Covers that are better than the originals

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  • djfunnymandjfunnyman Posts: 12,518
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    I prefer the Barry White version of Just the Way you are to the Billy Joel original

    Who sung the original of Fool if you think its over? Chris Rea or Elkie Brooks?
  • Barney06Barney06 Posts: 123,853
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    djfunnyman wrote: »
    I prefer the Barry White version of Just the Way you are to the Billy Joel original

    Who sung the original of Fool if you think its over? Chris Rea or Elkie Brooks?

    Chris Rea
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    paulca66 wrote: »
    Sorry but can't stand her screeching version just like I can't stand Mariah Carey's screeching version of Without You.
    soulboy77 wrote: »
    Can I second that, sheer torture to listen to!

    ill third it! :D
    paulca66 wrote: »
    I prefer both their versions of 'Hush' to Joe South's original.

    noooo.... love joe souths original.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    handbags and gladrags by chris farlow over the original by mike d'arbo
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 163
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    ill third it! :D



    noooo.... love joe souths original.

    I like his version just prefer Deep Purple's versions. I like Iggy Pop's and David Bowie's versions of 'China Girl' equally.

    This probably won't be popular but I've never liked Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' but I like The Bates cover.
  • bspacebspace Posts: 14,303
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    paulca66 wrote: »
    I prefer the Rolling Stones version of 'I Wanna Be Your Man' to the Beatles original.

    Well they intended it for ringo so jagger was always likely to improve on it a bit

    "It was a throwaway. The only two versions of the song were Ringo and the Rolling Stones. That shows how much importance we put on it: We weren’t going to give them anything great, right?"

    interesting quotes from john and paul on writing it at
    http://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/i-wanna-be-your-man/
  • Ella NutElla Nut Posts: 8,891
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    TrebleKing wrote: »
    Status Quo doing Rockin' All Over The World (Creedence Clearwater Revival.

    David Bowie doing China Girl (Iggy Pop)

    Yvonne Elliman doing If I Can't Have You (Bee Gees)

    Oh yes, I love Yvonne's interpretation of that. The Bee Gees' version is a bit singing by numbers, if that makes sense and the production is horrible.

    I didn't know Girls' Talk by Dave Edmunds was originally an Elvis Costello track as mentioned earlier in the thread. Dave's version is far superior.

    Better than the original -

    Soft Cell's Tainted Love (Gloria Jones)
    The Specials A Message to You Rudy (Dandy Livingstone)
    Ken Boothe Everything I Own (Bread)
  • ElectraElectra Posts: 55,660
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    Bryan Ferry - A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall (Dylan)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zwBHd4kll0

    Turisas - Rasputin (Boney M)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdkBs0VCSX0
  • gasheadgashead Posts: 13,807
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    handbags and gladrags by chris farlow over the original by mike d'arbo
    Did D'Arbo record it then? I thought he just wrote it and Farlow was the original artist. Anyway, I prefer Rod Stewart's version to all others.
  • andersonsonsonandersonsonson Posts: 6,454
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    I know this won't be popular but I think it is actually extremely good

    James Arthur - Wrecking Ball

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHKpXAPTVNU
  • BarbraBarbra Posts: 15,581
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    paulca66 wrote: »
    Sorry but can't stand her screeching version just like I can't stand Mariah Carey's screeching version of Without You.

    Yes, I agree

    Eartha Kitt's version of All By Myself is also better than the original imo.
  • misslibertinemisslibertine Posts: 14,306
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    paulca66 wrote: »
    Another 2 I didn't know were covers. Maybe there should be a thread for 'Covers You Didn't Know Were Covers'.

    There's been a few, to my recollection.
  • pothuthicpothuthic Posts: 47,099
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    Miranda Lamberts cover of You & I poops all over Gaga's
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    gashead wrote: »
    Did D'Arbo record it then? I thought he just wrote it and Farlow was the original artist. Anyway, I prefer Rod Stewart's version to all others.

    yep d'arbo recorded it , although not as a single and im not sure whether it was even an album release.

    we will have to differ then, i cant stand rod stewarts version! :p hes the one who changed the lyric to 'poor old grandad' from just 'grandad', thats where chris farlowe beats stewart hands down.... farlowe didnt have to emphisise the lyric by making a referance to 'poor old', he could just put the soul, the emotion into the lyric 'grandad' and you felt the pain! :p:D
  • Heston VestonHeston Veston Posts: 6,478
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    Ella Nut wrote: »
    Oh yes, I love Yvonne's interpretation of that. The Bee Gees' version is a bit singing by numbers, if that makes sense and the production is horrible.

    I didn't know Girls' Talk by Dave Edmunds was originally an Elvis Costello track as mentioned earlier in the thread. Dave's version is far superior.

    Better than the original -

    Soft Cell's Tainted Love (Gloria Jones)
    The Specials A Message to You Rudy (Dandy Livingstone)
    Ken Boothe Everything I Own (Bread)

    Mention of Elvis Costello reminds me of Robert Wyatt's version of 'Shipbuilding' which I prefer.

    Vanilla Fudge - "You Keep Me Hanging On" - organ-tastic.

    Talking Heads - "Take Me To The River"
  • LaVieEnRoseLaVieEnRose Posts: 12,836
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    yep d'arbo recorded it , although not as a single and im not sure whether it was even an album release.

    we will have to differ then, i cant stand rod stewarts version! :p hes the one who changed the lyric to 'poor old grandad' from just 'grandad', thats where chris farlowe beats stewart hands down.... farlowe didnt have to emphisise the lyric by making a referance to 'poor old', he could just put the soul, the emotion into the lyric 'grandad' and you felt the pain! :p:D

    The rhythm and sound of the original lyric is better.

    The handbags
    and the gladrags
    that your grandad
    had to sweat so you could buy
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    The rhythm and sound of the original lyric is better.

    The handbags
    and the gladrags
    that your grandad
    had to sweat so you could buy

    indeed...

    its abit strange really that both chris and rod came out of the blues boom, both having very 'bluesey' voices, but chris animated that blues feel far better then rod imho.
  • mushymanrobmushymanrob Posts: 17,992
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    needless to say, handbags is one of my all time favs.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 163
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    I like Blondie's 'Atomic' but prefer Party Animals version.
  • EraserheadEraserhead Posts: 22,016
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    A few more random improved cover versions:

    Bauhaus - Third Uncle
    Sisters of Mercy - Emma
    Carter USM - Rent
    Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
    REM - First We Take Manhattan
    This Mortal Coil - Till I Gain Control Again
    Midge Ure - No Regrets
    Breeders - Happiness is a Warm Gun
    Peter Murphy - Final Solution
    The Jam - David Watts
    Jesus and Mary Chain - Little Red Rooster
  • JurassicMarkJurassicMark Posts: 12,799
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    paulca66 wrote: »
    I like Blondie's 'Atomic' but prefer Party Animals version.

    That version is terrible.

    They're not worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence as Blondie.
  • JohnnyForgetJohnnyForget Posts: 24,061
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    Eraserhead wrote: »

    The Jam - David Watts
    Jesus and Mary Chain - Little Red Rooster

    Sacrilege!

    The Jam's version can't hold a candle to the original by the Kinks.

    And the J&MC's version of a truly great Willie Dixon song is an abomination!

    In my opinion of course.
  • Lucy Van PeltLucy Van Pelt Posts: 11,591
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    Van Morrison's version of It's All Over Now Baby Blue (Bob Dylan)

    Dinosaur Junior doing Just Like Heaven (The Cure)

    The Bangles doing Hazy Shade of Winter (Simon and Garfunkel) - contraversial that one may be and though I am a S & G fan still think the gals did a better version

    The Fall doing There's a Ghost in My House (R D Taylor)

    Pet Shop Boys doing Go West (Village People)

    The Violent Femmes doing Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (Culture Club)

    Half Man Half Biscuit doing With Goths (sic) on our Side (Bob Dylan)

    Mott the Hoople doing All the Young Dudes (David Bowie)
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 163
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    That version is terrible.

    They're not worthy to be mentioned in the same sentence as Blondie.

    I knew my opinion wouldn't be popular.:) I also prefer The Jam's version of 'David Watts' to The Kinks version and Van Morrison's 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue' to Bob Dylan's. I disagree about Midge Ure's 'No Regrets' being better than Scott Walker's and The Bangles' version of 'Hazy Shade Of Winter' being better than Simon & Garfunkel's.
  • Deep PurpleDeep Purple Posts: 63,255
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    paulca66 wrote: »
    I like Blondie's 'Atomic' but prefer Party Animals version.

    No, no, no, no.:(
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