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Cover versions better than the originals

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nmdhqbc
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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404612

Postby nmdhqbc » April 15th, 2021, 9:33 pm

Tennessee Waltz - these random youtubers...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnxwMpJQoCE

Mike88
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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404616

Postby Mike88 » April 15th, 2021, 10:00 pm

Go on You Tube and search for the Classic Rock Show. Just about everything they do is better than the original.

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404635

Postby sloth » April 16th, 2021, 2:32 am

Don't know if this is necessarily better than Acca Dacca, but Joan makes a good job of it:

https://youtu.be/2sky1tt8vLA

And the Toy Dolls covering Mandy Miller's 1956 original:

https://youtu.be/SY9kuEzkfF0

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404706

Postby tjh290633 » April 16th, 2021, 11:59 am

You can identify the younger generation from this thread. A large number of the artists mentioned are new to me, but not the original versions of some of the songs.

I still consider that the introduction of guitars to popular music was the worst thing that could have happened.

And I prefer Dolly Parton's version to that of Whitney Houston (Did she actually sing it?).

TJH

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404707

Postby AsleepInYorkshire » April 16th, 2021, 12:04 pm

House of the Rising Sun

The Animals.

Yes it was a cover version :roll:

AiY
Edit - The Animal when sober. Frigid Pink when tipsy :oops:

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404734

Postby mc2fool » April 16th, 2021, 2:28 pm

AsleepInYorkshire wrote:House of the Rising Sun

The Animals.

Yes it was a cover version :roll:

Hmmm ... while, yes, lots of people did it before The Animals, The House of the Rising Sun is a traditional folk song, and like most of that genre, is of unknown origin and authorship, with no "original" version.

By that measure, if it's a cover then pretty much the entire output of the likes of Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, etc, etc, are "covers", along with very many others who have traditional folk songs in their repertoire ...

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404768

Postby Itsallaguess » April 16th, 2021, 4:49 pm

Mad World by Gary Jules, used in the film 'Donnie Darko' -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS3SxWnSbtY

Alternative, red-nosed versions are available - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVevvbFNKiY

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404776

Postby AleisterCrowley » April 16th, 2021, 5:19 pm

Mad World is 'arguably' a partial cover version of the 'Matthew & Son' middle section
(c 1:36) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aZE6IUT408

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404801

Postby nicodemusboffin » April 16th, 2021, 7:26 pm

Barry White - 'Just the Way You Are'

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404804

Postby Mike4 » April 16th, 2021, 7:29 pm

I think when nominating a cover version, the poster should also state who the inferior original was by for the nomination to make any sense. Ideally with links to each version so we can compare.

So I'm gonna nominate "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum, pretty damned good but done even better by Doctor and the Medics.

Norman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swIcX57 ... mberNelson

Doctor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrUoDdS ... iejoandres

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404808

Postby Lootman » April 16th, 2021, 7:37 pm

I hesitate to suggest that anyone can do Dylan better than Dylan, but "Mister Tambourine Man" by The Byrds is an improvement in my view.

Much more arguably perhaps, the Hendrix version of "All along the watchtower". And maybe the odd Joan Baez cover of a Dylan song, but only because she has/had a beautiful voice (she is now age 80) and, at the end of the day, Dylan couldn't really sing at all.

This topic has made me realise how many songs that I thought were originals were actually covers.

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404811

Postby Mike4 » April 16th, 2021, 7:44 pm

Lootman wrote:I hesitate to suggest that anyone can do Dylan better than Dylan


Why?

Surely most Dylan covers are WAY better than Dylan.

<Tin hat on>

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404827

Postby nicodemusboffin » April 16th, 2021, 8:43 pm

Mike4 wrote:I think when nominating a cover version, the poster should also state who the inferior original was by for the nomination to make any sense. Ideally with links to each version so we can compare.

So I'm gonna nominate "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum, pretty damned good but done even better by Doctor and the Medics.

Norman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swIcX57 ... mberNelson

Doctor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrUoDdS ... iejoandres


Barry White 'Just the way you Are':

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=io1WpKXQ__4

Whose R&B version is far superior to the acceptable but comparatively insipid Billy Joel original:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tJWM5FmZyqU

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404965

Postby Sussexlad » April 17th, 2021, 5:09 pm

Check out 'Boyce Avenue', there's a few to choose from. I particularly like 'Bleeding Love' and 'Fathers and Daughters'

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#404978

Postby doug2500 » April 17th, 2021, 6:13 pm

Well Simon & Garfunkle did 'sound of silence' and I'm sure you all know how that sounds.

Then Disturbed 'made it their own' as they would say on X factor, although when they say it it's fairly meaningless. This won't be everyone's cup of tea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4

This is also interesting, it's a professional's assessment of Disturbed's performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFmNaXAg0sw

And I second Natalie Imbruglia with Torn.

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#405022

Postby cavebat » April 18th, 2021, 12:26 am

mc2fool wrote:
AsleepInYorkshire wrote:House of the Rising Sun

The Animals.

Yes it was a cover version :roll:

Hmmm ... while, yes, lots of people did it before The Animals, The House of the Rising Sun is a traditional folk song, and like most of that genre, is of unknown origin and authorship, with no "original" version.

By that measure, if it's a cover then pretty much the entire output of the likes of Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, etc, etc, are "covers", along with very many others who have traditional folk songs in their repertoire ...


If you want a "different" interpretation of the song try John Otway https://youtu.be/3BwOyVIlupg

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#405027

Postby AleisterCrowley » April 18th, 2021, 3:31 am

Wot no Wild Willy Barrett?!
I have seen Mr Otway 'several' times and also have the world tour t shirt (OtAir)

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#405046

Postby GoSeigen » April 18th, 2021, 9:24 am

servodude wrote:and (pushing the definition a bit) Dolly Parton's Jolene at 33rpm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doz1QJ7LwjA


Is that being played on a Rega Planar?

GS

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#405050

Postby Leothebear » April 18th, 2021, 9:32 am

You'll never leave Harlan alive - Ruby Friedman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYhLnYnrivI

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Re: Cover versions better than the originals

#405055

Postby bungeejumper » April 18th, 2021, 10:11 am

I loved Robert Palmer's Addicted to Love - one of the real rock classics - but Tina Turner's flat-out performance blew it right out of the water. Quite extraordinary to think that she was still touring with that raunchy stuff in her seventies, and still sounding (and looking!) amazing. Absolutely inspirational. :D

BJ


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