We all know that there are great cover versons of songs out there. But are there any in your opinion that outdo the original.
For me the argument begins and ends with Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower.

the vines - ms jackson

Cradle Of Filth - Hallowed be thy name
System Of A Down - Snowblind
Nine Inch Nails - Dead Souls

Gary Jules - Mad World

I know. I know. I know.

johnny cash - hurt

Manics - Take the Skinheads Bowling

exodus - dirty deeds done dirt cheap

Gunn - Word up.

tweez spouted:

For me the argument begins and ends with Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower.

Indeed it does, but there's always "I shall be released", Nina Simone version.....

Neil Young- On Broadway

I've often wondered what Dylan thought the first time he heard it.

China Drum's Wuthering Heights is fantastic too.

nono spouted:
johnny cash - hurt

nono: NONONONONONONONONO

Tori Amos - I Don't Like Mondays

Beck - Everybody has to learn sometime
Jamie Cullen - Frontin'
Will Young - Hey Ya

R-C-M spouted:


nono: NONONONONONONONONO







each to their own

Got To Say, Toby Has It Rite

Cash Murdered That Song

Metallica's versions of just about EVERYTHING on Garage Inc.
(but not Damage Case)
Michael Nesmith - Rainmaker.
Fear Factory - Cars
Bruce Dickinson -The Zoo
Tennis - Low Man's Lyric (not necessarily better, but interesting!)

Johnny Cash's version of NIN's Hurt.

Machine Head - Message in a bottle

magicguppy spouted:
Machine Head - Message in a bottle

You bet - Machine Head should do a few more covers - I had the privilege of seeing them cover Number of the Beast at Brixton Academy a couple of years back and it absolutely rocked the house - all these wee metallers looking at each other and saying what the fuck is this made me feel rather old and no mistake!

Pantera also do the best version of Sabs' Planet Caravan that I've heard, with laser cannabis leaves floating around the hall and the band finally taking it easy, almost compensating for 90 minutes of bleeding ears.

For sheer bloody-minded cheek I admire The Scissor Sisters' version of Comfortably Numb, although in all honesty I cant say it's a patch on the original. But that's what I think is clever about it - they know that and don't care, instead turning it into their own song. I wish I could have been arsed to look over some Pink Floyd forums whilst that was enjoying its 9 day wonder - I'll bet there were a few strong words eh?

Jimi Hendrix's impromptu version of 'Sunshine of your Love', done live on the Lulu Show, when they were meant to be playing Hey Joe.

i don't understand rock bands want to do loads of covers now i've noticed an influx of them

disturbed - shout
machine head - message in a bottle
my ruin - negative creep

to me they just don't work.

RHCP: tiny dancer -live

pardon? spouted:
Johnny Cash's version of NIN's Hurt.


echo.


limp bizkit - faith,its its its so so emo?

sonic youth's cover of the carpenters' "superstar"
crash vegas' cover of neil young's "pocahontas"
rage's cover of dylan's "maggie's farm"

staysinvegas spouted:
sonic youth's cover of the carpenters' "superstar"

Oh yeah cool one vegas, i'd forgotten bout that.

Dillinger Escape Plan did a cover of Aphex Twins' Come To Daddy.
Not better, but one of the few rock versions of an electronic tune.

NIN's hurt is better than cash's but I like both.
Johnny cash: Personal Jesus is superb though.
I also would say the vines only sleeping and ms. jackson

Sepultura - Symptom Of The Universe
Slayer - Hand Of Doom
Motorhead - God Save The Queen

Mariska spouted:
Motorhead - God Save The Queen

No, No, No and No..

Motorheads version is awful....

tweez spouted:



Dillinger Escape Plan did a cover of Aphex Twins' Come To Daddy.
Not better, but one of the few rock versions of an electronic tune.

That was on the "Irony is a dead scene" EP with Mike Patton, and bloody good it is too.

anyway,

Rage: Ghost of Tom Joad
Rage/Tool/NiN: Calling Dr Love
Primus: The thing that should not be (Its soooo fucken heavy)
Throat/Neil Fallon: Crazy Horses

Motley Crüe - Anarchy in the UK *sniggers*

My tuppence...
Pet Shop Boys - Where the Streets Have No Name
Johnny Cash - One
Therapy? - Diane
Moby - New Dawn Fades
Britney Spears - I Love Rock and Roll.*
Therapy? - Isolation













* JOKE!!!!!!!!!

Oh and obviouslly Hallelujah when covered by old Jefro

Rolf Harris - Stairway to Heaven

Ok pardon, if we are going to venture into the realms of the ridiculous, Enter Sandman - Pat Boone.

Travis - Baby One More Time

I kid you not. Travis' version is awesome.

Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Pulp - Whiskey In The Jar
Pulp - The Night
Scott Walker - If You Go Away/Ne Me Quitte Pas
Scott Walker - Next
Thom Yorke/The Venus In Furs - Ladytron
The Jesus & Mary Chain - Alphabet Street
Bryan Ferry - Jealous Guy
The Happy Mondays - Step On
David Bowie - Amsterdam
Blondie - Denis
Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus
Johnny Cash - The Mercy Seat
The White Stripes - John The Revelator
The Faces - Maybe I'm Amazed
Morrissey - Cosmic Dancer
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man
Starsailor - Don't Stop Moving
Tom Waits - Somewhere (Theme From West Side Story)

Um, and more...

Superior cover versions? try Snuff's versions of "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Sound Of The Underground". In fact, there last mini -LP was all covers

The Sound Of The Underground; A Lovers Concerto; Song To The Siren; You're A Big Girl Now; Bye Bye Blackbird; O Sakana Tengoku; Planet Rock; Let The Music Play; Rokko Oroshi

And let's not forget Oizone!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004TF1M/qid=1086861045/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_0_1/202-8504878-4659812

Jeff Buckley does a groovy version of "if you see her say hello" i dont think it beats bob, but its different to hear it in such a new refreshing way.

speaking of bob covers, avril lavigne absolutely molested "knockin on heavens door"

in summary,
Spiderbaits version of black better is rather good.

Oh yeah, Leatherface's version of "Message In A Bottle"

Tatu's version of "How Soon is Now"!

Download it - it's actually pretty good!

Siouxsie and the Banshees-Helter Skelter
Emmylou Harris-Here there and everywhere
Robert Wyatt-I'm a Believer

Oh and The Wurzels doing Don't Look Back in Anger brings out the intrinsic comedic qualities in the song.

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

Wha...???

Never better than the Cohen version. John Cale's take aint bad mind.

Ever hear Rufus Wainwright butchering it?

*Shudder*

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Dear Prudence
Sex Pistols - Stepping Stone
Stranglers - Walk on By
Talking Heads - Take me to the River
XTC - All around the Watchtower

If I had to say which version I preferred out Cohen, Cale or Buckley I really wouldn't be able to tell you. The song is just awesome though.

Has anyone mentioned Tim Buckley doing Fred Neil's Dolphins?

I think it's a close call, but I think Hallelujah is slightly better suited to Buckley's voice.

Tremendous song though.

Am I the only person who thinks Elvis Costello's "cover" of his own song, Shipbuilding, is better than the more celebrated Robert Wyatt version? 'parantly Elvis doesn't think so.

I think it's a close call, but I think Hallelujah is slightly better suited to Buckley's voice.

Tremendous song though.

My man-whore prefers the Buckley version...he likes the Bono one too mind.

I'd go with Cohen, but yeah...it's quite the song regardless.

Personaly i never prefer a cover version to an original....some covers add a new twist or sound to a song but for the me the originals are the best...with exeption to..

Marylin Manson... Tainted love

Marylin Manson... Tainted love

Joking though, yeah?

faith no more - easy

Joking though, yeah?



hah... ok ya got me.. soft cell killed it.. marilyn manson laid it to rest.

Manics - Wrote for Luck (Happy mondays)
Manics - Out of Time (Rolling Stones)
Delays - Ride it on (Mazzy Star)

David Gray - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Johnny Cash - Hurt
This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren
Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower

Forgot....
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)