mc2 Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Maybe at the top of my list of greatest cover versions of a song would be Jimi Hendrix Experience's version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower."It's got all the right stuff...makes you forget there was ever an earlier version and the band captures it and makes it their own classic. IMO, one of the most perfect covers of all time.Wondering what other faves anyone else might have?
DavidE Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Maybe at the top of my list of greatest cover versions of a song would be Jimi Hendrix Experience's version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower."It's got all the right stuff...makes you forget there was ever an earlier version and the band captures it and makes it their own classic. IMO, one of the most perfect covers of all time.Wondering what other faves anyone else might have?Led Zeppelin's covers or ripoffs of classic blues tunes come to mind....Clapton - CrossroadsVan Halen - You Really Got Me.Simon and Garfunkel - 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)James Taylor - You've Got a FriendThe Byrds - Mr. Tambourine ManJust some quickies off the top of my head.
mathman Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Living Colour's remake of The Talking Heads Memories Can't Wait is one of my favorites.
marcnorth Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 All Along the Watchtower is my favorite one too. "Get Ready" covered by Wishbone Ash is another good one.
serial Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 "You Really Got Me" by VH has my top vote."Born To Be Wild" by the Cult made a song I never liked extremely listenable
BadJaxx Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 add these...Train kept a rollin -- AerosmithPretty Woman -- VH
Bass Guy Dave Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Priest's "Green Manalishi" cover was an excellent one. Took a rather creepy, dark song and magnified it exponentially.Hearing Priest's version of Johnny B Goode, though, got me interested in golf instead."You really got me" from Van Halen was a great take.Interesting thread. Gotta think of some more good covers now...(* quick edit to add that Aretha Franklin's version of "Respect" pretty well wiped out Otis Redding's version. WAY cooler arrangement.)
Dumo Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Yeah "Watchtower" is great. Even Dylan said Hendrix pretty much took it to a whole other level and owns it now. I love Johnny Cash's version of NIN's "Hurt". Trent Reznor said pretty much the same thing about Cash's version as Dylan did about Hendrix. It's Johnny's song now. He was speechless after he saw the video. He didn't expect that. The video is very heavy too given the fact it was one of the last projects June Carter and Johnny Cash ever did.
Bass Guy Dave Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 NOT this one.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sfatiRpFMMHard to believe it outsold this original one at that time by a longshot.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ayNdjFyk1cI can't think of a starker contrast in "cool."Best Wishes
Jones Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 I Love Rock and Roll - Joan JettShe f'n owns that mutha!
kurtsstuff Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Bullet Boys...For the love of money.....killer....
Rechts Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 While I don't think that anything the Bulletboys did could be qualified as "best cover ever", I thought they did "Hang On St. Christopher" by Tom Waits absolooootly voodoo:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIBtFiSDE38
cmatthes Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Richard Thompson's "Valerie", as covered by Marshall Crenshaw (with SONNY LANDRETH!) on his '89 CD "Good Evening" - check it out."And Your Bird Can Sing" - the Harrison/Beatles classic off of "Revolver": Done by Guadalcanal Diary on "2X4""She's Got Everything" by the Kinks: as done by the Romantics..."What's So Funny About (Peace Love and Understanding)" by Nick Lowe, as done by Elvis Costello."Save it for Later" by English Beat: done by School of Fish (WAAAY rocked up!)"Hello I Love You" by Morrison and the Doors, as redone by The Cure. Although it's getting a bit tired lately, "Mrs. Robinson" by S&G, as done by Evan Dando/LemonheadsThe Move's "California Man", as done by Cheap TrickMadonna's "Like a Prayer", as done by John Wesley HardingIt's a toss up between Dinosaur Jr's versions of the Cure's "Just Like Heaven" or Frampton's "Show Me the Way"...they are both repelling and compelling at the same time.Anything by the original artist that The Shazam has covered.
Cary Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Cheap Trick - Ain't That a ShameVH - Pretty WomanLemonheads - Mrs. RobinsonThere are more, I'm sure but these come to mind right away.
BadgerDave Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 My favorite is "People Get Ready" covered by Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart.Other notables:Richard Thompson's version of "Oops I Did It Again" (don't laugh - seek it out and you will agree!)The Jam's cover of "In the Midnight Hour"Los Lobo's 20 minute extended jam on "Down by the River" (which has, in turn, been covered by various and sundry Minneapolitans at the 4321 Club).Hank Williams III's version of "Cold Grey Tomb of Stone" which is, IMO, the perfect country song.Johnny Winter's cover of "Highway 61 Revisited"My nomination for worst cover goes to any attempt by RATT to play a SLADE song.
Hamer Bass Head Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 saxon doing christopher cross' "ride like the wind"living color doing the clash's "should i stay or should I go"faith no more doing the commodores' "easy"
tafkathundernotes Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 The Beatles covers of "Twist and Shout", "Please, Mr Postman" and "Roll Over Beethoven" come to mind Cheap Trick has done some great ones: Day Tripper (Found: All the Parts EP) Don't Be Cruel Ain't That a Shame There are just too many to name! And, lest we forget: This anonymous but stunning cover of Europe's "Final Countdown" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5Ym5g3DR1M
Feynman Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 Angie - Tori AmosThank You - Tori Amos(Most things) - Tori AmosThat woman can give anything a new life.
alpep Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 the letter came in through the bathroom windowdelta ladyget by with a little help from my friends you are so beautifuljoe cocker
El Kabong Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 THIS RULEZ: LOL!!!!OMG!!!!11111!!!Baby got back- Johnathan Coultonhttp://www.jonathancoulton.com/mp3/Baby%20Got%20Back.mp3Sweet Jane- Cowboy Junkies
David B Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 I think all of Kiss' covers are better that the originals.2,000 Man New York GrooveKissin' TimeThen She Kissed Me God Gave Rock & Roll To You Any Way You Want It There are a few more. I bet you can't name them.
Steve Haynie Posted March 28, 2007 Posted March 28, 2007 Judas Priest is identified with Green Manalishi and Diamonds and Rust. Nazareth remade a lot of tunes, too. This Flight Tonight is a Joni Mitchell song. Love Hurts was around long before Nazareth, but they own that song now!
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