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

I have played with a lot of guitarists who, of course, love Jimi’s playing, and one bassist who holds Jimi in as high esteem as John Coltrane! I freely admit I have never understood, nor had the sensibilities to appreciate, most Jazz. It is a foreign language to me, still. I am interested in what Hendrix may have evolved into, had he lived to do so. I like Junior Brown, who obviously loves Jimi’s playing, but the element of Hendrix in Junior’s playing is what makes my liking of him not without reservations.

There is another drummer whose playing is astonishingly technically developed yet also musical---Steve Gadd. Currently playing with Eric Clapton (who has what I consider excellent taste in musicians, save his bandmates in Cream ;-), he came to fame with his snare drum part in Paul Simon’s "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover". Very cool!

Al Jarreau / Spain
Al Jarreau / Take 5
Jeff Beck / Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Isley Brothers / Lay Lady Lay
If you want to hear some great Dylan covers, get "Chimes of freedom". Some of my favorites are:
Corina Corina / Pete Townsend
Most of the time / Bettye LaVette 
Make you feel my love / Adele
Tryin' to get to heaven / Lucinda Williams

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Old boots dull? You haven’t seen my closet, but then you may not care for any boots, old or new. You sound more like a sneakers kinda guy. I’ve seen & heard both Dylan and Hendrix live multiple times, and have my own personal impression and opinion of both. It may differ from yours and everyone elses. So what? I sure DO find some of Hendrix’s playing to be vulgar. I used that term quite deliberately! I feel the same about Eddie Van Halen and numerous other "show-offs", whose guitar playing serves no one or nothing but themselves. Selflessness---that is the viewpoint of a 100 year old, though I have viewed Jimi’s playing as I have since I was 19 years young. And I’m older than that now ;-)

Weird. As I was editing this, apparently so was Harold, as his post now shows up below mine. Mine was obviously in response to his, so how that happened is a mystery to me.