Favorite Covers/Remakes Better Than the Originals

[walrus]

This is a fun one! A few of my favorites:
Format = Song (original artist) - New version: Why
Like a Prayer (Madonna) - H2O: Faster tempo and fun "punk" version of a classic everyone knows
Sunshine of Your Love (Cream) - Earth Crisis: Downtuned, straight ahead hardcore version of a killer riff
No Ordinary Love (Sade) - Deftones: Chino's vocals on this are haunting and perfect for the song
Hurt (Nine Inch Nails) - Johnny Cash: Between the video and Cash's vocals, it was like this song was written for him
Cats and Dogs (Gorilla Biscuits) - H2O: While hard to improve on the original (vegetarian/vegan classic!) the H2O version improves on the riff and has more energy.
Ghost of Tom Joad (Springsteen) - Rage Against the Machine: Great arrangement and Zach's vocals/energy put this song over the top.

Oh yes, Johnny Cash "Hurt",and Cash doing Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage"", too.

 

[watelessness]

I disagree because, Jimi's studio version was nowhere near as wild as his live versions. SRV's studio version was more like Jimi's live versions, but as great as SRV's studio and love versions were, they don't match Jimi's live ones. IMO YMMV Consult your physician...

you two should fight

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

you two should fight

This is not going to look good on your application for marriage counselor.

 

[László]

Speaking of covers, Shawn Colvin did an album of cover material a few years back, mostly her and acoustic guitar. Great voice, really nice stuff. It's called 'Uncovered'.

 

[Slo-mo]

I don't know if they're better, but I really like transformative type covers. The 2 that come to mind are:

The Cardigans - Iron Man - a sort of jazzy take on the iconic Black Sabbath song.
Girl In a Coma - Transmission - an acapella (if you don't count finger snapping) take on Joy Division classic.

Both are so completely different than the original, I think it takes quite a bit of talent to pull off.

 

[Saturn]

I'm not a Metallica fanboy or anything, but their cover of Whiskey In The Jar is far superior to Thin Lizzy's.

 

[Prs Mods too]

I really like Megadeths cover of the Budgie song melt the ice away. Not sure if it's better, depends on the day.

 

[11top]

Another “not better,” but holy shi……….

 

[11top]

I mean, better than Elton?!!



…….…

 

[11top]

 

[László]

I mean, better than Elton?!!



…….…

Excellent. Not better than the original, but at that level of performance, who can complain?

 

[Huggy Love]

Almost every hit by Santana... ... except for Smooth & Game of Love.
Two pages and nobody has mentioned the undisputed king of transformative covers Carlos Santana. He's covered everybody from Buddy Holly to Coltrane, and made them better every time.

All the big hits:
Evil Ways
Black Magic Woman
Oye Como Va
Jingo
Winning
Well Alright
She's Not There

 

[Black Plaid]

I dunno about better, but I remember not expecting Celtic Frost to cover Mexican Radio.

 

[PRSAK]

What about Johnny Winter's version of Highway 61? Crushed it! Thank you Bob Dylan for writing the song though!

 

[Ballistic]

Here's a few, not necessarily better but different in a good way.

I generally like most Beatles covers:

^ Paul Gilbert doing pick scrapes on an Ibanez while playing a Beatles cover. These guys are the greatest!

Jerry Cantrell's version of Tears (Rush). The layered vocals in the chorus and added drums really make it special.

This was a pleasant surprise on the Fate of Nations album:

Toad the Wet Sprocket's cover of REM's Driver 8:

 

[Maertl513]

GARY MOORE

HENRIK FREISCHLADER (German Blues singer/guitarist, producer, label owner; Moore is his absolute idol)

Freischlader's interpretation makes goose bumps.
Arranged by Royal Street Orchestra, vocals - Harrisen Larner-Main, violin - Christopher Huber, cello - Cornelius Thiem, Christopher Esch - guitar, Armin Alic - Bass. Freischlader published 2017 an album dedicated to Gary Moore "Blues for Gary by Henrik Freichlader".

 

[Brad Lawson]

Clapton’s version of “Cocaine” vs. J.J. Cale’s. IMO anyway

 

[Brad Lawson]

Not really a cover since he performed it with B.B. but Gary Moore’s playing on “The Thrill is Gone” in 92 is still one of my favorite things to listen to.

 

[aphantomvaper]

Soft Cell - Tainted Love

The Minutemen - Dr. Wu