What's your favourite cover version of a song that's way better than the original.

Philly_Q

ICBM said:

Also this...



And in contrast, this.

My god @ICBM, great post, I love both of those.  I don't think I've heard either before.

There's something so.... eerie about the song, from the melody to the guitar riff... something magical happened the day Chris Isaak wrote that song.  Maybe it's impossible not to do a good version!

ICBM

Philly_Q said:

There's something so.... eerie about the song, from the melody to the guitar riff... something magical happened the day Chris Isaak wrote that song.  Maybe it's impossible not to do a good version!

No it isn't. One of my favourite artists ever did... Heather Nova. Her version is too 'straight', too close to the original but without its character, and totally falls flat. Seek it out if you want, but since this thread is about favourite covers I'm not going to post it here .

Philly_Q

ICBM said:

Philly_Q said:

There's something so.... eerie about the song, from the melody to the guitar riff... something magical happened the day Chris Isaak wrote that song.  Maybe it's impossible not to do a good version!

No it isn't. One of my favourite artists ever did... Heather Nova. Her version is too 'straight', too close to the original but without its character, and totally falls flat. Seek it out if you want, but since this thread is about favourite covers I'm not going to post it here .

I see Il Divo did it as well.  I won't be seeking that out.

koneguitarist

My favourite covers would have to be Johnny Cash  in my life 
https://youtu.be/WYzEIIx_KHg

or another Bob Dylan cover which was apparently his fave cover of one of his songs, Tomorrow is a long time by Elvis. 

https://youtu.be/j7GCw5v3HI8 

guitars4you

Can I say Stevie Wonder and Superstition - Wrote for Jeff Beck but Stevie liked it so much himself that Motown just said they would release it - To be honest I'm not sure who actually recorded it first - But I know Stevie always said he wrote it for JB, but there was some delay in Beck/Bogart/Appice recording/releasing it 

Maybe not actually covers, but I actually like both the Eagles unplugged version of Hotel California and Clapton's unplugged version of Layla more than the 'electric/original version' 

Final cover version - Sam Cooke - Bring it on back to me - I love the Animals version 

rogd

Moe_Zambeek said:

I struggle to think of any that are vastly better…but this is a song I love that I didn’t think could be covered, I don’t think this version is better I just think it’s great: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, covered by Sean Rowe.

https://youtu.be/CrGOs1a1lOk

Try the Dick Gaughan version Moe.

Roland

https://youtu.be/9oeraPJ0_Vg

Moe_Zambeek

rogd said:

Moe_Zambeek said:

I struggle to think of any that are vastly better…but this is a song I love that I didn’t think could be covered, I don’t think this version is better I just think it’s great: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, covered by Sean Rowe.

https://youtu.be/CrGOs1a1lOk

Try the Dick Gaughan version Moe.

Thanks for the tip @rogd had not heard Mr Gaughn before. Doesn’t tickle my fancy in quite the same way but an interesting listen nonetheless!

Zoolooter

There’s plenty, really like these two.

I heard it through the grapevine - Creedence
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NXJQOWsp6f4

Personal Jesus - Marilyn 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6fyhZ0G5E

distressed

Rocker

Rosalie by Thin Lizzy.  Recorded by Bob Seger [as stated by Phil Lynott on the album Live and Dangerous].

Rocker

Zoolooter said:

There’s plenty, really like these two.

I heard it through the grapevine - Creedence
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NXJQOWsp6f4

I am a fan of CCR but always thought that the band over indulged themselves with the near endless guitar solo at the song end.

Veganic

I hear this Caroline Shaw thing on R3 recently.

It's a fun take on a pretty awful song. 

Springywheel

Great cover by a forum favourite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKTdd7awuMU

TTBZ

TTBZ

I also love this. Totally different from the original.

joetele

Not their hugest fan, but Foo Fighters - Baker Street 

Moe_Zambeek

Actually I’ve thought of one - Big wreck’s cover of War baby…

AK99

This.

Peter_K_

pedroC60 said:

Money by the Flying Lizards

Agree - what an amazing interpretation of an r&B standard! And while we're on the subject of Beatles songs (even if Money wasn't originally a Fab 4 number) I'd like to suggest:

• Joe Coker - With A Little Help From My Friends
• Earth Wind & Fire - Got to Get You into My Life