Cover Versions that transcend the original

[Alfachick]

I had totally forgoten about RATMs renegades cover album! there are some truly amazing tracks on that for sure (although i cant think of a single one at the mo ) God its been too long since i listend to it. Will have to dig it out when i get home!

[t0ny99]

I hesitate to say this transcends the original, because that would be sacreligious, but Lizz Wright's cover of Led Zep's "Thankyou" works as a most amazing, deep blues, styling. Beautiful version.

[andy400]

I much prefer Joe Cocker's 'With a Little Help From My Friends' to the original.

[krusty]

Fink - All cried out (Alison Moyet)

[GTO Scott]

Guns 'n' Roses - Live & Let Die (Duran Duran - i think?)
Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse - Valerie (The Zutons)

Not many covers are better but every so often one comes along.....

[andy400]

GTO Scott said:

Guns 'n' Roses - Live & Let Die (Duran Duran - i think?)
Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse - Valerie (The Zutons)

Not many covers are better but every so often one comes along.....

Duran Duran!???!

Paul McCartney & Wings, as any fule kno.

[Bunglist]

GTO Scott said:

Guns 'n' Roses - Live & Let Die (Duran Duran - i think?)
Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse - Valerie (The Zutons)

Not many covers are better but every so often one comes along.....

The tune Duran Duran did for a bond film was "A View To A Kill" and yes live and let die was performed by Paul Macartney & Wings.

[GTO Scott]

Shows you how interested I was in the original version!

[che6mw]

JonRB said:

Yoda954 said:

Off the top of me head - Tainted Love (Soft Cell) - can't remember the original artist.

Actually I think the Marilyn Manson cover is even better - especially when watching the uncensored video with bouncy Goth Chick boobies (yum).

Marilyn Manson has done my two favourite covers of all time. The one you mention but, even better, is a cover of the Eurythmics tune Sweet Dreams. He just totally makes it his own: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iuve2OjY_8&feature=related 

[catso]

andy400 said:

GTO Scott said:

Guns 'n' Roses - Live & Let Die (Duran Duran - i think?)
Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse - Valerie (The Zutons)

Not many covers are better but every so often one comes along.....

Duran Duran!???!

Paul McCartney & Wings, as any fule kno.

Indeed but I will add, IMO, that most covers of Beatles/McCartney songs that I have heard are an improvement on the original and I'm certain that Duran Duran could improve on Macca's version (not heard it though) but I've never heard a better version than G n'Rs ..........

[cromptonenator]

Junior Murvin's Police and Theives- original was from The Clash.
Was in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qao6arkZzog

[jesusbuiltmycar]

John 5 - Welcome to the Jungle

Vastly improved by replacing Axl Rose's whining vocals with guitar

[GlynMo]

Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy doing Springsteen's Thunder Road

[Rob-C]

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Life on Mars

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UxCj2MO02AE

[anonymous-user]

Adam_BGT said:

The Foo Fighters version of Baker Street .... that sax solo is soo much better on guitar!

Being a Foo Fighters fan it pains me to say this, but there is no way that the FF version is better then Rafferty's one. Every time I hear the original it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, I think it's a fantastic piece of work, whereas with the Foo Fighters one I just feel...nothing really.

[clonmult]

chrisj said:

Slow Horse - Wicked Game (Chris Isaak)
Crowbar - No Quarter (Zepplin)
Halfway To Gone - Black Night (Deep Purple)

And that death metal Britney, now that's funny.

I was going to nominate another cover of Wicked Game, but by HIM. Absolutely awesome.

[Airbag]

Cake- I will survive
Jeff Buckley- Hallelujah

Word!

[Fittster]

cromptonenator said:

Junior Murvin's Police and Theives- original was from The Clash.
Was in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qao6arkZzog

The orginal is Junior Murvin, produced by Lee Perry, it was covered by the Clash

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_and_Thieves

[neilr]

The Faces cover of 'Maybe I'm Amazed' is superb and better than McCartneys original. The Faces version in on the album ' Long Player' and the Mccartney original is on the album 'McCartney' both superb albums in their own right.

I can't agree about GnR doing 'Live and Let Die' better then Maccas though. Its good, but better? No way.

[Get Karter]

Do you reckon that one usually perfers the first version that one HEARS of a song?

So, for example, if you hear Guns 'n' Roses Live and Let Die getting loads of air play, and the song is new to you, then you'll prefer it to the Wings version when you finally hear it?

As I get older I hear cover versions of songs by artists I used to like. Invariably I prefer the version I grew up with.
Converseley, on discovering a song by one of my favourite bands was a cover, I prefer it to the original.