Great cover versions

secretsam

So - covers that are better than the original...here some for starters:

- "Wild Horses" - The Sundays - cover of a Stones' original, but just...nicer...
- "Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley - simply 'cos he's got a better voice
- "Mad World" - Gary Jules/Michael Andrews - the most radical re-work of a song, drawing out its true meaning

Oh, and "Wonderwall" by Ryan Adams was even reckoned to be better by Noel Gallagher himself...

ballysmate

All along the Watchtower. Jimi Hendrrix

lostboysaint

Ballysmate wrote:

All along the Watchtower. Jimi Hendrrix

That.

The Jam - Batman theme
Oasis - Helter Skelter
Marvin Gaye - Heard it through the grapevine
Devo - Secret Agent Man
Johnny Cash - Hurt
Blondie - Hanging on the telephone
Ramones - D'ya wanna dance

veronese68

Mrs Robinson - The Lemonheads
Starsky & Hutch theme - The James Taylor Quartet
Walk on By - the Stranglers
Hurt - Johnny Cash

crumbschief

Winter Wonderland - Goldfrapp
Saucy Sailor - Steeleye Span
I'm In Love With A German Film Star - SushiRobo
Dust My Broom - Canned Heat
High Heel Sneakers - The Mummies

finchy

William Shatner's entire back catalogue

Hugh Cornwell and Robert Williams - White Room

Johnny Cash - One

Sid Vicious - My Way

bikes`n`guns

Otis Redding A change is gonna come. Great, but not better than Sams


Johnny Cash Personal Jesus

flipp

Once bitten ,twice shy Great White
Personal Jesus Marilyn Manson

Escadrille Ecosse

Rocket Man - Kate Bush

After the Goldrush - Prelude

thegreatdivide

Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Sisters of Mercy - Emma
Bauhaus - Ziggy Stardust
This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren

Vent

Future heads Hounds of love

PercyFlage

Summer in the city - Quincey Jones
Black Steel - Tricky (orig Public Enemy)

Garry H

Theme from rawhide-Dead Kennedys
I fought the law-The Clash
These boots were made for walking - Megadeth
Song for a siren - Robert Plant

heavymental

PercyFlage wrote:

Summer in the city - Quincey Jones
Black Steel - Tricky (orig Public Enemy)

Ha, I never knew that was a cover. Been listening to Maxinquaye recently. It really is a classic album.

A thread on a similar theme...

viewtopic.php?f=40088&t=12933780

Ouija

The number of the beast - Djali Zwan (Acoustic version of a Rock Classic).

eric_draven

Johnny Cash One,i do like his version of hurt but i have always liked NIN and think Trent Reznor's as it was about his first drummer with the band but if you want to see a comedy version of hurt this has to be the one,it's brilliant, kermit the frog as a smack addict
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ta7mkgrOU

Sisters Of Mercy Gimme Shelter,one of the best songs ever wrote just made better
Shades Apart, Tainted Love
Tricky, Love Cats --The Cure
Tricky, Something In The Way --- Nirvana
The Mission - Dream On --- Aerosmith

finchy

Dead Kennedys - I Fought The Law, Viva Las Vegas, Take This Job And Shove It.

RDW

About half of Nouvelle Vague's covers, especially the sweetly sung but naughty ones like Too Drunk to F*ck (Dead Kennedys) and Ophélie (Jad Wio) ("Ophélie est zoophile, pour moi comprendre est difficile"). Throwing Muses' cover of Cry Baby Cry (Beatles) and Kristin Hersh's solo cover of When the Levee Breaks (Led Zep). Siouxsie and the Banshees' Dear Prudence (Beatles) and an honourable mention for The Passenger (Iggy). The Breeders doing Happiness is a Warm Gun (Beatles), arguably. Travis doing Baby one more time (Britney), definitely. Fred Neil's Everybody's Talkin', which is actually the original but sounds like a cover because the Nilsson version is much more famous. Kim Gordon as 'Ciccone Youth' (Sonic Youth) singing Addicted to Love (Robert Plant) in a karaoke booth. This Mortal Coil, not just for Song the the Siren, but also for You and Your Sister (Chris Bell).

RDW

...Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen), obviously. The Jesus and Mary Chain for Tower of Song (Leonard Cohen) and My Girl (the Temptations). The Beatles for Twist and Shout and Roll Over Beethoven(Chuck Berry). The Ravonettes for Everyday (Buddy Holly). The Byrds' version of Mr Tambourine Man (Bob Dylan). The Cowboy Junkie's version of Sweet Jane (Velvet Underground). Faye Wong for Dreams (Cranberries).

nathancom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_RZAGnFcI4

wheeledwidewebb

Telegram Sam - Bauhaus. Far better than the original.

veronese68

wheeledwidewebb wrote:

Telegram Sam - Bauhaus. Far better than the original.

I haven't heard that for years, good call.

thegreatdivide

RDW wrote:

The Jesus and Mary Chain for Tower of Song (Leonard

Their covers of 'Surfin USA' and 'Who Do You Love?' are also superb!

RDW

thegreatdivide wrote:

RDW wrote:

The Jesus and Mary Chain for Tower of Song (Leonard

Their covers of 'Surfin USA' and 'Who Do You Love?' are also superb!

Good call. One of my Fantasy covers would be a JAMC version of the Beach Boys' 'Do it again' (actually Snakedriver isn't far off this!). The B side would be a Cocteau Twins cover of Madonna's 'Ray of Light'.

One more - Jim Reid: And Your Bird Can Sing (Beatles)

BelgianBeerGeek

Been listening to "The Wind Cries Mary" covered by Jamie Cullem recently. Excellent stuff.

mongoosed

Ring of fire by social distortion.

Frank the tank

This has been done before but top of my list is

A hard rains gonna fall (Bryan Ferry)

southdownswolf

Always loved "I want candy" by Bow Wow Wow - originally by The Strangloves.
Siouxsie - Helterskelter

mr_goo

Model - Rammstein

Stripped - Rammstein

Live & Let Die - Guns N' Roses

The Green Manalishi - Judas Priest

Diamonds & Rust - Judas Priest

You Really Got Me - Van Halen

All Along the Watch Tower - Jimi Hendrix

I Love Rock n Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Baker Street - Foo Fighters

RonB

Lords Of The New Church - Like A Virgin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNUteXmBiG8&feature=kp

and it works both ways…

Frank Zappa - Tied To The Whippin' Post (original Allman Brothers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TItmXT8DkM

Michael Hedges - Sofa No.1 (original Frank Zappa)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQLlXKqDLS0

thegreatdivide

St Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart