Great songs and artists who virtually own them?

Nina Simone - "Just like Tom Thumb's Blues" If anyone hasn't heard this one, trust me...

Ballan, I too love Jeff Buckly's "Hallelujah", but can't agree that he wrestled it away from Leonard Cohen.

Vegasears,

LOL - If we were giving away a prize for the most correct answer, you would win on technical merit. But we're not, so you're wrong laddy, you're just plain wrong.

Audiofeil, would that be Joey Heatherton and "Light My Fire"? Great songs but you didn't mention the artists who you believe own them.

BTW, If anyone is unfamiliar with Joey's talent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wVh2PLWkU

Very funny Audiophile, I should have elaborated. What I had in mind, when I initiated this thread, was more of an exploration of the standards which are performed by more than one mainstream artist, not so much the singles which are, and probably always will be, performed by one artist". Examples of standards might include: "Mack the Knife", "Send in the Clowns", "Green Dolphin Street", "I Remember You". You know, the classics that everyone seems to want to take a crack at but that only one artist, in your opinion, nailed.

Ncarv, I do get the point, but there are many songs that aren't "no brainers". For instance, some people prefer Jose Feliciano's version of "Light My Fire" to the Doors.