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Best Remakes Of All Time

Remakes of the original rarely hit the mark, but here are some of my favorites.

1. The Cure's remake of Jimmi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" - It's so good it maybe better than the original.
2. Power Station's remake of "Bang A Gong" originally performed by T-Rex. Awesome.
3. Marvin Gaye's version of the Miracles "Heard it Through the Grapevine". Marvin's version is way better than the original.
4. Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower.
5. Love the Doors cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Backdoor Man".
6. Johnny's Cash's 2003 version of Nine Inch Nails "Hurt" was not only courageous, but seriously good.
7. Chicago's remake of "I'm A Man" originally performed by Spencer Dave Group is outstanding.
8. The Allman Brothers remake of "Statesboro Blues" is an upgrad over Blind Willie McTell 1928 version.
9. The Talking Heads 1978 version of Al Green's original release of "Take Me To The River". Do I even need to comment on that one?
10. Love Stevie Ray Vaughn's version of Jimi's "Vodoo Child".

There are a ton more... what are your favorite remakes?
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entrope
482 posts
 
James Taylor covering Wichata Lineman
casey33
260 posts
 
Allman Brothers Statesboro Blues is an upgrad (sic) of Willie McTell? That's laughable.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Duane got my #1 choice: Danny Gatton doing "Harlem Nocturne". A nearly perfect song AND the seamingly perfect cover already provided by Duke Ellington. Then Gatton goes out and IMHO one ups the Duke.

Some -not yet mentioned- that I also like as much as/or better than the original:

801 doing "TNK" (Beatles)
Webb Wilder doing "Don't Slander Me" (Roky Erickson) and "Ain't Livin' Long Like This" (Rodney Crowell)
Sonny Landreth doing "Devil's Right Hand" (Steve Earle)
Stones doing "Little Queenie" (Chuck Berry)
Alejandro Escovedo doing "All The Young Dudes" (Mott The Hoople)
Feelies doing "All Tomorrow's Parties" (Velvet Underground) and "Paint It Black" (Stones)
Todd Rundgren doing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Beatles)
Pretenders doing "Time The Avenger" (virtual, but uncredited cover of the Outsiders' "Time Won't Let Me")
Don Dixon doing "Amplifier" (dbs)
Marti Jones doing "Soul Love" (Bowie)
Bonnie Raitt doing "Thing Called Love" (John Hiatt)

Ingenuity award to Richard Thompson for "Oops I Did It Again" (Brittney Spears???)

and a special mention to Don Dixon and Marti Jones doing "You've Got What It Takes (to Take What I Got)" by Joe Tex. This version was the first dance at my wedding.

Many more, too.

Marty
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Casey,

I think you're being a little harsh there. The Allman's version of Statesboro Blues is so vastly different from the original that it's easy for me to see why some would prefer it. I also understand why others would prefer the original - or, for that matter the versions by Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, David Lindley, etc. etc. It's a great, great song that has lent itself to a multitude of wildly differing interpretations, many of which IMHO succeed on their own terms. I'd probably choose the original (or possibly another acoustic version - Paul Geremia and Fred Sokolow both do killer takes) if I could only keep one, but it wouldn't be an easy choice - for me, anyway.
gawdbless's avatar
gawdbless
1,235 posts
 
From a previous sujbect on copies,covers and remakes;
+ a few more.........

Whiskey in the jar-Metallica (Trad.tin liz)
Hallalooljah- Jeffree buckley (cohen)
God save the queen-motorhead (pistols)
My way-sid-ern-ee vicious (an italian geezer)?
A New England-Kirsty Maccoll (billy bragg)
20th Century Boy-Placebo (T.Rex)
Knockin on 'evans door- Sisters of Mercy (bob)
Any cover done by ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS!
Help/hey joe-Deep Purple, (beatles)
Tainted Love/Sweet dreams-M Manson (soft cell/euro group)
Satisfaction-Devo (Rolling and the Stoned)
A little respect-Wheatus (Erasure)
To love somebody-Jimmy Somerville (heebeegeebees)?
Don't leave me this way (Communards/Somerville)
Emilie Autumn-Bohemian Rhapsoda.
Kermit the Frog-Creep (radiohead)
Lucia Micarelli & Jethro Tull - Kashmir(Led Zep)
Anything by Dread Zeppelin.
Pearl Jam - Baba O'Riley
Dream Theater-Floyd covers excellent, even Iron Maiden!
Slade- My baby left me/That's Alright (Glam man)
Billy Swan-Don't be Cruel (Elvis the Pelvis)
Primus-Have a ciger (Pinky boys)
The White Stripes - Jolene (dolly's partons)
Love Hurts- from bonny Scotland.....Nazareth! (Ev Brothers)
Tainted Love-Soft Cell (Gloria Jones)
The Air that I breathe-The Hollies (albert Hammond)?
Battle of Evermore-Heart (minor league group from the UK)
More to discover