Cover Songs better than the Original recording

There are thousands to choose from and I'm certain differences of opinion but in some cases there should be no debate.

Let me start this out with:

La Bamba

Manfred Mann's Earth Band over Bruce Springsteen (I know it's heresy BobS) - but it's true.

LooseGoose wrote:Manfred Mann's Earth Band over Bruce Springsteen (I know it's heresy BobS) - but it's true.

I was going to post this, too. Springsteen's version is nowhere near as good.

I don' know tha words...this is fucking ridic-u-los!

Ted Brogan wrote:

Van Halen = talented band. Also a master of tackiness.

Anything the Beatles originally did that was redone.

As much as I admire anything Allman, Molly Hatchet hit the mark with this.

Nommad2 wrote:

Speaking of George Thorogood....



Written by Rudy Toombs, recorded by Amos Milburn, Covered by John Lee Hooker and then George.

LoneWolfSparty wrote:Anything the Beatles originally did that was redone.

Not a big fan of Aerosmith's "Come Together" cover.

I know not many will agree with this one.

Spartan Punk wrote:

I know not many will agree with this one.

It's like a train wreck, you can't take your eyes off it.

Spartan Punk wrote:

I prefer The Rivieras 65 version of the tune. They did two cuts of it, and the second version is amazing.

My favorite Ramones cover is

Carl Perkins had the original.

Ben Folds covering Dre. Doesn't get much better than that.

LoneWolfSparty wrote:Anything the Beatles originally did that was redone.

      

steveschneider wrote:

I prefer The Rivieras 65 version of the tune. They did two cuts of it, and the second version is amazing.

My favorite Ramones cover is

I pretty much love all of the covers the Ramones did (which was a lot). They took whatever song they were going to cover and completely did in their own style. Too many bands that do covers just try and sound like the original.

LooseGoose wrote:There are thousands to choose from and I'm certain differences of opinion but in some cases there should be no debate.

Let me start this out with:

Can't agree with you on this one. The video is timeless, but take that away and what you have is a decent song injected with a heavy dose of old man smell.

LooseGoose wrote:

It's like a train wreck, you can't take your eyes off it.

A friend of mine and myself sang this version at karoke one time. Same result, major train wreck.

LoneWolfSparty wrote:Anything the Beatles originally did that was redone.

Ha.

The only one I'd concede is Joe Cocker's take on "With a LIttle Help From My Friends" and maybe the Neville Brother's take on "Come Together" at Woodstock '94.

SpartanGuard wrote:Ben Folds covering Dre. Doesn't get much better than that.

That is AWESOME!

I'm not sure I can say it is better than the original (because I love the original song) but this cover has always been a big favorite of mine.

Spartan Punk wrote:
I pretty much love all of the covers the Ramones did (which was a lot). They took whatever song they were going to cover and completely did in their own style. Too many bands that do covers just try and sound like the original.

Are Jesus and Mary Chain Punks? I'm not sure but they certainly had a lot of attitude. I felt like this is another band that always reinterpreted covers very nicely.

Can't link

Ramones - California Sun

This is one that I like both versions:

The original:





The cover:



But in the end you have to stick with Ian.

Dr. Dog "Heart It Races" cover of original done by Architecture In Helsinki



Also a good live version:

Reversing things... mad props to the Santana classic.

But the original, Fleetwood Mac, is better IMO (both studio and live - attached).

Not necessarily better and maybe can't fully be considered a cover because Nancy played, but the vocal work by Gretchen Wilson is absolutely stunning