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
maybe not better, but a darn good one...

The Firm "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"
@phomchick +1 for The Bad Plus's version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It has the controlled chaos that the original strove for but came up short.

Also, Phish's version of Deodato's funk version of "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)"
Marginally like Aretha Franklin's version of Natural Woman over Carol King's. Actually, I'm happy to have both versions.