Interesting choices but I hope you don't mind if I can't agree with your suggestions of that certified Doors classic, LA Woman, nor for that matter Richard Harris' novel-like MacArthur Park.
I almost always prefer the earlier version, sometimes the original is lost in the mists of time. But I can think of at least 3 Blondie covers which surpass previous versions. I'd edge Denis over Randy and the Rainbows' Denise, whilst Hanging on the Telephone (orig the Nerves) and the Tide is High (Paragons) were clearly better.
Chris Farlowe's soulful Out of Time clearly beats the Stones version for me.
Difficult to think of any Beatles song covered by anyone which surpasses the original, nor for that matter any Dylan song. I prefer his version of Mr Tambourine Man to that truncated version by the Byrds. The only clear improvement of a Dylan song for me is probably Hendrix's cover of All Along the Watchtower.
Led Zep definitely improved quite a few old songs with their own versions but it's probably best to not go there.
I almost always prefer the earlier version, sometimes the original is lost in the mists of time. But I can think of at least 3 Blondie covers which surpass previous versions. I'd edge Denis over Randy and the Rainbows' Denise, whilst Hanging on the Telephone (orig the Nerves) and the Tide is High (Paragons) were clearly better.
Chris Farlowe's soulful Out of Time clearly beats the Stones version for me.
Difficult to think of any Beatles song covered by anyone which surpasses the original, nor for that matter any Dylan song. I prefer his version of Mr Tambourine Man to that truncated version by the Byrds. The only clear improvement of a Dylan song for me is probably Hendrix's cover of All Along the Watchtower.
Led Zep definitely improved quite a few old songs with their own versions but it's probably best to not go there.