Cover songs better than the original

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

Johnny Cash made this song better when he covered it.

 

[John_8581]

Supa brought up "Tobacco Road" with the Nashville Teens (original) and Johnny Winter and Edgar Winter playing together (a rarity). Here is Spooky Tooth's 1968 version:

Mike Harrison on lead vocal. Gary Wright on keyboards. Luther Grosvenor on lead guitar. Greg Ridley on bass guitar. And Mike Kellie on drums.

 

[Supafly]

This is a case where I don't think the original was surpassed as is, but the different take adds a great bit to it

 

[xfire]

I think Sheena Easton & Kenny Rogers' version of We've Got Tonight knocks out Bob Seger's version. :yesyes:

Metallica one-upped Seger on Turn The Page, too.

 

[John_8581]

Here's four of Cat Stevens' song, "The First Cut Is the Deepest"

the Cat Stevens original, P.P. Arnold's, Rod Stewart's, and Sheryl Crow's

 

[ChuckFaze]

Just the other day I saw and heard I believe on Entertainment Tonight the difference between Dolly Parton's - I Will Always Love You ... and Whitney Houston's version. Wooooooo! Whitney Houston's version annihilates Dolly Parton's version.

 

[Prod3]

Roy Orbison cover by Cyndi Lauper

 

[FreeOnes_Adam]

I will go with Hot Chocolates Emma covered By The Sisters Of Mercy. The Sisters do such a fantastic and different sounding version in their Shoegaze/Gothic kind of way

Wow, a Sisters of Mercy reference. One of my total favourite bands of all time.

 

[D-rock]

I'm surprised one of history's most famous cover songs, I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts wasn't mentioned yet. It was originally performed by the Arrows. Even most reasonably music savvy people probably don't even know who the Arrows were. I know I didn't until I was told the song wasn't originally sung by Joan Jett and looked up the info. Obviously her version is much better.

Another one that comes to mind is Quiet Riot's Cum on Feel the Noize which is a cover of the song made by the band Slade.

 

[Prod3]

Phantom Of The Opera by Nightwish

 

[John_8581]

Anarchy In the UK

The Sex Pistols and Megadeth - Johnny Lydon vs. Dave Mustaine

Motley Crüe's version? I don't like Vince Neil ... so it s-u-c-k-s.

 

[meesterperfect]

J Mascis does John Denver

 

[Prod3]

Stars - Lacuna Coil

Original by Dubstar

 

[Johan]

Phantom Of The Opera by Nightwish

The guy is Henk Poort, well known dutch opera/musical singer who used to play the Phantom in the dutch vesion of the musical. He specifically asked Floor to perform the song with them on their next show in Amsterdam, to which Nightwish agreed.

 

[Johan]

 

[LaLiLuLeLohan]

 

[maildude]

Original:

Cover:

 

[Johan]

Tarja proves her Supremacy over Muse :

Muse

Tarja

 

[maildude]

The original, by the legendary and talented Joni Mitchell:

The IMPROVED version by CSNY:

 

[Johan]

Original version

Cover by Henk Poort