"Better than the original" is a high bar but this version of "Once in a Lifetime" at least rivals the original -- Naylor has a way with unique versions of songs, she often mashes up ones song's lyrics with the melody from another -- like this |
Many great renditions of Hallelujah, but I like Jeff Buckley ( from Grace ), with K.D. Lang as a close 2nd. But as I said, many good performances of this. Enjoy ! MrD. |
Dar Williams..'comfortably numb'''....very close to being better.. |
A listing of some of my favorite covers that I prefer to the originals:
- You’ve Got The Silver (The Rolling Stones) - Susan Tedeschi
- Summer Wind (Frank Sinatra’s version is best known but originally recorded by Wayne Newton and written by Johnny Mercer) - Lyle Lovett
- (Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night (Tom Waits) - Shawn Colvin
- Good Morning Little Schoolgirl (recorded literally hundreds of times, but originally by Sonny Boy Williamson) - Derek Trucks Band
- Little Red Corvette (Prince) - Heath Brandon
- Crazy (Gnarls Barkley) - Shawn Colvin
- Black Coffee In Bed (Squeeze) - Ernie Halter
- Blank Space/Stand By Me (Taylor Swift/Ben E. King) - Imagine Dragons
- Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers) - John Mayer (it’s been a fairly regular part of his live set for years)
- Cold Cold Heart (Hank Williams) - Norah Jones
- Little Red Rooster (first recorded by Howlin’ Wolf) - The Rolling Stones
- Someone Like You (Van Morrison) - Shawn Colvin
- Viva Las Vegas (written by Doc Pomus and recorded by Elvis) - Shawn Colvin (available on the Doc Pomus tribute album)
- Downtown Train (Tom Waits) - Rod Stewart
- I Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good (Duke Ellington) - Johnny Hodges (the version on the outstanding 1961 album with Billy Strayhorn is excellent)
- Chelsea Bridge (originally recorded by Duke Ellington with Ben Webster on tenor) - Ben Webster (the version on the Jazz ‘Round Midnight album is, in my mind, superior)
- Pinball Wizard (The Who) - Puddles the Clown
|
Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower performed by Hendrix |
Not imo! Not bad, though. |
Better than the Beach Boys??? |
California Girls - David Lee Roth |
robto, Led Zeppelin covers a bit of "That's All Right Momma" and "Mess of the Blues" on one of their BBC live recordings. It is fantastic.
mitchagain, for me the CCR version of Heard It Through The Grapevine and even Susie Q are not my favorites and I am a big CCR fan. They aren't off-putting but I just don't think they eclipse the originals. |
Pearl Jam’s breathe done by Willie Nelson |
Sorry for the separate posts... I should have made a list first but I'm submitting one more as corny as this cover version was, I really like it....
"You Keep Me Hanging On" by Vanilla Fudge.
|
"Working My Way Back to You" The Spinners. |
"She's Not There" by Santana. |
The Sid Vicious version of My Way...
|
I can't believe no one's mentioned the Creedence Clearwater Revival version of "Heard It Through the Grapevine."
Also, go to YouTube and check out John Doe's (of X) cover of "A Case of You." |
IMHO, no cover of "Sweet Jane" touchs Lou Reed's live version from Live On Letterman.....all the power, crunch, and testifying one could ask for in rock.
|
The Treble With Tribbles, if you haven't heard Sister Carol's version of Wild Thing off of the "Something Wild" soundtrack, check it out.
Another excellent rendition that takes the song in a whole 'nother direction...I've put it to great use at parties in my distant dj past.
|
Urge Overkill’s cover of Neil Diamond’s “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon”
Harry Nilsson’s cover of Badfinger’s “Without You”
Al Green’s cover of the Bee Gee’s “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart”
Sting’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Sisters Of Mercy”
Prince’s version of Joni Mitchell’s “I Could Drink A Case Of You”
|
@stvgray ,
Hey, I'm a fan of Feist. I seem to recall "Limit to Your Love". But I'm not familiar with James Blake.
|
Thanks for correcting that slaw.
Didn't think it sounded right. |
|
Feist's version of the Bee Gees' Inside and Out -- very cool.
James Blake's cover of Feist's Limit to Your Love -- WOW -- and a real test for the bottom end of your system! |
"I Put a Spell on You" Gov't Mule |
1. “I got a woman” Elvis compared to that of Ray Charles
2. “That’s all right, momma,” Elvis compared to “Big Boy” Crudup; plus, “My baby left me” and “So glad you’re mine,” Crudup originals, were also covered and performed by Elvis in a manner that I thought was better than the originals.
Elvis’ versions above (1 + 2) had an integrated spirit, drive, and sensuality that produced a unique sound and generated an exciting, even thrilling listening experience. The only cover he did that was a disappointment to my listening expectations was “Such a night,” which was essentially a note-for-note copy of the arrangement and delivery by Johnny Ray.
|
Sympathy for the Devil - Motorhead
|
There have been several versions of "Sweet Jane" mentioned.
I like Mott The Hoople's version.
|
"Dancing in the Streets" Grateful Dead "Cornell ’77" ………………….Wow!...….. |
@arcam88,
I got to thinking hard about this, then when I decided I can't depend upon my memory as much anymore I looked it up....
My mistake, it was Samantha Fish "War Pigs".
My apologies!
|
Dylan acknowledged the superiority of Hendrix’s version Watchtower. This is the gold standard.
|
@arcam88,
I saw it on youtube a few years ago. Unfortunately, she has no vinyl releases so I own nothing by her.
…………………………………….
"Rockin' Pneumonia" Professor Longhair
|
slaw, I have heard quite a bit of Joanne Shaw Taylor but had no idea she did a version of war pigs😉 But I'm sure it is entertaining! I would love to hear it can't find it. Or are you pulling our legs😜 |
Sheena is a punk rocker- Shebang.
My Way- Sidney
Every dream home a heartache- Fields of the Nephilim.
Help- The Damned.
Walkin' in Jerusalem just like Johnno- Ricky Skaggs.
Deep Purple-Hey Joe
Hello (Lionel Richie)- Sopor Aeternus, who?......thought so....lol
Immigrant Song- Karen O and Mr Rezner.
Ballroom Blitz (sweet)- Tia carrere
Anthrax- God save the Queen. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Dollyrots-Brand New Key...
Honky Tonk Train Blues- Emerson and Oscar Peterson (not better than Meade Lux Lewis, just different)
Fazil Say-Rondo Alla turk
Godsmack- Rocky Mountain way |
Disturbed covering 'Land of Confusion", Frigid Pink's "House of the Rising Sun"
|
I am not saying that these covers are better than the originals, but, I like them and they can stand on their own:
1. Black Box Recorder: "Seasons in the Sun"
2. Prince: "Creep"
3. Ryan Adams: "Wonderwall"
4. Shonen Knife: "Top of the World"
5. Roy Orbison: "Love Hurts"
6. Righteous Brothers: "Unchained Melody"
7. Sam Cooke: "Unchained Melody"
8. Solomon Burke: "A Change is Gonna Come"
9. Odetta: "Times They are a Changing"
10. Nouvelle Vague: "Guns of Brixton"
11. Cowboy Junkies: "Thunder Road"
12. Be Good Tanyas: "Waiting Around to Die"
13. Rolling Stones: "Sister Morphine"
|
La Bamba by Los Lobos,1987 > La Bamba by Richie Valens, 1958. |
almost any cover of a Bob Dylan song...his voice is hard to take |
Well, I didn't know until now that Mercury Blues by David Lindley was a cover, so now that I do, I'll agree that it is a favorite of mine as well. SRV - Little Wing Van Halen - Pretty Woman Joey Ramone - Wonderful World Vanessa Fernandez - Be Thankful for what You Got
|
+1 on Hendrix's cover of Along The Watchtower -- according to Bob Dylan, the gold standard of his song. In fact, +1 on all of the songs that Jimi covered, such as Wild Thing, Johnny B. Goode and Like A Rollin' Stone! |
the Animals cover of House of the Rising Sun
Cream cover of Crossroads
Hendrix cover of All along the watchtower
Johnny Winters cover of Highway 61
No insult to Bob Dylan on the last two his originals are great but these two covers have always knocked me out. |
I prefer the SNL/Belushi version of the Joe Cocker version of With a Little Help from My Friends. Its on youtube. Awesome. |
Here are a couple that come to Mind.
With a little help from My Friends Joe Cocker
I don't need no Doctor Humble Pie
All along The Watch tower Hendrix
|
I'm not a big fan of Stevie Wonder nor the song Isn't She Lovely, but Livingston Taylor did an incredibly sounding remake on Ink (Chesky Records). He converts it from Motown to a smooth, easy acoustic jazz sound. The sound from his acoustic guitar is to die for.
|
OK, I may get some negative feedback for this but here goes...As much as I like S & G's Sound of Silence, the sound from the harp guitar rendition by Jamie Dupuis is haunting. Check it out on Youtube...
|
Widespread Panic "Lawyers, Guns and Money" (written by Warren Zevon).Gov't Mule "Spanish Moon" (Written by Lowell George & Little Feat).Phish "Cross-eyed & Painless" (Written by Talking Heads).Jerry Garcia Band "Tangled Up In Blue" (Bob Dylan).Vinyl "Summertime" (by George & Ira Gershwin).
|
Allman Brothers "Heart Of Stone", Frampton's "Black Hole Sun."
|
Julie Driscoll and the Brian Auger Trinity
Dylans "This Wheels on Fire--"
T212 |
It was Yes who did the best remake of a Beatles song, quite literally. "Every Little Thing", 1969. With a riff from "Day Tripper". It was Jon Anderson & Co. who turned a simple pop song to an epic. Jon Anderson is one of the most emotional singers in rock´s history. And his voice is unique in the business. They proudly honoured their inspiration. Masters at work. https://youtu.be/XIcpJFQDa64They also took "America" by Simon & Garfunkel to another level. https://youtu.be/Q0JkTIKm2iYOh how funky Steve Howe gets there : ) Peter Banks & Chris Squire, thanks for your music RIP Enjoy the music like Yes did almost fifty years ago. |
To me, most aren’t but these are... Beach Boys: California Dreamin’ CCR: I Heard It Through The Grapevine Spoiler: Electrifying (Grease, ’You’re The One That I want’) Spoilers’ heavy metal version of this is a hoot & I once caused my best friend’s Daughter to lose her new boyfriend because of it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K2N_DYPoZw |
Very hard to remake Beatles songs, but Joe Cocker's "Help from my friends" is a masterpiece. I have always believed that a cover should add something to the original and Cocker's version turns the song 180 degrees.
|
A very big “DITTO” regarding David Lindley’s version of Mercury Blues - just an unabashed freakin’ love letter to rock n’ roll that needs and deserves to be played LOUDLY. The rest of the album is damn good, too.
On the “repeat when necessary” list, “Oh Carol” off Get Yer Ya’s Ya’s Out by the Stones. I can never listen to this just once. Man, dey was good in them days.
Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow duetting the living heck outta “The Shoop Shoop Song” on SNL - I remember sitting on the couch and being absolutely
wowed by the performance. Made me buy more Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow records.
|
