Song covers that are better than the originals
Pretty obvious choice but Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" I prefer the Dave Mason version over that one. Feelin Alright - prefer the Dave Mason version. Voodoo Child-prefer Kenny Wayne Sheppards also. People get ready - prefer the Jeff beck version. Pretty Woaman - like the VH version. Happy Listening. |
If you've ever heard Kid Creole live, his version of "If You Wanna Be Happy For The Rest of Your Life, Never Make a Pretty Woman Your Wife" is both absolutely hilarious and an amazing high energy funk workout. I think Harry Belafonte's is the original, but it can't hold a candle to the Kid's take. Marty |
In the seasonal spirit I recommend Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra's "A Christmas Cocktail". Jazz/Lounge/Weird versions of familiar and not so familiar Christmas songs. A real hoot, with some great playing, good sound. Not sure I can get on board with covers of Hendrix or the Doors. Jim got a pardon on his (not really) indecent exposure charge in Florida this week! I do prefer the Neville Brothers take on "Fly Like an Eagle". Note to purists, Steve Miller plays on this version. Alternate versions that may not really be better, just a whole lot of fun can be found by Hayseed Dixie. You just have to hear these bluegrass versions of songs like "Walk this Way", "Fat Bottom Girls", "War Pigs" and even "Big Bottom". Fun live band that irresponsibly encourages heavy drinking! Then there is "El Baile Aleman" by Chile's Senor Coconut. This most unexpected Latin/electronic album of Kraftwerk covers just has to be heard to be believed. Somehow it works, I actually like it very much. |
R.E.M.'s covers of "Wichita Lineman" and "Galveston". Sadly, the latter is only available on YouTube as a snippet. While I prefer John Hartford's rendition of "Gentle on My Mind", R.E.M.'s version is much better than Glen Campbell's. Michael Stipe is a big fan of Jimmy Webb and John Hartford and R.E.M. has covered Webb in concert; I wish more of those were available on CD/vinyl. The Doors' cover of Kurt Weill's "Alabama Song". Gary Jules' version of "Mad World". |
"Smoke on the Water" by a Japanese orchestra. Heard Deep Purple do it live once (terrible), but like this version. Not kidding (give it time to get going). I also collect Koto music, which is how I ran across it. Smoke on the Water |
Patti Smith's version of George Harrison's Within You Without You. Joe Cocker's version of With A Little Help From My Friends. Tori Amos singing Leonard Cohen's Famous Blue Raincoat. Yes Jennifer Warnes' version is beautiful but Amos nails the emotional weight of the song. Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah. |
From the last time this kind of thread went around: Danny Gatton's take on Earle Hagan's "Harlem Nocturne", a song usually associated with Duke Ellington. IMHO, guitar playing doesn't get much better than this. Don Dixon/Marti Jones' version of Joe Tex's "You Got What it Takes (To Take What I Got)". The sound of two singers in love/lust. (Dixon and Jones are married.) My wife and I used this one for our first dance. Marty |
Faces doing "Memphis, Tennessee" Slade again: Joplin's "Move Over", gets me every time; and "Let The Good Times Roll" - the latter is not quite legit because it is a combo song, but if this doesn't get you bouncing around the room then something's badly wrong with you or your system, :-) (gee, do I detect a theme here ...?) Frank |
The you know what they say about opinions adage may apply... (IMO in some cases covers can be good or interesting, but there's no such thing as better). Anyway The Shadows cover of Sleepwalk is real good... same with The Who/ Young Man Blues, Mountain's/ Theme For An Imaginary Western and Steve Khan's/ Penetration. I recently picked up a disc by The Asphalt Orchestra cuz it was cheap and had a cover of Zomby Woof and a Mingus composition on it. Turns out they are an amazingly good marching band... big surprise for me was a Bjork cover, (Hyper Ballad). Don't know what the original is like, but the Asphalt Orch. version is likely to make most FZ fans stand up and pledge allegiance to the Grand Wazoo or at least almost drive off the road like I did. PS The Ayers Rock cover of Weather Report's Boogie Woogie Waltz, (i know it's a dumb song title) smokes and has groovier'n hell guitar work on it. |
Johnny Cash - Hurt. Way WAY better. One of the seminal recordings of the decade. other honorable mentions - with a jazzy bent: Bjork's Hyperballad - covered by that polish piano guy on ECM that I can't pronounce. Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden - "Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is amazing. Dozens of guys trying to play it on youtube - doing covers of his cover if you will. Jimmy Webb's own recent recording is pretty nice. Bill Frisell doing Madonna's Live to Tell or John Hiatt's Have a Little Faith... OK, hard to say they are "better" but for a jazz fan "more interesting." Jeff Beck's A Day in the Life. I know you can't beat the beatles, but his is better than Paul McCartney's recent live version if you ask me. I like Elliot Smith doing SuperSonic better than Oasis. And lastly -rap anthem Straight Outta Compton, NGA original. Nina Gordon's delicate ACOUSTIC version is incredible, melodious and hilarious. |
agree with gdoodle on johnny cash. personally, i think the seeemingly endless series of his "american recordings" covers albums are way overhyped, but "hurt" is the song he was born to sing. i don't know if anyone's mentioned the ultimate cover band, this mortal coil, who absolutely nail some fantastic, if underheard songs like "i am the cosmos" (chris bell), "strength of strings" (gene clark) and "another day" (roy harper), which is arguably the prettiest song in the english language. |
Covers, at worst IMHO equal to the originals...... My Way-Siderney Vicious Satisfaction-Devo Brand New Key-DollyRots Sheena blah blah punk rocker-Shebang Nelly the Elephant- Toy Dolls Jolene-Queen Adreena Ziggy Stardust-Bauhaus God save the spleen-Motorhead Shiny Happy People-Fatima Mansions Tomorrow Never Knows-Danielle Dax I don't Feel Like Dancing-Hayseed Dixie Lilac Wine-Elke Brooks |
