Banging Song Covers better than their original version OR shockers :yikes:

[MacAdder]

The "songs you don't like" thread had something in there which I had to stop myself from replying to as was off topic but then thought deserves a thread of its own.
Red Red wine by UB40 was put forward as a "don't like" which I have to agree was awful (UB40 were a popular band at the time) and I think it was No. 1 in the "hit parade" for a while but nowhere near as good as Neil Diamond's.

Conversely, there were songs I grew up with and only later found out that they were covers, some better than their originals.
One I immediately think of is State of Independence by Donna Summer.
I loved the original by Jon and Vangellis but I the late Donna's when I first heard it blew the original out of the water.

Any others?

[Malckent]

The "songs you don't like" thread had something in there which I had to stop myself from replying to as was off topic but then thought deserves a thread of its own.
Red Red wine by UB40 was put forward as a "don't like" which I have to agree was awful (UB40 were a popular band at the time) and I think it was No. 1 in the "hit parade" for a while but nowhere near as good as Neil Diamond's.

Conversely, there were songs I grew up with and only later found out that they were covers, some better than their originals.
One I immediately think of is State of Independence by Donna Summer.
I loved the original by Jon and Vangellis but I the late Donna's when I first heard it blew the original out of the water.

Any others?

I like Jealous Guy by John Lennon but he's pipped at the post by Roxy Music.

[Cleve van Leef]

I like Jealous Guy by John Lennon but he's pipped at the post by Roxy Music.

[Bobby Dandruff]

The "songs you don't like" thread had something in there which I had to stop myself from replying to as was off topic but then thought deserves a thread of its own.
Red Red wine by UB40 was put forward as a "don't like" which I have to agree was awful (UB40 were a popular band at the time) and I think it was No. 1 in the "hit parade" for a while but nowhere near as good as Neil Diamond's.

Conversely, there were songs I grew up with and only later found out that they were covers, some better than their originals.
One I immediately think of is State of Independence by Donna Summer.
I loved the original by Jon and Vangellis but I the late Donna's when I first heard it blew the original out of the water.

Any others?

"Raspberry Beret" by the Hindu Love Gods is miles better than the original.

But I have a theory about this subject: I reckon that if you hear a cover and don't know that it is a cover at the time of first hearing it, and only find out subsequently, it is highly unlikely that you will ever prefer the original. Discuss.

[Cleve van Leef]

Kevin Whitely original version of When you say nothing at all, far far better than Roman Keating cover

[Bobby Dandruff]

"Raspberry Beret" by the Hindu Love Gods is miles better than the original.

But I have a theory about this subject: I reckon that if you hear a cover and don't know that it is a cover at the time of first hearing it, and only find out subsequently, it is highly unlikely that you will ever prefer the original. Discuss.

I used to think that 'Pretty Woman' by Van Halen was better than the original, and the same about 'Femme Fatale' by REM but not any more....

[Bobby Dandruff]

'Pressure Drop' by The Clash is way better than Toots and the Maytal's version as well.

[theclaw]

Judas Priest’s The green manalishi with the two pronged crown is for me much better than Fleetwood Mac’s original.
The worst has to be scissor sisters cover of comfortably numb.

[Whisperer]

Sid Vicious My way

[Bobby Dandruff]

Judas Priest’s The green manalishi with the two pronged crown is for me much better than Fleetwood Mac’s original.
The worst has to be scissor sisters cover of comfortably numb.

OMG, that sounds terrible

Let me find it......

[Bobby Dandruff]

Sid Vicious My way

[MarcP]

Not sure if I’d say any of these are better ….. but certainly a different take
David Kitt - Dancing in the Moonlight
Calexico and Roger McGuinn - One More Cup Of Coffee

[Bobby Dandruff]

OMG, that sounds terrible

Let me find it......

My God....

[Blue Dwr]

Walk on By, the Stranglers. Especially the extended version on white vinyl that came free with Black + White album

https://youtu.be/fR1jyU59JS8

[MacAdder]

OMG, that sounds terrible

Let me find it......

Just played it, gave it til the chorus and couldn't take much more. Shocker!!
What on earth were they thinking?!!

Gilmour and Waters won't be bothered though when those royalty cheques keep rolling in, they'll get a tenner each off this one!

[life on mars]

Because The Night Patti Smith

[jon1959]

Souxie And The Banshees version of 'The Passenger' is better than Iggy Pop.

Jeff Buckley's 'Allelujah' is better than Leonard Cohen.

Gloria Jones' 'Tainted Love' wipes the floor with the later and better known Soft Cell version.

[The Lone Gunman]

Because The Night Patti Smith

Not a cover version.

[Feedback]

Signed DC by Arthur Lee covered by SpireaX

Some Velvet Morning by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood covered by Slowdive

[splott parker]

Denis.....Blondie
Misty.....Ray Stevens

[Cleve van Leef]

Denis.....Blondie

Not a patch on the original Denise by Randy & The Rainbows

[fingers]

Pulp’s Common People covered by William Shatner and Joe Jackson - superb!

[The Lone Gunman]

The Bobby Fuller Four's hit version of I Fought The Law is considerably better than the original by the Crickets, but the later cover by the Clash is better still.

Siouxsie & the Banshees' version of Dear Prudence is much better than the Beatles' original. Their version of Helter Skelter is also superior (in my opinion at least....).

I prefer Blancmange's cover of Abba's the Day Before You Came, but they're both great.

Bowie's version of China Girl is a good deal better than Iggy's original.

The Damned's cover of Eloise is better than Barry Ryan's original, although that's also quite decent.

The Pretenders' cover of I Go To Sleep is better than the Applejacks recording or the Kinks original (but that was just a demo).

[Steve the Tea]

The inimitable Mr John Martyn and his version of, 'Somewhere over the Rainbow.'

https://youtu.be/DusYf1CNVXw

StT.
<><

[jeepster]

Ronnie Lane, you never can tell better than Chuck Berry's.

[Don Corleone]

It’s down to taste - without thinking too long about this - I like Alien Ant farms version of Smooth Criminal over the Michael Jackson original. Simon and Garfunkel Sound of Silence is a classic but I also like The Disturbed version. And Tears of a Clown by The Beat is a fun update of the Smokey Robinson version

[bobh]

Stairway to Heaven...by Rolf Harris

[NYCBlue]

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Street Fighting Man - Oasis

Believe - DMA's

[Its been emotional]

I am the Walrus - Oasis