Cover songs that are better than the originals.


There is an active thread about terrible cover songs so I thought I'd start one about cover songs that are better than or have completely eclipsed the originals. I'll start:

Randy Newman wrote Momma Told Me Not to Come for Eric Burdon who recored it with the Animals and Newman recorded it too. I have the Newman version and like it but Three Dog Night really seem to capture the mood of the song best in my opinion.
n80
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. 


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.
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
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/XIcpJFQDa64

They also took "America" by Simon & Garfunkel to another level.

https://youtu.be/Q0JkTIKm2iY

Oh 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.