the family album was basically an album prince wrote and recorded himself, bar a few bits such as horns and strings, and then he got paul peterson from the jam and lewis-less time (the version of the time in the purple rain movie) to replace prince's vocals. it's been reported that prince's original vocals were wiped from the master types for pauls vocals, it's not circulating amongst fans whilst the prince vocal versions of the other tracks are.

the originally released version has a lack of drums, whilst the sinead version has the soul 2 soul style drums through it, but is reasonably similar. what few people would know is there was an alternate unreleased mix of the family version which has drums, which were presumably just removed in the final mix, just like the bass was removed from the final mix of when doves cry. so the sinead version is a lot closer to the original idea than most people would know. however sinead shared a manager with paul peterson around the time (she was little known outside of nme readers before that song came out), so they probably heard the original version with drums

prince added it to his live shows after it became a hit, but personally i think it was quite different to the family and sinead versions. there were a couple of main arrangements, the first being prince solo, the second being the one on the hits release which was the duet. the version from his 2014 tour however was very close to the original

prince also played most or all instruments on the original manic monday by apollonia 6 which made it as far as the test pressing but removed from the final release. the bangles version features the main instrumentation by prince with some additional instruments added. i understand susannah hoffs is the only bangle that actually played on the released version. the backing vocals are the other 2 members of A6

i wouldn't say manic monday by the bangles was a cover as it was the first released version, plus it's really the original version with some changes

I never realised but somebody told me the other day that Bound2 is a cover :S Anybody know what of?

In the meantime I think this is one of my favourite covers from Moxie Kicks.. Wouldnt mistake it for the original though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb9MvgKBtqE

https://www.facebook.com/MoxieKicks?fref=ts
http://www.moxiekicks.com/

Well it samples the Ponderosa Twins Plus One's song Bound. Kayne West was sued by one of them for using the sample without his permission.

Aye... really winds me up when people say it's a Cash song. I can't stand his cover.

Whaaaa?!

Yeah. I felt that post had unintended comedic value too.

What dimwits think that Hurt is a Johnny Cash composition? There can hardly be anybody that doesn't know that it's a Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails song given all the hype surrounding Johnny Cash covering it.

I thought Fragile was a Julio Iglesias original then learned it was Sting 's.

God Gave Rock and Roll to You was originally by Argent not Kiss. It was written by Russ Ballard, who also wrote Rainbow's Since You've Been Gone.

Not just written, recorded by him as well. Great track.

I'd say Cash's version of Hurt takes the song to a higher level than the original.

Believe me, you'd be surprised! I've often had to correct people, and it drives me even more up the wall when people say "NIN covered Cash's Hurt"... I'm like WHAT?!

i agree...

I'm not an aficionado of either Cash or NIN, and having heard both versions I prefer Cash's. I think Trent Reznor has admitted that the song is "no longer mine".

While on the subject of covers that have transcended the original, Hendrix's cover of "All Along The Watchtower" springs to mind. Dylan himself performed it live more in the style of Hendrix's arrangement.

Halfway to Paradise by Billy Fury was originally recorded by Tony Orlando in the United States.

Yeah, I think those were the words he used. I still really dislike his version though, and the original remains my favourite to this date.

I'll probably get lynched for saying it, but I just don't enjoy Johnny Cash. He's just not my cup of tea. I honestly can totally understand why people like him and 'prefer' his version, and how poignant it's release was, but I just prefer Trent. All personal taste I guess!

All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix,
Just Like A Woman, With God On Our Side & If You Gotta Go Go Now - Manfred Mann,
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall - Bryan Ferry,
Mr. Tamborine Man - The Bryds,
It's All Over Now Baby Blue - Joan Baez,
You're No Good - The Swinging Blue Jeans,

All of the above were originals by Bob Dylan.

Adele did a great cover of a Bob Dylan song.

Said already but Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez which is actually a track by The Knife. It's ridiculous how big he got from that cover version yet The Knife to this day still don't get any real mainstream attention.

'Make You Feel My Love'?

Ellie Goulding- How Long Will I Love You originally by the warerboys

They are splitting up after their current tour so probably never will.

Don't Make Me Over by The Swinging Blue Jeans was originally by Dionne Warwick.

Lots of people seemed to record her songs. We all know she had the original of Anyone Who Had A Heart, but she also made Take A Message To Michael, which was recorded by Adam Faith as Take A Message To Martha in 1964.

Do You Love Me by Brian Poole and the Tremelos was originally by The Contours.

Adele, make you feel my love is by Bob Dylan

Sandy, a minor hit for the Hollies in the mid 70's was originally by Bruce Springsteen.