Best 10 Cover versions that betters the originals -

I don't know if this has been done before here, certainly not by various other artists, but this is my list -
Note: I'm keeping it to one song, one artist.

Hound Dog - Elvis Presley (1956) , Big Mama Thorton (1952)
Your Sixteen - Ringo Starr (1974) , Johnny Burnette (1960)
Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt (1977), Roy Orbison (1961)
Sympathy for the Devil - Guns 'n Roses (1994), The Rolling Stones (1968)
The Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana (1993), David Bowie (1970)
What'd I Say - Bobby Darin (1961) , Ray Charles (1959)
All Along the Watch Tower- Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968), Bob Dylan (1967)
One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer - George Thorogood (1977), John Lee Hooker (1966), Amos Milburn (1953)
Got My Mind Set On You - George Harrison (1987), James Ray (1962)
Temptation - Everly Brothers (1961), Bing Crosby (1933)


UPDATE: My list has been altered so as to include "What'd I Say".

Please note: whilst we we can argue about which version is better lets try to keep it fun, concise and subjective...

Last edited by Robt on Sun Oct 07, 2012 9:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I'm not sure these choices are better than the originals in some cases, but I prefer them.:

Hi-De-Ho (That Old Sweet Roll): Bobby Darin (Blood, Sweat and Tears)
Proud Mary: Elvis Presley (CCR)
Stagger Lee: Neil Sedaka (Lloyd Price)
Strange Fruit: Nina Simone (Billie Holiday)
Dream Lover: Ricky Nelson (Bobby Darin)
You Better Sit Down, Kids: Liza Minnelli (Cher)
Mama, You've Been On My Mind: Jeff Buckley (Bob Dylan)
New York State of Mind: Mel Torme (Billy Joel)
Man in the Mirror: James Morrison (Michael Jackson)
A House Is Not A Home: Ella Fitzgerald (Dionne Warwick)

I can't think of ten at the moment but these are, imo, far superior than the originals.


Sympathy for the Devil - Guns 'n Roses, (The Rolling Stones)
All Along the Watch Tower - Jimi Hendrix Experience, (Bob Dylan)
Jealous Guy - Roxy Music, (John Lennon)
With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker, (The Beatles)
Twist And Shout - The Beatles, (Isley Brothers)
Crying In The Rain - A-Ha, (Everly Brothers)
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, (Leonard Cohen)

Can't think of ten right now but this can't to mind right away:

I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston-remake), (Dolly Parton-original)

I'm not sure these choices are better than the originals in some cases, but I prefer them.:

Hi-De-Ho (That Old Sweet Roll): Bobby Darin (Blood, Sweat and Tears)
Proud Mary: Elvis Presley (CCR)
Stagger Lee: Neil Sedaka (Lloyd Price)
Strange Fruit: Nina Simone (Billie Holiday)
Dream Lover: Ricky Nelson (Bobby Darin)
You Better Sit Down, Kids: Liza Minnelli (Cher)
Mama, You've Been On My Mind: Jeff Buckley (Bob Dylan)
New York State of Mind: Mel Torme (Billy Joel)
Man in the Mirror: James Morrison (Michael Jackson)
A House Is Not A Home: Ella Fitzgerald (Dionne Warwick)

Proud Mary by Elvis superior to Creedence ! That's OK I did say subjective. Hey what about Bobby Darin's "What'd I Say" ? Methinks it betters Ray Charles original.

I can't think of ten at the moment but these are, imo, far superior than the originals.


Sympathy for the Devil - Guns 'n Roses, (The Rolling Stones)
All Along the Watch Tower - Jimi Hendrix Experience, (Bob Dylan)
Jealous Guy - Roxy Music, (John Lennon)
With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker, (The Beatles)
Twist And Shout - The Beatles, (Isley Brothers)
Crying In The Rain - A-Ha, (Everly Brothers)
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, (Leonard Cohen)

Good choices, especially Twist and Shout and Jealous Guy.

I'm not sure these choices are better than the originals in some cases, but I prefer them.:

Hi-De-Ho (That Old Sweet Roll): Bobby Darin (Blood, Sweat and Tears)
Proud Mary: Elvis Presley (CCR)
Stagger Lee: Neil Sedaka (Lloyd Price)
Strange Fruit: Nina Simone (Billie Holiday)
Dream Lover: Ricky Nelson (Bobby Darin)
You Better Sit Down, Kids: Liza Minnelli (Cher)
Mama, You've Been On My Mind: Jeff Buckley (Bob Dylan)
New York State of Mind: Mel Torme (Billy Joel)
Man in the Mirror: James Morrison (Michael Jackson)
A House Is Not A Home: Ella Fitzgerald (Dionne Warwick)

Proud Mary by Elvis superior to Creedence ! That's OK I did say subjective. Hey what about Bobby Darin's "What'd I Say" ? Methinks it betters Ray Charles original.

Well, I did say that I prefer them, not that I thought they were better! I don't much care for Darin's takes on What'd I Say or I Got A Woman. The Sings Ray Charles album was a daring step for a singer not really associated with rhythm n blues, but I'm not sure how successful I think it is. It's rather self-indulgent, I think. Darin sings the songs well, but doesn't seem to add anything to them - except I Got A Woman where he adds five minutes to the original!

I'm not sure these choices are better than the originals in some cases, but I prefer them.:

Hi-De-Ho (That Old Sweet Roll): Bobby Darin (Blood, Sweat and Tears)
Proud Mary: Elvis Presley (CCR)
Stagger Lee: Neil Sedaka (Lloyd Price)
Strange Fruit: Nina Simone (Billie Holiday)
Dream Lover: Ricky Nelson (Bobby Darin)
You Better Sit Down, Kids: Liza Minnelli (Cher)
Mama, You've Been On My Mind: Jeff Buckley (Bob Dylan)
New York State of Mind: Mel Torme (Billy Joel)
Man in the Mirror: James Morrison (Michael Jackson)
A House Is Not A Home: Ella Fitzgerald (Dionne Warwick)

Proud Mary by Elvis superior to Creedence ! That's OK I did say subjective. Hey what about Bobby Darin's "What'd I Say" ? Methinks it betters Ray Charles original.

Well, I did say that I prefer them, not that I thought they were better! I don't much care for Darin's takes on What'd I Say or I Got A Woman. The Sings Ray Charles album was a daring step for a singer not really associated with rhythm n blues, but I'm not sure how successful I think it is. It's rather self-indulgent, I think. Darin sings the songs well, but doesn't seem to add anything to them - except I Got A Woman where he adds five minutes to the original!

Hey it's all good Pete, you have the right idea. It's subjective. I just never read someone who liked Elvis rendition that's all, my friend.

Hey what about Bobby Darin's "What'd I Say" ? Methinks it betters Ray Charles original.

Rob, have you heard Cochran's rare "Saturday Club" recording of What'd I Say?

Here's the original One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer which I always thought was first done by John L. Hooker in 1966. It does grow on you....

Last edited by Robt on Sun Oct 07, 2012 9:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Without You (Nilsson)

Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Buddy Holly)

Yes I Will (The Hollies)

Twist & Shout (The Beatles)

Hey Joe (Marmalade)

Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis)

Here Comes My Baby (Tremeloes)

Rainy Days & Mondays (Paul Williams)

Never Can Say Goodbye (Mark Lindsay)

In Dreams (Tom Jones)

Bridge Over Troubled Water (Bobby Darin)

All these immediately spring to mind.

Hey what about Bobby Darin's "What'd I Say" ? Methinks it betters Ray Charles original.

Rob, have you heard Cochran's rare "Saturday Club" recording of What'd I Say?

Yes. Superb version...

Much prefer Eddie Cochran's effervescent version of Hallelujah I Love Her So [with or without the strings!].

Here's the original One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer which I always thought was first done by John L. Hooker in 1966. It does grow on you....

man, they were polite back then: "oh yes, ma'am!"

Much prefer Eddie Cochran's effervescent version of Hallelujah I Love Her So [with or without the strings!].

Yes it's great. Also there's his rendition of Milkcow Blues worth playing.

Can't believe so many think a half-assed GnR cover from their most dysfunctional period is better than one of the Stones' finest moments...

I wouldn't say Elvis version of "Hound Dog" is better than Big Mama Thornton's, they're so different they are almost like different songs.

I wouldn't say Elvis version of "Hound Dog" is better than Big Mama Thornton's, they're so different they are almost like different songs.

Agreed... I do like Eric Clapton's version of Hound Dog which is much closer to the original.

Shame that no one has picked Blinded by the Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1977) or Eric Clapton's 1974 hit, I Shot the Sheriff.

I don't know if this has been done before here, certainly not by various other artists, but this is my list -
Note: I'm keeping it to one song, one artist.

Hound Dog - Elvis Presley (1956) , Big Mama Thorton (1952)
Your Sixteen - [b]Ringo Starr (1974[/b]) , Johnny Burnette (1960)
Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt (1977), Roy Orbison (1961)
Sympathy for the Devil - Guns 'n Roses (1994), The Rolling Stones (1968)
The Man Who Sold The World - Nirvana (1993), David Bowie (1970)
What'd I Say - Bobby Darin (1961) , Ray Charles (1959) Jerry Lee actually gets the vote from me
All Along the Watch Tower- Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968), Bob Dylan (1967)
One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer - George Thorogood (1977), John Lee Hooker (1966), Amos Milburn (1953)
Got My Mind Set On You - George Harrison (1987), James Ray (1962)
Temptation - Everly Brothers (1961), Bing Crosby (1933)


UPDATE: My list has been altered so as to include "What'd I Say".

Please note: whilst we we can argue about which version is better lets try to keep it fun, concise and subjective...

I had highlighted my favorites of these but don't know what happened. I will bold them instead.

Last edited by Mike Eder on Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

I know I know LOL. Yes I could have featured the two songs. But it's tough when putting together a list of just 10. I should revive this concept in 12 months.

Can't believe so many think a half-assed GnR cover from their most dysfunctional period is better than one of the Stones' finest moments...

I don't get it either.

Can't believe so many think a half-assed GnR cover from their most dysfunctional period is better than one of the Stones' finest moments...

I don't get it either.

People can and should be able to prefer what they want. Often it is the case that the version we hear first is the version that we continue to prefer - therefore people growing up in the 80s/90s were more than likely going to be familiar with the Guns n Roses version first, hence why they prefer it or think it better.

Can't believe so many think a half-assed GnR cover from their most dysfunctional period is better than one of the Stones' finest moments...

I don't get it either.

Hell, why not praise the cover by Natalie Merchant?

When I read the suggestion, I knew this topic was doomed.

It may be well argued that the Rolling Stones 1968 recording of "Sympathy for the Devil" is one of their greatest songs.

Can't believe so many think a half-assed GnR cover from their most dysfunctional period is better than one of the Stones' finest moments...

I don't get it either.

Hell, why not praise the cover by Natalie Merchant?

When I read the suggestion, I knew this topic was doomed.

It may be well argued that the Rolling Stones 1968 recording of "Sympathy for the Devil" is one of their greatest songs.

Didn't I mention at the start, that it is subjective? That's what makes this topic is all about. Yes the SFTD is one of Stones greatest songs. But i give a slight edge to Guns n Roses. Who the hell is Natalie Merchant ?