when the cover is better than the original

California dreamin' by Eddie Hazel

Toy Dolls
Ghost Riders In The Sky:



The Stones doing Robert Johnson's 'Love In Vain" features the best slide guitar ever recorded, in my humble opinion.
(Courtesy of Mick Taylor)



Hendrix doing Them's 'Gloria':

Originally by the Bee Gees, Al Green owns it.






Maybe people will argue its not better - but this version is stunning and equally as good (much better imho) and transforms the song.

Nazareth doing 'This Flight Tonight' in 1973
www.youtube.com...

...and the original by Joni Mitchell
www.youtube.com...

Joni Mitchell even said she thought the cover was great. Since then there have been 40+ covers of this song. I find it interesting there is so much interest in this song and I find the original bland as it gets. Granted the lyrics are pretty contagious.

A close runner up for me is The Rods doing 'Nothing Going On In The City'
www.youtube.com...

...and the original by White Honey
www.youtube.com...

Last but not least I would say 'Sonic Reducer' by Overkill
www.youtube.com...

...and the original by The Lost Boys
www.youtube.com...

...sorry Pearl Jam, your version suck
www.youtube.com...

Pennywise , Stand by me

I am not sure if these versions are better, I think that each is as good as the original in their own way with a few being better than the original. Not all are actually covers but rather interpretations of older songs..

The Sundays covering Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones
It doesn't help that I had a crush on Harriet Wheeler for the long time with her dark hair and unique voice...



The Sisters of Mercy covering Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones



Faith and the Muse covering Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush



Bear McCreary giving his take on All Along the Watchtower



Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros covering the old Irish patriotic song for the Black Hawk Down soundtrack.
en.wikipedia.org...



Dead Can Dance giving their take on The Wind that Shakes the Barley
The Wind that Shakes the Barley Info



Brendan Perry (Dead Can Dance) with Robin Guthrie (The Cocteau Twins) covering Tim Buckley's Song to the Siren ..This version stops me in my tracks every time I hear it...



Finally...

The Animals doing their take on House of the Rising Sun... I believe that this is one of the greatest songs ever..It still holds up with Eric Burdons amazing voice, the keyboards, the drum rides...the song just never gets old and has this amazing atmosphere to it...

a reply to: Nechash

They really make Pink Floyd look like pussies. I bet Roger Waters approves.

a reply to: ColeYounger

The Stones doing Robert Johnson's 'Love In Vain" features the best slide guitar ever recorded, in my humble opinion.
(Courtesy of Mick Taylor).

That's Keith Richards. Mick Taylor isn't on the track. Mandolin is by Ry Cooder.

Does a tribute count?
Doro doing Dio

Here is one

The feeling is all there....

And another

a reply to: ColeYounger


That is some nice slide from Mick Taylor. I didn't realize that was him. That is probably my favorite Stones album.

Here is a nice write up on it.

Then a workmanlike “Stray Cat Blues” followed by a thoughtful reading of Robert Johnson’s “Love in Vain,” also distinguished by Taylor’s satin slide playing

www.thebluegrassspecial.com...

Gov't Mule with Jason Newsted, War Pigs

a reply to: tadaman

a reply to: CardiffGiant

a reply to: ZetaRediculian

Heh heh. Your source has been taking Ron Wood's drunken ramblings for fact.

From the Let it Bleed liner notes:

Love in Vain
Vocal: Mick Jagger
Guitars: Keith Richards
Drums: Charlie Watts
Bass: Bill Wyman
Mandolin: Ry Cooder

Mick Taylor is credited on 'Country Honk' and 'Let it Bleed'. He usually plays slide in standard tuning — a completely different sound from the slide on 'Love in Vain', which is in open G.

Here is Keith playing slide on 'Salt of the Earth' — clearly the same touch as 'Love in Vain'.


This is what Taylor's slide playing with the Stones sounded like:

Chalk and cheese.

a reply to: Astyanax

wrong album. look again.

a reply to: Astyanax

sorry I was short on the last post. Was catching a train...

Just to clarify, the original post was 'Love in Vain' from 'Get yer ya ya's out'. I'm not big stones buff and honestly couldn't tell you Richard's playing from Taylor's but the live version from "ya ya's" does appear to be Taylor. I thought the slide on that particular track was nice whoever it was. You are right, Taylor on that other track was awful but so was the rest of the band. Not a big fan of live Stones except for Ya ya's and something else they did.

I changed my mind after listening again with headphones. Taylor is pretty lame on that track you provided and the rest of the band didn't sound too bad. But what the hell is Jagger wearing?

a reply to: ZetaRediculian

But what the hell is Jagger wearing?

Something to impress the wife, I expect.

Some of the covers I like:

This is best cover of one of an Etta James song. And I love Etta. Damn your eyes. Alex Clare version.


This kid's rendition of Who's Loving You by Michael Jackson ( the 2nd song he preforms after Simon stops him.)


80's pop version of Tainted Love. Yep it's a cover.


Over the rainbow cover by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. RIP IZ