Examples of cover songs better than the original

As much as I love Dylan, there are several covers that sound better than his originals. Hendrix in Watchtower, and (I hate to admit) Rod Stewart in Forever Young.

However, that dickweed from GNR totally sucks in Heaven's Door.

Here's a big ass list found here -

http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm?content_id=10384

:

Absolutely Sweet Marie" - Jason and the Scorchers / Bob Dylan

Across The Universe" - Fiona Apple / Beatles

Ain’t Nothin’ But A House Party" - The J. Geils Band / The Show Stoppers

Ain’t Misbehaving" - Leon Redbone / Fats Waller

Ain't That A Shame" - Cheap Trick / Fats Domino

All Along the Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix / Bob Dylan

All Shook Up" - Elvis Presley / David Hill

Angel" - Fiona Apple / Rod Stewart / Jimi Hendrix

Are You Lonesome Tonight?" - Elvis Presley / Al Jolson

Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" - Led Zeppelin / Joan Baez

Baby Please Don't Go" - Amboy Dukes / Big Joe Williams

Ball and Chain" - Janis Joplin / Big Mama Thornton

Bang-A-Gong" (Get It On) - Power Station / T-Rex

Because the Night" - Patty Smith / Bruce Springsteen

Blowin' in The Wind - Peter, Paul & Mary / Bob Dylan

Blueberry Hill" - Fats Domino / Gene Autry

Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain" - Willie Nelson / Roy Acuff

Blue Suede Shoes" - Elvis Presley / Carl Perkins

Blue Monday" - Fats Domino / Smiley Lewis

Blue Moon" - Marcels / Elvis Presley / Mel Torme

Bridge Over Troubled Waters" - Aretha Franklin / Simon & Garfunkel

Call Me The Breeze" - Lynyrd Skynyrd / JJ Cale

Can’t Buy Me Love" - Johnny Rivers (Live) / Beatles

Can’t Get No Satisfaction" - Devo / Rolling Stones

Cash On the Barrelhead" - Gram Parsons / Louvin Brothers

Chapel Of Love" - The Dixie Cups / Darlene Love

Chokin' Kind" - Joe Simon / Waylon Jennings

Cleveland Rocks" - Presidents Of The United States / Ian Hunter

Cold, Cold Heart" - Norah Jones / Hank Williams, Sr.

Come Together" - Aerosmith / Beatles

Crimson And Clover" - Joan Jett / Tommy James and the Shondells

Cry Baby" - Janis Joplin / Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters

Cryin’ Time" - Ray Charles / Buck Owens

Dancin’ In The Streets" - Van Halen / Martha and the Vandellas

Deportee" - Emmylou Harris w/Arlo Guthrie / Woody Guthrie

Devil With A Blue Dress On" - Mitch Ryder / Shorty Long

Diamonds And Rust" - Judas Priest / Joan Baez

Don’t Be Cruel" - Cheap Trick / Elvis Presley

Do-Re-Mi" - John Mellencamp / Woody Guthrie

Do You Wanna Dance" - Ramones / Bobby Freeman

Dreams I'll Never See" - Molly Hatchet / Allman Brothers Band

Drive South" - Suzi Boggus / John Hiatt

Eleanor Rigby" - Godhead / Beatles

Eve Of Destruction" - Barry McGuire / P.F. Sloan

Fever" - Elvis Presley / Peggy Lee / Little Willie John

First I Look At The Purse" - J. Geils Band (live) / Contours

Five O'clock World" - Hal Ketchum / Vogues

For The Love Of Money" - Bullet Boys / The O'Jays

Gangster's (Pastime) Paradise" - Coolio / Stevie Wonder

Georgia On My Mind" - Ray Charles / Hoagy Charmichael

Get Ready" - Rare Earth / Temptations

Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon" - Urge Overkill / Neil Diamond

Gloria" - Patti Smith / The Shadows Of The Knight / Van Morrison & Them

Go, Now" - Moody Blues / Bessie Banks

Goodbye" - Emmylou Harris / Steve Earle

Good Lovin" - (Young) Rascals / Olympics

Gypsy Woman" - Brian Hyland / Impressions

Happiness Is A Warm Gun" - Tori Amos / The Beatles

Hard To Handle" - Black Crowes / Otis Redding

Harlem Shuffle" - Rolling Stones / Bob and Earl

Hazy Shade Of Winter" - Bangles / Simon & Garfunkel

Hey Joe" - Jimi Hendrix / Tim Rose (Mr. Roses adaptation)

Higher Ground" - Red Hot Chili Peppers / Stevie Wonder

Highway Patrolman" - Johnny Cash / Bruce Springstein

Home Of The Blues" - Johnny Cash / Skinny Jim & The Wildcats

Honky Tonk Man" - Dwight Yoakam / Johnny Horton

House Of The Rising Sun" - Frijid Pink / The Animals

Hurt" - Johnny Cash / Nine Inch Nails

Hush" - Deep Purple / Joe South

I Can't Stop Loving You" - Ray Charles / Don Gibson

Icy Blue Heart" - Emmylou Harris / John Hiatt

I Do" - J. Geils Band / The Marvelows

I Feel Love" - Blue Man Group & Venus Hum / Donna Summer

I Fought The Law" - The Clash / Bobby Fuller Four / Crickets

I Hear You Knockin’" - Dave Edmunds / Smiley Lewis

I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - CCR / Marvin Gaye / Gladys Knight & Pips

If I Were A Carpenter" - Bob Seger / Bobby Darin

If You Don’t Know Me By Now" - Simply Red / Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes

I Love Rock and Roll" - Joan Jett / The Arrows

I Just Want To Make Love (To You)" - Foghat / Willie Dixon

(I Know) I'm Losing You" - Rod Stewart / Rare Earth / The Temptations

I'm A Man" - Chicago Transit Authority / The Spencer Davis Group

I'm Into Something Good" - Herman's Hermits / Earl-Jean

I’m Movin’ On" - John Kay / Hank Snow

I’m Shakin’" - The Blasters / Little Willie John

I'm So Glad" - Cream / Scot Richard Case (SRC) / Skip James

I Need A Lover" - Pat Benatar / John Mellencamp

In The Pines" - Nirvana* / Bill Monroe ~ *(as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”)

I Say A Little Prayer" - Aretha Franklin / Dionne Warwick

I Shall Be Released" - Joe Cocker / Bob Dylan

I Thank You" - ZZ Top / Sam and Dave

I've Got A Savior (Across Town)" - Ray Charles* / Bailey Gospel Singers ~ *(as "I’ve Got A Woman")

I've Just Seen a Face" - The Dillards / Beatles

I Walk The Line" - Travis Tritt / Johnny Cash

Jesus Is Just Alright" - Doobie Brothers / Byrds

Jolene" - White Stripes / Dolly Parton

Johnny 99" - Johnny Cash / Bruce Springstein

Johnny B. Goode" - Johnny Winters (live) / Chuck Berry

Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood" - Leon Russell at Bangladesh / Stones – Coasters

Jump, Jive and Wail" - Brian Setzer Orchestra / Louis Prima

Just Between You and Me" - Marty Stuart / Charlie Pride

Kentucky Woman" - Deep Purple / Neil Diamond

Kick Out The Jams" - Rage Against The Machine / MC5

Kiss" - Art of Noise w/Tom Jones / Prince

Last Kiss" - Pearl Jam / J. Frank Wilson

L.A. Woman" - Billy Idol / Doors

Leader of the Pack" - Twisted Sister / Shangri-Las

Let It Rock" - Bob Seger / Chuck Berry

Lets Go Get Stoned" - Joe Cocker (Woodstock) / Ray Charles

Light My Fire" - Jose Feliciano / The Doors

Lightnin’ Bar Blues" - Arlo Guthrie / Hoyt Axton

Little Sister" - Dwight Yoakam / Elvis Presley

Little Wing" - Stevie Ray Vaughn / Jimi Hendrix

Live and Let Die" - Guns N' Roses / Wings

Long Tall Sally" - Beatles / Little Richard

Long White Cadillac" - Dwight Yoakam / Blasters

Lookin’ For A Love" - The J. Geils Band / The Valentinos

Lost Highway" - Jason & The Scorchers / Hank Williams, Sr.

Love Hurts" - Nazareth / Everly Brothers

Love Me Tender" - Elvis Presley / Frances Farmer

Love Potion # 9" - Searchers / Clovers

Mack The Knife” - Bobby Darin / Louis Armstrong

Many Rivers to Cross" - Linda Rodstant / Jimmy Cliff

Man Who Sold The World" - Nirvana / David Bowie

(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" - Elvis Presley / Del Shannon

Mary Had A Little Lamb" - Stevie Ray Vaughan / Buddy Guy

Mean Woman Blues" - Roy Orbison / Elvis Presley

Money" (That's What I Want) - Beatles / Barrett Strong

Move It On Over" - George Thorogood / Hank Williams, Sr.

Mr. Tambourine Man" - The Byrds / Bob Dylan

Mrs. Robinson" - Lemonheads / Simon & Garfunkel

My Generation” - Oasis / The Who

Mystery Train" - Elvis Presley / Little Junior Parker

Night Train" - James Brown & The Famous Flames / Jimmy Forrest

Nobody But Me" - The Human Beinz / The Isley Brothers

No Quarter" - Tool / Led Zeppelin

Not Fade Away" - Rolling Stones (live) / Buddy Holly & The Crickets

Nutbush City Limits" - Bob Seger / Ike and Tina Turner

Oh Carol" - Rolling Stones / Chuck Berry

Oh Girl" - Paul Young / The Chi-Lites

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" - George Thorogood / John Lee Hooker

Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone" - The Temptations / The Undisputed Truth

People Get Ready" - Jeff Beck w/ Rod Stewart / Impressions

Piece Of My Heart" - Faith Hill / Janis Joplin / Erma Franklin

Pinball Wizard" - Elton John / The Who

Please Mr. Postman" - The Beatles / The Marvelettes

Powderfinger" - The Beat Farmers / Neil Young

Pretty Boy Floyd" - Bob Dylan (Folkways) / Woody Guthrie

Proud Mary" - Creedence Clearwater Revival / Ike and Tina Turner

Rave On" - John Mellencamp / Sonny West

Respect" - Aretha Franklin / Otis Redding

Rock and Roll" - Mitch Ryder / Lou Reed

Rock And Roll Music" - Beatles / Chuck Berry

Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" - Johnny Rivers / Huey "Piano" Smith

Rock Island Line" - Johnny Cash / Lonnie Donegan

Ruby Baby" - Dion / Drifters

Rusty Cage" - Johnny Cash / Soundgarden

Scarborough Fair" - Various artists (Heavy Traffic soundtrack) / Simon & Garfunkel

Satisfied Mind" - Bob Dylan / Porter Wagoner

Shake, Rattle and Roll" - Bill Haley* / Big Joe Turner ~ *(Haley whitened the lyrics)

Signs" - Tesla / Five Man Electical Band

Smokin' In The Boys Room" - Motley Crue / Brownsville Station

Smooth Criminal" - Alien Ant Farm / Michael Jackson

Snowblind Friend" - Steppenwolf / Hoyt Axton

Some Kind Of Wonderful" - Grand Funk Railroad / The Soul Brothers Six

Someone To Love" - Jefferson Airplane* / Great Society ~ *(re-recorded and changed to Somebody To Love”)

Something In The Air" - Tom Petty / Thunderclap Newman

Sometimes She Forgets" - Travis Tritt / Steve Earle

Soulful Strut"* - Young-Holt Unlimited / Barbara Acklin *Both versions were actually the same recording. Young-Holt simply replaced Acklin's vocals with a piano.

So You Want To Be A Rock n Roll Star" - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers / Byrds

Spanish Harlem" - Aretha Franklin / Ben E. King

Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" - Alabama 3 / John Prine

Stairway To Heaven" - Dread Zeppelin / Led Zeppelin

Stand By Your Man" - Lyle Lovett / Tammy Wynette

Star Spangled Banner" - Jimi Hendrix (Woodstock) / Francis Scott Key (trad.)

Statesboro Blues" - Allman Brothers / Blind Willie McTell

Stop, In The Name Of Love" - Jonell Mosser / Supremes

Stormy Monday" - Allman Brothers / T-Bone Walker

Street Fighting Man" - Rod Stewart / Rolling Stones

Summertime Blues" - Blue Cheer / The Who / Eddie Cochran

Suspicious Minds" - Dwight Yoakam / Elvis

Suzie Q" - Creedence Clearwater Revival / Dale Hawkins

Sweet Dreams " - Marilyn Manson / Eurythmics

Sweet Dreams (Of You)" - Patsy Cline / Don Gibson

Sweet Jane" - Cowboy Junkies / Velvet Underground

Take It Easy" - Travis Tritt / Eagles / Jackson Browne

Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)" - The Doobie Brothers / Kim Weston

Take Me to the River" - Talking Heads / Al Green

Tainted Love" - Soft Cell / Gloria Jones

Tell It Like It Is" - Heart / Aaron Neville

That Lady (Who’s That Lady)"* - The Isley Brothers / Isley Bros. *They cut it twice.

The Grand Tour" - Aaron Neville / George Jones

The Letter" - Joe Cocker / Box Tops

The Man Who Sold The World" - Nirvana / David Bowie

The Midnight Special" - Creedence Clearwater Revival / Leadbelly

The Mighty Quinn" - Manford Mann / Bob Dylan

The Pusher" - Steppenwolf / Hoyt Axton

The Thrill Is Gone" - B.B. King / Roy Hawkins

There Stands the Glass" - Ted Hawkins / Webb Pierce

Time Has Come Today" - Ramones / Chambers Brothers

Tobacco Road" - Edgar Winter & White Trash / Nashville Teens

Tomorrow Is a Long Time" - Rod Stewart / Ian & Sylvia

Train Kept-a-Rollin'" - Aerosmith / Johnny Burnette Trio

Traveling Riverside Blues" - Led Zeppelin / Robert Johnson

Try A Little Tenderness" - Otis Redding / Bing Crosby

Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)" - Janis Joplin / Lorraine Ellison

Twist and Shout" - The Beatles / Isley Brothers

Unchained Melody" - Righteous Brothers / Al Hibber

Vigilante Man" - Bruce Springsteen (Folkways) / Woody Guthrie

Viva Las Vegas" - ZZ Top / Elvis Presley

Waiting in Vain" - Annie Lennox / Bob Marley

Wanted Man" - Johnny Cash (San Quentin) / Bob Dylan

War" - Bruce Springsteen (live) / Edwin Starr

We Can Work It Out" - Stevie Wonder / Beatles

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" - Animals / Barry Mann

What Does It Take To Win Your Love" - Junior Walker & The All-Stars / Johnny & Jackie

When the Levee Breaks" - Led Zeppelin / Memphis Minnie

When You Were Mine" - Mitch Ryder / Prince

Where Did Our Love Go?" - J. Geils Band / Supremes

Where Have All The Good Times Gone" - Van Halen / Kinks

Who Do You Love" - Woolies / Bo Diddley

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" - Jerry Lee Lewis / Big Maybelle

Wicked Game" - H.I.M. / Chris Isaak

Wild Night" - J. Mellencamp w/Me'shell NdegeOcello / Van Morrison

Wind Beneath My Wings" - Bette Midler / Lou Rawls

With a Little Help From My Friends" - Joe Cocker / Beatles

Woodstock" - Crosby, Stills and Nash / Joni Mitchell

Wrecking Ball" - Emmylou Harris / Neil Young

You Better Run" - Pat Benatar / The Young Rascals

You Don’t Know Me" - Ray Charles / Eddy Arnold

You Keep Me Hangin' On" - Vanilla Fudge / The Supremes

You’ll Be Mine" - Stevie Ray Vaughn / Howlin' Wolf

You Really Got a Hold of Me" - Beatles / Smokey Robinson

You Really Got Me" - Van Halen / Kinks

You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling" - Hall & Oates / Righteous Bros.

You’ve Made Me So Very Happy" - Blood, Sweat & Tears / Brenda Holloway

not to get sappy and ruin the mood here, but my song from the bodyguard is the most successful cover song EVER--just ask dolly.

I know this is heresy--I've been a hard-core blues nut in my time--but I've always felt that Eric Clapton's live Cream version of "Crossroads Blues" was, in its own way, every bit the equal of Robert Johnson's original. It's the equal largely because it's not a slavish imitation of the original. It's a complete reconceptualization: amped way up through banked Marshall stacks while flying on hallucinogens. (c.f. San Francisco, 1967-68).

Whitney wrote:

not to get sappy and ruin the mood here, but my song from the bodyguard is the most successful cover song EVER--just ask dolly.

Now THAT'S true.

KudzuRunner wrote:

I know this is heresy--I've been a hard-core blues nut in my time--but I've always felt that Eric Clapton's live Cream version of "Crossroads Blues" was, in its own way, every bit the equal of Robert Johnson's original. It's the equal largely because it's not a slavish imitation of the original. It's a complete reconceptualization: amped way up through banked Marshall stacks while flying on hallucinogens. (c.f. San Francisco, 1967-68).

Although it's tough to be objective on RJ because the sound quality was so poor....

On the other hand, SRV's version of "Little Wing" trumps that of both Clapton and Hendrix, no small feat.

I'm now listening to Jimmy Lafave doing "Just Walk Away Renee," which is infinitely superior to the original. He also does several Dylan songs better than Mr. Zimmerman.

I don't mean to split hairs here but Monte Montgomery's live solo instrumental version of Little Wing is better. You've probably never heard of him but look for this song and download it.

Metallica's Turn the Page is better than Seger's.

no Bob's is better

No way in hell Tool's 'No Quarter' is better than Zeppelin's.

Absolutely no way.

I Saw Him Standing There

Jesus H. Christ if that wasn't the worst cover ever done in the history of recorded music. Tom Jones' version of "Kiss" by Prince has to be a close second...

Whitney wrote:

not to get sappy and ruin the mood here, but my song from the bodyguard is the most successful cover song EVER--just ask dolly.

i should also add that my cover of the national anthem at the 1991 superbowl is the best rendition EVER. i cant believe how many millions of CDs i sold for just 30 seconds of singing.

I agree. Also, Billy Idol does not do 'LA Woman' better than The Doors.

That's not a good list, Flagpole. I don't know all of those songs, but many of the ones I do know are not as good as the original.

i'd list three.

siouxsie and the banshees covering sparks "this town ain't big enough for the both of us"

david bowie covering iggy pop's "china girl"

and... though i wouldn't be audacious enough to say it was BETTER than the original... the divine comedy covering the smiths classic, "there is a light that never goes out" was a damn fine attempt

"Fool in the Rain" O.A.R./Led Zeppelin

"Heroes" Wallflowers/David Bowie

"Glory of Love" New Found Glory/Peter Cetera

How about Patty Smith's cover of "If you want to be a rock and roll star?" by the Byrds?

Dr. Feelgood wrote:

Metallica's Turn the Page is better than Seger's.

Get a clue.

I agree...Metallica's version much better. listen to the lyrics, metallica's uptempo, heavy style makes more sense. I also like korn's "word up" cover that just came out..pretty funny