Covers Better Than The Original

[Michedelic]

I love the Temptations version but I like this better. Not a fan of the crazy stage attire though.

Ain’t nothing wrong with the stage attire, it was 1974, at the tail end of the glam era. What would you expect, cargo shorts and sweaty T-shirts? Sandals with white socks? The only problem with their rendition is that it featured one of Keith’s more mediocre guitar solos. The smile on Charlie’s face at the end of it says it all.

 

[Tom Bomb]

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Could go anywhere ​

 

[Ostie]

Hall and Oates?
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The Righteous Brothers’ original is listed by BMI as the most played song of the 20th Century in America, a crowning achievement of Spector’s “wall of sound”. The H&O version was weak sauce in comparison, there was no way they were going top it.

Yeah, and I’ve heard the original version way too many times. It was refreshing to hear a modern, different take on the song. So I like it better. It’s a matter of personal taste.

 

[El Güero]

 

[TyBo]

Yeah, and I’ve heard the original version way too many times. It was refreshing to hear a modern, different take on the song. So I like it better. It’s a matter of personal taste.

Well sure, we all have our own personal tastes. But to put forward the Hall and Oates cover of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" as better than the Righteous Brothers original is a proposition that's never gonna get a lot of endorsement. As was noted, the original is one of the most played recordings of all time ... for a reason. It sets a mood, and plays out dramatically, and the ladies melt when they hear that opening line from Bill Medley ... "You never close your eyes anymore ..." . Dude could sing! Hall and Oates can sing too, but neither has that low resonant voice like Medley, to put those lines across.

 

[TyBo]

Here we are again. Nice version, well done ... but better than Patsy Cline??? C'mon. Don't nobody do Patsy's recordings better than she did.

 

[Ostie]

Well sure, we all have our own personal tastes. But to put forward the Hall and Oates cover of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" as better than the Righteous Brothers original is a proposition that's never gonna get a lot of endorsement. As was noted, the original is one of the most played recordings of all time ... for a reason. It sets a mood, and plays out dramatically, and the ladies melt when they hear that opening line from Bill Medley ... "You never close your eyes anymore ..." . Dude could sing! Hall and Oates can sing too, but neither has that low resonant voice like Medley, to put those lines across.

Okay, how’s this: “I myself enjoy the Hall and Oates version more than the original. YMMV”

Edit: it’s not that I hate the original, I just prefer the H&O version.

 

[El Güero]

Nice version, well done ... but better than Patsy Cline???

That's right.

Patsy's held up for over fifty years, and I was hesitant to dispute it.

Imo, the arrangement, tempo, and instrumentation on Kelly's version helped a lot. It conveys a mood. Add Kelly's vocal performance and it's a winner.

 

[TyBo]

That's right.

Patsy's held up for over fifty years, and I was hesitant to dispute it.

Imo, the arrangement, tempo, and instrumentation on Kelly's version helped a lot. It conveys a mood. Add Kelly's vocal performance and it's a winner.

Yeah, as we see, personal tastes are what they are. I don't think that supplanting bona fide classics with wannabe newcomers deemed "better" (even if those are fairly well done) is gonna gain widespread endorsement in these cases. Can't agree about the tempo, either - Patsy's version has a certain loping groove that works like crazy. Imo, ymmv, etc., etc. An iconic voice there too. Let's have a "better" reinterpretation of Ray Charles next, eh? Mmhmm ...

 

[El Güero]

Let's have a "better" reinterpretation of Ray Charles next, eh?

A " 'better' cover" isn't a better reinterpretation of the original artist, it's "better" version of the original song.

And since you requested:

 

[TyBo]

A " 'better' cover" isn't a better reinterpretation of the original artist, it's "better" version of the original song.

And since you requested:

You've GOT to be kidding. I mean, it's not a bad cover (and very clearly IS an interpretation of the original artist, BTW, if that matters to you). But I don't imagine that even Fogerty himself believes his voice tops Ray Charles. Ye gods. Nor do the backing vocals stand up to the Raelettes ( Baybeeee ... Baybeeee ... ). Not much into the old time rock and roll (or r+b), I'm guessing?

 

[El Güero]

Not much into the old time rock and roll (or r+b), I'm guessing?

Right you are, I'm all about the barn bubbas.

I even know a cover that's better than Johnny Cash's original Big River.

 

[TyBo]

Well, that explains it. I try to cast a wide net, myself. To each his own.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Gimme Cover​

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[Tom Bomb]

DIY

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[The Owl]

Bauhaus's version of T-Rex "Telegram Sam" was so much more fun.

 

[Tanner5382]

The James Gang does Lost Woman better than the Yardbirds did. The version on the James Gang Live album is also stellar.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The James Gang does Lost Woman better than the Yardbirds did. The version on the James Gang Live album is also stellar.

Of course. It's the James Gang!

 

[Titch]

Devo: Can't get no Satisfaction

 

[Michedelic]

While this has a certain quaint, goofy, rustic charm to it…

…Elvis, Scotty, and Bill brought some attitude to it…