Best/Worst "Cover Version" songs?

[miniMAMF]

The worst:

Anything by performers from American Idol.

Ha - I wouldn't even call those cover songs. More like glorified karaoke.

 

[antiditz]

I always really liked The White Stripes' version of 'Jolene' (original: Dolly Parton), especially the live cut.

My recent favorite cover is Mates of State covering Phantom Planet's 'California' (yes, that song. But it's very un-OCish).

Other honorable mentions:
Wonderwall by Ryan Adams (original: Oasis)
Secret Heart by Feist (original: Ron Sexsmith)
We Will Become Silhouettes by The Shins (original: Postal Service)

In the worst category, too many to enumerate, but 'Guns of Brixton' covered by Nouvelle Vague is just godawful. And Razorlight doing 'Hey Ya!'? Ouch. It was bad when Outkast did it, no need to reinforce that.

 

[wolfpacker]

Hendrix's AATW is probably the best cover of all time. When even the original artists starts performing the song in the style of the cover, you know it is good.

I really like The Damned's version of "Alone Again Or" (the old Love song).

The Who's version of Summertime Blues (Ricky Nelson).

Talking Head's Take Me to the River (Al Green)

The Grateful Dead has tons of great covers. Sampson and Delilah is one of my favorites (sometimes credited to "Traditional").

 

[S2_Mac]

Wasn't aware that Ricky Nelson had covered this... it was originally written and performed/recorded by Eddir Cochran.

S2

 

[wolfpacker]

nope, just my faulty memory getting the two confused for some weird reason

 

[Cold Irons]

Cat Stevens - Father & Son by Boyzone WORST

The Animals - Bring It On Home to Me by Jimmy Barnes & Diesel - BEST

And...of course The Animals were just covering Sonny Boy Williamson II

BEST - has to be Jimi Hendrix cover of Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower".

WORST - too many to count.....

 

[melsmusic]

Hey I didn't know that, thanks. I actually didn't realise it was even a cover until I ripped my whole Animals CD and recognised the name. Then I listened to it and realised my more recent version was a cover. I think there are so many songs out there that people think are the original, but aren't. Especially if they were a flop for the original Artist, and a hit for the next Artist.

 

[Cold Irons]

Yeah - it's funny how many covers are actually out there. I have/listen to a lot of 40s & 50s electric blues, so I see a lot of covers of these old artists around. But also run across a number of more contemporary covers that I don't realize are covers 'til I stumble across the original. (Comes from listening to too much older music, I guess.....)

 

[boxlunch]

worst/funniest: William Shatner doing Common People (Pulp)

 

[Ethan120]

Worst: Don't 'cha - Xiu Xiu...
So dissapointing.

 

[Hoperlicious]

The View's cover of Rewind by Paulo Nutini

 

[Hoperlicious]

^ Good ...

 

[Uncle Rico]

Best has to be All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix (original Bob Dylan)
I also enjoy Thrice's cover of Eleanor Rigby (originally The Beatles)

Worst- I am absolutely disgusted that Fall Out Boy covered Love Will Tear Us Apart (oringinal- Joy Division). To me, FOB represents everything that is wrong with music today and I find this to be an insult to Ian Curtis' memory. If I met Patrick Stump tomorrow I would spit in his face.

That is all.

 

[narked]

Never even knew that Fall Out Boy covered that. If you ever meet him let me know and I'll come and give you a hand mate!

 

[n0mg5]

BAD= madonna's "American Pie"

 

[grayskyz]

My best and worst pics

On the must-have Best of all time:

Placebo Covers Kate Bush
"Running up that hill"

Ryan Adams Covers Oasis
"WonderWall"

Ben Harper Covers Marvin Gaye
"Sexual Healing"

Kings of Convience Covers Tom Petty
"Free Fallin"

Ben Folds Covers Dr. Dre
"Bit*hes aint sh*t"

Ben Fold Covers Cure
"In between Days"

BareNaked Ladies Covers Bruce Cockburn
"Lovers in a dangerous time"

Ray Pasnen Covers Tracy Chapman
"Fast Car"

Worst:

Tim McGraw covers Ryan Adams
"When the Stars go Blue"

Cyndi Lauper Covers Prince :
When you were mine

Limp Bizkit covers The Who:
Behind Blue Eyes

T.AT.U. Covers The Smiths
How soon is now


Thats all that come to mind at the moment.

-C

 

[Leotian]

More Best/Worst

Best:

Lots of good ones already listed, but try these fun ones, too:
Michael Hedges' live cover of "Watchtower" on Live on the Double Planet
Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Little Wing" (Hendrix)
Van Halen's "You Really Got Me" (The Kinks)
Harry Nilsson's "Without You" (Badfinger)
Brad Melhdau's instrumental take on "Blackbird" (The Beatles)
Pat Benatar's "Helter Skelter" (The Beatles)

Worst:

Bananarama's dreadful "Venus" (Shocking Blue)

 

[mike3k]

I love Rachid Taha's cover of "Rock the Casbah" (which is in the new Joe Strummer movie).

 

[urbanlegend]

"Word Up" - Keller Williams (Yes, the Korn song)

Actually, "word up" was originally performed by Cameo. I haven't heard the keller williams version but compare the original to Korn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_7Kp_TapA4 for the video.

I really enjoy the covers that Goldfinger did, such as 99 Red Balloons, Just Like Heaven and Rio.

John

 

[Eisenhower]

My favorite is probably Motley Crue's cover of the Beatles' song "Helter Skelter"