Cover versions that are better than the originals....

ICBM · August 2018

This probably won't win me any friends on a guitar forum either, but this...

DJ Sammy - Heaven

(Possibly because I've never liked Bryan Adams much.)

His version of Don Henley's Boys Of Summer is much less good though.

guitarfishbay · August 2018

The Ataris did a decent cover of it.

Jonathangus · August 2018

Legionreturns said:

Under the bridge - All Saints

Oh no wait, you said better. Not "fucking travesty and a disgrace to music". My mistake.

Wiz'd.

See also: Ace of Spades (CCN remix) and Atomic Kitten's utterly pointless version of The Tide Is High.

DannyP · August 2018

The Man Who Sold The World by Lulu

Blueingreen · August 2018

DarnWeight said:

Always preferred Roxy's Jealous Guy over the Lennon original.

Always irritated the hell out of me, tbh. Partly because I don't like Ferry's vocal but partly because it seemed such a cynical cash-in on Lennon's death. I dare say the band had a suitable rationale for releasing this "tribute" but the fact remains that a record that would have been a minor hit at best if it had been released at any other time became a UK No 1 and world-wide smash owing to Lennon's recent assassination.

ICBM · August 2018

Jonathangus said:

Atomic Kitten's utterly pointless version of The Tide Is High.

Also worth mentioning that the Blondie version is also a cover, so probably should be in this thread, if I haven't missed it. As far as I know I've never heard the Paragons' original.

Blueingreen said:

DarnWeight said:

Always preferred Roxy's Jealous Guy over the Lennon original.

Always irritated the hell out of me, tbh. Partly because I don't like Ferry's vocal but partly because it seemed such a cynical cash-in on Lennon's death. I dare say the band had a suitable rationale for releasing this "tribute" but the fact remains that a record that would have been a minor hit at best if it had been released at any other time became a UK No 1 and world-wide smash owing to Lennon's recent assassination.

I think that's unfair. They recorded it as a tribute. They won't have made very much money out of it either, since the royalties would have gone to Lennon's estate.

EricTheWeary · August 2018

ICBM said:

Jonathangus said:

Atomic Kitten's utterly pointless version of The Tide Is High.

Also worth mentioning that the Blondie version is also a cover, so probably should be in this thread, if I haven't missed it. As far as I know I've never heard the Paragons' original.

Blueingreen said:

DarnWeight said:

Always preferred Roxy's Jealous Guy over the Lennon original.

Always irritated the hell out of me, tbh. Partly because I don't like Ferry's vocal but partly because it seemed such a cynical cash-in on Lennon's death. I dare say the band had a suitable rationale for releasing this "tribute" but the fact remains that a record that would have been a minor hit at best if it had been released at any other time became a UK No 1 and world-wide smash owing to Lennon's recent assassination.

I think that's unfair. They recorded it as a tribute. They won't have made very much money out of it either, since the royalties would have gone to Lennon's estate.

Still on 45s when Roxy Music had a hit with Jealous Guy ( which I knew before I knew the Lennon version and much prefer) so did they not make money out of having a Roxy song on the B side?
In comparison, for example, The Selecter had released a cover of Back to Black and then withdrew it from sale so they weren’t seen as cashing in although it was recorded and released before Amy Winehouse died.
I’m not knocking Roxy but I can see you could.

The Paragons original of Tide is High was an established sixties ska classic, quite unusual for featuring violin. I must have three or four versions of it on ska compilations. Although the version in my head is the Blondie one. Quite an odd choice for them to cover, or at least not an obvious one, be interesting to know who chose it.

MagicPigDetective · August 2018

Not strictly a cover, but Chino from the Deftones recently joined the Smashing Pumpkins onstage to sing Bodies; his voice suits it perfectly, he smashes it. Skip the first two minutes of waffle by Billy.

https://youtu.be/ypxT0mMNpQ0

Kitsune · August 2018

tone1 · August 2018

Few of my favs...

Liitle Wing SRV
https://youtu.be/An4uDegHB8s

Heard it through the Grapevine CCR
https://youtu.be/NXJQOWsp6f4

Hush Kula Shaker
https://youtu.be/rMAWMR2iCIw

Gassage · August 2018

On the other side of the coin, I never felt Kelly Clarkson's Heartbeat was as good as Buddy Holly's.

girya32 · August 2018

Every song Richard Cheese has ever done

https://youtu.be/nrYJjuq-ymQ

https://youtu.be/fn40B9ugcrs

MagicPigDetective · August 2018

D7- the original Wipers song is superb, especially Greg Sage’s guitar and vocals. But Nirvana’s version- the drums and bass take it to another level of intensity with kurts off the wall solo and screaming. But love both versions.

https://youtu.be/MRa5BWOOGZM

https://youtu.be/fcXoRlvpLVY

historyisjunk · September 2018

Sure some of these are sacrilege, but there you go.

Six Days On the Road- Taj Mahal version

Surfin' USA- JAMC

Who Do You Love- George Thorogood, actually, pretty much any cover he does stands up well. I'm a big Bo Diddley fan BTW

Green Door- The Cramps, again pretty much all their covers are A1 I even like their version of The Crusher better than The Novas, only just.

The Monkey Speaks His Mind- Fabulous Thunderbirds

Just to prove I have no taste I like the Bauhaus version of Ziggy better than Bowie, it's more an impersonation than a cover.

And prefer Bowie's version of Can't Explain to The Who's, again huge Who fan. I heard Bowie's first & was actually a bit disappointed when I heard the original.

lasermonkey · September 2018

The Mrs and I did one of those 5K walks this evening to raise a it of money for the local Sue Ryder hospice. Both of us lost our mothers to cancer over the past year and the staff at the hospice made their final few weeks as good as one could possibly hope.

I would often tease my mum about her terrible taste in music, but there was the one song that we both loved, and although it has already been mentioned on this thread, I'd like to dedicate it to her tonight.

mli3 · November 2018

David Gray's version of Say Hello & wave goodbye. Came on in the car this morning on random shuffle..Gets me every time

Grumpyrocker · November 2018

Ghost's cover of It's A Sin is pretty darn spiffy.

Creed_Clicks · November 2018

A lot of the stuff on Metallica's Garage Days EP.

ICBM · November 2018

This must be one of the oddest covers ever, but one of the best - The Sisters Of Mercy covering...

Hot Chocolate

.

mli3 · November 2018

Beth Hart / JoBo’s version of I’d rather go blind.

https://youtu.be/UEHwO_UEp7A

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Cover versions that are better than the originals....

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