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.
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.
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”.
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.
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:
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).
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
