Superior cover versions?

[Frenchoid]

OK - can you think of cover versions that are BETTER than the original?

Here's one - Roddy Frame (ex Aztec Camera) did a cover of The Beatles 'In My Life'. Not often the Fabs' original is bettered, but IMHO there's one.

Over to y'all!

[Goodsoulette]

lol here I go again

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

[jamesy boy]

Leonard Cohen's original version of 'Hallelujah' is the worst version of it; John Cale's cover is good, Rufus Wainwright's is very good, and Jeff Buckley's...well, sublime.
Jimi Hendrix's 'All Along The Watchtower', The Beatles' 'Twist And Shout', Jose Gonzalez's 'Heartbeats', and Embrace's unlikely but brilliant cover of D12's 'How Come' also deserve a mention. Ooh, and Elvis Costello's 'What Do I Do Now?' is a personal favourite.

[mariner2]

IMHO Everything but the girl's " I don't want talk about it" is better than Rod's, and though I am a huge Bowie fan, I loved Last Town Chorus's recent cover of "Modern Love"

[JohnnyWhalen]

no way frenchoid

[Dusty Bin]

Far Corporation's version of "Stairway to Heaven"

[defenstrate]

"havana affair" red hot chillipeppers covering the ramones
"hurt" johnny cash covering nine inch nails

[natalie_1982]

defenstrate - you beat me to it!

Hurt - by johnny Cash (NIN original)

[fly258]

VERY controversial , Dusty Bin !!!

[JohnnyWhalen]

what about rolf harris dusty bin?

[Frenchoid]

Way, JohnnyWhalen - IMHO :-)

Re - EBTG vs Rod, close call but I think I'm with you there, mariner2. And you, jamesy boy... although it's often argued that Cale's is the best Hallelujah. Re Johnny Cash - absolutely... also his cover of U2's 'One'.

There's another whole category of cover versions that are just plain bizarre - different rather than better. Ted Chippington's 'She Loves You'; Gourds 'Gin & Juice' and 'Lust for Life'...

[Alibobs]

I like the cover of Tears for Fears Mad world by Gary JUles better than the original

[Goodsoulette]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn9lQIXPCJU

how could I forget this... I love it.

was it ryan adams that covered Wonderwall really well.

[robbo82]

Got to agree with all of jamesy boy's choices. Also, Ben Folds' cover of Dr Dre's Bitches Ain't ****, The White Stripes' Jolene, Cake's I Will Survive, The Dan Band's Total Eclipse of the Heart, Nirvana's The Man Who Sold the World, Foo Fighters' Baker Street.

[Whoa Nelly]

American Pie by Madonna. I hate the original so any version other than Don McLeans' is an improvement to my ears.

[Frenchoid]

Boy oh boy you must REALLY hate the original, Whoa Nelly - me, I can't listen to either of 'em !