What about Aerosmiths cover of the Yardbirds "Train Kept a'Rollin"

I also dug there version of "Come Together" but thats just the fan in me...

The Grateful Dead have a whole album of Dylan covers called "Postcards from the Hanging,"

but my current favorite cover is Bryan Ferry from "These Foolish Things" singing It's My Party:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZbWCCWcQFs

How has no one brought up Knockin' on Heaven's Door (orig Dylan) by Guns 'n' Roses?

I'd even argue Sympathy for the Devil (orig Rolling Stones), but the original and the cover are so good it's hard to choose.

Also for your consideration, Shout (orig Tears for Fears) and Land of Confusion (orig Genesis) covered by Disturbed. Land of Confusion is in that same Sympathy for the Devil category.

spitfire6006006 wrote:Death Letter by The White Stripes

Definitely.

Also, I completely disagree about "Hurt". Nothing against Cash, but the original version is more melodic and emotional.

More covers:

Goldfinger - "Rio"
Reel Big Fish - "Take on Me," "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Kiss Me Deadly," "Unity,"
Orgy - "Blue Monday"
White Stripes - "Conquest"
Nine Inch Nails - "Get Down Make Love," "Memorabilia," "Metal"
KMFDM - "Boots"
Ministry - "Black Betty"

jai151 wrote:I'd even argue Sympathy for the Devil (orig Rolling Stones), but the original and the cover are so good it's hard to choose.

I like the Jane's Addiction performance of that song MUCH better than the Rolling Stones version.

miker42 wrote:One of my all-time faves is the Infectious Grooves version of David Bowie's "Fame"

God Lives Underwater did a pretty good version.

That also reminds me of another cover: sElf did a cover of Depeche Mode's "Shame" that is really good.

Also, Easy Star All-Stars did a dub/reggae tribute album called "Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band" which covers the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album. I don't much like the Beatles, so I pretty much like everything on it better than the originals. Other albums they've done include "Radiodread" (Radiohead's "OK Computer") and "Dub Side of the Moon" (Pink Floyd).

Personally I prefer the Nine Inch Nails version of Dead Souls to the original Joy Division version.

Also, I hesitate to say it is a better version because it is so different but I prefer the Type O Negative version of Cinnamon Girl to the the Neil Young original.

I think "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess has to be the most often covered song.

It's been done in practically every genre by practically every artist/band.

Whose is best? No idea - too many to count - maybe Janis Joplin?
There are some instrumental jazz versions that are fantastic.
All I know is I hate the soprano, operatic way that it's usually sung in productions of Porgy and Bess.


Someone mentioned Robert Palmer (Bang a Gong), which reminded me of his trilogy of covers - Sailing Shoes/Hey Julia/Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley.
It's one of my favorite recordings, I listen to it all the time.

Don't forget the Beatles' cover of "Twist and Shout"!!

Danzel's cover of "You spin me 'round" is better than the original IMO.

ownedbymypugs wrote:How about a person who did a cover/rerelease of a song THEY had originally wrote/performed?

My favorite example of this are the two versions of 'Let My Love Open the Door'

Here's the happy/upbeat original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUaRnGKfkBE

And here is the slowed down almost soulful cover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f4Jtm4hTAU

I really love both of these versions of the song; but I like the slowed down version better.

Wow - Pete Townshend is my all-time favorite musician, and I never knew this version existed.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention, and I'm glad I went back and looked through the QPs or I would've missed it.

Did you catch the musical references to Baba O'Reily?
No idea if it's supposed to mean something in the context, but it's pretty cool.

tjamil wrote:Most people are familiar with Marvin [filter won't allow last name] version of "I heard it through the Grapevine", but it was actually released by Gladys Knight and the Pips a year earlier.

As a child of the '70s, I've got to go with Creedence Clearwater Revival's version. The guitar solo did it for me.

In 1987, MTV showed a video of Springsteen doing an acoustic version of (I think)the Pointer Sisters' "Fire" that was downright sexay! It was just him sitting on the stage strumming his guitar, but something about the way he sang it...

I can't decide between these three versions of "Little Wing": Hendrix, Sting, or Derek and the Dominoes. Speaking of which, I never thought I'd accept another version of "Layla," but Eric Clapton's acoustic version on MTV Unplugged was awesome.

I think the Feelies' "Dancing Barefoot" might just be better than Patti Smith's, but it's a close call. Same with the Cowboy Junkies and Lou Reed with "Sweet Jane." Those two are so different, they're almost like different songs.

Patti Smith also did a great version of "Satisfaction."
Better than Mick and the boys? You decide.
A LOT different.

rarson wrote:Definitely.

Ministry - "Black Betty"

I think the Nick Cave version of "Black Betty" (in addition to his take on "Jesus Met the Woman at the Well") far surpasses other takes on this particular classic.

Ministry does, however, do a phenomenal version of the Dead's "Friend of the Devil" in a largely acoustic setting.

For me, The Hurrah Torpedo version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is an interesting reinvention, as is the Red Elvises take on "Telephone Call from Istanbul" by Tom Waits.

rarson wrote:I like the Jane's Addiction performance of that song MUCH better than the Rolling Stones version.

And I like Laibach's version

It's surprising how many people see (or don't see) "Merrill/Hooker" on a certain record and don't have any idea who the Arrows are or that this song existed before 1981.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AT_Pbtyid0

There's a reason Joan Jett and the Blackhearts had such a big hit with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vFFyJ0s9m0

She's added the same 'power crunch' flavor to every song she's covered.

How has no one mentioned the Bangles taking "Hazy Shade Of Winter" from Paul Simon yet? Talk about a song that turned out to be a gleaming diamond in Paul Simon's The Force pile.

lisagd wrote:In 1987, MTV showed a video of Springsteen doing an acoustic version of (I think)the Pointer Sisters' "Fire" that was downright sexay! It was just him sitting on the stage strumming his guitar, but something about the way he sang it...

Springsteen actually wrote "Fire," as well as "Pink Cadillac" for Aretha Franklin and "Blinded By The Light" for Manfred Mann. Just for the record.

chicobangs wrote:

lisagd wrote:
In 1987, MTV showed a video of Springsteen doing an acoustic version of (I think)the Pointer Sisters' "Fire" that was downright sexay! It was just him sitting on the stage strumming his guitar, but something about the way he sang it...


Springsteen actually wrote "Fire,"

I prefer the Elmer Fudd version, as interpreted by Robin Williams.

chicobangs wrote:Springsteen actually wrote "Fire," as well as "Pink Cadillac" for Aretha Franklin and "Blinded By The Light" for Manfred Mann. Just for the record.

...and "Light of Day" for Paul Schrader's Light of Day, for what it's worth. [Springsteen had kept the original title song, "Born in the USA", for himself and bowed out of the film.]

"A Taste of Honey" by The Beatles AND Herb Alpert & TJ Brass.
Both great versions.

I preferred Hurt by NIN over Cash.

+1 for Afghan Whigs.

Godsmack has cranked out several covers (their new album contains four), but their rendition of Bad Company gives the original a run for its money.

Machine Head does an awesome cover of Iron Maiden's Hallowed Be Thy Name. It might be a little better and I love Maiden.

Speaking of Deep Purple, I'd take their Kentucky Woman over Neil Diamond's original.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWeqxE6ZFtE

And speaking of Warren Zevon, his Back in the High Life Again trumps the Steve Winwood original
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo3lxKrjABE

Roxy Music's oLike a Hurricane" (Leon Russell)
Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" (Kris Kristofferson)
George Benson's "This Masquerade" (Leon Russell)
Lowel George "What do you Want the Girl to do" (Boz Scaggs)

I was listening to the Spotify playlist of this (and was disappointed by the single edit of "You Keep Me Hanging On) and, in particular, the cover of "Sunshine of Your Love".

Rotary Connection, a great Chicago hippie funk band, did a cover of that song, but I like this Cream cover of theirs better.

The female vocalist was Maya Rudolph's mother. She had some hits as a soloist, but I don't like them nearly as much as I like her Rotary Connection stuff.

The album of covers this is from is out of print, unfortunately.

rarson wrote:
More covers:

Reel Big Fish - "Take on Me," "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Kiss Me Deadly," "Unity,"

RBF also did 'Don't You Want Me' with Rachel Minton of Zolof the Rock n Roll Destroyer on Duet All Night Long, along with a few other covers. The horns make it for me, too

First off, the Johnny Cash video is so haunting that it has my vote. It *still* gives me chills.

How about this one?

Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6944F32lOc