Which Cover Song tops the Original?

[Kosmokatze]

We all know some cover songs that completely outshine the original, whether through interpretation, or more emotional impact.
A few examples that come to mind:

Johnny Cash – "Hurt" (Originally by Nine Inch Nails, but Cash’s version is hauntingly powerful
Jimi Hendrix – "All Along the Watchtower" (Bob Dylan himself admitted Hendrix made it his own)
Whitney Houston – "I Will Always Love You" (Originally by Dolly Parton, but Whitney’s version became legendary)

Looking forward to your picks!

 

[a.completeunknown]

Graham Parker's cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses"

 

[Kosmokatze]

One more:

Gimme Shelter - Paul Brady & The Forest Rangers (The Rolling Stones)​

 

[jp01104]

Where can I find graham parker doing wild horses.

 

[amwilburn]

Kosmokatze, I knew about the other 2, but didn't realize All Along the watchtower was Dylan's!
You should also check out the Bear McCreary version (very cool arrangement); unfortunately his brother Brendan's vocals don't quite do the song justice, but the arrangement is very cool (think Middle Eastern Orchestral). It's the kind of cover I'd like to tackle at some point, assuming my voice doesn't disappear on me again.

As for improved covers:
I personally like the harmonies in the Dixie Chicks cover of Stevie Nicks' "Landslide".

Phil Collins' "A Groovy Kind of Love" is a much more polished pop version of the Mindbenders (kinda sleepy, despite being uptempo) original

Sinead O'Connor's cover of "Nothing Compares to You" is so iconic, that you forget that it's a cover from Prince & The Family (which was really good in its own right!)

Like wise Aretha Franklin's cover of "RESPECT"; Otis Redding's original is also really good.

And Teenage Dream by Katy Hudson Perry has been covered many, many times; the Glee acapella cover was actually really good, but I really like this cover by The Rescues:

Mark

 

[happyrat1]

Walk off the Earth's Cover of Somebody I Used To Know by Gotye.

 

[amwilburn]

That was an *excellent* cover, yup!

 

[Biggles]

Joe Cocker.

 

[a.completeunknown]

Graham Parker's cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses"

Oops. Gram Parsons. I'm getting pretty bad with names!

 

[jp01104]

I was worried I missed something by Parker.

 

[a.completeunknown]

Where can I find graham parker doing wild horses.

Gram Parsons. My bad. Not doing well with names lately!

 

[Steve Bolander]

EW&F took the Beatle's "Got To Get You Into My Life" and made it a real hit!!

Even Leonid and Friends kicked ass with it.

Actually, Leonid & Friends kicks ass with every cover they do.

 

[Steve Bolander]

Actually, Leonid & Friends kicks ass with every cover they do.

Here, take a listen to some of them. (Not bad for a band whose primary language is Russian.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXDtKdNmuP4

 

[BrianT]

Probably not the typical genre here, but "Finger Breaker" by Jelly Roll Morton. He played it, but to hear it shine, listening to Dick Hyman play it is amazing. Jelly Roll wrote it in 1938 and Dick played it first in the early 2000's.

 

[Rayblewit]

I might be a bit biased here because I am not a fan of Elton John.
So imo . . Kate Bush . . Rocket Man

 

[Rayblewit]

Leon Russell version better than Dylans.
"a hard rains gonna fall"

 

[happyrat1]

 

[Biggles]

 

[Biggles]

Original by Willie Dixon

 

[Biggles]

Takes a special performance to better Howlin Wolf