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

Clecko

Though they're 'straight covers' and I tend to prefer a cover when it tries to do something different to the original, I thought Song of a Baker was done better by both The Posies and Ocean Colour Scene than by The Small Faces. Might be more about the production though, to be fair.

Definitely tend to think Hendrix's covers of Dylan songs were 'better' (with Watchtower being the most obvious and mentioned several times already), and I just love that when Dylan was asked about it, rather than giving a snarky response he said 'well they were all written for him'. 

I'd take Dinosaur Jr's Just Like Heaven over The Cure's original any day. 

Has anyone ever covered Coldplay? If they have, the cover will be better. 

robinbowes

I'll just leave this here...

robinbowes

robinbowes said:

I'll just leave this here...

Bet you know what song without playing it...

hollywoodrox

https://youtu.be/aRYokc3VBC4

https://youtu.be/R-CKVgCndZk

https://youtu.be/iELP_xOhwD8

hollywoodrox

https://youtu.be/XuAcFtqwUXo

hollywoodrox

https://youtu.be/jUxsP8ED_cM

ICBM

robinbowes said:

I'll just leave this here...

How could I have forgotten that?!

robinbowes said:

Bet you know what song without playing it...

Wasn’t sure - it might have been Roadhouse Blues.

Even their version of The Wanderer might be better than Dion’s.

Springywheel

How about this: 

Alvin

Stevie Salas - I Was Made To Love Her

Alvin

W.A.S.P. - The Real Me

  

Alvin

I Need You Tonight · Buddy Guy  (ZZTop)

Philly_Q

It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but Disturbed have done some good covers (rather too many perhaps).

NickL

Four pages in and I don't think anyone has mentioned Aretha's cover of Respect yet (unless it's hiding behind a YouTube link). Surely better than Otis Redding's original.

robinbowes

This was originally a Buddy Guy song. I did FoH for these guys in the late 80s when they played York. They were electrifying.

thecolourbox

Clecko said:

Has anyone ever covered Coldplay? If they have, the cover will be better. 

Yes they have and yes it is. I give you Jacob Collier's Fix You, skip to about a minute in to miss the talking

Cols

Does covering a song from your old band count?

Led Zeppelin's Kashmir is brilliant, but the Page and Plant version from Unledded with the Egyptian orchestra is even better.

https://youtu.be/bzEYNsFC2gE 

JezWynd

Reverend said:

ICBM said:

Wow... I know everyone likes different stuff, but apart from All Along The Watchtower, so far this has been a thread entirely for covers which, while some are good, are not a patch on the original.

For one that actually is - apart from AATW - Blondie, Hanging On The Telephone.

Hurt. Cash's is vastly superior

Agreed, and Joe Cocker’s With a Little Help has almost become the definitive version; certainly one of the best intros to a song.

wittenham

Different Drum - YouTube

merlin

This. 

Litterick

Arab Strap - You Shook Me All Night Long