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

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.

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I love the first three Procol Harum albums (pianist Matthew Fisher left after the third, Robin Trowers’ guitar playing turning PH into just another blues-based riff band. So sad.). Those first three PH albums WERE (and still are) filled with great music. But PH’s Shine On Brightly (one of) the first real progressive album(s)? Why not their first album? Are you including Brian Wilson’s Smile? Or Frank Zappa’s Where Only In It For The Money? Or the first Pink Floyd? Or Van Dyke Parks’ Song Cycle? Or the many other obscure albums I have no doubt you are unaware of.

That you would state Electric Ladyland is the best album recorded in the 60’s says all that needs to be said. So sad ;-)

A musician’s opinion of Bogert and Appice is a very effective "filter" when looking through applications for band members. Oh, they are SO bad. They never heard, contemplated, and took to heart what Duke Ellington, a very tasteful musician, said about musicianship: "What you don't play is more important than what you do". Wisdom from an old, though not 100 year old, man.

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