Cover songs that are better than the originals.


There is an active thread about terrible cover songs so I thought I'd start one about cover songs that are better than or have completely eclipsed the originals. I'll start:

Randy Newman wrote Momma Told Me Not to Come for Eric Burdon who recored it with the Animals and Newman recorded it too. I have the Newman version and like it but Three Dog Night really seem to capture the mood of the song best in my opinion.
n80
@tls49 ,
A band called Shell does an excellent cover of Stairway, so does Rodrigues Y Gabriela"

Your mention of Travis has me playing Fran Healy right now!
Johnny Cash - Hurt
Ricki Lee Jones - I'll Be Seeing You
Walk Off the Earth - Someone Like You
Sonic Youth - Superstar, The Carpenters
The Carpenters, Calling Occupants (of Interplanetary Craft), Klaatu

Does Jimi Hendrix "Hey Joe" qualify? I've never been able to ensure, though, that I've heard the actual original by Billy Roberts(?).  
Gary Clark, Jr.'s cover of Hendrix's Third Stone from the Sun.

If you like blues based rock, a little R&B, occasional heavy guitars all mixed together you should check Clark out. He's the real deal.