RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 I also tend to prefer the original but there are a few cover versions that in my opinion improve on the original. 1. California Dreaming. Great original but the Beach Boys version with Roger McGuinn of the Byrds playing on it is fantastic. 2. Ruby Tuesday by Melanie is I feel marginally better than the original even thought the Stones are one of my favourite bands. 3. City of New Orlenas by Willie nelson or the Highwaymen. Steve Goodman's original was good but these I think are better. We played this at the end 'yankee railroaders' funeral service and even though I wasn't able to get there my friends said that there were very few dry eyes in the house. I'm not too sure about how to get You Tube links on but will try and edit them in later. Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfwit Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Glad to see Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nails 'Hurt' in here - much as I liked the original Johnny Cash adds some touching human frailty to it. I first heard it in my car on the way home from some kayaking event on a nice sunny day, it seemed the perfect song at the time - radio turned right up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 Glad to see Johnny Cash's version of Nine Inch Nails 'Hurt' in here - much as I liked the original Johnny Cash adds some touching human frailty to it. I first heard it in my car on the way home from some kayaking event on a nice sunny day, it seemed the perfect song at the time - radio turned right up. Top track indeed, makes Peter Hammill sound like Timmy Mallet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 I think that Bob Dylan is one of, if not the best song-writers of all time, but I think that pretty much any cover of any of his songs is an improvement over the original. Two immediate examples are the Hollies ancient album "Hollies Sing Dylan" and Martin Simpson's "Masters of War" and "Boots of Spanish Leather". Ed Agreed, 'The Byrds play Dylan' is one of my favourite albums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 And another vote for Johnny Cash's 'Hurt' and its tear-jerking qualities. I like This Mortal Coil's version of Tim Buckley's 'Song to the Siren' with Liz (Cocteau) Frazer on vocals. (Liz' name corrected! B) ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 I like This Mortal Coil's version of Tim Buckley's 'Song to the Siren' with Liz (Cocteau) Sutherland on vocals. I made the mistake of playing that in the car once, got so chilled out I drove into the car in front. :-/ I assume you mean Liz Frazer BTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 [ I do find it amazing that this; (All along the Watchtower) was originally by Bob Dylan! Jimmi's version is the one! John E. Even Bob said it was the best version. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xerces Fobe2 Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 One of my favourites as well, Colin. I particularly like the transition from West Side Story to Dvorak New World Symphony.... Nice one...B) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45pIvr4gJD4 The Nice's cover of Bob Dylan's - She Belongs To me - Another Nice one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsz3r-34e5I Xerces Fobe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 While we're on Bob Dylan, it's worth remembering that he absorbed a lot of influences from traditional and folk music - both words and tunes - compare his Hard Rain with Martin Carthy's version of the traditional song Lord Randall for example. So the idea of a cover improving on an original wouldn't be lost on him, as it's how much of the "Trad." canon of songs developed. And the idea of "original" itself can be hard to pin down, as everyone is influenced by something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobhead Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 The Thin Lizzy take on 'Rosalie' improved the Bob Seger original by a mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 While we're on Bob Dylan, it's worth remembering that he absorbed a lot of influences from traditional and folk music - both words and tunes - compare his Hard Rain with Martin Carthy's version of the traditional song Lord Randall for example. So the idea of a cover improving on an original wouldn't be lost on him, as it's how much of the "Trad." canon of songs developed. And the idea of "original" itself can be hard to pin down, as everyone is influenced by something else. I was considering proposing the whole of the first Led Zeppelin album as they're all (arguably) cover versions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Phil Manzanera's version of Tomorrow Never Knows on the 801 Live album (I was there B) ) with Bill McCormick on bass and Brian Eno on vocals, amongst others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uqkIXZY1lc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dagrizz Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Referring back to Dave's original post on this topic, Julie Driscoll's version of 'This wheels on fire' is another cover of a Bob Dylan song. I for one prefer the original........ I fall into the 'original is best' camp I'm afraid, with just the occasional exception, 'Watchtower' for example. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 I know it's bit 'poppy' compared to other songs in this thread but I think this is a particularly good cover. Mad World - Gary Jules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 I've managed to do the You Tube links so here are my three 1, Willie Nelson, City of New Orleans 2. California Dreaming The Beach Boys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-ThPN8ZY4I&feature=view_all&list=PLD026C3F591F57288&index=11 3. Ruby Tuesday Melanie Kafka Jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 45156 Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 Oddly enough, my favourite Status Quo album is all cover versions, "Don't Stop" dates from 1996 and is made up of tracks that Quo enjoyed playing, and some of them were what they used for sound checks. On that album, there is the most amazing cover version of Buddy Holly's "Raining In My Heart" with a very soulful guitar solo from that well known Quo member, Brian May (the album has a number of unexpected guests). The Nice did a fair old version of "America" from West Side Story............... Indeed they did - I saw them perform it many many many years ago in Glasgow and it was mind blowing live as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailor Charon Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Referring back to Dave's original post on this topic, Julie Driscoll's version of 'This wheels on fire' is another cover of a Bob Dylan song. I for one prefer the original........ I fall into the 'original is best' camp I'm afraid, with just the occasional exception, 'Watchtower' for example. Graham I've got a fair few cover versions and they vary between 'better than the original' and 'I think I need to go and listen to the original now. Actually, please give me some brain bleach first.' But I tend to find them interesting regardless. Then there's the cheekier things like Billy Bragg's 'Ideology' which really is just 'Chimes of Freedom' with different words. But yes... There will only ever be one version of Comfortably Numb - the one by Pink Floyd. There will only ever be one version of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - the one by Carole King. There will only ever be one version of With a Little Help From My Friends - the one by The Beatles. As to preferring the first version you hear, well, I heard Metallica's version of Stone Cold Crazy first, and I prefer the original... As an aside. Of songs that have the same title, but aren't the same song... Evil Woman - Black Sabbath, ELO, or Spooky Tooth? Heaven Can Wait - Meat Loaf or Iron Maiden? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 I've seen at least one video of him performing this where he actually apologises to Linda Ronstadt even though he wrote it in the first place... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSgB338VfIs But this is and always will be the definitive version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Nq48sHF8M&feature=related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 On a slightly different musical tangent to previous posts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4_4abCWw-w is in my opinion better than the original http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrnB7c8Dvow but I prefer the Knife's live version to both http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrjwqXwyzNU It manages to sound like Berlin and the Cure at the same time. BTW, adding embedded youtube vids is easy. Find the vid, copy the address, then start a post, press the Insert Media button (furthest right) and paste in the address Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Vanilla Fudge "You just Keep Me Hanging On" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QuHqjnfpLE&feature=related Best, Pete. Oh, some bonus Humble Pie too.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Colin Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 Talking of Dylan covers, what about Fairport Convention's infectiously chaotic rendition of "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" sung in "O" Level(Failed) French and renamed "Si Tu Dois Partir"? Then there's The Who's "Summertime Blues" and "Shakin' All Over" from Live At Leeds - marvellous stuff! T Rex also covered Summertime Blues (but not quite as loud). An honourable mention for "David Watts" by The Jam - more a homage to Ray Davies than a new version. And of course Rolf Harris's take on "Stairway To Heaven"..................... great stuff, I won't hear a word against it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted July 25, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 25, 2011 Talking of 'Summertime Blues' Rush's version on their 'Feedback EP' is a craker IMHO, even if the intro sounds like they're about to do 'Foxy Lady' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fBQj7A_sa4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bigcheeseplant Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Jonny Allen's version of Chuck Berry's Promiced Land David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free At Last Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Etta James giving her take on the Eagles "Take It To The Limit". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAH97-TDFzk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebottle Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Another Dylan cover. I heard Joe singing this in the Black Swan (AKA the Mucky Duck) in Sheffield back in the mid sixties - really made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMJbuM1AMFc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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