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Best songs played by non-author artists...

Let's have an interesting talk about artists that creatively perform songs that had been performed by different original band or artist. There is a huge number of singers, artists that perform songs that they didn't write neither music or lyrics and they do it very often way different from the original performers and that's exactly what I really like because each artist should have his own signature without repeating after anyone else. I would not be surprised that there are people that only love the original performance, but I welcome and greet anybody who can perform let's say Pink Floyd in his own way...
If possible, share tubes as well!
Here's what comes into my mind:

Jail House Rock by Residents: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zwmt7hdaHw
My Way by Nina Hagen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q22N1dSXiN0
Man's World by Residents:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAYCeHE-Ih0
Ring of Fire by Frank Zappa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTmTobf9KSY
Frank Zappa also made quite a few funny parodies of Stairway to Heaven, Purple Haze and other songs of famous rock, country and jazz artists.
128x128marakanetz
ashra's avatar
ashra
148 posts
 
Cassandra Wilson - Come On In My Kitchen (Robert Johnson)
http://youtu.be/t4Tu2IiZ3to
Cassandra Wilson - The Last Train To Clarksville (Boyce & Hart)
http://youtu.be/faK8TxS-D1w
Cassandra Wilson - The Witichitaw Lineman (Glen Campbell)
http://youtu.be/lWwDgYlGeZA
Yeah, I like Cassandra WIlson!
larryi
3,988 posts
 
I like many cover albums. Among my favorites:

"Odetta Sings Dylan" (amazingly good version of "Times They are a Changin'").

"If I Were A Carpenter" (various artists covering Richard and Karen Carpenter songs--check out "Yesterday Once More" done by Redd Kross and "Top of the World" by Shonen Knife).

"Nouvelle Vague" (self titled--covers of new wave classics in a bossa nova style. Check out their version of The Clash's "Guns of Brixton").

"Twelve" by Patti Smith (her cover versions of some of her favorite songs).

"Wrecking Ball" by Emmylou Harris

"Golden Throats 1" (great compilation of spectacularly bad vanity covers by celebrities--includes famous Shatner versions of "Lucy in the Sky" and "Mr. Tambourine Man," the recently deceased Andy Griffith doing "House of the Rising Sun," Sebastian Cabot reciting the lyrics to "It Ain't Me Babe," Mae West doing "Twist and Shout").

"Stay Awake" (covers of Disney movie classics--check out Tom Waits' "Heigh Ho" and Sinead O'Connors "Some Day My Prince Will Come").
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
Elton John - Pinball Wizard and Lucy in the Sky

Patty Smith - Because the Night (does anyone remember the Springsteen version?)

Shelby Lynne - Breakfast in Bed
bander's avatar
bander
503 posts
 
Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons covers "If it be Your Will" by Leonard Cohen. Talk about pathos. His interpretation will leave you speechless. It's on a live concert album featuring multiple artists performing excellent takes on Cohen's songs. The concert movie is also excellent.
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