Cover versions better than the originals

[MrFoolish]

1. Born to run - Frankie goes to Hollywood

[dionaeamuscipula]

I Love Rock n Roll - Joan Jett
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley
I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia

DM

[PhaseThree]

All along the watchtower ~ Jimmy Hendrix
Reet Petite - Pinky and Perky
Lucy in the sky with diamonds - William Shatner

[SalvorHardin]

A few off the top of my head:

Hurt - Johnny Cash (Trent Reznor, who wrote it for Nine Inch Nails has said "that song isn't mine anymore")

Black Betty - Ram Jam, Caravan Palace (and many other bands)

Everybody Needs Somebody To Love - The Blues Brothers, Wilson Pickett, The Rolling Stones

Mustang Sally - The Commitments

With a Little Help from My Friends - Joe Cocker

[PinkDalek]

Whenever this question is asked my reply is usually:

Melanie - Ruby Tuesday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RanxIzBac0k&t=3s

Maybe not better but good enough.

[Imbiber]

Another vote for Johnny Cash - Hurt

Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy

[Watis]

Valerie - Amy Winehouse

[mc2fool]

Respect - Aretha Franklin

[nmdhqbc]

A Whole New World - Katie Price & Peter Andre

[Gostevie]

Johnny Winter - Jumping Jack Flash
Status Quo - Rocking All Over The World

[servodude]

Cake - "I Will Survive"

Nouvelle Vague - "In a Manner of Speaking"

Revolting Cocks - "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?"

The Fall - "Lost in Music"

Uke Hunt - "Rainy Days and Mondays"

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

- sd

[Peltiq]

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - The Animals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4D4Aam9FUg

[kiloran]

There's not much wrong with this original from 1957:
Bo Diddley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w9Eii9ZFsQ

but I do prefer The Doors (for years I thought this was the original): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EmD32AQzaQ

And Quicksilver Messenger Service is good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOhwxosNSds

Not forgetting:
Eric Clapton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuxefsE9bkc
Grateful Dead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn-T5EJM73w
Santana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REaqfdJbdrA
The Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYPVyJwzerM
George Thorogood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6fGcpp3KzE
and others

--kiloran

[AleisterCrowley]

The Stranglers -'Walk On By'
Nazareth - "This Flight Tonight"
Bowie- " Waiting for The Man" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDERYTNtUBI

[MrFoolish]

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - The Animals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4D4Aam9FUg

And of course House of the Rising Sun was a cover version.

[MaraMan]

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Because the night - Patti Smith
Woodstock - CSNY
I fought the law - The Clash
I shot the sheriff - Eric Clapton
Nothing compares 2U - Sinead O'Connor

MM

[redsturgeon]

Taylor Swift - Fearless

[SteMiS]

DJ Sammy, featuring Yanou and Do - Heaven

[absolutezero]

No Doubt - It's My Life
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Toploader - Dancing in the Moonlight
Pet Shop Boys - Go West

[nmdhqbc]

I Heard It Through The Grapevine - CCR
The Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana
Where Did You Sleep Last Night - Nirvana (original may have been called "In the Pines" or something like that)