Music lovers: Original vs. Cover Versions

whiteheaddg
whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
There are a lot of great cover songs out there. Which ones do you believe have become the definitive version of the song?

I'll start with an easy one.

Song: China Girl
Original: Iggy Pop
Cover: David Bowie

The Bowie version is easily the definitive version (though, to be fair, he co-wrote the song)
Feel free to debate or post a new one.
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Replies

  • spicypepper
    spicypepper Posts: 1,016 Member
    NIN - Hurt
    Johnny Cash - Hurt

    I like Johnny Cash's version :)
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    NIN - Hurt
    Johnny Cash - Hurt

    I like Johnny Cash's version :)

    Agreed. The Cash version is definitive and even Reznor prefers it to his own.

    Song: All Along the Watchtower
    Original: Dylan
    Definitive: Hendrix
  • LonLB
    LonLB Posts: 1,126 Member
    I like the FFDP version of Bad Company more than the Bad Company version


    Hurt's version of House Carpenter-BY FAR better than any other version


    Otherwise a cover is a cover it doesn't have to be better-just good.


    Corey Taylor and Aaron Lewis covering Down In A Hole by Alice in Chains is AMAZING
    Johnny Cash and Hurt like stated above
    Metallica's Turn the Page
    Jason Aldean's Dirt Road Anthem.
  • jen_bd6
    jen_bd6 Posts: 501 Member
    I like the FFDP version of Bad Company more than the Bad Company version
    Jason Aldean's Dirt Road Anthem.

    Agreed!! I like the Rascal Flatts cover of "highway" better than the original... not sure why... just do :ohwell:
  • terri0527
    terri0527 Posts: 678 Member
    Last Kiss :heart:
    Original: Wayne Cochran
    Cover: Pearl Jam

    Just love to hear Eddie Vedder's voice!! :heart:
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    Otherwise a cover is a cover it doesn't have to be better-just good.

    True...but some covers fall flat while others clearly surpass the original.

    I love Segar's "Turn the Page", but would agree that the Metallica version has become definitive. I just wrote down FFDP "Bad Company" to give that a listen. Thanks for adding.
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    Last Kiss :heart:
    Original: Wayne Cochran
    Cover: Pearl Jam

    Just love to hear Eddie Vedder's voice!! :heart:

    I had no idea the Pearl Jam version was a cover - poor Cochran. Great tune.
  • LonLB
    LonLB Posts: 1,126 Member
    Check out House Carpenter by Hurt too....GOOD stuff
  • sillygoose1977
    sillygoose1977 Posts: 2,151 Member


    Corey Taylor and Aaron Lewis covering Down In A Hole by Alice in Chains is AMAZING

    Ryan Adams cover of Down in a Hole is pretty fantastic too.

    My favorite cover is The Gourds doing Gin and Juice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE
  • supatim
    supatim Posts: 239 Member
    NIN - Hurt
    Johnny Cash - Hurt

    I like Johnny Cash's version :)

    Agreed. The Cash version is definitive and even Reznor prefers it to his own.

    Song: All Along the Watchtower
    Original: Dylan
    Definitive: Hendrix

    Seriously? Hendrix... all day long.

    Here is one I never thought I'd admit to:


    Song: Your Time is Gonna Come
    Original: Led Zeppelin
    Cover: Black Crowes with Jimmy Page Live

    The cover is jaw dropping good - even with the B. Crowes...
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Stairway To Heaven
    Original - Led Zeppelin
    Cover - Rolf Harris

    I've seen Rolf live and not Zeppelin so he must be better, right? ;)
  • Lone_Wolf70
    Lone_Wolf70 Posts: 2,820 Member
    You Really Got Me

    THe Kinks 1965
    Van Halen - 1978

    VH's has become the definititve version and is truly the best cover that has ever been done.

    TRIVIA: The guitar on the original was played by session musician JImmy Page and NOT by The Kinks
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Delbert McClinton does a very tasty tasty version of "Lay Down Sally" that has just the right amount of twang to it.
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
    Song: Red House
    Original: Jimi Hendrix
    Cover: Rob Tognoni


    Song: Back Door Slam
    Original: Robert Cray
    Cover: Davy Knowles
  • LonLB
    LonLB Posts: 1,126 Member


    Corey Taylor and Aaron Lewis covering Down In A Hole by Alice in Chains is AMAZING

    Ryan Adams cover of Down in a Hole is pretty fantastic too.

    My favorite cover is The Gourds doing Gin and Juice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4hGSR5njZE



    HELL YES the Gin N Juice cover OWNS ALL COVERS!!!!!!!!!
  • Grimmerick
    Grimmerick Posts: 3,342 Member
    Sara Baralleise does awesome covers!

    Take on me
    Sitting by the dock of the bay
    Your eyes
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    You Really Got Me

    THe Kinks 1965
    Van Halen - 1978

    VH's has become the definititve version and is truly the best cover that has ever been done.

    TRIVIA: The guitar on the original was played by session musician JImmy Page and NOT by The Kinks

    Er, I think the question of who played the solo on the original is in dispute but not the main riff.

    Page has denied he played on it repeatedly.

    I like VH's version by the way ...
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Dylan vs. Hendrix, NIN vs. Cash... even if I preferred the original, I would get the point of an artist bringing their own interpretation to a song. What I hate is covers that sound exactly like the original, or are just a lackluster performance with no creativity. Basically karaoke.
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    You Really Got Me

    THe Kinks 1965
    Van Halen - 1978

    VH's has become the definititve version and is truly the best cover that has ever been done.

    TRIVIA: The guitar on the original was played by session musician JImmy Page and NOT by The Kinks

    I had no idea...and it's funny to hear Jimmy Page referred to as a "session musician." I love the Kinks, but VH version is definitive...easily.
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    Dylan vs. Hendrix, NIN vs. Cash... even if I preferred the original, I would get the point of an artist bringing their own interpretation to a song. What I hate is covers that sound exactly like the original, or are just a lackluster performance with no creativity. Basically karaoke.

    Exactly - I believe The Cure's "Hello, I Love You" is a lackluster cover of The Doors original.
  • Lone_Wolf70
    Lone_Wolf70 Posts: 2,820 Member
    You Really Got Me

    THe Kinks 1965
    Van Halen - 1978

    VH's has become the definititve version and is truly the best cover that has ever been done.

    TRIVIA: The guitar on the original was played by session musician JImmy Page and NOT by The Kinks

    I had no idea...and it's funny to hear Jimmy Page referred to as a "session musician." I love the Kinks, but VH version is definitive...easily.

    That is how he and John Paul Jones met...they were famous session musicians...they played on like 80% of the hits from England in the early to mid 60's.
  • LonLB
    LonLB Posts: 1,126 Member
    The only songs I don't see being covered better than the original is virtually ANY thing from the 55-65

    Hard to try and cover most of that stuff!
  • Lone_Wolf70
    Lone_Wolf70 Posts: 2,820 Member
    The only songs I don't see being covered better than the original is virtually ANY thing from the 55-65

    Hard to try and cover most of that stuff!

    Uh "Your Really Got Me"....*throws down mic
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    Song: Your Time is Gonna Come
    Original: Led Zeppelin
    Cover: Black Crowes with Jimmy Page Live

    The cover is jaw dropping good - even with the B. Crowes...

    Big fan of the original...have yet to hear the Black Crowe's version. Though w/ Page on guitar is may only qualify as a 1/2 cover. Few others can do justice to a Page riff - it will be cool to hear Page's take on Page.
  • Lone_Wolf70
    Lone_Wolf70 Posts: 2,820 Member
    Song: Your Time is Gonna Come
    Original: Led Zeppelin
    Cover: Black Crowes with Jimmy Page Live

    The cover is jaw dropping good - even with the B. Crowes...

    Big fan of the original...have yet to hear the Black Crowe's version. Though w/ Page on guitar is may only qualify as a 1/2 cover. Few others can do justice to a Page riff - it will be cool to hear Page's take on Page.

    I agree...only 1/2 a cover.

    Also, Led Zep's entire first album is ripped off covers of old blues songs.
  • sillygoose1977
    sillygoose1977 Posts: 2,151 Member
    The only songs I don't see being covered better than the original is virtually ANY thing from the 55-65

    Hard to try and cover most of that stuff!

    Best one I can think of is I Fought the Law done by The Clash.
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    The only songs I don't see being covered better than the original is virtually ANY thing from the 55-65

    Hard to try and cover most of that stuff!

    Best one I can think of is I Fought the Law done by The Clash.

    Strong pull! Clash version = definitive. Sorry Crickets.
  • Lone_Wolf70
    Lone_Wolf70 Posts: 2,820 Member
    The only songs I don't see being covered better than the original is virtually ANY thing from the 55-65

    Hard to try and cover most of that stuff!

    Best one I can think of is I Fought the Law done by The Clash.

    Y0u Really Got me...it might be the best cover of all time.
  • whiteheaddg
    whiteheaddg Posts: 325 Member
    Song: I Shot the Sheriff
    Original: Marley
    Cover: Clapton

    I struggle with this one.
  • sillygoose1977
    sillygoose1977 Posts: 2,151 Member
    The only songs I don't see being covered better than the original is virtually ANY thing from the 55-65

    Hard to try and cover most of that stuff!

    Best one I can think of is I Fought the Law done by The Clash.

    Y0u Really Got me...it might be the best cover of all time.

    The Clash trumps Van Halen. The end.