On The Roof” by James Taylor, “Another Saturday Night” by Cat Stevens, “Keep Me Hanging On” by Kim Wilde. Too many to list here. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/128 "2003-10-18T19:14:09Z")
I love the Like a Virgin scene from Moulin Rouge. Also, anything by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. (not ‘better’ music, but still fun time city.) A big second for I Will Survive by Cake and, I know it’s a remix, not a cover, but the electronica version of Rubberneckin’ by Elvis Presley remixed by Paul Oakenfold. Also, Harvey Danger’s cover of Save it For Later (by the English Beat?). I think they did it for the soundtrack to 200 Cigarettes. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/129 "2003-10-18T20:35:32Z")
I like _Red Red Wine_ by **UB40** much better than the **Neil Diamond** original. My favourite cover ever is **Travis’s** version of _Hit me baby one more time_. They slow it down, strip it bare and invest some emotion into it. I don’t know if anyone has heard this, it may be quite obscure. The change is quite amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Roberta\_Plant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c89c15/32.png) [@Roberta\_Plant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roberta_Plant)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/130 "2003-10-19T21:20:45Z")
Honeydripper’s version of Sea of Love. I could listen to that on a continuous loop for the rest of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/131 "2003-10-20T00:47:39Z")
Eva Cassidy’s cover of just about anything. Sheila Behman’s cover of “Desperado” (on the album _The Langley Schools Music Project_). Clam Chowder’s cover of “Benson Arizona” or “And the Band Played Waltzing Maltilda”. ---
**Author:** ![Quack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e99b99/32.png) [@Quack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quack)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/132 "2003-10-20T01:06:26Z")
Save Ferris and Reel Big Fish’s version of “Come on Eileen”. Dexy’s Midnight Runners never saw it coming. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/133 "2003-10-20T06:30:21Z")
I may be alone in this, but I prefer the Counting Crows version of _Big Yellow Taxi_ to Joni Mitchell’s. Especially without Vanessa Carlton’s background vocals. AND I prefer Poison’s remake of _Cover of the Rolling Stone_ over Dr. Hook’s. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325/134 "2003-10-20T06:32:45Z")
I may be alone in this, but I prefer the Counting Crows version of _Big Yellow Taxi_ to Joni Mitchell’s. Especially without Vanessa Carlton’s background vocals. AND I prefer Poison’s remake of _Cover of the Rolling Stone_ over Dr. Hook’s. Also, check out the album _Stairway to Heaven, Highway to Hell_, which features 80’s hair bands covering hard rock songs by groups who have had tragedy strike their band as a result of drug/alcohol abuse. Worth noting are Bon Jovi’s cover of the Thin Lizzy classic “The Boys are Back In Town,” Cinderella’s “Move Over,” which was originally a Janis Joplin song (in which Tom Keifer matches Janis note for note), and Skid Row covering “Holidays in the Sun,” which is a Sex Pistols song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-are-better-than-the-originals/191325.md?page=6)