Cover versions that are better than original but also better than subsequent cover versions

[platinumsage]

There are no less than three "Cover versions that are better than the original." threads, so this thread is for cover versions that are better than original but also better than subsequent cover versions.

The Dubliners - Dirty Old Town. Improves significantly on the original with some key changes and more passionate singing. Listening to the The Pogues, it's evident that the singing is inferior and the new instrumentation doesn't really add anything. There's no need to mention the version by Simple Minds etc.

The original sung by the composer and his wife:



The DUBLINERS



The Pogues:

 

[killer b]

Cale's 'Hallelujah' is the most obvious one of these

Cohen - good, but the production is a bit dated
Cale - incredible, beautiful, perfect
Literally everyone else - jesus christ.

 

[MrSki]

Red Red Wine



ETA Better than the original by Neil Diamond and the various other covers including UB40.

 

[Knotted]

There are no less than three "Cover versions that are better than the original." threads, so this thread is for cover versions that are better than original but also better than subsequent cover versions.

The Dubliners - Dirty Old Town. Improves significantly on the original with some key changes and more passionate singing. Listening to the The Pogues, it's evident that the singing is inferior and the new instrumentation doesn't really add anything. There's no need to mention the version by Simple Minds etc.

The original sung by the composer and his wife:



The DUBLINERS



The Pogues:

I definitely prefer the original over the Dubliners' version. I think the Dubliners were a great band but this cover is just a bit cliché. I'm a big fan of Ewan MacColl/Peggy Seegers's direct simplicity/intimacy and also that touch of jazziness - it's a dirty old town that's looking to the US and making a certain connection there which I find genuinely fascinating. I like the Pogues version perhaps a bit more than the Dubliners as well - I find it easier to connect to.

 

[Knotted]

I will argue that the Slit's version of Heard it Through the Grapevine is better than the original and hence better than any possible version since the original was already perfect.

 

[maomao]

Just Like Heaven

The Cure - brilliant

Dinosaur Jr - sublime

Katie Melua - No ta

 

[Knotted]

Cale's 'Hallelujah' is the most obvious one of these

Cohen - good, but the production is a bit dated
Cale - incredible, beautiful, perfect
Literally everyone else - jesus christ.

I would go with Jeff Buckley's version.

 

[killer b]

I would go with Jeff Buckley's version.

it's just a lame-o cover of Cale's cover though

 

[Lazy Llama]

Literally everyone else - jesus christ.

Oh I dunno....

 

[Knotted]

it's just a lame-o cover of Cale's cover though

It's not locked in. Buckley's is sort of open, like you don't quite know if it's about to explode even when it's very restrained and this includes the guitar part as well as the singing, there's a lot dynamics. I'm also going with Cohen over Cale, there's something about Cohen's voice that makes me listen to what he's saying/singing. Edit: actually, no I'm not, I'm thinking of a live Cohen version.

 

[andysays]

Wild Is the Wind

The original by Johnny Mathis



The definitive version by Nina Simone



The great but not as great as Nina version by David Bowie

 

[stavros]

 

[bcuster]

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

At a guess

All along the watchtower

Hurt - opps just saw that one above.


As a replacement


Ok so maybe not better than the original for all but worth a mention. Also there has to be worse more recent versions

 

[andysays]

Definitely one of the Top 50 covers in history...

 

[Peter Painter]

Ronnie Hawkins' version of, 'Who do you love'. Better than Bo Diddley's original and better than The Door's cover.



.

 

[Steel Icarus]

Going to cheat a bit here

Cyndi Lauper's I drove all night was released earlier than Roy Orbison's version even though Orbison recorded it first. Either way they're both fab but Orbison has THAT voice hitting amazing high notes. And both are miles ahead of the ghastly Celine Dion who did it later.

 

[Spandex]

There's been hundreds of recorded versions of Always on my Mind, from Elvis, Willie Nelson and Brenda Lee to Danzig, Mike Reid and the Chiptune Punks. But I've never heard one that comes even close to the Pet Shop Boys cover of it.

 

[donkyboy]

Kinda cover version

 

[RedRedRose]

Controversial, I know, despite the zeitgeist feeling of the original, I prefer Tori Amos' version of Smells Like Teen Spirit





ETA
What follow-up could I select?

 

[CNT36]

Yes. but again...

 

[CNT36]

But not again. Thank you.

 

[krtek a houby]

Better? Maybe not but a beautiful rendition of the Sufjan classic

 

[AverageJoe]

I'm not sure there's been a cover after this but by God this is an amazing cover..

Apparently 74m people agree..

 

[krtek a houby]

Love the original and am quite surprised to be quite taken with this.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Purely to annoy both Bowie and Nirvana fans.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Bastard, I wanted Wet Wet Wet!

 

[Raheem]

Purely to annoy both Bowie and Nirvana fans.

Mind, it's a long way from impossible to be a Bowie, Nirvana and Lulu fan.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Haha

Original



The stones



Rod Stewart

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Howlin Wolf



The Stones



The Grateful Dead