MetaChat - Cover versions better than the originals

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27 October 2009

Cover versions better than the originals →[More:]The Jeff Healey Band covering Bob Dylan's "When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky". (video is unsynchronized, but not worth watching)

post by: Joe Beese at: 08:59 | 37 comments

Nancy Sinatra's cover of Cher's "Bang Bang My Baby Shot Me Down"

posted by BoringPostcards 27 October | 09:13

Hendrix version of "All Along the Watchtower"

posted by gaspode 27 October | 09:15

Alanis Morrissette - My Humps

posted by typewriter 27 October | 09:16

I'm reluctant to say one's better than the other, but I like Darkseed's cover of I Turn to You. I love hearing Alice Cooper's Poison with female vocals. And I can not too many times recommend Turisas's Rasputin.

posted by Wolfdog 27 October | 09:27

I think Dylan had lots of songs that were better covered than original.

posted by eekacat 27 October | 09:35

BOO eekacat, BOO.

I really really like Dylan doing Dylan songs!

I'd argue that 7 Seconds' version of "99 Luft Balloons" is pretty close to better.

posted by richat 27 October | 09:49

"Hit Me Baby One More Time" by Fountains of Wayne is far superior to Spears' verison. As is Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah".

posted by Specklet 27 October | 10:14

David Bowie's cover of The Walker Brothers' "Nite Flights"

Also, on the same album (Black Tie White Noise), Bowie's borderline-parody cover of Morrissey's "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday"

Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt"

The Bangles' cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade of Winter"

I have an inexplicable fondness for Duran Duran's cover of "White Lines" (though Grandmaster Flash actually performs on it, so is it really a cover?). Speaking of Dylan, that same album (Thank You) also has a solid cover of "Lay Lady Lay".

Do jazz versions count as covers? Then Herbie Hancock's covers of Prince's "Thieves in the Temple" and Nirvana's "All Apologies" eclipse the originals for me.

posted by Prospero 27 October | 10:18

I like Nirvana's "In the Pines" better than the Lead Belly version.

posted by rmless2 27 October | 10:36

speaking of 'In The Pines' , do yourself a favour and have a look around for the album "It Ain't Easy' by Long John Baldry (the man who inspired the John in Elton John) . he covers the song with Maggie Bell, but its titled 'Black Girl'. its the best version of that song that i have ever heard . hell, the whole album is great . check it out

posted by rollick 27 October | 11:13

Blondie's Hangin on the Telephone. This Mortal Coil's Song to the Siren and Another Day.

(I am in the camp that believes versions of jazz tunes and standards are not really covers)

posted by crush-onastick 27 October | 11:40

oh, i almost forgot about Nina Hagen's Cover of 'White Punks On Dope'

posted by rollick 27 October | 11:43

Dolly Parton's Harper Valley PTA. Check out the crazy guitar. Sorry, I've been on a Dolly kick lately - I'll be over here singing Me and Little Andy....

posted by saucysault 27 October | 13:00

rollick- yeah I like that one too but it is too guitar-heavy for my personal tastes. I like some pure angst.
Actually, I spent all morning clicking through youtube listening to about 25 different versions of it. Dolly Parton's was interesting

posted by rmless2 27 October | 13:43

I think Will Downing's version of Free is much better than Deniece Williams'.

posted by essexjan 27 October | 14:17

The Isley Brothers' version of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" is amazing.

posted by essexjan 27 October | 14:21

I like the Indigo Girls cover of "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" just a touch more than the Buffy St. Marie original because of the cool break-down they do at the end.

posted by rmless2 27 October | 14:48

Manfred Mann's cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light"... I am a die-hard Bruce Springsteen fan, and I think the man can do no wrong, but his original version of "Blinded by the Light" pales in comparison to Manfred Mann's transcendent interpretation.

posted by amyms 27 October | 15:19

Mudhoney's version of "The Rose."

Bauhaus's "Ziggy Stardust." (Love me some Bowie, but this version is fucking awesome...)

posted by dersins 27 October | 16:22

Yeah, it's 2009 but I still like Ted Leo's Since U Been Gone / Maps thing.

posted by birdie 27 October | 18:02

Any song by U2 basically.

posted by gomichild 27 October | 18:56

Any cover by Ciccone Youth.

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy's version of 'California Uber Alles.'

posted by box 27 October | 19:37

Ella Fitzgerald's 'Sunshine of Your Love.'

The Apples' 'Killing in the Name.'

Lots of El Michels Affair covers.

posted by box 27 October | 19:46

Ripe's "Across the Universe"

The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy's version of 'California Uber Alles.'

Pistols at dawn, sirrah!

posted by pompomtom 27 October | 19:48

How about we compromise and say that 'We've Got A Bigger Problem Now' is better than either?

posted by box 27 October | 20:23

Ripe's "Across the Universe"

Ah I like Rufus Wainwright's version too

posted by rmless2 27 October | 21:18

Sonic Youth's version of "Superstar" by The Carpenters

David Sitek (producer/TV on the Radio) does great things to "With A Girl Like You" by The Troggs (of "Wild Thing" fame)

Hendrix's version of just about any song is stellar

And I must admit a soft spot for The Wallflowers; I enjoy their versions of "I Started A Joke" and "Heroes"

posted by kyleg 28 October | 00:15

ICP's cover of Lets go all the way! Thanks to lonefrontranger for the reminder.

posted by arse_hat 28 October | 00:35

I love the covers on I Am Sam (great soundtrack album for crappy movie).

posted by Claudia_SF 28 October | 00:38

I love good covers. Thanks y'all. I really like the energy that changes and the variations on a theme. I love the I Am Sam soundtrack, too, but have never seen the movie. Earlier today, when was walking back after taking a short break from work, I realized I had the song "Under Pressure" in my head and it was rotating between the original Queen/Bowie version and the Lennox/Bowie tribute version.

No, this doesn't say good things about my work. But damn, the music is good.

posted by lilywing13 28 October | 02:24

This Jeff Healey cover of Stuck in the Middle with You is quite fine.

posted by lilywing13 28 October | 02:26

Devo's Satisfaction

posted by Meatbomb 28 October | 07:03

The Masked and Anonymous soundtrack has some neat stuff on it too, including the Magokoro Brothers' 'My Back Pages.'

posted by box 28 October | 08:28

Cake's cover of Mahna Mahna.

Cake's cover of I Will Survive.

Tom Waits' cover of Goodnight Irene.

posted by middleclasstool 28 October | 08:55

Mustard Plug's The Freshmen, originally by the Verge Pipe.

I'm also a big fan of Jonathan Coulton's cover of Sweet Caroline, especially when Paul and Storm and Molly join in. There's nothing special about it, other than those who perform it.

posted by gc 28 October | 09:00

"Hey Joe" - Jimi Hendrix
"Hush" - Deep Purple

posted by Ardiril 28 October | 16:32

I love this album. It's chock full of great covers of Disney classics by various artists. Weirdest one is Tom Waits singing Heigh-Ho. Funnest one is Buster Poindexter singing Castles of Spain. Most haunting one is Sinead O'Connor singing Some Day My Prince Will Come.

posted by marsha56 29 October | 18:29

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