Best cover songs?

The Greatest remake in the world is Whitney Houston, I will always love you...sorry Dolly,but you wrote that song for Her and her alone....

@richard_stacy I listen to that ANOHNI version of “I Was Young When I Left Home” all the time. Underappreciated Dylan gem, and if forced to have just one, I’d probably choose the ANOHNI version.  
My favorite LP of Dylan covers is the ‘69 LP by The Brothers & Sisters (top vocalists in LA, the likes of which included Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Gloria Jones, Edna Wright, doing big church choir-style Dylan, produced by Lou Adler).

 

Here is Joan Osborne’s fantastic live version a song originally done by Jimmy Ruffin, "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted", a song in my All-Time Top 10. I love both versions. Electric bass on the original played by my favorite bassist, the incomparable James Jamerson

 

 

 

Here is The Fabulous Thunderbirds 1982 recording of a song originally done By Ron Holden & The Thunderbirds (different bunch-o-birds 😊 ) in 1959, "My Babe".

The song is found on their album T-Bird Rhythm, produced by Edmunds’ partner in Rockpile, Nick Lowe. Edmunds produced their following album, Tuff Enuff. The T-Birds are a great, great band.

 

 

 

 

And here is his recreation of the Chantels’ Girl Group classic "Maybe", found on his second album Subtle As A Flying Mallet. Dave plays every instrument and sings every note heard in this recording. The modulation (key change) as we head into the last verse gives me goosebumps! Also heard is Dave’s recreation of Spector’s Wall-Of-Sound, created at the legendary Rockfield Studio in Wales.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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

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

JP

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.

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.

Holly Cole's album "Temptation" (a tribute to Tom Waits)

"Mystery Train" , so many good covers, Junior Wells is my favorite (Junior Parker)

"Big Log" Allison Krausse/Viktor Krausse (Robert Plant)

Kenny Wayne Shepherd's version of "Yer Blues" on his new album is great.

Joan Baez's 'Diamonds and Rust' covered by Judas Priest.
Bob Dylan's 'One More Cup of Coffee' covered by Frazey Ford.

Stairway to Gilligan's Island is another fave- available on youtube.

"New York" Cat Power

"Fire" The Pointer Sisters
"All along the watchtower" Hendrix
"Pretty woman" Van Halen
"You really got me" Van Halen
"Blinded by the light" Manfred Mann
"Crazy" Patsy Kline

Pretty much everything on Rosanne Cash "The List"

Sorry Neko, for the mispelling above

Another great cover of "Sweet Jane" Mott The Hoople

"Nothin'" Plant,Krauss
"All Mixed Up"
"Silly Love Songs" both by The Red House Painters
"Cortez The Killer" Built To Spill
"Handle With Care" Jenny Lewis"
"Square Room" Cowboy Junkies
"Dreams" Mollyhatchet
"Rated X" Nico Case
"The Sound Of Silence" Brandi Carlile
"Taste Of Honey" Patricia Barber

To add to the many great cover songs already nominated, Tool does a great version of "No Quarter" on the album Salival.

"With a little help from my friends" Lennon/McCartney covered by Joe Cocker, and his version interpreted by John Belushi. You Tube

So is the live version of All Along...by Dave Mason

All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix is awesome.

Billy Idol covering The Doors "LA Woman" but even better is Alien Ant Farm covering MJ's "Smooth Criminal"... kicks major ass :-)

AAF - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDl9ZMfj6aE&ob=av2e

~

Dylans I Was Young When I Left Home by Antony Hagerty and Bryce Dessner (National)from the Dark Was The Night compilation. Antony and the Johnsons also do a beautiful Knockin On Heavens Door on the I'm Not There soundtrack. If you have not heard that soundtrack I highly recommend it.

Victor Wooten's version of Naima by John Coltrane. Available on his album titled "What Did He Say". Incredible Bass and acoustic Guitar, etc.

Your gonna miss me/ Lazy Cowgirls(13th floor elevators)

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold

a very beautiful rendition

Rickie Lee Jones - Marty Balin's "Comin' Back To Me"
Matthew Sweet & Susannah Hoffs - BeeGees "Run To Me"
Eva Cassidy - "What a Wonderful World"
Sarah McLachlan - Tom Waits' "Ole 55"

Skid Row- What Your Doin- Rush

I second Eva Cassidy.
Almost all her covers are superb.

Second for Diana Krall (from Live In Paris cd) "A Case Of You" by Joni Mitchell.

Too many covers to mention sung by Eva Cassida. What an interpreter she was.

Try Danny Gatton's "Harlem Nocturne"

The Duhks - Love is the seventh wave (Sting)

Neil Young All Along the Watchtower live- from the 30Th anniversary tribute to Bob Dylan.
2nd then Savage Grace.
3rd Jimi Hendrix version.

savage grace-all along the watchtower...dave mason-all along the watchtower...not as good as hendrix, but worthy

Little Willie John's "I'm Shakin" by the Blasters.

Sorry guys but I have to add

Heroes (Brixton Boy) by Oasis.

'A New England' (billy bragg)- kirsty Maccoll

alot good ones already mentioned, add
steve earle - Down in the Hole (Tom Waits)

Rickie Lee Jones- Under the Boardwalk.

Kenny Rogers, "just dropped in" ( Tinsley Ellis)

manfred mann(2)-the mighty quinn(bob dylan..the byrds-mr tambourine man(dylan)...the greg kihn band-the man who shot liberty valance(gene pitney)....the rationals-respect(otis redding, and yes it even trumps Aretha).....mc5-back in the usa(chuck berry)

Academy Fight Song REM
Across the Universe Rufus Wainwright
After the Gold Rush Thom Yorke
Angel The Faces
Another Girl, Another Planet The Replacements
Atlantic City The Band
Badfish Jack Johnson
Brand New Cadillac The Clash
Bridge Over Troubled Water Aretha Franklin
Chinese cafe/unchained Joni Mitchell
Dancing Barefoot U2
Day Tripper Otis Redding
Fire RHCP
I am The Walrus Oasis

Charlie Parker, Night in Tunisia: So good most people think it was his song.

wilson pickett-land of 1,000 dances

Absolutely agree with many that have been mentioned but...wow - all the way down here:

Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog" (Big Mama Thorton)
Aretha Franklin - "Respect" (Otis Redding)

Dave Alvin doing Jackson Browne's "Redneck Friend"

Stone temple Pilots doing doing Led Zeps "Dancing Days", Smashing Pumpkins doing Stevie Nicks "Landslide", Patty Smith doing Prince's "When Doves Cry", and lastly Stevie Ray Vaughn doing Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing".

OH A big one that I forgot---The whole Dark Side of the Moon live at the Appolo in London by Dream Theater Great DVD--playing especially by Jordan Rudess and John Petrucci, singing by Teresa Thomason is incredible!