<p>DDM had this idea in the One-hit Wonders thread…seemed like a good idea to me. We could also include remakes that were far worse than the original.</p>
<p>In the “better” category, I’ve already mentioned Suzanne Vega’s version of The Grateful Dead’s “Cassidy.” Love it, you gotta hear it.</p>
<p>Perhaps the all-time classic example is Jimi Hendrix’s version of “All Along the Watchtower.” According to legend, Bob Dylan cried when he heard it because it was so good. Hendrix completely owned it.</p>
<p>In the “worse” category (far, far worse), I would nominate a couple of Springsteen classics: “Blinded By the Light,” as performed by Manfred Mann, and Southside Johnny’s version of “The Fever.” (and I actually like Southside a lot, usually, but what he did to “The Fever” was a crime.)</p>
<p>Now I have to go put on some Hendrix. I’ll put on the thinking cap for “covers” and see if I can add some to this discussion this afternoon during decompression time.</p>
<p>I like “Masters of War” performed by Eddie Vedder much better than Dylans version, although I hear that Dylan has incorporated a more forceful delievery after he heard Vedder.</p>
<p>Eddies version of Last Kiss however is only marginally better than the Caveliers version- yuck what was he thinking?</p>
<p>Several artists have covered Bowies “the man who sold the world” including Nirvana- but I admit I like Richard Barones( the Bongos) version best</p>
<p>I also like the Pointer Sisters version of Fire ( springsteen) not better just different</p>
<p>I liked the Pointer Sisters’ version of “Fire” too.
Bonus trivia question: Who played acoustic 12-string guitar on Hendrix’s version of Watchtower?</p>
<p>In the other direction, I submit Courtney Love’s “Clouds,” a cover of “Both Sides Now.” If one were abstemious, it would still drive one to drink.</p>
<p>lol thedad
I still like courtney- although I admit you really have to be in the mood- probably preferably under the influence of something or other.
Haven’t really listened to much past “live through this” though-</p>
<p>Cream did a cover tune that was pretty popular ( this era was a minefield of great tunes) Crossroads (Robert Johnson)
Apparently Dizzy Miss Lizzy was also a cover tune (Larry Williams)
I know I don’t even have to mention who did the more successful version
It was a little before my time but Hounddog was also a cover song first recorded by Big Mamma Thornton</p>
<p>I sent this up to legal for a second opinion, and they confirm “Because the Night” can’t be considered a cover–co-written by Patti, but more importantly, first recorded by Patti. They also disallowed “Fire,” which surprised me, pointing out that it was introduced to the public by the Pointer Sisters, and Bruce never recorded it. They have also asked me to act pre-emptively in disqualifying “All the Young Dudes,” a Bowie song first introduced to the world by Mott the Hoople, and never recorded in the studio by its author. To my great surprise, they also disqualified “The Fever,” an out-take from “The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle” that was well known to listeners of WMMR-FM in Philadelphia but not publicly released until recently, on a compilation. Southside Johnny had the first version of it actually released on vinyl.</p>
<p>OK, posting first and then will go back to check on names of original performers :o</p>
<p>I definitely prefer Elton John’s version of “Chapel of Love” from Four Weddings and a Funeral. From what I could google, it was written by Phil Spector and performed by Dixie Cups (???), but I’m not sure about my info. In fact from that same soundtrack, Wet Wet Wet’s version of “Love is All Around” is much better than a previous (maybe original? only other?) version by the Troggs (??). </p>
<p>And speaking of Elton John… I like the Nickelback (w/ Kidd Rock) version of Saturday Night’s Alright as much, if not more (!) than the original. It really rocks!</p>
<p>Beatles: Twist & Shout
Joe Cocker: With A little Help from my friends
Patti Smith: Gloria
Otis Redding: Satisfaction
Aretha Franklin: Respect
Talking Heads: Take me to the River
UB40: Red, Red, Wine
Harry Nilsson: Without You</p>
<p>Here’s two albums where a better voice trumps the original songwriter:
Jennifer Warnes: Famous Blue Raincoat, songs of Leonard Cohen
Nilsson sings Newman</p>
<p>I’ve been listening to the CD. The cut I remember most is “Mommy & Daddy”. I only saw a couple of shows, they must have been playing it on the radio (MMR?) at the time I lived in Philly.</p>
<p>Here’s an easy trivia question along the same lines:
Who played lead guitar on The Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”?</p>
<p>Oh come on, mine was tougher than that…wasn’t it? You’re just a very astute musical trivialist. Dave Mason recorded his own version of Watchtower on a solo LP in 74-75, and that’s when I learned that he’d been the essential, ethereal 12-string player on Hendrix’s version.</p>
<p>Kweder got fair amount of air on MMR, but you might have heard him on XPN as well. “That’s a Job for Mommy and Daddy,” “Suzie Said So,” and " “Man on the Moon” were all on the air ca. 1978-1980 or so.</p>
<p>No, no covers on Kwederology…he wrote some darn good songs. He did some really good covers live, though…will scratch brain and see what I can remember. Richard Bush and The A’s did a great cover of “Secret Agent Man” as a final encore number.</p>
<p>Audiophile’s SN was clearly not chosen at random…the choice of “Gloria” was especially good. Patti Smith’s version was excellent. In fact her whole first album was great. But an equally powerful cover of Gloria was done by Jimi Hendrix—but since it didn’t make it on one of his studio albums, I’m not sure it will be allowed. But it was killer. And of course, everyone knows who wrote “Gloria”?</p>
