Cover versions better than the originals

[nmdhqbc]

Tennessee Waltz - these random youtubers...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnxwMpJQoCE

[Mike88]

Go on You Tube and search for the Classic Rock Show. Just about everything they do is better than the original.

[sloth]

Don't know if this is necessarily better than Acca Dacca, but Joan makes a good job of it:

https://youtu.be/2sky1tt8vLA

And the Toy Dolls covering Mandy Miller's 1956 original:

https://youtu.be/SY9kuEzkfF0

[tjh290633]

You can identify the younger generation from this thread. A large number of the artists mentioned are new to me, but not the original versions of some of the songs.

I still consider that the introduction of guitars to popular music was the worst thing that could have happened.

And I prefer Dolly Parton's version to that of Whitney Houston (Did she actually sing it?).

TJH

[AsleepInYorkshire]

House of the Rising Sun

The Animals.

Yes it was a cover version

AiY
Edit - The Animal when sober. Frigid Pink when tipsy

[mc2fool]

House of the Rising Sun

The Animals.

Yes it was a cover version

Hmmm ... while, yes, lots of people did it before The Animals, The House of the Rising Sun is a traditional folk song, and like most of that genre, is of unknown origin and authorship, with no "original" version.

By that measure, if it's a cover then pretty much the entire output of the likes of Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, etc, etc, are "covers", along with very many others who have traditional folk songs in their repertoire ...

[Itsallaguess]

Mad World by Gary Jules, used in the film 'Donnie Darko' -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS3SxWnSbtY

Alternative, red-nosed versions are available - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVevvbFNKiY

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[AleisterCrowley]

Mad World is 'arguably' a partial cover version of the 'Matthew & Son' middle section
(c 1:36) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aZE6IUT408

[nicodemusboffin]

Barry White - 'Just the Way You Are'

[Mike4]

I think when nominating a cover version, the poster should also state who the inferior original was by for the nomination to make any sense. Ideally with links to each version so we can compare.

So I'm gonna nominate "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum, pretty damned good but done even better by Doctor and the Medics.

Norman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swIcX57 ... mberNelson

Doctor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrUoDdS ... iejoandres

[Lootman]

I hesitate to suggest that anyone can do Dylan better than Dylan, but "Mister Tambourine Man" by The Byrds is an improvement in my view.

Much more arguably perhaps, the Hendrix version of "All along the watchtower". And maybe the odd Joan Baez cover of a Dylan song, but only because she has/had a beautiful voice (she is now age 80) and, at the end of the day, Dylan couldn't really sing at all.

This topic has made me realise how many songs that I thought were originals were actually covers.

[Mike4]

I hesitate to suggest that anyone can do Dylan better than Dylan

Why?

Surely most Dylan covers are WAY better than Dylan.

<Tin hat on>

[nicodemusboffin]

I think when nominating a cover version, the poster should also state who the inferior original was by for the nomination to make any sense. Ideally with links to each version so we can compare.

So I'm gonna nominate "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum, pretty damned good but done even better by Doctor and the Medics.

Norman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swIcX57 ... mberNelson

Doctor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrUoDdS ... iejoandres

Barry White 'Just the way you Are':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=io1WpKXQ__4

Whose R&B version is far superior to the acceptable but comparatively insipid Billy Joel original:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tJWM5FmZyqU

[Sussexlad]

Check out 'Boyce Avenue', there's a few to choose from. I particularly like 'Bleeding Love' and 'Fathers and Daughters'

[doug2500]

Well Simon & Garfunkle did 'sound of silence' and I'm sure you all know how that sounds.

Then Disturbed 'made it their own' as they would say on X factor, although when they say it it's fairly meaningless. This won't be everyone's cup of tea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4

This is also interesting, it's a professional's assessment of Disturbed's performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFmNaXAg0sw

And I second Natalie Imbruglia with Torn.

[cavebat]

House of the Rising Sun

The Animals.

Yes it was a cover version

Hmmm ... while, yes, lots of people did it before The Animals, The House of the Rising Sun is a traditional folk song, and like most of that genre, is of unknown origin and authorship, with no "original" version.

By that measure, if it's a cover then pretty much the entire output of the likes of Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, etc, etc, are "covers", along with very many others who have traditional folk songs in their repertoire ...

If you want a "different" interpretation of the song try John Otway https://youtu.be/3BwOyVIlupg

[AleisterCrowley]

Wot no Wild Willy Barrett?!
I have seen Mr Otway 'several' times and also have the world tour t shirt (OtAir)

[GoSeigen]

and (pushing the definition a bit) Dolly Parton's Jolene at 33rpm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doz1QJ7LwjA

Is that being played on a Rega Planar?

GS

[Leothebear]

You'll never leave Harlan alive - Ruby Friedman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYhLnYnrivI

[bungeejumper]

I loved Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love - one of the real rock classics - but Tina Turner's flat-out performance blew it right out of the water. Quite extraordinary to think that she was still touring with that raunchy stuff in her seventies, and still sounding (and looking!) amazing. Absolutely inspirational.

BJ