OT: Covers better than original artist

[Bulldog Bruce]

I was driving home yesterday and Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan) played and it made me think of this topic for a summer OT.

So what other songs are performed better by another artist? I am generally sticking to a song written by one artist that another one did better. NOT a song that multiple did and one version is better than the other.

A few others off the top of my head:

Joe Cocker - With a Little Help From My Friends & She Came in Through the Bathroom Window (Beatles)
Pointer Sister - Fire (Bruce Springsteen)
Manfred Mann - Blinded by the Light (Springsteen)
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton)

 

[Dawgsnsaints]

Mine.. Echo & The Bunnymen Soul Kitchen (Doors)
Sturgill Simpson Waymore Blues (Waylon)

 

[FreeDawg]

Any Bob Dylan song that has ever been covered.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

The Band's version of Atlantic City is better than Springsteen's

 

[57stratdawg]

I love JJ Cale, but several people cover his stuff better than his originals. After Midnight (Clapton) for example.

 

[Drebin]

Rusty Cage by Johnny Cash - much better than Soundgarten.

 

[Dawgsnsaints]

I forgot about Metallica, Whiskey in The jar (Thin Lizzy)

 

[Snog]

The Lemonheads - Mrs Robinson

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Johnny Cash - Hurt (NIN)
Peter Frampton - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Beatles)

 

[Digging dog]

Sunday morning coming down. Cash way better than Kristofferson.

 

[stateu1]

I love JJ Cale, but several people cover his stuff better than his originals. After Midnight (Clapton) for example.

Wrong. I was going to post just the opposite.

 

[Chesusdog]

A far from complete list:

Blind Melon - The Pusher (Steppenwolf)
Jack White - Jolene (Dolly Parton)
Weezer - Velouria (Pixies)
Nirvana - Man Who Sold the World (David Bowie)
Deftones - Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Chris Cornell - Billie Jean (Michael Jsckson)

 

[SanfordRJones]

The Metro covered by System of a Down

 

[bulldogcountry1]

Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude
SRV - Little Wing
Skynyrd - The Breeze



ETA: It's easy to date people with threads like this.

 

[Wizard of bulldogery]

I prefer Widespread Panic's version of Tom Waits: Going out West and Warron Zevon: Lawyers Guns and Money
I prefer Phish's version of Edgar Winters: Frankenstein
and while I love Nine Inch Nails: Hurt.... Johnny Cash's version is moving to say the least

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

Yeah I did think of that also. Same with Leonard Cohen.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

can't agree with Simple Man.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

George Thorogood - Move It On Over (Hank Williams)

 

[MaroonNation]

Anything "Spank The Monkey" ever did sounded better than the original artist. At least it did at The Dock back in the day.

 

[Big Sheep81]

John Fogherty doing Jambalya (Hank Williams Sr)

 

[aTotal360]

Knockin on Heaven's Door by GNR is better than the Dylan or Clapton version. Renegades of Funk by RATM is better than the Afrika Bambaataa version.

 

[hullabaloodog]

Excellent choice of Man Who Sold the World. Absolutely love the Nirvana version.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary(CCR) *might be controversial*

 

[AusTexDawg]

Toots & the Maytals - Take Me Home, Country Roads
Ike & Tina - Proud Mary
Elvis - Promised Land
Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
The Holmes Brothers - Shine
Petra Haden - Don't Stop Believing
Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from My Friends (love the original, but Joe clearly needs help in his version)

 

[Xenomorph]

The GNR version is definitely better.

 

[AusTexDawg]

Knockin on Heaven's Door by GNR is better than the Dylan or Clapton version.

Definitely better than the Clapton version, but I wish the "phone call" section in the middle weren't there on the studio GnR track.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

Ryan Adams does better job than Oasis on Wonderwall.

 

[Xenomorph]

Johnny Cash "Personal Jesus" is better than Depeche Mode.

 

[CagerMania]

Great thread.

GnR Live and let die (McCartney).

 

[MaroonCrusader]

Sturgill Simpson - Bloom

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I Won't Back Down - Johnny Cash

Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana

I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles

Personal Jesus - Johnny Cash

Take Me To The River - Talking Heads

Woodstock - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Twist and Shout - The Beatles

I Fought The Law - The Clash

BEST EVER... Hurt - Johnny Cash

 

[jakldawg]

Hey Joe
Call Me The Breeze
Pancho and Lefty
and the Ramones version of I Don't Want to Grow Up is better than the original
(possible musical heresy: I never really "got" Tom Waits. I know he's a great songwriter, but all I hear is "sullen Cookie Monster")

 

[stateu1]

The Dead could throw down some jams on Not Fade Away and Hard to Handle.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Johnny Cash "Personal Jesus" is better than Depeche Mode.

In my opinion, EVERY Johnny Cash cover is better than the original... but I also feel like he might be the best musical artist ever as well.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Definitely better than the Clapton version, but I wish the "phone call" section in the middle weren't there on the studio GnR track.

Agree with all.

 

[stateu1]

I love Waits' Goin out West

 

[vhdawg]

Metallica - Stone Cold Crazy, Turn The Page

 

[aTotal360]

Marilyn Manson did a good version too.

 

[FlotownDawg]

James Taylor's version of You've Got a Friend (Carole King original)

 

[AusTexDawg]

Willie Nelson - City of New Orleans (Arlo Guthrie original)
Del McCoury Band - Love Is a Long Road (Tom Petty original)
Kentucky Headhunters - Ballad of Davy Crockett
Kingsmen - Louie Louie
Cat Power - Silver Stallion (Highwaymen original)