What's your favorite remake of a song

I like Queen Latifa's remake of Phoebe Snow's "Poetry Man"

Ramones' version of the Stones' song, Out of Time.

Eva Cassidy's versions of Fields of Gold, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and Over the Rainbow. . . among others. . .

Anything by Joe Cocker.

How about early Rolling Stones or Beatles tunes, most of which were remakes that are better known than the originals.

"Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin.

One of my favourites is "It's Only Love", Bryan Ferry's remake of the Beatles song.

Also, the Cowboy Junkies remake of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane. Even Lou Reed himself says it's good.

I could go on and on.

Jimi Hendrix' version of "All Along The Watchtower" probably surpasses Dylan, IMHO.

Bryan Ferry's/Roxy Music's versions of "Like A Hurricane" (Neil Young) and "Jealous Guy" (John Lennon) have been favorites for 20+ years.

Regards, Rich

kid rocks country version of fat bottom girls

Nirvana Unplugged, "The Man Who Sold The World", originally by David Bowie, before his big break-out.

I'll go a different route....

Jazz: how about John Coltrane's version of "My Favorite Things"? Bill Evans' "Love Theme from Spartacus"...won him a well deserved Grammy.

Pop/Rock: Almost any Jamie Cullum remake of almost any song. He's outstanding!

Pop/Country: Whitney Houston's version of Dolly Parton's "I will always love you".

The worst remakes....of all time.....: ANY BEE GEES/ABBA/BARRY MANILOW SONG....they all sucked!

I have 2 CDs I’d like to recommend. Both are total remakes of excellent songs. The first is “Big Bang Theory” from Styx. Not only are the covers done extremely well, the song choices are exceptional. A few of my favorites are “I am the Walrus”, “I Don’t Need No Doctor” and “One Way Out”.

Following the Styx theme, Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades did an great CD of covers titled “Influence”. A few favorites here are “Lucky Man”, “Summer Breeze”, “Sound of Silence” and “California Dreaming“. Shaw and Blades sound like they were born to sing together.

Tool doing No Quarter on Salival. The live feel makes it that much better for me.

The Queen Of Soul: "Respect." Otis Redding, in admiration, said: "That girl stole my song."

How about Paul Young's remake of Hall & Oates' Every Time You Go Away?

cat power's 'satisfaction' is so nice

I can think of Alison Krauss's "When you say nothing at all", previously done by Keith Whitley.
Whitney Houston's "The greatest love of all", also done by George Benson.
Simply Red's "If you don't know me by now", done by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.
Rebecca Pidgeon's "Spanish Harlem", done by Ben E. King.*
Blood Sweat and Tears's "God Bless this child", with the untouchable version, IMHO, done by Billy Holiday.
I am not quite sure who sang the original version of each song but those are my comparisons of remakes vs popular versions.
Happy Holidays to everyone and all the best in the New Year.
Keep the music playing.
Thanks, BJ.
* I could not find the Rebecca Pidgeon CD to verify this but I am pretty sure of it.

Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" on Grace. This song absolutely blew me away the first time I heard it and it's not even the best song on the album.
Three great cover albums are:
Annie Lennox -- Medusa
k.d. lang -- Hymns From The 49th Parallel
Patti Smith -- Twelve

William Shatner singing Elton John's "Rocket Man"

Link to William Shatner singing Rocket Man
http://www.devilducky.com/media/21099/

Bauhaus' Ziggy Stardust
Annie Lenox' Don't Let It Bring You Down
Megadeth' Anarchy In The UK
Voivod' Astronomy Domine

Nirvana doing Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World", Cowboy Junkies "Sweet Jane".

Johnny Cash = Hurt

Bill Sheffields cover of the Tom Waits tune "Invitation to the Blues."
Allman Brothers cover of Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues"
Off the cd "Bronx in Blue" Dion's version of Howlin Wolf's "Built for Comfort."

Maura O'Connell's cover of The Beatles "If I Fell" is great.

As is Linda Ronstadt's cover of John David Souther's "Faithless Love".

Both are breathtaking vocals.

Aretha..."What a Fool Believes"

Patti Smiths new "12" is hard to beat for 12 classic covers.

Devo "Satisfaction".

Many of my fav's are mentioned above.

Cowboy Junkies released a CD called "'Neath Your Covers". It was actually a throw in with "One Soul Now" when I bought it. Among the songs on 'neath your covers are 3 I like better than the original:

"Thunder Road" (Springsteen)
"Darkness, Darkness" (The Youngbloods)
"Helpless" (N. Young)

Darkness. Darkness is especially notable as it's already one of my favorite songs.

Pat Travers' cover of Born Under a Bad Sign from Crash and Burn.

I second Blood Sweat and Tears' "God Bless the Child"
Rare Earth's remakes of "Get Ready" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (I also really like Rod Stewart's version)
Santana's "She's Not There"
Grand Funk Railroad's "Feelin' Alright"

I'll second Rebecca Pidgeon's version of Spanish Harlem on Chesky Records. It was released by Ben E. King in 61 Though I think it was written by Phil Spector and Jerry Leiber . Quite nicely done.

Mott The Hoople's cover of The Velvet Undergrounds Sweet Jane.

Nirvana's unplugged cover of the Meat Puppets
"Lake of Fire", also their versions of Bowies song was great aswell.

Dave Matthews remake of Daniel Lanois's "The Maker"

Shirelles - "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by Carole King
Aretha Franklin - "Natural Woman" by Carole King
Natalie Merchant - "Because the Night" by Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen
I'm sure there are many others but these 3 came to mind first.

These made extreme hits out of previously obscure songs

Black Eyed Peas - Where is the love
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
All Along the watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
Der Kommissar - After the Fire
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
Please don't let me be misunderstood - The Animals
Red Red Wine - UB40
Shake rattle and roll - Bill Haley's Comets

Sonny and Cher's "I've got you, babe...", sung amazingly well by Patricia Barber.

I just saw Gretchen Wilson and Alice in Chains do Heart's Barracuda but Nancy Wilson was playing too. I actually think that Gretchen Wilson sang it better.

Yes, lots o' good stuff already mentioned.

One not listed yet is "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks.
Nicely updated by Van Halen.
But the version I really enjoy is by Oingo Boingo!

I will second the Cowboy Junkies "Thunder Road" and add:

Shonen Knife: "Top of the World" (Carpenters)
Bob Dylan/Tiny Tim: "I've Got You Babe" (Sonny and Cher)
Be Good Tanyas: "Waiting Around to Die" (Townes Van Zandt)
William Shatner: "Mr. Tambourine Man" (Dylan, Byrds)
Nazareth: "Love Hurts" (Roy Orbison)
Persuations: "The Wanderer" (U2)
Ike and Tina Turner: "Proud Mary" (John Fogerty/Credence)
Tom Waits: "Hi Ho, Hi Ho" (from Seven Dwarfs)
Aretha Franklin: "Jumpin Jack Flash" (Rolling Stones)
Sebastian Cabot: "It Aint Me Babe" (Dylan)

the rationals-respect......manfred mann's earthband-going underground......mitch ryder and detroit-rock and roll........the dictators-search and destroy.......about a hundred others

I will second Joe Cocker. Pick up the CD 'Night Calls' and listen to his version of 'Can't Find My Way Home' and 'You got to Hide Your Love Away' simply beautiful.

Jeff Beck "Cause We've Ended As Lovers"

What about those songs where the original version is far less popular/known than the cover?

Examples:

"Sister Morphine" came out on the Rolling Stone's Sticky Finger album in 1971. I like the Marianne Faithful version more, but when it was released in 1969 the lyrics were deemed too controversial and the album was actually banned in some places.

"The Rose" is listed on a number of uniformed websites as being written by Bette Midler. She performed the most popular version of the song, but it was written by Amanda McBroom; I actually prefer McBroom's version of the song.

I know Jackson Browne can't stand the fact that the Eagle's cover of "Take it Easy" was much more popular than his.

Also, what about "covers" which are only loosely based on another song, such as Patti Smitth's "Gloria" which is a take off on Van Morrison's song of the same name.

Galaxie 500's version of New Order's Ceremony.

Larryi,
"Ready for Love" by Mott the Hoople kicks crap all over the more popular Bad Company version.

Bob Dylan's Mr.Tamburine Man

Mudhoney livens up The Rose bit!

Jimi Hendrix remake of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower"
Gregg Allman remake of Jackson Browne's "These Days"
Warren Haynes remake of U2's "One"
Arthea Frankin remake of Otis Redding's "Respect"
Otis Redding remake of the Rolling Stone's "Satisfaction"

Simply Red's rendition of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes)