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Best Remakes Of All Time

Remakes of the original rarely hit the mark, but here are some of my favorites.

1. The Cure's remake of Jimmi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" - It's so good it maybe better than the original.
2. Power Station's remake of "Bang A Gong" originally performed by T-Rex. Awesome.
3. Marvin Gaye's version of the Miracles "Heard it Through the Grapevine". Marvin's version is way better than the original.
4. Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower.
5. Love the Doors cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Backdoor Man".
6. Johnny's Cash's 2003 version of Nine Inch Nails "Hurt" was not only courageous, but seriously good.
7. Chicago's remake of "I'm A Man" originally performed by Spencer Dave Group is outstanding.
8. The Allman Brothers remake of "Statesboro Blues" is an upgrad over Blind Willie McTell 1928 version.
9. The Talking Heads 1978 version of Al Green's original release of "Take Me To The River". Do I even need to comment on that one?
10. Love Stevie Ray Vaughn's version of Jimi's "Vodoo Child".

There are a ton more... what are your favorite remakes?
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nrenter's avatar
nrenter
766 posts
 
Bauhaus' cover of "Ziggy Stardust" is, IMHO, far better than Bowie himself.

The Sisters of Mercy covered "Gimme Shelter", and I really dig it. Very slow and powerful. I like it better than the Stones.

Red Hot Chili Peppers covered "Subterranean Homesick Blues" on the Uplift Mo-fo Party Plan release. I don't know if it would qualify as a "best remake of all time" but worth a listen.

Oh...Foo Fighter's cover of "Baker Street". Really, really good. Really good. Good stuff.

And I like Veruca Salt's cover of "My Sharona". It really wasn't spectacular, but there was a whole-lot of sexyness in that band, so I'll give them a pass.
synthfreek's avatar
synthfreek
627 posts
 
Bauhaus-Third Uncle(Brian Eno)
Thee Headcoatees-Teenage Kicks(The Undertones)
Warrior Soul-Interzone(Joy Division)
The Gossip-Are U That Somebody?(Aaliyah)
Voivod-Astronomy Domine(Pink Floyd)
Cheap Trick-In The Street(Big Star)
Hanoi Rocks-Up Around The Bend(Creedence)
Big Black-The Model(Kraftwerk)
Big Black-She's A Whore(Cheap Trick)
Faith No More-War Pigs(Black Sabbath)
flemke
596 posts
 
Clapton never did anything better than JJ Cale.
rnm4
308 posts
 
Well Clapton never did any JJ Cale better than JJ Cale. But Some Clapton is better than some Cale. Especially when Duane Allman helped out.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I don't know, I think Clapton did Cocaine better than Cale. IMHO, his take on the song is more visceral, while still capturing the original's essential spirit and intention. Cale's solo was a great, subtle, slow, bluesy slur - but IMHO Clapton's is much more dramatic and, for me, satisfying. I admit that you could certainly make a case for either, but I'll take EC on this one - even if it's not the fashionable choice.

Marty
martykl
3,578 posts
 
A couple of people have mentioned covers of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door". I might have missed it, but I didn't see any mention of Warren Zevon's version, which was recorded when he knew he was dying of cancer. For me, that one is so poignant it's almost unbearable.

Marty
rnm4
308 posts
 
Marty,

Well, a respectable difference of opinion.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
rnm4,

Nothing wrong with those.
gawdbless's avatar
gawdbless
1,235 posts
 
Just played Warren Zevon's version as I had never heard it before, and as Martyk1 says it is indeed a good cover.
Not as good (IMHO) as The Sister's or Guns, but still a good cover nonetheless.
soundbit
62 posts
 
Joan Jett "Love Hurts"
soundbit
62 posts
 
I Fall to Pieces by Aaron Neville and Trisha Yearwood. Trisha holds a note here that is as pure as I have heard.
reubent
6,982 posts
 
Speaking of Aaron Neville.....His version of "The Grand Tour" is really excellent IMHO. I just went back and listened to the old George Jones version and I can say I prefer Neville's version by a wide margin.

Enjoy,

TIC
berkbob
15 posts
 
Have to put in a word for Nina Simone's cover of Dylan's Desolation Row. She nails the irregular rhythm. Jim James, backed by Calexico, from the sound track "I'm Not There", an obscure, possibly unfinished Dylan track from the Basement Tapes (unreleased?) "Going to Alcapulco". The incomprable 801 Live version of the Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows (fantastic bass line). Nancy Wilson of Heart did a live version of a Townsend number (can't recall, maybe "Won't Get Fooled Again") and tore up the stage.
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