Covers that are better than the originals!

[Foxhound]

Originally Posted by Zombeels

Now for some Cake

The Cake?!!! Not the group that popped into my head:



Sorry about the quality of the video.

[Foxhound]

Torch singer Big Mama Thornton wrote and released Ball and Chain in 1968:




It was Big Brother & the Holding Company though who took the song into the stratosphere with their live renditions. This one recorded on 8 March 1968 at the Fillmore West was included in their Cheap Thrills LP released on 12 August 1968:




But this one from 16 August 1968 may be the best, at least technically:

[Foxhound]

My Back Pages was included on the LP Another Side of Bob Dylan that was released on 8 August 1964. It was a recording only a hardcore Bob Dylan fan could love:





A very good cover by the Byrds was included on their Younger Than Yesterday LP which was released on 6 February 1967:

[dwill123]

I prefer the Brothers Johnson version.

[dr wu]

Original by Cryan' Shames....






Like both but going with the original...blame my youth ..I grew up listening to the Shames....one of my first big dates with my wife was seeing them in 1969.
I didn't even know that Proto-Kaw (Kansas..before they changed their name and band members)...they got back together some years back, 2004, to do a few albums)did a version .

[Foxhound]

Long Tall Sally by Little Richard was released in March 1956:



A cover by the Beatles was released on an EP with the same title on 19 June 1964:



I might like the Beatles' cover "better" but neither is really to my taste.

[Dude111]

Usually originals are better than any cover......

There are exceptions though like Crosby Stills and Nashs "Woodstock" -- I heard thet before I heard Joni's and I think thiers is better.......

[Foxhound]

Good Golly, Miss Molly by Little Richard was released in January 1958 and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100:



An equally frantic cover by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels was released in 1966 as part of a medley with Devil With a Blue Dress On and also reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100:



Both sensational!

[dwill123]

I would never say this version is better than the Band's but TDN did a fun version and it became a staple in their concerts so others liked the version also.

[dwill123]

I know Jerry is not everyone's cup of tea but this is a very good and unique cover of the song.

[Foxhound]

Silhouettes by the Rays was released in 1957 and reached #3 on the Billboard hot 100:



A cover by Herman's Hermits was released in 1965. It reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 in the United Kingdom and #1 in Canada:

[Foxhound]

After they first got going in early 1964, the tandem of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards quickly became prolific songwriters and were soon penning tunes for other artists. One of the very first was As Tears Go By for Marianne Faithfull which was released in June 1964:



The Rolling Stones themselves released a cover on 18 December 1965:



I think the Stones' version was better because the song was actually Marianne Faithfull's first recording as a seventeen year old and she couldn't sing or emote worth a damn at the time.

[dr wu]

Stones version is better, but Faithfull claims Jagger ripped her off since she claims she co-wrote it with him.

[dwill123]

[Foxhound]

Cool! I didn't know that the Chambers Brothers had also released a kick-ass cover of People Get Ready.

[dwill123]

[Foxhound]

That's a good one!

[Foxhound]

This Wheel's on Fire by the Band was included on their Music from the Big Pink LP that was released on 1 July 1968:



A cover by Julie Driscoll with Brian Augur and the Trinity was released later in 1968 and reached #5 on the U.K. hit chart:



A really good cover by the Byrds was included on their Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde LP released on 5 March 1969:



Another great cover by Leslie West was included on his Mountain LP released in July 1969:



I like every one of the covers more than the Band's version.