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
I have to agree with blueranger. Jimi's cover of All Along the Watchtower is one of the all-time great covers.
Brownssville Station. "Sweet Jane". Awesome take on a classic song. More energy and drive. Its overlooked because it was from a one hit wonder group.
Gram Parsons' original recording of his "A Song For You" (on his debut album GP) is real fine, but the cover by The Continental Drifters is much, much better. The Drifters were a 1990's L.A. supergroup with members from The Bangles, The db's, The Cowsills, The Dream Syndicate, and a great drummer named Carlo Nuccio (who played on Tori Amos' first album). They made one album in L.A., hosted Tuesday nights at Raji's on Hollywood Blvd., then moved to New Orleans where they recorded two more albums. A great group.
Thanks Tomcy6. That solo gives me goosebumps everytime. According to the insert of his best of CD. He heard it and said I have to record it. He went into the studio and didn't what on his bass player. He had the inspiration and creativity in that window of time and he nailed it! He had to what to release it.
Obviously, (but maybe not) the greatest cover was Jimi Hendrix- "All Along the Watchtower".