Cover versions that you like better than the original song?

[Fender32]

Let's face it , "original" doesn't always = "best".

No, this is not a "Fender vs. Sadowsky" thread .

I'm just curious as to which songs you like better, when performed by someone other than the composer/original band.

Reasons would be nice too .

Here's three from me, to start the ball rolling (assuming that anyone replies and there is "a ball" to roll ):

1. "Ziggy Stardust", by Bauhaus, as oppposed to the David Bowie version.

(Almost the same, very close as cover versions go, but Pete Murphy just tears it a up a bit more on the vocals and the guitars are wild).

2. "Desperado", by Johhny Cash, as opposed to The Eagles.

(That song sounds like it should have been written by Johnny Cash IMO and he gives a very heart-felt rendition of his acoustic version on his final album).

3. "All Along the Watchtower", by Jimi Hendrix, as opposed to Bob Dylan.

(OK, it's easy to knock Bob Dylan as a performer, but Hendrix just made this song his own, IMO.)

What do you guys think?

[unclejam]

Word Up By Korn (Cameo)

[D Von]

even though it gets waaaaay too much radio play, Disturbed's cover of Genisis's Land of Confusion is actually a really good cover. Throwdown's cover of Baby Got Back is also a moy bueno.

[labgnat]

have a cigar covered by primus

[KeithBMI]

Summertime blues and Young Man Blues are both covers right? - The Who.

[D Von]

yea then rush redid summertime blues too

[peaveyuser]

Originally Posted by Fender32

Let's face it , "original" doesn't always = "best".

No, this is not a "Fender vs. Sadowsky" thread .

I'm just curious as to which songs you like better, when performed by someone other than the composer/original band.

Reasons would be nice too .

Here's three from me, to start the ball rolling (assuming that anyone replies and there is "a ball" to roll ):

1. "Ziggy Stardust", by Bauhaus, as oppposed to the David Bowie version.

(Almost the same, very close as cover versions go, but Pete Murphy just tears it a up a bit more on the vocals and the guitars are wild).

2. "Desperado", by Johhny Cash, as opposed to The Eagles.

(That song sounds like it should have been written by Johnny Cash IMO and he gives a very heart-felt rendition of his acoustic version on his final album).

3. "All Along the Watchtower", by Jimi Hendrix, as opposed to Bob Dylan.

(OK, it's easy to knock Bob Dylan as a performer, but Hendrix just made this song his own, IMO.)

What do you guys think?

+1000 on #3 I haven't heard the other ones yet.

Godzilla by Racer X opposed to Blue Oyster Cult.
Listen to both and you'll see.

[Jared Lash]

"Respect" - as covered by Aretha Franklin, original by Otis Redding

What can you say? It's her song now and forever.

War Pigs - as covered by Faith No More, original by Black Sabbath.

I'm not a huge sabbath fan, but I do like them. This is one of their best, but the FNM version just has more urgency and energy.

I'm sure I'll think of others.

[labgnat]

tool's cover of no quarter is freaking the best cover ever.

[ibanezcollector]

Love Song - 311

30 Days in the hole - Gov't Mule
Sweet Leaf
War Pigs

Salisbury Hill - Dave Matthews and Friends

[labgnat]

oh and pigmy love circus did a sweet cover of 21st century schizoid man in concert, dont' know if they have a recorded version of it.

[Sonic_Death]

Originally Posted by labgnat

tool's cover of no quarter is freaking the best cover ever.

You apparently like Tool, and you put Adriana Lima back, thus you are on my good side again.

Were you ever on my bad side, no.

I really like the cover album, Renegades, from Rage Against The Machine, most of the songs on there are better than the originals IMO.

[labgnat]

Originally Posted by Sonic_Death

You apparently like Tool, and you put Adriana Lima back, thus you are on my good side again.

Were you ever on my bad side, no.

I really like the cover album, Renegades, from Rage Against The Machine, most of the songs on there are better than the originals IMO.

yeah maggies farm is one of rages coolest songs.

but they generally change the whole song when they cover something and make it their own.

[Fender32]

Sorry, I forgot one .

"Easy" by Faith No More, as opposed to The Commodores (I believe?).

(Again, close to the original in many ways, but that long pause and the "Ooooooooohhh")!

[Jeff Martinez]

Send Me an Angel - Zeromancer (originally Real Life)

Shout - Disturbed (originally Tears for Fears)

Red Red Wine - UB40 (originally Neil Diamond)

I Can't Help Falling in Love With You - UB40 (originally Elvis Presley)

Paint It Black - Inkubus Sukkubus (originally The Rolling Stones)

Turn the Page - Metallica (originally Bob Seger)

Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts (originally Tom Cochrane)

[kserg]

dancing queen by abba covered by black sabbath cover band.

[Sonic_Death]

Send Me An Angel - Thrice (originally Real Life)

Paint It Black - Earth Crisis (originally The Rolling Stones)

Turn The Page - Metallica (originally Bob Seger)

[Dan Molina]

I agree on All Along the Watchtower.

Also Deadsy's version of Tom Sawyer is just as good if not better than Rush's.

[Jared Lash]

A couple more:

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley covering Leonard Cohen's original

Haunting and powerful, but its use in crappy TV shows finales and films cheapens Buckley's legacy a bit. Still a great song.

We Can Work It Out - Stevie Wonder covering the Beatles

Funkier, more soulful and just plain better IMO

I'll +1 the Renegades album, especially Maggie's Farm. I love both versions.

A few Joe Cocker songs could be included (A Little Help From My Friends, The Letter) and Nirvana's Unplugged has some great covers (The three Meatpuppet's songs, as well as the Bowie and Leadbelly songs) that I prefer to the originals.

[sonicvi]

Ben Folds - Bitches Aint **** (originally Dr.Dre)