Gender bender

Janis Joplin’s version of "Me & Bobby McGee" is imo better than Kristofferson’s (the song's writer. Never heard the Roger Miller version). But then Gordon Lightfoot flipped that again with his version. I witnessed Bill Johnson hearing Gordon’s recording for the first time (on LP in ’73), and being very impressed. Not just musically good, but sonically as well.

Joan Osborne's version of Slim Harpo's "Shake Your Hips." Smokin' hot! Her version of "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" is also fantastic, though maybe not "better" than the original by Jimmy Ruffin.