Cover songs you think are better than the original

TheBrianKilpatrick · 03-17-2012, 01:43 AM

With Arms Wide Open, originally written by Creed, but covered by Boyce Avenue. So good. I'm going to be modest and not say any of my covers. Lol

Forward To Death · 03-17-2012, 02:59 AM

I Ain't Superstitious by The Jeff Beck Group (Original by Howlin' Wolf)
All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix (Original by Bob Dylan)
You Shook Me by Led Zeppelin (Original by Muddy Waters)
Take This Job And Shove It by Dead Kennedys (Original by David Allan Coe)
Hurt by Johnny Cash (Original by Nine Inch Nails)

Only two of the originals I dislike, and in both cases I like the artist, so this is a big compliment to every artist. I don't like Dylan's original or NIN's original, both are very boring imo.

Guybrush · 03-17-2012, 03:50 AM

Man Next Door original version by The Paragons ..

Cover version by Massive Attack (sung by Horace Andy) from their 1998 album Mezzanine.

**Frownland** · 03-17-2012, 12:17 PM

I like Cream's sixteen minute version of Howlin' Wolf's Spoonful, but that's only better by a hair IMO. Both are fantastic songs.

RMR · 03-18-2012, 07:36 AM

I haven't read every post, so if this one was already listed-- apologies. But, Yes' version of "America" kills it, as does their version of The Beatles "Every Little Thing."

**Janszoon** · 03-18-2012, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

Man Next Door original version by The Paragons ..

Cover version by Massive Attack (sung by Horace Andy) from their 1998 album Mezzanine.

Heh. I never even knew that was a cover. It's always been my least favorite song on the album but I do agree that it's better than the original.

bob. · 03-18-2012, 10:33 AM

right of the top of my head i can think of 4 songs that i really feel are better than the originals (and i love the originals)

Coil - Who By Fire (originally by Leonard Cohen)
i love the subtle background cacophony....which i feel is a thousand times better than the original composition....and just think that John's voice is as amazing as Leonard's with these lyrics

Alkaline Trio - Metro (originally by Berlin)
for the most part this song just translates into a punk song damn near perfect....i mean i love the original but when i heard this for the first time i was really taken back by just how good it sound sped up and with strong guitar....i think Matt gets the vocals down as well as Terri Nunn....and i have to say the exchange of "sorry" with "fucking asshole" works perfect for the version

Current 93 - (This Ain't) The Summer Of Love (original by Blue Oyster Cult)
it is this simple.....David's voice transforms this song from a kind of creepy great rock song into an invocation of the end of times....i remember coming into an interesting night of heavy psychedelic mushrooms on a cold winter solstice listening to this track over and over and over proclaiming "This is the night we riiiiiide!).....seriously when compared to the original this version has a completely different feel and meaning

Nirvana - Son Of A Gun (original by The Vaselines)
again i really love both of these songs.....but i think it just falls in the wow this is so much better cranked up with heavy distortion.....i love Kurt's monotone take on it

Mrd00d · 03-18-2012, 11:42 AM

I don't know if I should go back and edit onto my big list or just keep posting as they come to me, but:

Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater fame has, I believe, 4 cover band tribute band bands. One, Hammer of the Gods, is an all Led Zeppelin cover band. Another is Cygnus and the Sea Monsters doing Rush songs, Amazing Journey does The Who songs, and Yellow Matter Custard does The Beatles. YMC is his most active, as they did a second set last year. YMC is Paul Gilbert, Mike Portnoy, Matt Bissonette, and Neal Morse. I call this one "While My Guitar Gently (S)Weeps" I don't know why they didn't think of that.

Norg · 03-20-2012, 12:34 AM

Deadsy- Paint it black

Totally killed it IMO

Doors · 03-20-2012, 05:54 AM

Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World

Johnny Cash - Hurt

Nirvana - Son Of A Gun

Anthrax - Got The Time Out

03-17-2012, 01:43 AM	#401 (permalink)
TheBrianKilpatrick Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Hollywood, CA. Posts: 2	Best cover song.. With Arms Wide Open, originally written by Creed, but covered by Boyce Avenue. So good. I'm going to be modest and not say any of my covers. Lol

03-17-2012, 03:50 AM	#403 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Man Next Door original version by The Paragons .. Cover version by Massive Attack (sung by Horace Andy) from their 1998 album Mezzanine. __________________ Something Completely Different

03-17-2012, 12:17 PM	#404 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	I like Cream's sixteen minute version of Howlin' Wolf's Spoonful, but that's only better by a hair IMO. Both are fantastic songs. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

03-18-2012, 07:36 AM	#405 (permalink)
RMR Front to Back Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 360	I haven't read every post, so if this one was already listed-- apologies. But, Yes' version of "America" kills it, as does their version of The Beatles "Every Little Thing." __________________ RMR My music reivew site: RMR Music Reviews

03-18-2012, 11:42 AM	#408 (permalink)
Mrd00d Stoned and Jammin' Out Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Northern California; Eugene, OR; mobile Posts: 1,602	I don't know if I should go back and edit onto my big list or just keep posting as they come to me, but: Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater fame has, I believe, 4 cover band tribute band bands. One, Hammer of the Gods, is an all Led Zeppelin cover band. Another is Cygnus and the Sea Monsters doing Rush songs, Amazing Journey does The Who songs, and Yellow Matter Custard does The Beatles. YMC is his most active, as they did a second set last year. YMC is Paul Gilbert, Mike Portnoy, Matt Bissonette, and Neal Morse. I call this one "While My Guitar Gently (S)Weeps" I don't know why they didn't think of that. __________________ Mrd00d's Last.fm

03-17-2012, 02:59 AM	#402 (permalink)
Forward To Death Trolier Than Thou Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,336	I Ain't Superstitious by The Jeff Beck Group (Original by Howlin' Wolf) All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix (Original by Bob Dylan) You Shook Me by Led Zeppelin (Original by Muddy Waters) Take This Job And Shove It by Dead Kennedys (Original by David Allan Coe) Hurt by Johnny Cash (Original by Nine Inch Nails) Only two of the originals I dislike, and in both cases I like the artist, so this is a big compliment to every artist. I don't like Dylan's original or NIN's original, both are very boring imo.

03-18-2012, 10:33 AM	#407 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	right of the top of my head i can think of 4 songs that i really feel are better than the originals (and i love the originals) Coil - Who By Fire (originally by Leonard Cohen) i love the subtle background cacophony....which i feel is a thousand times better than the original composition....and just think that John's voice is as amazing as Leonard's with these lyrics Alkaline Trio - Metro (originally by Berlin) for the most part this song just translates into a punk song damn near perfect....i mean i love the original but when i heard this for the first time i was really taken back by just how good it sound sped up and with strong guitar....i think Matt gets the vocals down as well as Terri Nunn....and i have to say the exchange of "sorry" with "fucking asshole" works perfect for the version Current 93 - (This Ain't) The Summer Of Love (original by Blue Oyster Cult) it is this simple.....David's voice transforms this song from a kind of creepy great rock song into an invocation of the end of times....i remember coming into an interesting night of heavy psychedelic mushrooms on a cold winter solstice listening to this track over and over and over proclaiming "This is the night we riiiiiide!).....seriously when compared to the original this version has a completely different feel and meaning Nirvana - Son Of A Gun (original by The Vaselines) again i really love both of these songs.....but i think it just falls in the wow this is so much better cranked up with heavy distortion.....i love Kurt's monotone take on it

03-20-2012, 12:34 AM	#409 (permalink)
Norg Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,344	Deadsy- Paint it black Totally killed it IMO

03-20-2012, 05:54 AM	#410 (permalink)
Doors Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: England Posts: 2	Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World Johnny Cash - Hurt Nirvana - Son Of A Gun Anthrax - Got The Time Out