Covers better than Originals...

Cover versions are very often about as good for the originals as being handed over to Pinky + Perky- but are there covers of songs you think are better than their originals?

[Edited on Mar 12, 2003 by photo_obscura]

Knockin' on Heaven's door by Guns n Roses.

All Along the Watchtower by Hendrix

santa baby by everclear

although i love bob marley, i think No Use For aName's cover of " Redemption Song" was better. but they changed it styles from reggae to punk.

Two that spring to mind. Although mor epeople are familiar with the Clash cover of 'I Fought The Law' I have always prefered teh Dead Kennedys version, I think because 'I fought the law and I won' just sounds more... punk- that and Jello Biafra being... just cool.

Secondly the Joe Cocker version of With A Little Help From My Friends- as much as i love The Beatles, his version just gives the song structure, and a structure which is just fucking... boss- he essentially reinvents the entire song.

Which is why I think it works... sorry, Ringo

Pearl Jam's "Black" redone by Aaron Lewis of Staind... its a great song on its own, but i...despise...Pearl...Jam...

(i apologize if you're a Pearl Jam fan...but the dj over here at 96Rock is fuckin in love with Eddie Vedder or whatever the hell his name is and plays PJ like twice an hour, i shit you not...i am so sick of them...argh! )

"Brown Eyed Girl" by Lagwagon. Their version of the "Inspector Gadget" theme tune also rocks

I have never been nor will I ever be a pearl jam fan but I really like the way they redid Last Kiss by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers. Sometimes I like the original with the happy music and the really really depressing lyrics, it just makes it really creepy. But Pearl Jam makes the music fit the lyrics and I like it.

ooh ooh, I forgot about Hot Water Music, I've only heard a live version so I don't know if they ever recorded their cover of Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams.

I haven't heard a studio version either. Maybe we should start a fresh thread entitled "How many bands have covered Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams?"
Err.......... I'll start with Bowling For Soup. Any more anyone?

i forgot about that theme tune cover!
it does rock!
I didn't realise they'd covered 'brown eyed girl'
i'll have to check that out
its a great song
weezer and everclear did cool covers of it too

Brown Eyed Girl was on their second cd "Trashed". Lagwagon also do a shit hot version of Bad Moon Rising on their first cd "Duh!"

Ziggy Stardust byBauhaus
That NIN song by Jonny Cash

anal cunt - stayin alive (oi version) (he beegees)
sepultura - the hunt (new model army)
i'm sure there's more..but those 2 covers where better than the original

Joan Jett "do you want to touch me (oh yeah!)"
and Revolting Cocks "do you think I'm sexy?"

Dwight Yoakam's version of "Train in Vain" by the Clash

"Phantom of the Opera " by MF&GG

The Replicants album :
Are 'Friends' Electric? originally by Tubeway Army
Cinnamon Girl originally by Neil Young
Destination Unknown originally by Missing Persons
Dirty Work ? originally by Steely Dan
How Do You Sleep ? originally by John Lennon
Ibiza Bar ? originally by Pink Floyd
Just What I Needed originally by Cars
Life's a Gas originally by T Rex
No Good Trying ? originally by Syd Barrett
Silly Love Songs originally by Wings

Almost forgot my new favorite cover album
A full cover ( note for note ) of The Wall by Pink Floyd , by a country band called Earl Write & the Wrongs . . . and "Gin & Juice" by a band called The Gourds

try those on for good measure


[Edited on Mar 12, 2003 by maquee]

I forgot- any album by 'Me First And The Gimme Gimme's', if only for the humour value of hearing Simon + Garfunkle and stuff like that punked up...

Bowies version of,
Lets Spend the night tgt

Joan Jett's
version of,
Do You Wanna
Touch Me

I think Patti Smith's version of "Gloria" is better than Van Morrison's original. Jimi's "Hey Joe". The Band's covers of Dylan's "I Shall Be Released", "Wheels On Fire", and "Tears of Rage" are all better than the originals.

I Found A Reason by Cat Power

much as i like Velvet Underground, her version is so, so much better....

"i will survive" by cake
"mad world" by whoever, during the montage scene in donnie darko.

"ziggy stardust" by bauhus
"satisfaction" by devo

starting line "nothings gonna stop us now" by starship. pure class