Songs where the cover was better than original

[Pogues2300]

I’ll just state my opinion on one to start. Bobby McGee. I love Kris Krisofferson but in my opinion Janis Joplin took it to another level. 

[WestMassBassMan]

Santana's "Black Magic Woman", originally done by Peter Greene/Fleetwood Mac.

[Bird]

Leonid & friends are a Russian band and are fantastic.

They do a lot of Chicago and Earth wind and fire and as iconic as those 2 bands were, Leonid doesn't disappoint.

[tunaman]

^^^YEP… huge fan, and we were able to see them a couple of years ago down in So Cal and they did not disappoint live.

 

As a bonus, Kesenia (sp?) is gorgeous and has an incredible voice.

[12poundbass]

Fancy: Reba Mcintre

 

Joy of my life: Chris Stapleton (big Fogarty fan but Stapleton’s is better)

 

Maria: Brooks and Dunn

Six days on the road: Sawyer Brown

 

Those are just to name a few

 

[Tennessee Boy]

The Beatles Come Together is a classic.

 

Aerosmith’s cover is even better.

[Pogues2300]

12 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Fancy: Reba Mcintre

 

Joy of my life: Chris Stapleton (big Fogarty fan but Stapleton’s is better)

 

Maria: Brooks and Dunn

Six days on the road: Sawyer Brown

 

Those are just to name a few

 

I just love  Sawyer brown the walk….. not what I meant for the thread but actually I’m not friends with people in Minnesota who like the band! Thanks

[J Francho]

My Favorite Things, John Coltrane

[clayton86]

Disturbeds sound of silence 

[Jar11591]

Turn The Page by Bob Seger/Metallica. Metallica’s version made Seger’s version unlistenable. 

[DitchPanda]

Nirvana- the man who sold the world and Talking heads- take me to the river both come to mind.

[Susky River Rat]

@clayton86 I second this. 
 

hurt when Johnny cash covered it. NIN just didn’t give it the feel it needed.

 

 

[A-Jay]

Listened to Fleetwod Mac and Steve Nick's in my first ride on AM radio as a senior in high school.  This young ladies cover of Dreams is as good as I've ever heard.

Just buttery smooth. 

A-Jay 

[Catt]

Voodoo Child: Jimi Hendrix 

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan & it ain't particularly close.

[Texas Flood]

I always thought The Carpenters cover of “Thong Song” by Sisqo was awesome. 

[RobA]

Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower" is better than Bob Dylan's.  I believe Dylan thinks so too. 

[Buzzbaiter]

Razamanaz was done better by Artillery than Nazareth, imo. Both are versions are great, but it sounds better sped up. 

[spartyon8]

I truly believe there are way more covers not given enough credit to. Personally, I was a big fan of the Van Halen covers, specifically "Ice Cream Man" and "Dancing in the Streets". 
 

Other notables off the top of my head:

Limp Bizkit - Faith

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal 

Fear Factory - Cars

Ataris - Boys of Summer

The Used/My Chemical Romance - Under Pressure (not better but great)

Luke Combs - Fast Car

Foo Fighters - Honey Bee

Smashing Pumpkins - Landslide

 

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

Big Yellow Taxi

 

Joni Mitchell’s original is great. But Counting Crows (with Vanessa Carlton) is fantastic. 

[Eric 26]

One of my favorites is Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweety covering  Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Wrote a song for everyone” her voice is so gritty on that track.

[TnRiver46]

22 hours ago, RobA said:

Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower" is better than Bob Dylan's.  I believe Dylan thinks so too. 

 You beat me to it 

[dave]

On 7/7/2024 at 6:48 PM, Catt said:

Voodoo Child: Jimi Hendrix 

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan & it ain't particularly close.

How good a writer for the guitar was Jimi?  Listen to Stevie Ray play his music...

[PaulVE64]

Nothing compared 2 u - Sinead Oconnor

Respect - Aretha Franklin

I will always love you - Whitney Houston

Killing me softly - the Fugees

Girls just want to have fun - Cyndi Lauper

With a little help from my friends - joe Cocker

I fought the law - The clash

Unchained melody - the Righteous Brothers

 

[Catt]

 

[JackstrawIII]

Ok, I'll play. This list is all over the place, but it's what I could think of in the moment. 

 

1. "Maggies Farm" written by Bob Dylan, as covered by Rage Against the Machine. 

 

2. "I Will Always Love You" written by Dolly Parton, as covered by Whitney Houston... duh. 

 

3. "Hurt" written by Nine Inch Nails, as covered by Johnny Cash 

 

4. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" written by Jim Steinman, as covered by Celine Dion.