Covers Better Than The Original

[Twocan]

Donny Hathaway’s version of “What’s Going On?”

 

[D M C]

If by best you mean ironic, then this:

 

[Sixgunn]

Here's one that KBD will appreciate, I'm sure

 

[DrummerwStrings]

Lou Reed said the Cowboy Junkies' "Sweet Jane" was better than his.

I prefer Luther Vandross' "Superstar" to both the Carpenters' & Sonic Youth's versions. An end of the party classic worth checking out.

 

[rmayer]

Diamonds and Rust-Judas Priest. Here's a live version.

 

[bordinco90]

I like A Perfect Circle's version on Imagine by John Lennon.

 

[AztecViking]

Lenny Whites version of Lady Madonna is pretty cool with Marcus Miller on bass. I LOVE the newly added bridge section! Chaka Khan does the vocals on the choruses.

 

[CereBassum]

Wilson Pickett's cover of Hey Jude (with Duane Allman):

 

[Alkali Ike]

I was young and ignorant in the sixties and didn’t realize at the time that a whole lot of my favorite bands were playing covers. I thought they either wrote the songs themselves or someone wrote the songs specifically for them.

 

[fdeck]

Stan Kenton's West Side Story album came out after the movie, got a Grammy, and a thumbs-up from Leonard Bernstein.

 

[bigswifty1]

Donny Hathaway’s version of “What’s Going On?”

Oh yeah, great choice. Donny was something special. When you cover the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin, Lennon, Elton John and they all sound better than the originals, you've got someone very very special.

That's a smokin' band on that album too.
Mike

 

[bigswifty1]

Oh dear, now I'm going to cry:

 

[Alkali Ike]

 

[NOVAX]

If i say mad dogs and Englishmen bests the Fab Four on those 2 songs, will I be crucified in my own oil? Oh and Mott the hoople's version of 'sweet Jane'

 

[Brian VT]

I’m reluctant to say it’s better, since the original is close to perfect, but this version can bring a tear to my eye.

I prefer SRV's version.
Gotta give Hendrix all the credit though. How does one pull something like that out of their brain? Amazing.

 

[Pauly 4001]

This may be blasphemous, but I always thought Motley Crue's version of Helter Skelter was better than The Beatles original.

Japan- I Second that Emotion
Your Crue quote is indeed blasphemous but Japan doing I second That Emotion is far more so and I LOVE Japan. I still try to make sense of it while listening to Gentlemen Take Polaroids. They were really hitting their stride and then that track comes along.

Sorry, I have to take back my original comment. I was thinking of Ain't That Peculiar and I just heard Japan's version of I Second that Emotion again and it's pretty good. I stand by my original comments about Ain't That Peculiar though.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

The bass player is pretty good on this one. He's so good he can even make a Fender guitar amp sound awesome with bass...

 

[socialleper]

Failure and Lacuna Coil both did covers of Enjoy the Silence that are much better than the original.
Foo Fighters did a cover of Baker Street that I like more than the original.

 

[Richie Se7en]

I would say practically the entire first 3 albums from Zeppelin...







I'm just playin' ... maybe entire is a bit strong!

 

[73jbass]

Rare Earths version of Get Ready. Awesome.