Song covers that are better than the originals

Dave Alvin "Surfer Girl"

I've learned that the choice of music preferences is a very personal thing. Having said that I will say that the first song that comes to mind is Fire and Rain as done by Blood Sweat and Tears. I find it so much more interesting musically than the original. I wouldn't argue with someone who said Taylor has the better voice. But all-in it's the version I want to listen to.

One more for the list:

The Ballad of Lucy Jordan by Marianne Faithfull. I like that version much more than the overwrought version by Dr. Hook.

"Bird on a Wire" original by Leonard Cohen: Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, Jennifer Warnes. One classic song, wide range of covers that are all great.

There are several outstanding covered songs on santana's new disc Guitar Classics: Can't You Hear Me Knocking, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Bang a Gong are a couple...

Also, Annie Lennox has a disc of covers, Medusa, with some good ones: Take Me To The River, Whiter Shade of Pale

And, I stumbled upon a disc of dance club remixes, What Is Hip, The Remix Project that, if ya like techno treatments of old classics is awesome: Dream Weaver, Ventura Hiway, Summer Breeze

I would not say all the above are bettr than the original, but they are well recorded, and listenable...