Covers that are arguably better than the originals:

[tommus]

original by John Prine

 

[tommus]

original by The Zutons

 

[totally analogue]

All of Bob Dylan and most of Neil Young.

 

[prairieboy]

All of Bob Dylan and most of Neil Young.

And Leonard Cohen.

 

[GeoffMillar]

That's a nice cover, I think from the "I Am Sam" Soundtrack, which has some good stuff including Eddie Vedder doing "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away'.

Geoff

 

[Groundloops]

Tim Buckley
"Song to the Siren"

Surpassed by Jim Brown

 

[bedrock602]

Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus

 

[bedrock602]

Creedance Clearwater Revival - I Put A Spell On You

not necessarily better than the original but they made it their own

 

[GeoffMillar]

Other great versions of 'I Put a Spell on You' include Mica Paris/David Gilmour on the Jools Holland TV show and Peter Townshends live 'Deep End' version, which also features Mr Gilmour; both are well worth checking out.

Geoff

 

[soundbrigade]

Creedance Clearwater Revival - I Put A Spell On You

not necessarily better than the original but they made it their own

I'd say it's the only song from CCR I really appreciate. Have probably missed the original, but this one is magic.

 

[waxx]

When you're a absolute toplevel songwriter but a very limited singer, Better singers tend to lend your songs and do it better ...

Nick Cave singing a Leonard Cohen song:

Madeleine Peyroux doing the same with an other song from Cohen

 

[waxx]

And in the category "you probally did not know it was a cover" i'll put this original 1962 recording by Prince Buster & His Allstars (record in video is the 1964 repress) that became word famouse 15 years later or so... But this is the original jamaican tune.

 

[Juhazi]

PMJ homepage is a treasure!

 

[Sasha KC83]

AHA - Crying in the Rain of The Everly Brothers
Ryan Adams - Down in a Hole of Alice in Chains
U2 and Mary J Blige - One - vs only U2

...

 

[waxx]

Post

PMJ homepage is a treasure!

True, and this is my favorite

And in the same style, but English/Italian:

 

[waxx]

And i'm actually surprised nobody mentioned this legendaric cover by some Finish rednecks:

 

[GeoffMillar]

How could I forget Jimi Hendrix' live version of Johnny B Goode from Berkeley in 1970? Just incredible, one of the best things he ever did:

Geoff

 

[Juhazi]

How about this?

 

[triplej]

Not to detract from the brilliance of Cat Stevens BUT.....

 

[triplej]

And i'm actually surprised nobody mentioned this legendaric cover by some Finish rednecks:

that is truly awesome.