[joshs]

mike777, on Jun 28 2006, 04:29 PM, said:

Speaking of All along the Watchtower..how about:

Star spangled banner by Jimmy Hendrix,,much better than originial....

ROFL. I think the original had the fireworks (over Baltimore) in the background also. But Guitar fireworks are cooler!

One of the challenges in this game is figuring out what was a classic in the first place. For instance, hendrix's cover of All Along the Watchtower is clearly a classic but is Dylan's original? Now I am a big Dylan fan and not a big Hendrix fan...

It doesn't pass either "classic" test for me:
a. Everyone knows the song (who here has even heard Dylan's orginal?)
OR
b. It is frequently covered (so it has become part of the cannon as a written song, but not as a recorded song)

Along those lines these don't qualify for me:
Mannford Mann's Cover of Bruce Springstein's Blinded by the Light (who has heard the Orginal?)
Natalie Imbruglia's Cover of Ednaswap's Torn (do you even know who Ednaswap is?). I actually think the original was slightly better...

Someone mentioned The Bangles cover of Hazy Shade of Winter. Suzzanna Hoffs has made a career of producing great covers. I especially love "All I want" Orginally by The Lightning Seeds (unless you listened to alternative rock from the late 80's early 90's you will not know them).

[jikl]

I second Jeff Buckley's cover of Hallelujah; it is an amzing track.

One of the most popular answers to this question is usually "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. A little known fact is that this is in fact a cover of a son originally performed by Gloria Jones. (Personally I prefer Marilyn Manson's version)

I will try to think of some more obscure ones

Sean

[Badmonster]

joshs, on Jun 28 2006, 05:07 PM, said:

Along those lines these don't qualify for me:
Mannford Mann's Cover of Bruce Springstein's Blinded by the Light (who has heard the Orginal?)
Natalie Imbruglia's Cover of Ednaswap's Torn (do you even know who Ednaswap is?). I actually think the original was slightly better...

I've heard the original, and it's much better. Ok, it's more discordant, but is that a bad thing. Mannford Mann's version is just pasturized pop. Bruce's version is long before he considered pop. And it's my favorite Boss album.

[bid_em_up]

joshs, on Jun 28 2006, 05:07 PM, said:

Manfred Mann's Cover of Bruce Springstein's Blinded by the Light (who has heard the Orginal?)

I have, I own it even, lol. One of the greatest lyrical songs of all time, imo. Manfred Manns version also drops two of Springsteens original verses:

"Oh, some hazard from Harvard was skunked on beer, playin' backyard bombardier
Yes, and Scotland Yard was trying hard, they sent some dude with a calling card, he said, "Do what you like, but don't do it here"
Well, I jumped up, turned around, spit in the air, fell on the ground and asked him which was the way back home
He said, "Take a right at the light, keep goin' straight until night, and then, boy, you're on your own"

And now in Zanzibar, a shootin' star was ridin' in a side car, hummin' a lunar tune
Yes, and the avatar said, "Blow the bar but first remove the cookie jar, we're gonna teach those boys to laugh too soon"
And some kidnapped handicap was complainin' that he caught the clap from some mousetrap he bought last night
Well, I unsnapped his skull cap and between his ears I saw a gap but figured he'd be all right"

I can never help but wonder, WHAT. THE. HELL. WAS. HE. ON. when he wrote this?? LOL.

Manfred Mann also covered another Springsteen song ("For You") on the "Lies(Through the 80's)" album. Much better than Springsteens version.

Other great covers:

Take Another Piece of My Heart - Melissa Etheridge (orig. Janis Joplin). If you havent heard this, find it, preferably the live version. Its awesome.

Forget the Beatles version of Roll Over Beethoven. Give me Electric Light Orchestra's any day.

Guns and Roses version of Knocking On Heavens Door.

Johnny Cash's version of NIN's, Hurt. (Liked his cover of Personal Jesus also). But I dont really consider either of these to be classics.

[joshs]

I also love GNR's cover of Knocking on Heaven's door.

[mikeh]

pclayton, on Jun 27 2006, 03:36 PM, said:

Elton's Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds comes to mind, but I bet I can think of something better.

Great question.

surely this thread would be incomplete without a reference to William Shatner's classic cover of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds...... recently voted (not for the first time) by listeners of Canada's CBC radio as the worst recorded song of all time. And thus, presumably, the WORST cover of all time.

[Sigi_BC84]

mikeh, on Jun 30 2006, 06:11 AM, said:

pclayton, on Jun 27 2006, 03:36 PM, said:

Elton's Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds comes to mind, but I bet I can think of something better.

Great question.

surely this thread would be incomplete without a reference to William Shatner's classic cover of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds...... recently voted (not for the first time) by listeners of Canada's CBC radio as the worst recorded song of all time. And thus, presumably, the WORST cover of all time.

Uh oh. Don't say that before checking this one out:

Hooked on a Feeling done by master Hoff (original by B.J. Thomas?).

(I strongly advice people with heart or respirational problems to keep their medication in reach at all times while watching this video.)

--Sigi

[Winstonm]

How about Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee".

Original Kris Kristofferson.


"With a Little Help From My Friends" Joe Cocker

Original The Beatles.

[Badmonster]

Winstonm, on Jun 30 2006, 12:38 PM, said:

How about Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee".

Original Kris Kristofferson.


"With a Little Help From My Friends" Joe Cocker

Original The Beatles.

Yes! Yes to both. I love Joe Cocker.

[joshs]

Its not better than the original but Frente did a great cover of New Order's Bizzare Love Triangle....


And speaking of great covers of Beatles songs:
Fiona Apple - Across The Universe
Got to get you into my Life - Earth, Wind, Fire
Arrowsmith- Come Together

And then there is classic semi-self cover:
Run DMC with Arrowsmith- Walk This Way


Peter Paul and Mary and The Byrds both made a living out of Cover Songs-
Leaving on a Jet Plane - John Denver covered by PPM
Mr. Tamberine Man- Dylan covered by The Byrds

Nirvana had a few in their unplugged album, but the best is:
The Man Who Sold the World-Bowie

Now has anyone mentioned Aretha's cover of Otis Reddings Respect?

And I can't believe I forgot about:
Everything But he Girl's cover of Bruce Springstein's "Tougher than the Rest."
(They also did good covers of Alison, and Time after Time)

[joshs]

Speaking of great covers, Ryan Adam's cover of Oasis's Wonderwall just came on my IPOD.... (I think much better than the original!)

[Aberlour10]

I have discovered on YouTube a great cover of Jimi Hendirx's "Hey Joe"
performed live by The Experience, Steve Winwood & Slash at The Jimi Hendrix Tribute. Amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Mm3WPw2Xs...related&search=

[mike777]

Aberlour10, on Dec 6 2007, 04:35 PM, said:

I have discovered on YouTube a great cover of Jimi Hendirx's "Hey Joe"
performed live by The Experience, Steve Winwood & Slash at The Jimi Hendrix Tribute. Amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Mm3WPw2Xs...related&search=

You do realize that Hey Joe by Hendrix is a cover, the song was a standard before he did it.

[Aberlour10]

mike777, on Dec 6 2007, 04:41 PM, said:

You do realize that Hey Joe by Hendrix is a cover, the song was a standard before he did it.

You are of course right, its cover from cover

[Elianna]

Johnny Cash covering Nine Inch Nails' Hurt.

[frouu]

here's a few more nominees?

american woman by lenny krawitz
knocking on heavens door by guns n roses
girl you'll be a woman soon by urge overkill

[matmat]

pclayton, on Jun 27 2006, 03:36 PM, said:

Elton's Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds comes to mind, but I bet I can think of something better.

Great question.

OH COME ON

if you're going to pick a cover of that song you have GOT to go with the shattner version...

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=D-yy2URAYqU

[matmat]

off the top of my head i like the GnR version of 'live and let die'

[keylime]

Ring of Fire, covered by Social Distortion (original by Johnny Cash).

One Love, covered by Gipsy Kings (original by Bob Marley and the Wailers).

GnR's Live and Let Die is pretty sweet admittedly.

The Police's King of Pain covered by Alanis Morissette is interesting.

Al Green did a cover of the Bee Gees' How Can You Mean a Broken Heart that is soulful and rich.

Finally, the Ramones' I Wanna Be Sedated covered by the Offspring.

[FrancesHinden]

1. Beethoven's Diabelli variations
2. Rachmanninov rhapsody on a theme of paganinni


Oh, am I in the wrong thread?