Cover versions better than the original.

My favourite version of this;

I also think her versions (more interpretations) of S&G's Bridge Over Troubled Water and Sting's Fields of Gold are so much better than the originals.

There's something about this which attracts my ears far more than the Beatles' original version.

For some reason my iPad is unable to load the first page of this thread, so I apologise if any of these have been mentioned before, but I'd suggest:

Jimi Hendrix' version of All Along the Watchtower beats the pants off Bob Dylan's original version. In fact, i understand that after hearing the Hendrix version Dylan started performing it likewise.

Another one I'd say would be Hendrix' version of Johnny B. Goode, which injects pace and energy into this song which it benefitted from immeasurably. Even Marty McFly imitated that version in Back to the Future.

And what about Joe Cocker's version of With a Little Help From My Friends?

Dua Lipa - Live Acoustic EP...... available on Tidal

There are some great covers:-

Golden Slumbers - (The Beatles)

Tears Dry On Their Own - (Amy Winehouse)

I'd Rather Go Blind - (Etta James)

They are all worth a listen.

Hoyt Axton - Never Been to Spain - this was bettered by Three Dog Night.

I Need A Lover. Johnny Cougar's original or Pat Benetar's cover? I first knew Benetar's pop-oriented version from radio back in the day and always enjoyed it. The song helped launch her career. Decades later I heard Mellencamp's original, a more developed and substantial recording. Happily, the success of Benetar's cover helped launch John's career.

Back in the day I preferred  Cyndi's version to Roy Orbison's original. 

Stevee_S posted:

 

Back in the day I preferred  Cyndi's version to Roy Orbison's original. 

Same could be said for Ronstadt's "Blue Bayou". Maybe Roy wrote songs more tenable to female voices? Partisans of Van Halen's "Pretty Woman" cover may disagree.

"The Sound Of Silence" by Disturbed. Floats my boat far more than the original S&G version.

blythe posted:

"The Sound Of Silence" by Disturbed. Floats my boat far more than the original S&G version.

You certainly converted me to that version, even if the original is pretty good.

blythe posted:

"The Sound Of Silence" by Disturbed. Floats my boat far more than the original S&G version.

I love the original for the tempo, guitar and beauty of S&G's harmonies, but also enjoy Disturbed's deeper, blacker, and more powerful solo vocal approach . The lyrics are poetically dark and isolating (ala "Eleanor Rigby"). Seems appropriate for a grunge or metal band to cover such tracks.

Chunky posted:

The Czars version of Tim Buckley's Song to the Siren.

Good one, although Elizabeth Faser's version - technically This mortal Coil - is sublime and unsurpassable.

Humble Pie - I don't Need No Doctor - John Scofield and John Mayer

Bob Dylan - The Ballad of Hollis brown - Stephen Stills

Bruce Springsteen - Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann

   Rag 'n' Bone Man - Die Easy.

Not really a cover as such, more a version of a traditional blues chant already done by Zep and many others, but what  a version. 

nickpeacock posted:

Chunky posted:

The Czars version of Tim Buckley's Song to the Siren.

Good one, although Elizabeth Faser's version - technically This mortal Coil - is sublime and unsurpassable.

I love John Grant's haunting vocal on the Czar's version, but although I am a fan of Elizabeth Fraser's  work with the Cocteau Twins, I've not heard This Mortal Coil's cover of this.  I must seek it out.

Monster posted:

Bob Dylan - The Ballad of Hollis brown - Stephen Stills

Bruce Springsteen - Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann

Oh yes! Manfred Mann's cover is great.

dave marshall posted:

   Rag 'n' Bone Man - Die Easy.

Not really a cover as such, more a version of a traditional blues chant already done by Zep and many others, but what  a version. 

???? DAVE MARSHALL,...I love Rag'n'Bone Man,he has a fantastic voice.

/Peder???? 

Chunky posted:

nickpeacock posted:

Chunky posted:

The Czars version of Tim Buckley's Song to the Siren.

Good one, although Elizabeth Faser's version - technically This mortal Coil - is sublime and unsurpassable.

I love John Grant's haunting vocal on the Czar's version, but although I am a fan of Elizabeth Fraser's  work with the Cocteau Twins, I've not heard This Mortal Coil's cover of this.  I must seek it out.

Chunky,

Here's This Mortal Coil's version. It's beautiful

Also, check out This Mortal Coil's version of Another Day by Roy Harper

The first TMC album, It’ll end in tears, is wonderful from start to finish.  

Thanks very much Lanesra.  I agree, This Mortal Coil's version is very good.  Elizabeth Fraser has such a distinctive voice.  I like the Roy Harper song too - I'd never heard this song before.

Under the Boardwalk.   Bruce Willis.

I doubt either of these is going to meet with much agreement, but:

Always on my mind: The Pet Shop Boys’ 80s disco stomper version knocks The King’s maudlin original into a cocked hat.

California Dreamin’: The Beach Boys’ slick 80s version walks all over The Mamas & the Papas’ rather weird original that sounds more like an early rehearsal rather than a final take. In particular, the former’s sax solo is worth at least a dozen of the latter’s flute solo.

Ready to be disagreed with,

Mark

hungryhalibut posted:

The first TMC album, It’ll end in tears, is wonderful from start to finish.  

I must check this out.  Thanks for the recommendation.

I love the version of Steve Earle's Goodbye by Emmylou Harris on her Wrecking Ball album.  Steve's version is quite raw, whereas Emmylou's has a lovely haunting quality and for me just has the edge.