Cover versions which are better than the original

Cover versions which are better than the original

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Discussion

S100HP

12,240 posts

154 months

Saturday 11th March
quotequote all
I've no doubt it's already been mentioned, but as it's just come on my playlist, Hurt by Johnny Cash must be up there as one of the best covers of all time. The emotion in that song bow

Clockwork Cupcake

71,968 posts

259 months

Saturday 11th March
quotequote all
S100HP said:
I've no doubt it's already been mentioned, but as it's just come on my playlist, Hurt by Johnny Cash must be up there as one of the best covers of all time. The emotion in that song bow
Mentioned several times, including the very first post of the thread. smile

But, yes, it is excellent. To the extent that Trent Reznor says that he no longer considers it his own song now.

andySC

1,096 posts

145 months

Thursday 16th March
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Released as a single 36 years ago today & it’s the version I prefer.

Zad

12,556 posts

223 months

Friday 17th March
quotequote all
andySC said:


Released as a single 36 years ago today & it’s the version I prefer.
Similarly, their version of Dear Prudence. Which has probably been done already, but it is worth mentioning here. To me, the Beatles' original just lacks.. something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6rrTROoZIw

PhilAsia

2,519 posts

62 months

Sunday 19th March
quotequote all

Billie Jean - Shinehead
...also resurrected a little used "Take a Lick" riddim from Studio 1.




FuryV6

84 posts

36 months

New one for me but Creeper's cover of Pet Sematary by The Ramones is superb and their cover of Hey Hey My My by Neil Young is pretty good too. Will Gould has such a great voice, really versatile.

S100HP

12,240 posts

154 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Clockwork Cupcake said:
S100HP said:
I've no doubt it's already been mentioned, but as it's just come on my playlist, Hurt by Johnny Cash must be up there as one of the best covers of all time. The emotion in that song bow
Mentioned several times, including the very first post of the thread. smile

But, yes, it is excellent. To the extent that Trent Reznor says that he no longer considers it his own song now.
Probably should have read the op then!

I also assume Black Magic Woman by Santana has been mentioned too.

rdjohn

5,614 posts

182 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Having taken the advice and read the OP, I see that All along the Watchtower was cited.

But then any cover of a Dylan song has generally been better than the Original, Just a few -

Wheels on Fire - Brian Auger Trinity
Make you feel my Love - Adele
Blowin’ in the wind - Peter Paul and Mary
Forever Young - Joan Baez
Times they are a changin’ - The Byrds
If not for you - George Harrison
Knockin’ on heaven’s door - Guns ‘n Roses
Its all over now baby blue - The Byrds, Joan Byez
Don't think twice - Peter, Paul and Mary
I shall be released - The Hollies
A hard rain is Gonna fall - Bryan Ferry
Mr tambourine man- The Byrds
Its alright Ma’ - Roger McGuinn
It ain't me babe - The Turtles

And the must be more - great song-writer, not the greatest singer.





Halmyre

10,438 posts

126 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
rdjohn said:
Having taken the advice and read the OP, I see that All along the Watchtower was cited.

But then any cover of a Dylan song has generally been better than the Original, Just a few -

Make you feel my Love - Adele
redcard

Bryan Ferry, if you must.

bodhi

8,384 posts

216 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Found a new Punk Cover playlist on Spotify the other day which had a few classics on it - Goldfinger 99 Red Balloons, Ataris version of Boys of Summer, however it started with a brilliant one from the Gimmes - far FAR better than the original.



Love how they kept the vocoder bits in it smile

andburg

6,249 posts

156 months

Yesterday (14:19)
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Well i know being better the Patrick Swayze isnt the greatest claim to fame


TCEvo

11,301 posts

189 months

Yesterday (17:09)
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bodhi said:
Found a new Punk Cover playlist on Spotify the other day which had a few classics on it - Goldfinger 99 Red Balloons, Ataris version of Boys of Summer, however it started with a brilliant one from the Gimmes - far FAR better than the original.



Love how they kept the vocoder bits in it smile
7 Seconds do a good 99 Red Balloons cover - live version (on Scream Real Loud) and studio (on Walk Together..).

The 'Gimme's cover of Paul Abdul's Straight Up is really good.

DodgyGeezer

35,092 posts

177 months

Yesterday (22:08)
quotequote all
andburg said:
Well i know being better the Patrick Swayze isnt the greatest claim to fame

H.E.A.T. are normally quite a solid outfit so I didn't have any worries about listening, that said it's actually one of the weaker songs I've heard from them

rdjohn

5,614 posts

182 months

Halmyre said:
rdjohn said:
Having taken the advice and read the OP, I see that All along the Watchtower was cited.

But then any cover of a Dylan song has generally been better than the Original, Just a few -

Make you feel my Love - Adele
redcard

Bryan Ferry, if you must.
Please can we have VAR look at that Red card incident?

I listened to all 3-versions yesterday and my scoring is
Bob Dylan - 3
Bryan Ferry - 5
Adele - 8, or 9

Bryan Ferry lacks vocal range like Dylan, and probably he relies too heavily on his warbling to overcome this shortcoming.

I am not a fan of Adele, but she does give this track the emotion that the lyrics deserve. She was not a superstar when she recorded 19 and I think that the album is better because of that.

paulguitar

19,239 posts

100 months

rdjohn said:
Please can we have VAR look at that Red card incident?

I listened to all 3-versions yesterday and my scoring is
Bob Dylan - 3
Bryan Ferry - 5
Adele - 8, or 9

Bryan Ferry lacks vocal range like Dylan, and probably he relies too heavily on his warbling to overcome this shortcoming.

I am not a fan of Adele, but she does give this track the emotion that the lyrics deserve. She was not a superstar when she recorded 19 and I think that the album is better because of that.
Have a listen to the Billy Joel version. Sort of does a 'Dylan' with it but has a much better voice.

Garth Brooks does a very decent country-tinged version.

Adele - redcard





Edited by paulguitar on Friday 24th March 11:11

andburg

6,249 posts

156 months

DodgyGeezer said:
H.E.A.T. are normally quite a solid outfit so I didn't have any worries about listening, that said it's actually one of the weaker songs I've heard from them
Agreed....but its definitely better than the original