# Covers that were better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651 "2002-07-06T18:03:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/21 "2002-07-07T01:34:08Z")
Duran Duran’s covers album was widely derided, but their versions of Lou Reed’s **Perfect Day** (which Lou loved) and Elvis Costello’s **Watching the Detectives** were great. Annie Lennox’s **No More I Love Yous** blows the original right out of the water. There is no comparison. On her latest cd, jazz singer Cassandra Wilson does a reworking of Glen Campbell’s hit **Wichita Lineman** that made me cry on the first listen. She sings the song from the perspective of the Lineman’s wife/girlfriend. It’s simply amazing. I’m wildly preferential to Joe Cocker’s version of **You Can Leave Your Hat On** and Robert Palmer’s cover of **I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On** is much more fun than the original by Cherelle (who?!) or the later cover by Mariah (S)Carey. And there’s something awfully fun in hearing Melissa Etheridge perform **Maggie May** , too. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/22 "2002-07-07T03:18:59Z")
I can’t quite bring myself to say that the version of “Kiss” by Tom Jones and Art of Noise is better than Prince’s, but I like it just as much. The Sinatra/Bowie “Little Drummer Boy” beats the snot out of all other versions. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/23 "2002-07-07T03:32:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thea Logica \* > \*\*“I Wanna Be Your Man”- the Beatles. OK, technically not a cover, since the Beatles recorded it before the Stones did, but still a Jagger/Richards composition. \*\* No, the Beatles wrote it for the Stones. The story goes that the Stones were looking for a single and Paul and John, visiting them, went into the next room and fifteen minutes later came out with the song. Do a Google search and you’ll see this quick enough. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/24 "2002-07-07T03:37:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pesch \* > The Sinatra/Bowie “Little Drummer Boy” beats the snot out of all other versions. 😛 Actually, that was Bing Crosby and David Bowie - at least the version I’m thinking of was. And they did it very well, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/25 "2002-07-07T03:56:22Z")
Patty Loveless does a cover of, “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive”, that is absolutely astonishing. Can’t remember the original singer. Craig something, I think. And as much as it pains a John Prine fanatic like me to say, Bonnie Rait does an absolutely phenomenal cover of “Angel From Montgomery”. It’s better than Prine’s original - and the version with Raitt and Prine sharing verses is absolutely chilling. The band “Triumph” did a great cover of Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way”. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/26 "2002-07-07T04:35:54Z")
As big a John Mellencamp fan as I am, I think Pat Benatar did a better version of his “I Need A Lover.” At least she got rid of the friggin’ 37 minute intro. And how can anybody like Manfredd Mann’s soulless bland version of “Blinded By The Light” over Springsteen’s powerful original? Different tastes, I suppose. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/27 "2002-07-07T11:11:34Z")
Limp Bizkit’s cover of Faith was insanely wonderful (or maybe just insane 🙂 I saw Green Day cover Eye of the Tiger which was totally unexpected and kinda trippy. KD Lang - The Joker; love the original but KD’s version is just as good Offspring - Feelings; so much more fun than the sappy original Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends (fantastic vocals) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/28 "2002-07-07T14:18:36Z")
on a related note, someone in a chat room the other day posited that Marilyn Manson’s remake of “Tainted Love” was actually a great remake…ewwwwwwwww!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/29 "2002-07-07T18:47:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thea Logica \* > \*\* > “My Way”- Sid Vicious. Ol’ Blue Eyes just didn’t have the vocal power or attitude to carry this one off. Plus, Sid’s own lyrical interpolations (I’ve heard that he didn’t actually know all the words, so he made up a few of his own) are downright hilarious. Sounds especially great coming from the tape deck in Spke’s De Soto… \*\* NO. Case closed. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/30 "2002-07-07T18:56:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sirtonyh \* > \*\*Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends (fantastic vocals) \*\* I agree with that one. Adding my own POV : Marianne Faithfull’s version of _Working Class Hero_ beats the original Lennon one out of the water. The Band’s version of _I Shall Be Released_ is so much better thatn the original Dylan one. Actually, many Dylan songs done by other artists/groups are better than the original (_Tambourine Man_, by the Byrds, _All Along The Watchtower_ by Hendrix, as mentioned previously, for example). ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/31 "2002-07-07T19:09:32Z")
Enisturzende Neubauten’s cover of Sand by Nancy Sinatra…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/32 "2002-07-07T19:17:12Z")
Hit Me Baby, One More Time by Fountains of Wayne. Talk about transforming dreck into something cool. This is a great translation. ---
**Author:** ![TheTailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@TheTailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTailor)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/33 "2002-07-08T04:05:07Z")
Alrighty… somewhat of a challenge here… Wheatus has a song called “A Little Respect” on their CD, and I’m told it’s a cover, but I don’t know who did the original, but yeah, I love the Wheatus version… And a vote for A New Found Glory’s version of “The Neverending Story” theme… ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/34 "2002-07-08T10:40:13Z")
The Tea Party does a lot of covers during their live shows, does that count? They did _Love will tear us apart_, and it beats the original by **Joy Division** , IMHO. Well, theirs is great too. Also, they usually sneak some cover stuff into their live performances of _Sister Awake_. Especially, I like their cover of _Heroes_ by Bowie. They sneak it in there in a very refined way. Also, _Halleluja_ by Leonard Cohen. OK, besides the Tea Party. Crusoe said what I thought when I read the thread title. If I had to name the one cover song that beats its original by the furthest distance, it has to be **The Pet Shop Boys** ’ _Always on My Mind_. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/35 "2002-07-08T11:22:33Z")
**George Thorogood** improved on a lot of the old lackluster blues covers. Apologies to the **Hook aka John Lee Hooker** , but **One bourbon, one scotch, one beer** by Thorogood is way better. There are a lot more examples but that one springs readily to mind. **DOA** absolutely made the best version of **War** to ever be recorded or live for that matter. **Edwin Starr** , the original, is pretty dang good. Springsteen is towards the bottom of the heap. ---
**Author:** ![Crepitus\_Fremitus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@Crepitus\_Fremitus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crepitus_Fremitus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/36 "2002-07-08T11:37:30Z")
The Sex Pistols “Substitute” 's pretty good. But I can’t bring myself to say “better.” The Clash “Police and Thieves” --and, whoo boy,-- “Pressure Drop” --Now those are better than the originals! And I second the opinion of “I Fought the Law.” Then there’s “And the Band Played Walzing Matilda” by the Pouges-- excellent! The Clancy Bros did a good one too. And for anyone who’s heard of the all girl Seattle band Flood (now defunct I think- let me know if otherwise) they did a nice cover of “Fly Like an Eagle.” The Ventures did a lot of covers which were, well, maybe not always better, but different. When all the words aren’t there–changes things. “Cry Like a Baby,” comes to mind. Negativeland’s ‘cover’ of “With or Without You” was pretty good, until THE MAN silenced it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Clawman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@The\_Clawman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Clawman)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/37 "2002-07-08T12:08:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheTailor:\*Alrighty… somewhat of a challenge here… Wheatus has a song called “A Little Respect” on their CD, and I’m told it’s a cover, but I don’t know who did the original, but yeah, I love the Wheatus version… That would be Erasure who did the original. ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/38 "2002-07-08T12:19:37Z")
The Flying Lizards did a version of Money (That’s what I want), which the Beatles did and also some earlier band, but the Lizards version was far and away the best. Also a vote for the Sex Pistols and “My Way” Any Irish dopers will be fimilar with the Gift Grub crew’s version of The Hucklebuck, vhich is infinitely superior. ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/39 "2002-07-08T12:31:16Z")
The Flying Lizards did a version of Money (That’s what I want), which the Beatles did and also some earlier band, but the Lizards version was far and away the best. Also a vote for the Sex Pistols and “My Way” Any Irish dopers will be fimilar with the Gift Grub crew’s version of The Hucklebuck, vhich is infinitely superior. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651/40 "2002-07-08T14:03:00Z")
Alien Ant Farm - Annie are you OK (or whatever it is) by Michael Jackson. Cake - I Will Survive (that could count as sacrilege). Also add my wholehearted agreement to **Cartooniverse** about Woodstock by CS&N, though I like Matthew Southern Comfort’s version too. Joni’s sucks, and I speak as a major Joni Mitchell fan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covers-that-were-better-than-the-original/117651.md?page=3)