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In your opinion, which covers were better than the original? I'll start...... (Original Post) Upthevibe Nov 2020 OP
Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes." The Genealogist Nov 2020 #1
Sorry but I hate that version. we can do it Nov 2020 #2
Well, I had NO idea Jackie Deshannon ever did this Upthevibe Nov 2020 #6
She co-wrote it! n/t The Genealogist Nov 2020 #30
I don't think I have ever heard the Jackie DeShannon version. Arkansas Granny Nov 2020 #16
The Faces: (I Know) I'm Losing You: friendly_iconoclast Nov 2020 #3
Thanks! Claire Oh Nette Nov 2020 #34
friendly_iconoclast.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #44
The Sundays - Wild Horses Shermann Nov 2020 #4
That's what I was gonna say! ZZenith Nov 2020 #19
Shermann.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #41
Laura Branigan, "The Power of Love." rzemanfl Nov 2020 #5
rzemanfl.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #42
I wasn't up at this hour. I did eliminate the extra "n." rzemanfl Nov 2020 #59
I Have to Go With "All Along the Watchtower" The Roux Comes First Nov 2020 #7
Same here, Eko Nov 2020 #18
Eko.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #45
Yeah, That One Reached Out to Me, Too The Roux Comes First Nov 2020 #75
Even Dylan agrees that Hendrix's version was better-and he plays Jimi's arrangement to this day. friendly_iconoclast Nov 2020 #20
The Roux Comes First... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #43
definitely BainsBane Nov 2020 #61
The Sound of Silence - Disturbed Rorey Nov 2020 #8
Love this version too! Wawannabe Nov 2020 #11
So much passion NT Rorey Nov 2020 #14
I really like this version, but still prefer Simon and Garfunkle. Arkansas Granny Nov 2020 #17
My partner loves this version! The Genealogist Nov 2020 #31
Rorey..... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #46
heard this for the first time maybe an hour ago, watching the Twins on YouTube yellowdogintexas Nov 2020 #94
Shawn Colvin's cover of David Byrne's "Naive Melody" Squinch Nov 2020 #9
I love Shawn Colvin Rorey Nov 2020 #15
Me too. You're very welcome! Squinch Nov 2020 #21
One of Our Great Favorites, Too The Roux Comes First Nov 2020 #29
I also love The Boxer - Shawn Colvin, Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas Rorey Nov 2020 #22
* (Squinch scampers off to youtube to listen to it!) * Squinch Nov 2020 #38
Squinch... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #47
Chris covering Sinead Wawannabe Nov 2020 #10
*ahem* ZZenith Nov 2020 #23
Wawannabe.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #48
I get some disagreement on this...But love this version. LakeArenal Nov 2020 #12
I love this version! smirkymonkey Nov 2020 #32
Yeah❣️🎶 LakeArenal Nov 2020 #33
LakeArenal.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #49
Songbird, Eva Cassidy instead of Christine McVie/Fleetwood Mac Rorey Nov 2020 #13
Rorey.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #50
The late DUer Annette Apollo (Old Leftie Lawyer, Tangerine LaBamba) rzemanfl Nov 2020 #67
Bob Dylan Major Nikon Nov 2020 #24
I like Bob Dylan songs Rorey Nov 2020 #26
I heart Bobby D. Claire Oh Nette Nov 2020 #35
Claire Oh Nette... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #52
Major Nikon.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #51
Not better but damn good!! walkingman Nov 2020 #25
Heart Rorey Nov 2020 #28
K & R!! 58Sunliner Nov 2020 #39
Walkingman.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #53
Phenomenal! BainsBane Nov 2020 #64
Some of the covers of Motown by white artists LeftInTX Nov 2020 #27
LeftInTX.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #54
I like to listen to quite a few cover songs. Niagara Nov 2020 #36
Niagara.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #55
Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin diva77 Nov 2020 #37
diva77.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #56
Anita Baker's Cover of Carly Simon/Michael McDonald's "You Belong to Me." NNadir Nov 2020 #40
NNadir.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #57
Here's another one that I think takes the song to another Upthevibe Nov 2020 #58
Patti Smith, Gloria BainsBane Nov 2020 #60
KD Lang, Hallelujah BainsBane Nov 2020 #62
BainsBane... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #76
The Gipsy Kings, A mi manera (My Way) BainsBane Nov 2020 #63
Thanks for that. I love the Gipsy Kings, tanyev Nov 2020 #70
that video comes from a movie BainsBane Nov 2020 #71
OK, a little IMDB research and it looks like Unfaithful. tanyev Nov 2020 #73
BainsBane... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #77
This sort of counts BainsBane Nov 2020 #65
BainsBane.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #78
I'm glad you enjoyed it! BainsBane Nov 2020 #82
Stayin Alive Wolf Frankula Nov 2020 #66
Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning) hurl Nov 2020 #68
hurl.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #79
Norah Jones covers Black Hole Sun. Boxerfan Nov 2020 #69
Boxerfan... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #80
This message was self-deleted by its author Upthevibe Nov 2020 #81
VH were amazing Ahpook Nov 2020 #72
Different Genre: John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" The Roux Comes First Nov 2020 #74
Dusty Springfield - Spooky IcyPeas Nov 2020 #83
IcyPeas.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #89
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Mr Bojangles Brother Buzz Nov 2020 #84
Brother Buzz.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #90
There's a cool story how Jeff Hanna heard the song on the radio followed by a bit of serendipity Brother Buzz Nov 2020 #92
Radioactivity by The Divine Comedy The King of Prussia Nov 2020 #85
My goto on this question...Hurt by Cash... Wounded Bear Nov 2020 #86
Wounded Bear........ Upthevibe Nov 2020 #91
almost all of them hfojvt Nov 2020 #87
hfojvt.... Upthevibe Nov 2020 #93
Pat Metheny's Version of Sting's "Fragile." NNadir Nov 2020 #88
I like Dolly Parton's verson of "I Will Always Love You" better than Whitney Houston yellowdogintexas Nov 2020 #95

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
6. Well, I had NO idea Jackie Deshannon ever did this
Sun Nov 22, 2020, 06:27 PM
Nov 2020

but my God you are SOOOOO right! There's no comparison!

Arkansas Granny

(31,483 posts)
16. I don't think I have ever heard the Jackie DeShannon version.
Sun Nov 22, 2020, 06:43 PM
Nov 2020

There is no comparison. I prefer the Kim Carnes version.

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
41. Shermann....
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 05:18 AM
Nov 2020

Wow....that was beautiful. I've never even heard of The Sundays and I've never heard that rendition.

rzemanfl

(29,540 posts)
59. I wasn't up at this hour. I did eliminate the extra "n."
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 06:08 PM
Nov 2020

It's the key change towards the end that makes this, IMHO, the best vocal performance by a woman, ever. We lost Laura way to soon.

The Roux Comes First

(1,278 posts)
7. I Have to Go With "All Along the Watchtower"
Sun Nov 22, 2020, 06:28 PM
Nov 2020

Great as Mr. Zimmerman's original was, Mr. Hendrix took that into another dimension entirely.

The Roux Comes First

(1,278 posts)
75. Yeah, That One Reached Out to Me, Too
Tue Nov 24, 2020, 02:15 AM
Nov 2020

The Man in Black was definitely on a roll there at the end, making crushing covers of all sorts.

I would have been entirely content with his amazing earlier oeuvre: Ring of Fire, I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison, Jackson, etc.

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
43. The Roux Comes First...
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 05:32 AM
Nov 2020

Yea....I think this may be THE one that's actually considered the best cover ever...(if there's such a thing as a kind of consensus ). It's fun to hear what folks consider great covers and I'm enjoying hearing some that I've never heard. But "All Along The Watchtower" by Mr. Hendrix probably has no equal. As you said, it truly went into another dimension....

Rorey

(8,445 posts)
8. The Sound of Silence - Disturbed
Sun Nov 22, 2020, 06:31 PM
Nov 2020


[link:http://
&list=RDLC6XJ9JaqnM&index=13|

Again, I just like it better than that of Simon and Garfunkle. I'm probably way too old to be a fan of this rendition, but I am.

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
46. Rorey.....
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 05:44 AM
Nov 2020

This rendition of "The Sound of Silence" takes it from a really good song (by Simon and Garfunkle) to bone-chillingly and "stop me in my tracks" haunting....

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
94. heard this for the first time maybe an hour ago, watching the Twins on YouTube
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 12:57 AM
Nov 2020

It was so good. I could not imagine anyone but S & G doing that song.

I was so wrong.

The twins liked it a LOT

Rorey

(8,445 posts)
22. I also love The Boxer - Shawn Colvin, Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas
Sun Nov 22, 2020, 06:50 PM
Nov 2020

I love just about anything with Alison Krauss, and the harmony with Shawn Colvin just put it over the top for me.

Wawannabe

(5,580 posts)
10. Chris covering Sinead
Sun Nov 22, 2020, 06:34 PM
Nov 2020
https://m.



I like his Billy Jean cover better than MJs version too. Oh, who am I kidding? I love all of Cornell's covers!

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
48. Wawannabe....
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 05:55 AM
Nov 2020

Wow....I hadn't heard that and I loved Chris Cornell too. I still feel so sad when I think about him leaving us I agree - I like his version more that Sinead's too; but I think hers was a cover also of Prince who wrote it..

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
49. LakeArenal....
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 06:00 AM
Nov 2020

I also just LOVE this version from Fine young Cannibals....You'll get no disagreement from me on this one.

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
50. Rorey....
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 06:09 AM
Nov 2020

Wow....I've never heard that version. Absolutely stunning...Another one we lost way too young...

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
51. Major Nikon....
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 06:17 AM
Nov 2020

Yep...The Byrds nailed in on "Mr. Tambourine Man" and someone else posted "All Along The Watch Tower" which I commented that IMHO is probably the gold standard of covers.

LeftInTX

(24,554 posts)
27. Some of the covers of Motown by white artists
Sun Nov 22, 2020, 07:01 PM
Nov 2020

Example: Get Ready by Rare Earth

You Need Love by Muddy Waters has had an interesting cycle. (As has many British recycling of American blues )
Not exactly a cover, but interesting....


https://www.aaronkrerowicz.com/pop-music-blog/inspiration-or-plagiarism-you-need-love-vs-whole-lotta-love





&feature=emb_title


&feature=emb_title

diva77

(7,604 posts)
37. Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin
Sun Nov 22, 2020, 08:30 PM
Nov 2020


(I love Carole King's original as well)

ETA: looks like Aretha may have covered it first

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
58. Here's another one that I think takes the song to another
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 06:39 AM
Nov 2020

dimension than the original version:





The original was by Tears for Fears.

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
76. BainsBane...
Tue Nov 24, 2020, 02:46 AM
Nov 2020

Absolutely! Leonard Cohen wrote this masterpiece. I believe that Jeff Buckley and KD Lang's versions are both considered exceptional.

tanyev

(42,360 posts)
70. Thanks for that. I love the Gipsy Kings,
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 11:11 PM
Nov 2020

but I don’t recall ever hearing that before. Do you know if the video was made for that song, or comes from a movie?

tanyev

(42,360 posts)
73. OK, a little IMDB research and it looks like Unfaithful.
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 11:36 PM
Nov 2020

Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez. Might have to look for that...

BainsBane

(53,003 posts)
65. This sort of counts
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 08:06 PM
Nov 2020

The duet with Maria Bethania and Milton Nascimento of Milton's song, "Cancoes e momentos [Songs and Moments]"

Even when you don't understand the lyrics, their voices are beautiful. It's one of my all time favorite songs.

hurl

(931 posts)
68. Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)
Mon Nov 23, 2020, 09:32 PM
Nov 2020

I have to echo Eko (up thread) that Johnny Cash's Hurt is a favorite. Still, Gary Allan's cover of Vertical Horizon's Best I Ever Had takes it to a new level - and I'm not a country music person.



Original for reference:

Response to Boxerfan (Reply #69)

The Roux Comes First

(1,278 posts)
74. Different Genre: John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things"
Tue Nov 24, 2020, 01:40 AM
Nov 2020

I loved The Sound of Music as a child, and Julie Andrews does a superlative job rendering the Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes. There was probably a period when I could run them all down myself (also true for West Side Story), though of course not with the caliber of these performers.

But years later I came upon Coltrane's soprano saxophone. What a revelation! Great fun to have the ever-so-familiar themes running through, but this is, as with Watchtower, something else altogether.

Brother Buzz

(36,214 posts)
84. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Mr Bojangles
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 02:56 AM
Nov 2020




And the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band paid it forward by giving Jerry Jeff Walker an opportunity to scratch one item off his bucket list: Play at the storied Ryman Auditorium



A highlight of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 50th Anniversary concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, on 14th September 2015. The original Mr Bojangles, Jerry Jeff Walker, delighted the audience with this performance.

Brother Buzz

(36,214 posts)
92. There's a cool story how Jeff Hanna heard the song on the radio followed by a bit of serendipity
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 08:48 PM
Nov 2020

that landed a beat up 45rpm of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles". It WAS meant to be, Baby!


'Mr. Bojangles' couldn't have happened without the radio
Dave Paulson
The Tennessean


Jeff Hanna, left, and Bart Herbison discuss songwriting.
This edition of "Story Behind the Song" is a first for the series: We're not speaking to the writer of the song, but the artist who made it a hit. Jeff Hanna of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band told Bart Herbison (of Nashville Songwriters Association International) how "Mr. Bojangles" made its way from Jerry Jeff Walker to them.

Bart Herbison: This is the only one of these we’ve done in years with somebody that didn’t write that song. I remember we were at John Rich’s house one night … and you sat down and told me this story of how “Mr. Bojangles,” written by Jerry Jeff Walker, got to you guys.

Jeff Hanna: Well, we were recording an album, this was like late ‘69, early ‘70, in Los Angeles. … I’m driving home late one night. I’m flipping through the dial and I hear this song that just blew my mind, it was so beautiful, and poignant. Pulled the car over to the side of the road so I could hear better, and cranked it up, of course FM radio late night, no back announcing. I had no idea who it was. I just knew that I was tearing up hearing this tune about this old guy and a dog, you know, and this beautiful story. So I come into rehearsal the next day, “Guys, I heard this tune it’s like, it’s a perfect fit for what we’re doing! I know how to do it! You know, we’ll use a mandolin, we’ll use the accordion, and it’ll work, it’ll be great, and uh, but I don’t know the name of the song.” And I’m describing the tune and Jimmy Ibbotson jumps up and says, “I know the song! I know the song!” We run outside to the parking lot, he pops the trunk on his (car). Under the spare tire in his trunk, in a rusty pool of water, is a 45. Jerry Jeff Walker, “Mr. Bojangles.”

BH: The only record there?

JH: Ibby had it when he left New Castle, Indiana. He went to school at DePauw, and he was driving to Los Angeles to become a star, to make his mark in the music business, you know. And this woman gave him the record, “And this is going to mean something to you someday.” That was her line.

BH: Did you ever tell that story to Jerry Jeff? What did he say?

JH: He just laughed. He said, “It’s just, it’s the folk process.” I got to tell you one quick thing about Ken, though, because this was a scratchy record, and you know, we found a record player that had the big spindle in the middle that you play 45's on. And we’re stacking pennies on the needle of the record player to get it to track cause it’s so just ...

BH: Warped?

JH: It’s scratched to pieces, right. And we messed up a couple of spots in the lyrics, recorded it that way, and the big hit has mangled lyrics on a couple of lines. … Jerry Jeff again, he said it’s "the folk process."

BH: But you know, he put that on other records. His got a lot more popular after that album came out, that Dirt Band album came out.

JH: Well, it was good for everybody.



https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/story-behind-the-song/2017/12/08/mr-bojangles-nitty-gritty-dirt-band-jeff-hanna-story-behind-song-jerry-jeff-walker/930339001/

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
91. Wounded Bear........
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 08:36 PM
Nov 2020

I think when people talk about what many consider to be the best covers ever, Hurt by Johnny Cash and All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix are two that immediately come to mind.....

hfojvt

(37,573 posts)
87. almost all of them
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 12:08 PM
Nov 2020

most of the time, you do not even know there was an original and when you hear it, it is like "yuck, thank God for the modern version."

For me, it is rarer to hear an original and think it is better. About the only example I can think of is "shop around"

Upthevibe

(7,880 posts)
93. hfojvt....
Wed Nov 25, 2020, 08:56 PM
Nov 2020

Love this one - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles...

For me, it's really mixed regarding the original vrs. the cover. And then, there are some that are equally good.

yellowdogintexas

(22,119 posts)
95. I like Dolly Parton's verson of "I Will Always Love You" better than Whitney Houston
Thu Nov 26, 2020, 01:00 AM
Nov 2020

Now Dolly wrote it and her version of it may have been before Whitney's
However I still like Dolly's version better

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