Cover Song Better Than the Original?

[Delta-T]

was talking with one of my co-worker's, who is even younger than me, and really doesn't know anything but contemporary pop/hip hop music, and told him tha many songs are cover songs from ages past, blah blah. So I'm curious who likes a recorded cover version of a song better than some originals?

obvious ones for me are:
Jimi's versions of both "All Along the Watchtower" and "Hey Joe"

I expect to learn a few songs I didn't even know were covers.
one that makes me laugh is when I was maybe 10 a friend of mine told me Guns and Roses wrote Knockin on Heaven's Door and didn't beleive me when I told him it was an old Dylan tune.

 

[Delta-T]

btw, please dont say Clapton's version of "I Shot the Sheriff". Thank you.

 

[fossil]

"Love In Vain" Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers - 1937. Here's the original from the dawn of recording (two takes of it). This was done in a hotel, with Johnson playing in one room and the recording equipment (such as it was back then) in an adjacent room. Then Clapton doing it a few decades later. You'll recognize it if you know your Rolling Stones.

 

[BrotherBart]

I like Faith's country version better than Joplin's original.





Yeah I know. Sacrilege.

 

[fossil]

I like 'em both...considering the genre & the decade.

 

[BrotherBart]

And then there is:

 

[fishingpol]

"The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel. Covered by Mumford and sons. I like them both. Don't mind the video, but most on Youtube are live concert type of crappy recordings.

 

[fossil]

And then there is...

And then there is:

http://www.bobrivers.com/#v8573c7

 

[BrotherBart]

 

[WES999]

More gooder than the original.

 

[cwill]

might not be better but Jamey Johnson's version of "Set 'Em Up Joe" by Vern Gosdin is pretty close.

 

[hossthehermit]

Best ever was The Band's cover of Springsteen's Atlantic City

 

[MasterMech]

Infinitely better version....



Round 2: ....



I'm sure many will disagree.

 

[smoke show]

 

[smoke show]

 

[DexterDay]

Seethers version...



Then Goerge Micheals.....

 

[MasterMech]

Doesn't even sound like Leppard/Joe Elliot, excellent cover.



Oh what the hell, one more. Great White got their start as a Zepplin cover act. Not an easy band to cover for sure.

I don't know if it's "better", but it's just as good IMO.



Robert Plant once said "This guy sounds more like me than I do."

 

[Jack Straw]

I think this is better than NIN's version

 

[fishingpol]

I think this is better than NIN's version

Haunting, very haunting. I always liked that one.

 

[cwill]

Some stronger language in the second one, but way better. Much more soulful.

 

[smoke show]

 

[smoke show]

 

[smoke show]

<end metallica>

 

[GAMMA RAY]

Clapton....I Shot the Sheriff.....

 

[firefighterjake]

Toss up on Social Distortion's cover of Cash's "Ring of Fire" -- I like them both.