Cover Versions.

[Carl East]

My brother and I had a semi serious discusion today, about wheather or not a sequel to any major film was better than the first. I was quick to point out three films, which I believe are better than the first.

1) Aliens (but of course, you all knew that)

2) The Terminator (Judgement Day)

3) The Empire Strikes Back

I suppose the reason why these films are better than the first, is because the first tend to be more an introduction to the main characters. Where as the second, can get on with the story from the word go.

Now believe it or not, this topic isn't why I've started this thread. You see the discusion led onto wheather or not a group or solo artist has ever done a good cover version of someone else's song. At this point I could only think of two songs, where I considered the cover version to be better than the original.

1) Always on my Mind (pet shop boys) (now I've got elvis lovers on my back.lol

2) Ordinary World (Aurora) originally duran duran.

I wondered what your thoughts were on this question, do you know of cover versions, which you consider to be better than the original.

Carl.

 

[Silverlily]

The Lemonhead's cover of Mrs. Robinson

 

[Carl East]

The Lemonhead's cover of Mrs. Robinson

I love that song, but I've never heard of the Lemonhead's, I'll have to look out for that one though, thanks Kitten.

Carl.

[Edited by Carl East on 09-30-2000 at 07:27 AM]

 

[KillerMuffin]

Redone By Metallica:
Breadfan
Whiskey in the Jar-O

Lenny Kravitz did a better job (to me) with American Woman

Theres more, but its like 0040 and I can't think.

Oh yeah, the Bangles did Hazy Shade of Winter better than Simon and Garfunkel did.

I also like Ugly Kid Joe's Cats in the Cradle better than that freak Harry Chapin.

Oh yeah, the Fugees did that one song by Anne Murray? Killing me softly with his song. Or whatever its called.

Ozzy or Lemmy, who did Hellraiser better? OZZY!!!!! Ozzy covered it. Lemmy wrote it.

[Edited by KillerMuffin on 09-29-2000 at 11:20 PM]

 

[April]

Billy Idol's version of L.A. Woman.
Much better than The Doors.

 

[Laurel]

Speaking of the Lemonheads, WTF happened to Evan Dando? "It's a Shame About Ray" is such a brilliant pop record, and then their next release sucks...lemons. Where did that freaky dude go?

 

[RonG]

My fave cover versions:
"(Like A) Heatwave" by The Jam, original Martha and the Vandellas
"Tears of a Clown", by The English Beat (although Beat in the UK), original by Smokey Robinson
"Up on the Roof" by James Taylor, original by The Drifters
"Washable Ink" by The Neville Brothers, original John Hiatt
"I Fought The Law" by The Clash, original Bobby Fuller Four
"Frosty The Snowman" by The Roches, original Jimmy Durante

Best sequel movie is Godfather II, a great movie and if you had to pick the best final half-hour to any flick, this one is it. Even if I am surfing and find it, I stop right there.

Evan Dando went to shit after Tori Amos kicked him around. He even cut his hair <gasp!>

 

[Ambrosious]

Van Halen's cover of both Dancin in the Streets (orig Martha and the Vandellas) and Pretty Woman (with the intro, orig by Roy Orbison). Sawer Brown redid George Jones's The Race Is On and rocked it. And even though it isn't my style, I think that Puff Daddy and the Family did a good job with the old Police hit Every Breath You Take. It was a wonderful, sad, thought evoking cover and a marvelous tribute to the Notorious BIG.

 

[Sonora]

Oh yeah, the Fugees did that one song by Anne Murray? Killing me softly with his song. Or whatever its called.

[Edited by KillerMuffin on 09-29-2000 at 11:20 PM]

I don't know what song you're talking about the Fugees doing, but Roberta Flack did "Killing Me Softly". Anne Murray may have also done it, but Flack's is the one I remember.

 

[Rand al'Thor]

Here are some cover-songs, I think are better than the originals:

Jimi Hendrix, "All Along the Watchtower" > Bob Dylan's original
Guns N' Roses, "Knockin on Heaven's Door > Eric Clapton's > Bob Dylan's original
Aerosmith, "Come Together" > The Beatle's original (IMHO)
Natalie Imbruglia, "Torn" was a cover of some unknown

Some covers just don't cut it though:
Sheryl Crow, "Sweet Child O' Mine" < Guns N' Roses original
Madonna, "American Pie" < Don Mclean's original
Billy Idol, "LA Woman" <<< The Doors original

Rand al' Thor
The Dragon Reborn

 

[KillerMuffin]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH ick. Madonna didn't do that better. Icky icky icky not at all, now way, uh uh oooh gross.

You're right, no doubt, Sonora, I am unsure who did the original, so I was, no doubt, Roberta Flack. I just remember seeing a commercial with Anne Murray singing it. I still like the newer cover better than the one I used to hear all the time. "Killing Me Softly" it is.

I like the remake Natalie Cole did of "Irresistable" or whatever its called, done by her dad, then later, with her dad. It was beautiful.

 

[•Quartz_Crystal•]

I'm not sure who sung the original, but The Pretenders did a pretty good cover or 'angel of the morning'

God I love that song....

And am I still stuck at 74? Probably. Ah well, good number.

 

[Bigdog]

KillerMiffin: The Cole song is "Unforgettable".

Quartz Crystal: The original was done by Juice Newton.

As for remakes better than the original, Hall & Oates' version of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" fits the bill. Metallica remade "Turn The Page" by Bob Seger but I don't know if it is better or simply on a par with the original.
Almost forgot Bruce Springsteen's cover of "War", I thought it was better anyway.

Madonna's version of "American Pie" is butchery.

Carl, I haven't heard the "Ordinary World" cover but I like the original so I will have to find it and compare.

 

[Cheyenne]

Metallica remade "Turn The Page" by Bob Seger but I don't know if it is better or simply on a par with the original.

Bob Seger? "Turn the Page" was by Jackson Browne, approximately 1979 or 1980 if I remember correctly. I like the original and the remake.

 

[Naked Hunny]

NO NO Cheyenne sweetie "Turn the Page" was by Bob Segar I know that and I wasnt even alive yet sweetie!!

Metallica also did a cover of "Tuesday's Gone" by Lynyrd Skynyrd which was very good.

 

[Jester]

It's all opinion, so here's some of mine:

- "Sweet Dreams" by Marilyn Manson (Eurythmics)
- "Higher Ground" by Red Hot Chili Peppers (S. Wonder)
- "You Outta Know" by 1000 Mona Lisas (A. Morisette)
- "Faith" by Limp Bizkit (G. Michael)
- "I Will Survive" by Cake (G. Gaynor)
- "Aint it Fun?" by Guns N' Roses (Dead Boys)
- "Last Kiss" by Pearl Jam (I forget who...)
- "Unchained Melody" by U2 (Righteous Bros.)

That's all I've got at the moment. I like listening to covers, even if it's of a song that I don't like. It's interesting to hear different interpretations of the same songs. I'm messing around right now with a version of Nine Inch Nails' "A Warm Place." It's all interesting if not all good!

 

[OUTSIDER]

"My way" by Sid Vicious.

 

[Weird Harold]

Which did you hear first?

The original, or the cover?

I can't give any specifics, because I'm one of those people who don't pay a lot of attention to music history. However, I do know that whatever version is the first I hear, is usually the version I prefer.

I have found very few "covers" that are better than the first version I heard. I use covers in quotes, because even if the second version I hear is decades older than the version I heard first, it seems like a bad cover of a tune I like.

 

[OUTSIDER]

I heard the Sinatra version first but I still like Sid's better.

 

[Carl East]

You know, until I started this thread, I didn't realise just how many records get covered. Although I like some of the covers, I can't help thinking these bands are making money from someone else's work. I suppose if the cover is better than the original, then perhaps it's justified.

I can't agree with you Harold on this one, mainly because some cover versions have the benefit of better sound tracks. In some case's, better singers too.

But I for one will be looking out for a couple of the songs mentioned in this thread, thanks guy's/gal's.

Carl.

 

[Always]

Oh yeah, the Bangles did Hazy Shade of Winter better than Simon and Garfunkel did.

Ozzy or Lemmy, who did Hellraiser better? OZZY!!!!! Ozzy covered it. Lemmy wrote it.

[Edited by KillerMuffin on 09-29-2000 at 11:20 PM]

I never even knew Simon & Garfunkel did it first, but I heard it awhile ago, and yes, the Bangles did a better job.

Ozzy does EVERYTHING better, although after he left Black Sabbath it was never the same again. After Crazy Train and Iron Man, anyway...

 

[Weird Harold]

I can't agree with you Harold on this one, mainly because some cover versions have the benefit of better sound tracks. In some case's, better singers too.

I won't say that there are NO covered songs that aren't improved in the process. It's just that a song like _American Woman_ for me will never be done better than the by Guess Who live. That live performance defines the song for me, and because I have sentimental attachments to that version, anything else is a pale copy.

Another example: Any Carpenter's song not sung by Karen Carpenter just doesn't have the same associations for me. There are some fine covers of Carpenters songs and to someone younger than me who doesn't have the other associations with the sixties and seventies might like them better.

It's not so much the quality of the music, as it is the emotional associations with the version I heard first that makes the "first heard" version the one that's being (inadequately) "covered" for me.

 

[Naked Hunny]

Ok WH, Karen Carpenter died before I knew who she was but I think that if anyone tries to cover one of her songs they are headed for disaster. I love The Carpenters!! I listen to them when I have a bad day!!

 

[Canucklehead922]

Ozzy or Lemmy, who did Hellraiser better? OZZY!!!!! Ozzy covered it. Lemmy wrote it.

Oh. Okay, uh...then could you explain why my "No More Tears" CD lists Ozzy, Zakk Wylde AND Lemmy as writers for the song?

Anyway, Hendrix did "Hey Joe" as a cover. I've never heard the original, but if Hendrix did it, his version is probably definitive.

Hmm, I'm trying to think of songs where I've heard both the original and the cover. Coal Chamber did "Shock the Monkey" pretty well. Also, I like the Offspring's version of "Feelings." Nirvana played "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" well.

Generally, I prefer it when a band doesn't feel like they have to play a cover song note-for-note.

 

[Always]

Aerosmith, "Come Together" > The Beatle's original (IMHO)

Natalie Imbruglia, "Torn" was a cover of some unknown

Sheryl Crow, "Sweet Child O' Mine" < Guns N' Roses original

Madonna, "American Pie" < Don Mclean's original

I like the Beatles; but Aerosmith really did do it better.

I know every word to that song.

I first thought it was Led Zeppelin. Then Ozzy Osbourne. I haven't heard much Guns & Roses.

I am ashamed to say I have never heard the original, but I have heard several spoofs... Weird Al's Jedi Knight, and I have Millenium Pie. (Real stupid.) I did like Madonna's version, but any original is better than Madonna. (Someone told me that was by Cher...)