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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Bauhaus' cover of "Ziggy Stardust" is, IMHO, far better than Bowie himself.

The Sisters of Mercy covered "Gimme Shelter", and I really dig it. Very slow and powerful. I like it better than the Stones.

Red Hot Chili Peppers covered "Subterranean Homesick Blues" on the Uplift Mo-fo Party Plan release. I don't know if it would qualify as a "best remake of all time" but worth a listen.

Oh...Foo Fighter's cover of "Baker Street". Really, really good. Really good. Good stuff.

And I like Veruca Salt's cover of "My Sharona". It really wasn't spectacular, but there was a whole-lot of sexyness in that band, so I'll give them a pass.
Bauhaus-Third Uncle(Brian Eno)
Thee Headcoatees-Teenage Kicks(The Undertones)
Warrior Soul-Interzone(Joy Division)
The Gossip-Are U That Somebody?(Aaliyah)
Voivod-Astronomy Domine(Pink Floyd)
Cheap Trick-In The Street(Big Star)
Hanoi Rocks-Up Around The Bend(Creedence)
Big Black-The Model(Kraftwerk)
Big Black-She's A Whore(Cheap Trick)
Faith No More-War Pigs(Black Sabbath)
Well Clapton never did any JJ Cale better than JJ Cale. But Some Clapton is better than some Cale. Especially when Duane Allman helped out.
I don't know, I think Clapton did Cocaine better than Cale. IMHO, his take on the song is more visceral, while still capturing the original's essential spirit and intention. Cale's solo was a great, subtle, slow, bluesy slur - but IMHO Clapton's is much more dramatic and, for me, satisfying. I admit that you could certainly make a case for either, but I'll take EC on this one - even if it's not the fashionable choice.

Marty