I’d like to get some good covers of Beatles’ songs. We’ve all heard many - I’m guessing most bad, some good. Suggest some good ones for me to collect please.
I’m especially interested in a cappella versions. I know The Bobs have done some interesting things with the Beatles’ music. Suggestions along those lines would be extra great, but all will be appreciated!
Three pretty good ones that spring to mind:
U2’s Helter Skelter
Billy Joel’s Back in the USSR
Joe Cocker’s With a Little Help From My Friends
“Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” - Elton John
“I Will” - Alison Krauss
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - Big Daddy (yes, they covered the entire album)
I really like the so-called “butcher cover” but it’s hard to find an original. One showed up on “Antiques Roadshow” and since it wasn’t one of the pasted-over ones it was worth oodles of bootle.
Back to the OP, Joe Cocker’s covers are generally better than the originals (he’s not a singer, he’s a “song stylist”). so I’ll second his “With a Little Help.”
*Across the Universe * sung by Fiona Apple
Okay, this is a really strange one, but Celine Dion’s cover of “Here, There and Everwhere” is fantastic. And I hate Celine Dion.
In fact, George Martin’s cover album is pretty good all the way through. Jim Carey does a great job on “I am the Walrus” - especially at the end, when he shouts, “There! I’ve done it! I’ve defiled a timeless piece of art! For my next trick, I’ll paint a clown face on the Mona Lisa, using the Shroud of Turin as a dropcloth!”
Danielle Dax’s cover of Tomorrow Never Knows is great.
Laibach’s cover of almost the entire Let It Be album (they don’t do the title track) is entertaining.
“I Am The Walrus” by Oingo Boingo
“Across The Universe” by Laibach
The I am Sam soundtrack is memorable as being entirely Beatles’ covers, there are some great renditions. I personally think Rufus Wainwright’s version of Across the Universe is ten to the nth degree better than Fiona Apple’s version.
Emmy Lou Harris version of Here There and Everywhere.
I remember liking Petula Clark’s "I wanna hold your hand :eek: 
"
Guadalcanal Diary had an excellent rendition of “And Your Bird Can SIng”
And I liked Aerosmith’s cover of “I’m Down” on the “Permanent Vacation” album.
Oh, and in their early days, before they became popular, Yes had a nice cover of “Every Little Thing.”
I found this import album on a cheapo rack at a local music store, and some of the covers are downright outstanding.
Ray Charles “Yesterday”
Wilson Pickett “Hey Jude”
Ella Fitzgerald “Can’t Buy Me Love”
Joan Baez’ well known “Imagine” cover (yeah, I know it’s Lennon solo, but I didn’t compile the album)
the already mentioned Emmylou Harris “Here, There and Everywhere”
and the downright insanity of Siouxie and the Banshees covering “Dear Prudence”
On another front, I second Rufus Wainwright’s version of “Across the Universe” being the quintessental cover of the tune.
I am surprised no one has mentioned Bobby McFerrin’s cover of “From Me to You” off his…I think… Spontaneous Inventions CD - the one before the CD with that song on it (I hate it so much I will not mention it, but the big hit). Spontaneous Inventions is a great great CD…
Siouxsie and the Banshees also did a fine cover of “Helter Skelter.” Elliot Smith’s “Because” is pretty good, too.
The Breeders covered “Happiness is a warm gun” on their first album. Very cool.
On Music For Elevators, Anthony Stewart Head (yes Rupert Giles himself) and Holly Palmer do a decent cover of We Can work it Out.
-DF
Nina Simone’s “Here Comes the Sun” is pretty good.
I like Bette Midler’s version of “In My Life” better than the original. Of course, I like anything she sings, so I’m kinda biased.
En Vogue’s rendition of “Yesterday” is also a good one.
I third Rufus Wainright’s Across the Universe cover. At the risk of blaspheming, I like it better than the original.
You are missing out on a slice of life if you haven’t heard Shatner’s rendition of Lucy In The Sky.
And although not in the vein of the OP, I feel I must mention a remix by Kraftwerk (I think) of Elinor Rigby. No words, but plenty of the cool violin part. I likes it.
I’m actually rather fond of the 80’s synth-pop cover of “Taxman” by Rockwell (of “Somebody’s Watching Me” fame).