2. music
  3. 1292034091

Song covers that are better than the originals

I was listening to Billy Idol's cover of LA Woman, and I thought to myself that his version is way better than the original. So I thought I'd post a few covers that I enjoy more than the originals and see what others can add. My top five in no particular order:

LA Woman - Billy Idol
Just a Gigolo - David Lee Roth
Feelin Alright - Joe Cocker
Roll Over Beethoven - The Beatles
MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
slanski62
harold-not-the-barrel
895 posts
 
"All Along the Watchtower" done by Jimi Hendrix, by a country mile
+ all the Dylan covers I have heard are much better, especially those done by Manfred Mann´s Earth Band

"Come Away Melinda" done by Uriah Heep, a Hellerman/Minkoff song, the best of them all. David Byron reigns supreme.

"Theme for an Imaginary Western" by MOUNTAIN is THE best ever. Felix Pappalardi reigns supreme.

"Every Little Thing" by Yes - Jon Anderson & Co. made it astral
"Everydays" by Yes - Jon Anderson & Co., orig. Steven Stills tune
"America" Yes made it stellar.

"Black Magic Woman" done by Santana.

"Framed", "Delilah", "Runaway" by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Alex smokes.

"Stormy Monday Blues" & "Robe Ladder to the Moon" on COLOSSEUM LIVE March, 1971. Chris Farlowe is the man.

"Rock and Roll Medley" Live January 1973 by Uriah Heep smokes all the other versions of that subject. David Byron rules supreme.

"Morning Dew" by Nazareth

"Superstition" by Beck, Bogert & Appice

"Going Down" Jeff Beck Group doing a Don Dix tune
thepigdog's avatar
thepigdog
257 posts
 
The Band - Atlantic City
Sara K. - Brick House
akg_ca's avatar
akg_ca
2,237 posts
 
K D Lang's version of Leonard Cohen's original "Hallelujah "

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7oZN2eTgvVs

Reverse this to original better than the cover version - Glen Campbell's version of "The Highwayman" then performed  by Willie Nelson 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iaeGfMeSKX0

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

I am hesitant to comment on Harold’s post, but sheesh!

Hendrix not only turns a beautiful, subtle, personal prayer into a crass display of vulgar guitar pyrotechnics (okay, I admit to not caring for Jimi’s playing. I know, a minority opinion), but he also obviously has NO idea what the song is about. Just awful.

"Superstition" by Beck, Bogart & Appice better than Stevie’s own?! Wow---I’m speechless. Beck’s worst band, he absolutely butchers a song done magnificently by Mr. Wonder, who plays every instrument on his recording. On this, Harold, I do believe you may be alone in your opinion. Nothing wrong with that (in principle)!

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 
Dave Edmunds’ electrifying reinvention of Smiley Lewis’ "I Hear You Knocking".
More to discover