Cover Songs That are Better Than The Original

[Diesel]

When Bob Dylan was asked about Hendrix's cover he simply said "Its Jimi's song now"

 

 

 

Edited October 9, 2021 by Diesel

[Nobby Noboddy]

 

[Grumpy Owl]

Great one to share with you all...

 

Original:

 

I do like it when some other band can take a song and then sort of 'make it their own'...

 

COVER:

 

[BlueSky]

 

[screamingeagle]

 

cover

 

[screamingeagle]

 

 

cover

 

[KingKitty]

Originally written and recorded by Stephen Stills, "Love The One You're With" as covered by The Isley Brothers (and dig that bass playin', by the way!):

 

[KingKitty]

You are all familiar with the cover version of this song which was recorded by Three Dog Night, but the original was written and recorded by the late, great Harry Nilsson. He wrote this song while listening to the busy tone from a then new to the market, touch tone telephone (as you'll soon recognize at the opening of the song). 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2021 by KingKitty

[KingKitty]

Originally recorded by "The Possum" George Jones, here's Dave Edmunds, backed up by his friends The Stray Cats with, "The Race is On".

 

 

[KingKitty]

Lynyrd Skynyrd made this song a staple of classic rock radio, but most ain't never heard the original version by J. J. Cale. Here's the original studio version, complete with one of the earliest versions of a drum machine ever recorded..."Call Me The Breeze".

 

 

[KingKitty]

It was Thelma Houston who had the huge hit with this song, as a disco classic, yet it's the original featuring the great Teddy Pendergrass belting out the lead vocals with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes that makes my big toe shoot up in my boot. "Don't Leave Me This Way"

 

 

[KingKitty]

Worlds away from The Carpenters' soft rock original, Shonen Knife covers, "On Top of the World".

 

 

[KingKitty]

The mighty Dread Zeppelin with their cover of "Ramble On". Alright boys, let's get gone. Let's get real gone!:

 

 

[Moonlight]

 

 

 

[KingKitty]

The original version was recorded by Charlie Ryan back in 1955, but it wasn't a big hit until 1972 when Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen...featuring the master of the Telecaster, Bill Kirchen...put out their cover of this classic, "Hot Rod Lincoln":

 

 

Edited October 27, 2021 by KingKitty

[KingKitty]

Yet another incredible cover tune from the Isley Brothers. This one features the amazing guitar skills of Ernie Isley, whom Jimi Hendrix learned a great deal from, back when he roomed with the Isley Brothers  prior to becoming famous. Here with their take on the Seals & Croft hit, "Summer Breeze":

 

 

[KingKitty]

Speaking of Jimi Hendrix, most folks aren't aware that his hit song, "Hey Joe" was in fact a cover song, like "All Along the Watchtower". Although Jimi's version is, indeed, the superior version, I thought a few here might be interested in hearing the original version. Billy Roberts here with the rarely heard, and even more rarely known of version:

 

 

[KingKitty]

Not as universal well known as Jimi Hendrix, here's the late, great Roy Buchanan with his take on the same classic, "Hey Joe":

 

 

[KingKitty]

One of my personal favorite guitarist to ever grace this planet, Mr. Stevie Ray Vaughan showing his love for Jimi with "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)":

 

 

[KingKitty]

Written and recorded by James Taylor, The King gives his take on, "Steamroller Blues", with one of the masters of the Telecasters on lead guitar, James Burton:

 

[KingKitty]

Written by Neil Levenson and recorded by the doo wop group, Randy & the Rainbows as "Denise", the American pop/rock band, Blondie, performs their take on "Denis":

 

[KingKitty]

Here's a fun one. The Mersey's ditty, "Sorrow", followed by the David Bowie cover from his "Pin-Ups" album. Then, if you listen towards the middle of this Beatles' track by George Harrison, you can hear a refrain from "Sorrow", as well (about 4:14 minute mark "With your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue..."):

 

[KingKitty]

Perhaps the only good thing to come from that terrible "Sgt Pepper's" movie which starred Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees, Earth, Wind and Fire with, "Got To Get You Into My Life". The song was written by Paul McCartney to express his love of cannabis.

 

[KingKitty]

Penned by Motown's Barry Gordy and originally recorded by The Contours, The Dave Clark Five perform, "Do You Love Me?":

 

[KingKitty]

Another hit by The Contours as covered by The J. Geils Band. A bit of dating advice for all you blokes out there, "First I Look at the Purse":