Best Remakes Of All Time

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.

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

I Fall to Pieces by Aaron Neville and Trisha Yearwood. Trisha holds a note here that is as pure as I have heard.

Joan Jett "Love Hurts"

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.

rnm4,

Nothing wrong with those.

Marty,

Well, a respectable difference of opinion.

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

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

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.

Clapton never did anything better than JJ Cale.

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)

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.

Jaybo,

I found this at wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Thing_%28Chip_Taylor_song%29

it may be wrong but it seems it was originally recorded by The Wild Ones.

FWIW: Nobody remembers the original

the troggs' wild thing is not a cover, but was penned by jon voight's brother, chip taylor.

Can't say I like that version of the Rolling and a Stones but I think you have raised the room temperatures in many a household just a tad with the Toj Mahole youtube clip.
Nice voice for the Queen song though.

Dune does a great job of this Queen classic...very haunting voice. A rare but good one.

Also I like Tom Petty version of Thirteen Days (JJ Cale Song)

I love this version of Honky Tonk Women

I know this is a bit off the beaten path but it is darn impressive.

However the Greatest Cover of ALL TIME has to be THIS version of the famous Swedish hit.

Yes' version of S&G's "America" is one long-time fav of mine.

Another good choice is "Battleship Chains" originally by The Woods and later superbly covered by both The Georgia Satellites and Hindu Love Gods. Similarly, the Satellites do a killer version of "Hippy Shake" and the Hindu Love Gods cover "Wang Dang Doodle" to great effect.

Marty

A related curiosity. "Money Changes Everything", a song by an obscure alt. rock band called The Brains became a hit when covered by Cyndi Lauper. Now it seams that everyone (punk to country) does a version - varying in quality as much as you'd guess. One or more might qualify here, depending on your taste. iTunes has something like 25 versions for sale.

Knockin' on Heavens door by Guns n' Roses has got to be THE track to max out yer equipment.
It is also an excellent cover too!

Eric Clapton Cocaine (J.J. Cale original)
Guns n Roses - Knockin' on heavens door (Dylan original)
The Troggs - Wild Thing (can't remember except it is a cover)

Save Ferris 'Come on Eileen' Dexys midnight runners
Letters to Cleo- 'I want you to want me' Cheap trick.

both as good, if not better than the originals.IMHO.

Speaking of Santana,"Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va" are without a doubt,IMHO,two of the best remakes of all time.Plus,they are on the same album.

I also forgot to list Luka Bloom's acoustic take on LL Cool J's "I Need Love". In concert, this one makes the ladies swoon.

Marty

ditto Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah

Jennifer Warnes w/ S.R. Vaughn performing L. Cohens "First I'll take Manhatten". Also Jeff Buckly's version of Cohen's "Hallelujah". OUTSTANDING WORKS.

I will not say it is better (of course) but Carlos Santana and John McGlaughlin did a version of Coltranes 'A Love Supreme' that is awesome and a classic in my book.

Phil

How about...

Petra Haden and Bill Frisell doing Coldplay's "Yellow"

Jeff Beck's "A Day in the Life"

Johnny Cash's "Hurt" - way better than original and Cash's version will never be equaled.

Chris Isaak doing Cheaptrick's "Want You to Want Me"

Michael Hedges "After the Goldrush"

Red Hot Chili Pepper's doing Ramones "Havana Affair"

Tori Amos "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Brad Mehldau doing Elliott Smith's "Independence Day"

And these bonuses just to freak you out at the very idea...

Nels Cline doing the entire "Interstellar Space" Coltrane album - I've seen him do live.

"Straight Outta Compton" acoustic version by Nina Gordon is really great - google it today...

the youngbloods the ultimate 'statesboro blues' cover.

A lot of terrific selections in this interesting thread started by Dawgbyte. Thanks everyone.

I would like to add the following, not as being "better" than the original, but certainly different and interesting:

Persuasions: Wanderer (U2 original)

Shonen Knife: Top of the World (from a terrific album of Carpenters covers called "If I were a Carpenter")

Cowboy Junkies: Thunder Road (Springsteen)

Nouvelle Vague: Guns of Brixton (Clash)

Black Box Recorder: Seasons in the Sun (Terry Jacks loosely interpreting Jacques Brel)

From curious to ridiculous, look for an album called "Golden Throats" it has a lot of the classic bad covers (Captain Kirk doing "Lucy in the Sky" and "Mr. Tambourine Man," Mr. French reciting "It Ain't Me Babe," Andy Griffith doing "House of the Rising Sun," and a whole lot more). On NPR I heard something really weird; it was Bob Dylan and Tiny Tim doing Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe."

Tom Russell and Nancy Griffith. Bus Station by Dave Alvin. I love this version. I enjoy the original but this version really does it for me. Especially when she says "she'd like to leave" around the 3 minute mark. She sings it so flatly (intonation is perfect but the attitude is so worn down).

Richard Bischoff

Love Rollercoaster remake by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is terrific as is U2 doing Satellite of Love (early Lou Reed song).

Bruce Springsteen's version of "Trapped"
Tom Rush and Greg Allman's versions of Jackson Browne's "These Days"
CSNY's version of Woodstock
The Beatles version of "Til There Was You"

Norah Jones sublime cover of "Cold Cold Heart." Just discovered this and can't stop playing it.

From a previous sujbect on copies,covers and remakes;
+ a few more.........

Whiskey in the jar-Metallica (Trad.tin liz)
Hallalooljah- Jeffree buckley (cohen)
God save the queen-motorhead (pistols)
My way-sid-ern-ee vicious (an italian geezer)?
A New England-Kirsty Maccoll (billy bragg)
20th Century Boy-Placebo (T.Rex)
Knockin on 'evans door- Sisters of Mercy (bob)
Any cover done by ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS!
Help/hey joe-Deep Purple, (beatles)
Tainted Love/Sweet dreams-M Manson (soft cell/euro group)
Satisfaction-Devo (Rolling and the Stoned)
A little respect-Wheatus (Erasure)
To love somebody-Jimmy Somerville (heebeegeebees)?
Don't leave me this way (Communards/Somerville)
Emilie Autumn-Bohemian Rhapsoda.
Kermit the Frog-Creep (radiohead)
Lucia Micarelli & Jethro Tull - Kashmir(Led Zep)
Anything by Dread Zeppelin.
Pearl Jam - Baba O'Riley
Dream Theater-Floyd covers excellent, even Iron Maiden!
Slade- My baby left me/That's Alright (Glam man)
Billy Swan-Don't be Cruel (Elvis the Pelvis)
Primus-Have a ciger (Pinky boys)
The White Stripes - Jolene (dolly's partons)
Love Hurts- from bonny Scotland.....Nazareth! (Ev Brothers)
Tainted Love-Soft Cell (Gloria Jones)
The Air that I breathe-The Hollies (albert Hammond)?
Battle of Evermore-Heart (minor league group from the UK)

Casey,

I think you're being a little harsh there. The Allman's version of Statesboro Blues is so vastly different from the original that it's easy for me to see why some would prefer it. I also understand why others would prefer the original - or, for that matter the versions by Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, David Lindley, etc. etc. It's a great, great song that has lent itself to a multitude of wildly differing interpretations, many of which IMHO succeed on their own terms. I'd probably choose the original (or possibly another acoustic version - Paul Geremia and Fred Sokolow both do killer takes) if I could only keep one, but it wouldn't be an easy choice - for me, anyway.

Duane got my #1 choice: Danny Gatton doing "Harlem Nocturne". A nearly perfect song AND the seamingly perfect cover already provided by Duke Ellington. Then Gatton goes out and IMHO one ups the Duke.

Some -not yet mentioned- that I also like as much as/or better than the original:

801 doing "TNK" (Beatles)
Webb Wilder doing "Don't Slander Me" (Roky Erickson) and "Ain't Livin' Long Like This" (Rodney Crowell)
Sonny Landreth doing "Devil's Right Hand" (Steve Earle)
Stones doing "Little Queenie" (Chuck Berry)
Alejandro Escovedo doing "All The Young Dudes" (Mott The Hoople)
Feelies doing "All Tomorrow's Parties" (Velvet Underground) and "Paint It Black" (Stones)
Todd Rundgren doing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Beatles)
Pretenders doing "Time The Avenger" (virtual, but uncredited cover of the Outsiders' "Time Won't Let Me")
Don Dixon doing "Amplifier" (dbs)
Marti Jones doing "Soul Love" (Bowie)
Bonnie Raitt doing "Thing Called Love" (John Hiatt)

Ingenuity award to Richard Thompson for "Oops I Did It Again" (Brittney Spears???)

and a special mention to Don Dixon and Marti Jones doing "You've Got What It Takes (to Take What I Got)" by Joe Tex. This version was the first dance at my wedding.

Many more, too.

Marty

Allman Brothers Statesboro Blues is an upgrad (sic) of Willie McTell? That's laughable.

James Taylor covering Wichata Lineman

Mary J Blige's version of U2's "ONE".

Bobs Knockin on Heavens Door by Guns And Roses

Jeff Beck- Rollin' And Tumblin'

buck dharma-come softly...the rationals-respect...blue cheer-summertime blues...cat stevens-another saturday night...burton cummings-you aint seen nothing yet... robert wyatt-i'm a believer...manfred mann-the mighty quinn...manfred mann's earth band-s.o.s...manfred mann's whatever-any song they ever covered...blue oyster cult-born to be wild...the dictators-california sun...the beatles-till there was you...peter tosh and mick jagger-keep on walking(dont look back)...the faces-maybe i'm amazed...johnny rivers-memphis...the blues magoos-gloria...the cryan shames-suger and spice...the buckinghams-mercy,mercy,mercy...i could go on forever.

I like The Cult's version of "Born to Be Wild", and Slayer's "In a Gadda Da Vida".
There's a little more "oomph" to these versions.

I mean Devo "Satisfaction".

Green Day "A Quick One While He's Away"
The Beat Farmers "Reason to Believe"
Pearl Jam "Baba O'Reilly"
REM "Ghostrider", "Funtime", "Academy Fight Song"
The Replacements "Another Girl, Another Planet"
The Cowboy Junkies "Sweet Jane"
Chris Isaak "South of the Border"
Dave Alvin "Ol' 55"
Bruce Springsteen "Trapped"
Johnny Cash "Hurt"
Trisha Yearwood "Sad Eyes"
Robert Plant "Little Sister"
Bebel Gilberto "Sweet Dreams"
The Faces "Angel"
Los Lobos "Marie Marie"
Jake Shimabukuro "While my guitar gently weeps"
Jack Johnson "I shall be released"
The Clash "Policeman on my back" "I fought the law"
Deco "Satisfaction"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Al Green "I wanna hold your hand"
Van Halen "I really got you"
Shelby Lynne "Just a little lovin'"

Mina Agossi - Voodoo Child & Third Stone
SRV - Voodoo Child
Johnny Winter - Highway 61 Revisited
Sepultura - Smoke on the Water

Some of my favorites, in order:
Stevie Ray Vaughn's version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing".
Creedence Clearwater Revival's version of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It through the Grapevine"
Joe Cockers version of the Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends".
Jimi Hendrix's version Of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watch Tower".

Die Hornissen (The Hornets)- Here Come The Warm Jets (Eno)
The Shadows- Sleepwalk (Santo and Johnny)
Steve Khan- Penetration (Steve Leonard)
The Who- Young Man Blues (Mose Allison) Shakin' All Over (Johnny Kidd)
Voivod- Astronomy Domine (Pink Floyd)
Outsidemen- Follow Your Heart (John McLaughlin)
Konk Yo- Third Stone From The Sun (Hendrix)
Orange Symphonette- Midnight Cowboy (John Berry)
Van Halen- Pretty Woman (Orbison)
999- Little Red Riding Hood (from Concrete). (Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs)
Michael Hedges- Sofa (Zappa)
Wayne Peet Trio- Visions (Larry Young)
Henri Texier Trio- Stolen Moments (Oliver Nelson)
Snakefinger- The Model (Kraftwerk)
SUD- Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespe)
Hendrix- All Along The Watchtower (Dylan)
Charlie Hunter Trio- Come As You Are (Cobain)
Gary Lucas- Autobahn (Kraftwerk)
I Don't Care- Fire (Hendrix)
Harlem Nocturne- Danny Gatton (Hagen)
Tin Machine... REEVES!!!!!!!!- If There Is Something (Ferry)
David Slusser- Eight Miles High (Crosby/McGuinn)

-The whole Bowie Pin ups record is pretty good, See Emily Play and Can't Explain stand out.
-T.J. Kirk mashes up Thelonious Monk, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and James Brown real good.

Usual sins of omission/Lots of others will hopefully get listed and listened to.