Cover Versions of Songs versus the Originals

[veggiepatch1959]

Having just compared LU's forum member Aaron_sfas and his band's version of Ne-yo's "Closer", I thought I would bring this topic up.

What are better....the originals or cover versions?

Cover versions which are faithful reproductions of the originals are just plain crap.

Here's a few I like.

"All Along The Watchtower"...Jimi Hendrix beats Bob Dylan hands down.

"Eleanor Rigby"...Zoot is way better than the Beatles.

"Hallelujah"...Jeff Buckley. A million covers of this song but Leonard Cohen is more than a tad overrated.

"Sweet Dreams"....Marilyn Manson's version makes the Eurythmics' sound like a Sunday School tune.

"Satisfaction"...Devo....sorry Rolling Stones - sorry Jagger and co., one of your most famous songs got twisted inside out.

 

[umina panther]

Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies and almost everything

 

[LESStar58]

Whitey morgan and the 78s- I'm on fire (Springsteen cover)

 

[LESStar58]

Any version of Hallelujah is trite. Original is terrible. Covers are unbearable.

The Living End version of Tainted Love is a classic as is their cover of Girls On Film.

 

[LESStar58]

Last year I saw the now defunct Brisbane band The Rusty Datsuns do a country/bluegrass a capella version of Independent Women. I f**king loathe Destiny's Child and do not measure Beyoncé Knowles as the barometer for successful female artists but this version was quite good.

also, Dolly Parton has done some CRACKING covers! check out her version of Collective Soul's "Shine". Recently shes done covers of Don't Think Twice by Bob Dylan and Bon Jovi's "Lay Your Hands On me."

Also....

Johnny Cash- Rusty Cage (Soundgarden)

 

[LESStar58]

The Black Keys- No Fun (The Stooges)

 

[thorson1987]

Johnny Cash - Hurt shits all over NIN version.

A Perfect Circles version of Imagine isn't bad.

RHCP Higher Ground over Stevie Wonder

 

[thorson1987]

Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies and almost everything

Pennywise also do awesome covers.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

Disturbed's version of Land of Confusion (Phil Collins) is pretty awesome

 

[Danish]

Obadiah Parker's cover of Hey Ya (Outkast) is pretty awesome

 

[LESStar58]

The Stray Cats version of The Supremes You Can't Hurry Love and their cover of Elvis Presley's 'My Baby Left Me'.

Dwight Yoakam- Little Sister (Elvis) and Home of The Blues (Johnny Cash).

 

[Jubileeboy]

The Stray Cats version of The Supremes You Can't Hurry Love and their cover of Elvis Presley's 'My Baby Left Me'.

Dwight Yoakam- Little Sister (Elvis) and Home of The Blues (Johnny Cash).

You might like this mate?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g9zZEyPEovs

 

[Jubileeboy]

I like the covers these guys do.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QgD5p1XiVT0

 

[urban eel]

[youtube]lnigc08J6FI[/youtube]

 

[LESStar58]

You might like this mate?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g9zZEyPEovs

Yep. Got a copy of Fast Girl from work as a sample years ago.

im off to Texas and Nashville in June and July. I cannot wait to defile myself!

 

[snoozer]

disturbed doing 'shout' - tears for fears

bodyjar doing 'hazy shade of winter' - originally simon and garfunkle(also done by the bangles for a movie in the late 80's early 90's - might have been 'less than zero')

used to play the gimme gimmes version of 'rocketman' in a band i was in - loved it.

 

[LESStar58]

Bodyjar- Rio (Duran Duran)
Face To Face- Don't Change (INXS) and Bikeage (Descendents)
pennywise- Gimme Gimme Gimme (Black Flag) and Surfin' USA (Beach Boys) and Down Under (Men At Work)
James Hunnicutt- Hybrid Moments (Misfits)
Flogging Molly- Folsom Prison Blues (no recording of this- saw em do it live in Brisbane last year on Johnny Cash's birthday)
no use for a name- this is a rebel song (Sinead O'Connor)
Mustered Courage from Melbourne do awesome bluegrass versions of bad 90s r&b songs like Kiss From A Rose and I'll Make Love To You. Hilarious.
No Doubt- DJ s (Sublime)

 

[LESStar58]

disturbed doing 'shout' - tears for fears

bodyjar doing 'hazy shade of winter' - originally simon and garfunkle(also done by the bangles for a movie in the late 80's early 90's - might have been 'less than zero')

used to play the gimme gimmes version of 'rocketman' in a band i was in - loved it.

Yep. The Bangles version was for Less Than Zero. Awesome book. Shit movie.

 

[LESStar58]

Lars Frederickson and The Bastards- To Have and To Have Not (Billy Bragg) Leaving Here (Motor head) and Marie Marie (The Blasters)

Rachel Brooke- Weary Blues From Waiting (Hank Williams) and Every Night about this Time (Fats Domino)

 

[LESStar58]

My friend's old band did a thrash version of Betty Davis Eyes. Gold.