[dB Cooper]

Got this idea from a FB thread... What cover versions of songs can you think of that were better than the original?

Here are two nominees:

• Black Magic Woman (Santana) (originally Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac)
• Hurt (Johnny Cash) (Originally Nine Inch Nails)

I know there's gotta be a lot more. The above are obviously Rock tunes but the intention is genre-agnostic, so rock, country, whatever- all aboard.

[WC]

Wild Horses (The Sundays) (Original version by the Rolling Stones)
Blinded by the Light (Manfred Mann) (Original by Bruce Springsteen)
Hazy Shade of Winter ( the Bangles) (Original by Simon & Garfunkel)

[ArthurDent]

Don't know that I'd say they surpass the original, except in air time & recognition, but fwiw -

After Midnight - Eric Clapton, written & original by JJ Cale
Cocaine-                 "                     "

All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix, written & original by Bob Dylan

Season of the Witch - Super Session: Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills, written & original by Donovan - this one is really a push.

[Tyson]

Satisfaction - Cat Power (original by The Rolling Stones)

[FullRangeMan]

What A Difference A Day Makes by Esther Phillips:
Top hit world wide in the 1980s by CTI Records.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD2Y5bRpEq8&list=PLEoyeyTT5kNYU4NAyX7cwgWs_6Va6sP4M&index=28

Original by Dinah Washington:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmBxVfQTuvI

[Goosepond]

Actually both very good, just different:

Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt (original - Roy Orbison)

Gene

[Johnny2Bad]

"All Along The Watchtower" Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
I know it's been posted, but as far as it surpassing the original ... well, have you heard Dylan do this song?.

While we're here ...
"Quinn The Eskimo" Manfred Mann's Earth Band (Bob Dylan)

... and really a bunch of Dylan songs. I'm not a Bob hater, but there was a difference in his performing and songwriting after the 70's. He does a great job on some of his own stuff but not all of it.

[FullRangeMan]

Satisfaction - Cat Power (original by The Rolling Stones)

Anemic, nice legs tough.
Try this guys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jadvt7CbH1o

[dflee]

Got one with multiple top charters-
Heard it through the grapevine - Marvin Gaye's version came out in 68, after
Gladys Knight and the Pips and after the Miricles. Credence did it in 70.
All are pretty dang good.
Satisfaction by Devo is pretty good.

Don

[Scroof Neachy]

I really dig Cocker’s version of Traffic’s Feeln’ Alright.

[SlushPuppy]

Quick glance at my collection:

"Take me to the River" - Talking Heads (Original - Al Green)
"Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley (Original - Leonard Cohen)
“Tainted Love” - Soft Cell (Original - Gloria Jones)
“Turn, Turn, Turn” – The Byrds (Original - Pete Seeger)
“I Fought the Law” - The Clash (Original - The Bobby Fuller Four)
“All Along The Watchtower” - Jimi Hendrix (Original - Bob Dylan)
"Pictures Of Matchstick Men" - Camper Van Beethoven (Original - Status Quo)
“Stop Your Sobbing” - The Pretenders (Original - The Kinks)
“Ain’t That a Shame” - Cheap Trick (Original - Fats Domino)
“Dear Prudence” – Siouxsie and the Banshees (Original - The Beatles)

[Tyson]

Space Oddity - Natalie Merchant (Original David Bowie)

[dB Cooper]

I really dig Cocker’s version of Traffic’s Feeln’ Alright.

You ever see the version from SNL with Cocker- and Belushi impersonating him with Cocker standing right there next to him? Best musician impersonation of all time. BTW, yes, Cocker's 'Feelin' Alright' is definitely better than Traffic's.

[Rob Babcock]

I like the original version of Mad World by Tears for Fears but Gary Jules' version is even better.  And about 15-20 years ago I heard a death metal band from Minneapolis do a mind boggling version of the old Elvis song Suspicious Minds (maybe not originally Elvis, it's been done by so many artists).  I forget their name now- Ript?  Helloween does a brain-bending version of the Faith No More song "From Out of Nowhere" that leaves the original in the dust.  Lastly Judas Priest does a version of Diamonds and Rust that's much more interesting than the original by Joan Baez (IMO of course ).

BTW, I agree that it's basically impossible to top the Jeff Buckley version of Hallejulah.

Oh, forgot another one...basically anything covered by Eva Cassidy.  Once she did a song it was hers forever.

[FullRangeMan]

Tom Jones: KISS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FMtC0qiGqQ
New Kiss:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogVLrh62aE4
Original by Prince:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9tEvfIsDyo

[timind]

Too many Dylan covers to mention. and I also love Dylan's originals. Instead I'll give a couple Beatles' covers that better the original.

Joe Cocker's With A Little Help From My Friends
Patti Smith's Within You Without You

[Blackmore]

Etta James’ live version of “Take it to the Limit” shames the Eagles in every way. Love her!

[randytsuch]

Thanks for starting this, I was thinking about this, but never got to it 

I'm not going to claim these are better, just different

Lorde Everybody wants to rule the world    Tears for Fears  Note that since this isn't on Tidal, I haven't heard it on my main system yet, heard it when my kid was playing it with Spotify.  But it seemed worth checking out.

Eva Cassidy  Fields of Gold  Sting  Agree with Rob about Eva, but this one in particular works for me.

London Grammar Devil Inside  INXS

Wicked Game  Gemma Hayes  Chris Isaak  I really like the original, but recently found this cover that I've been listening to

My selection is biased towards my preference for jazzy female vocals.  I have a bunch more courtesy of Tidal, but that's a start.

Randy

[mikeeastman]

  "Into the Mystic” -Joe Cocker  ( Original - Van Morrison )

[HsvHeelFan]

I like Michael Buble's version of the Eagles "Heartache Tonight" better than the original.

I agree with Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower"

One cover that was awful in Sinatra's version of "Downtown".  I really liked the Petula Clark version, but Frank's rendition was just bad.

HsvHeelFan