Best cover songs?

Is this...

1) a list of cover songs,
2) a list of great songs that happened to be covered, or
3) a list of songs that were recorded by someone other than the original artist *and* the cover of the song is better than the original artists performance / interpretation?

Just because a song is competently covered, doesn't make that cover great. A great cover makes the song better.

For example...

The Bauhaus cover of "Ziggy Stardust". Bauhaus gives this song the big production, glam-rock performance it deserves. It's still a Bowie song, but Bauhaus makes it their own with this performance, and IMHO far better than the original.

The Sisters of Mercy cover of "Gimme Shelter". Slow. Brooding. Minimal. Powerful. Excellent.

The Foo Fighter's cover of "Baker Street" is right at the threshold of that criteria. It's a very, very competent cover, and I prefer it to the original, but it doesn't elevate the song to the next level. It pains me to say that, but it is what it is.

I love Fred Froom's cover of Todd Rundgren's "Pretending to Care". It's a really tough song to nail. I've heard several cover versions, but all pale next to Froom's, IMHO. Todd's original comes up short by comparison and even Jennifer Warnes (who's a pretty fair cover artist herself - see "Famous Blue Raincoat) whiffs on this one.

Bonus points for Froom: AFAIK, it's the only song he has ever recorded.

Marty

PS One more "Heaven's Door" cover: Warren Zevon when he knew he was dying. In context, it's very powerful.

Nrenter: Cheers to that, Sir! Bauhaus! That was the first thing that came to mind. Totally awesome song by an an awesome band.

JP

Dancing in the Street by Van Halen is a good cover IMo.

 

Here is Dave Edmunds’ re-imagining of "I Hear You Knocking", turning the Smiley Lewis Blues song into a Rock ’n’ Roll scorcher. Listen to the tension Dave creates in his guitar solo. Now think back to where Rock music was heading in 1970, the year of this song’s release.

Robert Plant is a huge Dave Edmunds fan (and friend), and signed him to Zeppelin’s label Swan Song for his third album, entitled Get It, a good place to introduce yourself to Edmunds if you aren't already acquainted.