Covers that are better than the original.

[Jumbotron]

Off the top of my head:

Butthole Surfers: "Hurdy Gurdy Man"
Red House Painters: "Long Distance Runaround"
Run D.M.C.: "Walk This Way"
Laibach: "Sympathy for the Devil" (they did a whole album of that song)
Scissor Sisters: "Comfortably Numb"
Anthrax: "Got the Time"

 

[JamesM]

I wouldn't say this version is better than the original, but i really enjoy King Curtis's version of 'Let It Be' by the Beatles.

 

[HaVIC5]

Avril Lavigne - Chop Suey.

 

[Howlin' Hanson]

The Who's cover of Summertime Blues (although Blue Cheer had their moments)

The Beach Boys' cover of California Dreamin

The Beatles' cover of Act Naturally

Blue Swede's cover of Hooked On A Feelin'

Three Dog Night's cover of Shambala (RIP B.W. Stevenson)

and except for the bass playing: Vanilla Fudge's cover of You Keep Me Hangin' On.


Let the arguing among the old folks begin!

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

i disagree with teh johny cash version of hurt being better.

the nine inch nails version has so much more feelign put into it. the johny cash version was only good when paired with the music video showing hsi life, imo.

there's something so wrong with you. trent just whines and poses. Johnny's lived it and you can hear it in every word.


Rufus Wainwright' cover of both Across the Universe, and Hallelujah. don't get me wrong, i love Jeff Buckley, but Rufus just kills with that song.

 

[samick]

A Perfect Circle's cover of Imagine.

most def way better
also their cover of When the Levee Breaks; its not better but its pretty good

Any song on Ozzys Under Cover album:
Rocky Mountain Way
Sunshine of Your Love
For What its Worth
Mississippi Queen
In My Life
Working Class Hero
All The Young Dudes
etc.....

 

[Sneckumhaw]

Rufus Wainwright' cover of both Across the Universe, and Hallelujah. don't get me wrong, i love Jeff Buckley, but Rufus just kills with that song.

Bah, Rufus and Jeff can't hold a candle to John Cale, their covers are based on his version anyway rather than Cohen's.

 

[these_go211]

jeff buckley's version of 'hallelujah.'

 

[Steve³]

Summertime Blues by The Who and Van Halen's rendition of You Really Got Me are great, but my award for best cover has to go to Jimi's All Along the Watchtower. Judas Priest's renditions of Green Manalishi and Diamonds and Rust have got to be in the all time top 5 as well.

 

[Bassist4Life]

The Lemonheads cover of "Luka"

 

[complexprocess]

I don't care what anyone says, Knockin' on Heaven's Door was written to be played by Guns n Roses.

I also really like Pat Boon's Version of Stairway. Really anything off of "In a Metal Mood" is great.

 

[pingone]

anything off of me first and the gimme gimme's "what a drag" cd.

 

[acleex38]

Other people caught two of my 3 favorites:

Reel Big Fish's version of Take on Me
Jonas Hellborg's version of Little Wing (actually, I like SRV's version better than Hendrix's as well).

Los Super 7's version of "I Heard it on the X" by ZZ Top.

 

[funkydanbass]

I like DMB's cover of All Along the Watch Tower...
Diane Reeves version of Peter Gabriel's 'In Your eyes is smoking...

And whilst I LOVE Joni Mitchell as a song writer, I love alot of other people's versions of her songs... Diane Reeves cover of River, Jane Monheit's cover of A Case of You...

 

[Mofo-Kang]

This is probably heresy, but I like Guns 'n Roses' "Sympathy for the Devil" better than the Stones'.

Stevie Ray Vaughn's "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" seems somehow, I dunno...just all around cooler than Hendrix's.

 

[SoLongJake]

Muse's cover of Feelin' Good
Terry Reid's cover of Bang, Bang (my baby shot me down)
edit:
Gary Jules version of Mad world(tears for fears)
the whole Dub side of the moon cd, from the easy star all stars.

 

[Dave Martin]

Also, anything richard cheese does.

Yep.

 

[nad]

Any cover by Type O Negative.

 

[Stellar Blues]

Viola Lee Blues by the Dead

 

[Auzzie-Phoenix]

I prefer these covers over the originals:

Save Ferris- Come On Eileen (Dexy's Midnight Runners)
RHCP- Rollercoaster (Ohio Players)
Disturbed- Shout 2000 (Original: Shout by Tears for Fears)
Lemonheads- Mrs. Robinson (Beatles)
Green Day- My Generation (The Who)

Nothing special regarding the bands who covered the originals, I just prefer the sounds given to the songs by the covering artists.