Covers that are undeniably better than the original

Mick · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:54 am

Johnny Cash - Hurt (far better than NiN's original).

Nick Cave - The Singer (marginally better than Johnny Cash's original).

PopTodd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:04 am

The Bangles - Hazy Shade Of Winter... rocks the way that song SHOULD, but Simon and Garfunkel neve could.

Sly & The Family Stone - Que Sera Sera... takes a Doris Day song and turns it into one of the most soulful tracks ever committed to wax.

DMB04 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:20 am

http://s60.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2A4Y ... IZAW4R6MVV

Self's Cheesy Rat Blues, which is a LL Cool J track. It's a live recording, so the quality isn't the best, but it's very tolerable.

(I tried for the URL to be text instead, but I messed it up. Help)

PopTodd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:25 am

Kiev Wrote:

Landslide - I really like the Fleetwood Mac version and it's a real personal song - but I like the Smashing Pumpkins version a bit better -

Worst.
Cover.
Ever.

Sorry, but Billy just sounds like a colicy baby to me, especially on that song.
Although the Dixie Chicks version actually is pretty great.

no guru · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:39 am

U2 - "Night And Day"

I know there are millions of Cole Porter fans, but U2's version from the Red Hot & Blue comp is menacing and Bono's vocals are extremely unusual. It's pretty cool and trumps every sedate or whimsical broadway tune version I've heard.

Dusty Chalk · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:41 am

Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower

Kiev Wrote:

Landslide - I really like the Fleetwood Mac version and it's a real personal song - but I like the Smashing Pumpkins version a bit better -

I deny it. Billy's singing on that version just makes me cringe.

a mighty good leader Wrote:

Johnny Cash - Hurt (far better than NiN's original).

I deny it. I'm not going to say it's inarguably better -- I can see how someone could prefer the Cash version -- but the NIN version doesn't suck.

robotboy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:42 am

pixes - head on (originally jesus and mary chain)

also, naked raygun recorded a live version of Suspect Device that I'd rather listen to than Stiff Little Fingers'.

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

Stereophonics - Don't Let me Down (Beatles)

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

Oh lord, there's so many (and we seem to do this exercise every six months or so):

Jason And The Scorchers--19th Nervous Breakdown (Stones)
Pink Lincolns--I Got You (Split Enz)
The Godfathers--Cold Turkey (Lennon)
The Soft Boys--Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis)
Robert Wyatt--Shipbuilding (Elvis [the other one])

and Frosted, I'll see your U2 and raise you one Everything But The Girl.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:47 am

Depeche Mode - "Personal Jesus" (acoustic)
strips the single version down to its essentials and, in doing so, VASTLY improves upon the version that we all know so well.

Does that count?

Prince of Darkness · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:41 am **Posts:** 11048

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (L. Cohen)
Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my friends (Beatles)
Devo - Satisfaction (stones)

Z · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm **Posts:** 7979

robotboy Wrote:

pixes - head on (originally jesus and mary chain)

someone always brings this up and i cannot fathom how they can think it. c'mon, have you people ever even listened to the jesus & mary chain or is it just because of some ridiculous love for the pixies? this is almost the equivalent of thinking the B-side of the joshua tree is better than the A.

Dusty Chalk · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:51 am

PopTodd Wrote:

Depeche Mode - "Personal Jesus" (acoustic)
strips the single version down to its essentials and, in doing so, VASTLY improves upon the version that we all know so well.

Does that count?

No.

Dusty Chalk · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:53 am

Prince of Darkness Wrote:

Devo - Satisfaction (stones)

I love this version -- the ultimate cover, IMHO -- but I know too many people who hate it to list it as "inarguably" best. But if we're going to go there, add Cure's version of "Purple Haze" and Oingo Boingo's version of "You Really Got Me" (and, for that matter, Van Halen's).

Stone red's dark sunshine · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1096

Dusty Chalk Wrote:

Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower.

I can't go along with this. I like Jimi's cover okay, but still like the original better. As a matter of fact, and coincidentally, I listened to the Dylan version just yesterday and was thinking about how good it is (and how it's too bad most people only know the Jimi version).

Quote:

pixes - head on (originally jesus and mary chain)

The Pixies are one of my favorite bands of all time, yet I can't go along with this. It's far from the best thing the J&MC put out, but I still like it much better than the Pixies version, which I think is alright, but not better than the original, let alone close to being undeniably better.

robotboy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:53 am

Z Wrote:

robotboy Wrote:

pixes - head on (originally jesus and mary chain)

someone always brings this up and i cannot fathom how they can think it. c'mon, have you people ever even listened to the jesus & mary chain or is it just because of some ridiculous love for the pixies? this is almost the equivalent of thinking the B-side of the joshua tree is better than the A.

yes I have listened to JAMC and have heard JAMC's version, but I like the Pixies' style better. maybe it's because I heard the pixies version before the JAMC version. either way, the pixies version is better IMO.

Kingfish · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:02 pm

Stone Wrote:

Dusty Chalk Wrote:

Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower.

I can't go along with this. I like Jimi's cover okay, but still like the original better. As a matter of fact, and coincidentally, I listened to the Dylan version just yesterday and was thinking about how good it is (and how it's too bad most people only know the Jimi version).
.

Couldn't agree more.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

Z Wrote:

robotboy Wrote:

pixes - head on (originally jesus and mary chain)

someone always brings this up and i cannot fathom how they can think it. c'mon, have you people ever even listened to the jesus & mary chain or is it just because of some ridiculous love for the pixies? this is almost the equivalent of thinking the B-side of the joshua tree is better than the A.

I like the pixies, but I hate their version of Head on. I think Johnny Cash's version of Hurt is the only one listed that I agree is better than the original so really none of these are "undeniably" better.

Stop Breathin' · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:13 pm

Whoever does the eBay commercial's version of "Daydream Believer". Better than The Monkees or Anne Murray.

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

Pavement - Camera (REM cover)

PopTodd · **Posted:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:16 pm

billy g Wrote:

Z Wrote:

robotboy Wrote:

pixes - head on (originally jesus and mary chain)

someone always brings this up and i cannot fathom how they can think it. c'mon, have you people ever even listened to the jesus & mary chain or is it just because of some ridiculous love for the pixies? this is almost the equivalent of thinking the B-side of the joshua tree is better than the A.

I like the pixies, but I hate their version of Head on. I think Johnny Cash's version of Hurt is the only one listed that I agree is better than the original so really none of these are "undeniably" better.

So... you're a Doris Day fan?
I never woulda thunk.

Z · **Joined:** Sat Oct 23, 2004 1:38 pm **Posts:** 7979

iron & wine - "such great heights"

i've always found the postal service's song to be a bit lacking in emotion, especially for what seems to be a song written about missing someone. if i knew the lyrics and then heard the songs, i'd pick the iron & wine version as the one i felt worked better with the subject matter.

aretha franklin - "respect"

this is one of the best true covers that changes a song's meaning, simply because of the singer's gender. i like otis redding a lot, but aretha owns this.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

PopTodd Wrote:

billy g Wrote:

Z Wrote:

robotboy Wrote:

pixes - head on (originally jesus and mary chain)

someone always brings this up and i cannot fathom how they can think it. c'mon, have you people ever even listened to the jesus & mary chain or is it just because of some ridiculous love for the pixies? this is almost the equivalent of thinking the B-side of the joshua tree is better than the A.

I like the pixies, but I hate their version of Head on. I think Johnny Cash's version of Hurt is the only one listed that I agree is better than the original so really none of these are "undeniably" better.

So... you're a Doris Day fan?
I never woulda thunk.

I'm not sure I've heard Doris' version so I can't agree for that reason. I like Sly, but I wouldn't call myself a big fan of his so I'm not sure I'd agree. Have you seen the rumors though that they might be reforming and playing at the grammys.

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

my stock answer for these threads:

John Cale - hallelujah

the original is so campy and over the top. I like the Jeff Buckley version too, but he is essentially covering the John Cale version.

Covers that are undeniably better than the original

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