Cover songs that are better than the originals.


There is an active thread about terrible cover songs so I thought I'd start one about cover songs that are better than or have completely eclipsed the originals. I'll start:

Randy Newman wrote Momma Told Me Not to Come for Eric Burdon who recored it with the Animals and Newman recorded it too. I have the Newman version and like it but Three Dog Night really seem to capture the mood of the song best in my opinion.
n80
I wholeheartedly second OBLGNY's nomination of Joe Cocker's cover of "A Little Help From My Friends".  And, I'll bet, so does Ringo Starr.
+ 3 for Joe Cocker with "A little help from my friends " A true force of nature! A nice guy too. He was on the same ferry I was from Germany to Denmark , gave a liitle concert to about 20 of us on deck .
I have to say, I do not care for the Joe Cocker version of "A Little Help from My Friends.

I also prefer the CCR version of Proud Mary. I like watching Tina perform it but still think the CCR version is a lot better.

I suspect I'm the odd man out on these two.
SRV - Texas Flood
Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart
Joe Cocker - You Can Leave Your Hat On

"Mystery Train" has been covered by many, Elvis, being the most famous. Here's a couple more that are definitely better than the original,

Junior Wells
Brian Setzer

And how could we overlook, "That's All Right" by Elvis or

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