Best/worst cover versions of a song

[Wienergull]

Favourite - One by Johnny cash,

Have to agree with you on that one.

Have not heard John Cale's version of 'Heartbreak Hotel' on vinyl/CD, but saw him perform it in Vienna a year or so ago. Absolutely stunning.

For a great album of covers, it's worth checking out The Band's Moondog Matinee if it's still available. Great versions of Clarence "Frogman" Henry's "Ain't got no home" and Bobby Bland's "Share Your Love with Me" in particular.

 

[Mr Popkins]

Best: say hello, wave goodbye, David gray,s version is better than soft cells

Worst: Far too many to mention

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

Worst: Rik Waller, Something Inside So Strong - no, no, NO!

 

[chez]

You've heard the original but which cover versions were better than the original and which ones worse?



Worse

Boys of Summer - Don Henley great song completely murdered by some band I can't remember last year

Valerie - Steve Winwood. Call on me Eric Prydz

There must be 100's more

Ooh I think not Sir!!!! Those two were excellent covers.

The worst cover ever done is "Comfortably Numb" by the "Scissor Sisters". What a load of codswallop.

 

[chez]

Best: say hello, wave goodbye, David gray,s version is better than soft cells

Worst: Far too many to mention

Ooh not so my man!!!! Soft Cells version knocks spots off of David Grays drivel.

 

[chez]

Gareth Gates ; Unchained Meoldy - come to think of it, all the covers for UM are pretty poor - remember Robson and Jerome, what a load of toilet that was

I agree!!!! on the first bit.. BUT U2's version of unchained melody is an absolute belter.

 

[chez]

Best: Pet Shop Boys - You were always on my mind
Soft cell - tainted love

worst - rachel stevens - more more more

Tainted Love wasn't a Cover version was it

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Yes it was, the original was a classic northern soul track by Gloria Jones.

I've always liked Ciccone Youth's version of Robert Palmer's addicted to love, getting a female to deadpan the lyrics turns the song completely on its head.

Jennifer Ellison's mutilation of Transvision Vamp's Baby I don't care was absolute shite, sanitising the original so much it just became meaningless.

 

[Jam The Man]

Everlasting Love - Jamie Cullum - Worst

Good covers are...

Maggie May - Blur
Come Together - Michael Jackson
... and to be fair and strictly accurate, Unchained Melody by The Righteous Bros is a cover itself... contrary to theories that it's an original

 

[Benny Seagull]

just discovered a fantastic cover by the polyphonic spree of nirvana's lithium!

listen to it here

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

theres some disgraceful cover of supertramp out at the moment. grrrr

 

[Frutos]

Best:

- 'Hurt' by Johnny Cash
- 'Live And Let Die' by GNR
- 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' by GNR

Worst:

- Any country song murdered by some drippy modern pop star/group. Examples include:

The Long Goodbye (Ronan Keating, originally by Brooks & Dunn)
When You Say Nothing At All (Ronan Keating, originally by Keith Whitley)
In This Life (Westlife, originally by Collin Raye)
Amazed (Duncan James, originally by Lonestar)
When You Say Nothing At All (Ronan Keating, originally by Garth Brooks)
The Dance (Westlife, originally by Garth Brooks)

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

best- hurt by cash, as mentioned before, great video, great song

g'n'r- knockin on heavens door

clash- i fought the law


worst- anything by: westlife, or any x factor/pop idol etc. entrant

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

oh, and i forgot "nobody does it better" by radiohead is a good'un

 

[sams dad]

Tainted Love wasn't a Cover version was it

It was indeed. The original was by Gloria Jones in 1965.

IMO the best cover was Marvin Gaye's version of "I heard it through the Grapevine "

 

[Publius Ovidius]

Robson and Jerome - Unchained melody

 

[Norman Potting]

Best:

Graham Parker and the Rumour - I want you back (originally by the Jackson 5).

Alison Krauss and Union Station - When you say nothing at all (pisses all over Ronan Keating).

The Band - Atlantic City (originally by Bruce Springsteen).

Patti Smith - Because the night (Bruce again).

Worst (by a very long way)

Hank Williams Junior III - Atlantic City (the man Springsteen again)

 

[NMH]

Good covers:


Step On - Mondays.

Not a chance!
John Kongos rumbling fuzzed-out masterpiece rules hard over the disco dolly-harmonized slacker manky Mondays version.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

best - Blinded by the light ( manfredd Manns Earth Band) original Bruce Springsteen

Whisky in the Jar - Thin Lizzy ( original Irish folk song)

 

[who me?]

expanding the thread a bit

best cover of an album

DUB SIDE OF THE MOON easy all stars