Best cover of a song?

[iceman]

Don't think has been done before. Just a way to pass the time...

At least for now I'll take Patti Smith's cover of Van Morrison and Them's "Gloria"

"Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine..."

And you?

[bad_roo]

William Shatner's creative interpretation of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.

[iceman]

I change my vote, roo's right.

[glademaster]

The Grateful Dead doing "Wish You Were Here" (not acoustically like the Floyd version) totally amazing.

[Grange]

Gotta go with limpbizkit's version of George Michael's "Faith". I mean the musical genious of Mr. Fred Durst to make the most subtle changes to the song and his vocal range are purely amazing. Add to the fact limpbizkit had the balls to attempt a remake of one of the most influential songs of the 20th century from the most beloved member of Wham and you get the most awe inspiring remake to date.

[Artie Fufkin]

I don'y know if these are the best, but a few that I think are pretty good:

Ministry covering Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay"

Luna covering "Sweet Child O Mine"

and from Deadicated:

Janes covering Ripple and Burning Spear covering Estimated Prophet

[Pinner]

Manfred Mann's Earth Band covering Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded By The Light."

Janis Joplin covering Kris Kristoferson's "Me and Bobby McGee."

Jimi Hendrix covering Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower."


...off the top of my head.

[Woodsy]

Hendrix doing Dylan's all along the watchtower.
cant believe you needed to ask.

[Pinner]

Stevie Ray Vaughn covering Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile."

Stevie Ray Vaughn covering Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing."

Stevie Ray Vaughn covering Stevie Wonder's "Superstition."

etc...

[Steven S. Dallas]

...the most beloved member of Wham...

I'm an Andrew Ridgeley guy, myself.

Just any cover? Or covers recorded on albums (or as b-sides) and actually released? I love The Band's cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City" (off Jericho); the Rolling Stones' version of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"... And, obviously, "Tessie" by the Dropkick Murphys.

[Pinner]

Johnny Cash covering Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage."

Bonnie Raitt covering John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery."

Santana covering Fleetwood Mac's "Black Magic Woman."

CCR covering Ike & Tina's "Proud Mary."

Allman Brothers covering Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues."

Jimi Hendrix covering Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner."

Lynyrd Skynyrd covering JJ Cale's "Call Me The Breeze."

Eric Clapton covering JJ Cale's "After Midnight."

Eric Clapton covering JJ Cale's "Cocaine."

Ray Charles covering Hoagy Charmichael's "Georgia On My Mind."

Black Crowes covering Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle."

Talking Heads covering Al Green’s "Take Me to the River."

Led Zeppelin covering Robert Johnson’s "Traveling Riverside Blues."

The Beatles covering The Isley Brothers’ "Twist and Shout."




Thank you for playing.

And now, honestly, who thought at least some of those songs were originals?

[Woodsy]

pin,
from the Webster's:

best-excelling all others
cover-a recording of a song previously recorded usually by another performer (notice all the a's, our singular indefinite article indicating 1 recording of 1 song)
of-prepostion used indicate belonging or a possessive relationship
a-that SINGULAR indefinite article again
song- well lets suffice to say it ain't "songs"

so why the list?
you have never seemed indescisive before......

[belgian]

The White Stripes' cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene"

Always loved that.

[iceman]

And now, honestly, who thought at least some of those songs were originals?

Well I didn't know Fleetwood Mac wrote Black Magic Woman.

[Pinner]

Woods,

Because those are all great cover songs. And because I've never been very good at understanding or following directions.

The "best" cover song of all time? Clearly 'Watchtower.' No contest.

[iceman]

Not better, but good: Johnny Winter's verion of Highway 61 Revisited

[chaka]

GRange: I hear you on the Limp Biskit "Faith" cover...

Maynard (Perfect Circle) singing Lennon's "Imagine"

[glademaster]

All time I think "Watchtower" wins it easily, but give a listen to the Dead doing "Wish You Were Here" sometime, interesting take on it.

[jimmy page]

How about Cream doing Robert Johnson's "Crossroads"?

Santana reworking Tito Puente's "Oye Como Va"?

[scoober]

Jimi Hendrix covering Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner."
.
.
.
And now, honestly, who thought at least some of those songs were originals?

No way! I never knew!

Mighty Mighty Bosstones covering The Wailers' "Simmer Down"
Reel Big Fish covering The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry"
MXPX covering Ah Ha's "Take On Me"
The Get Up Kids covering Bowie's "Suffragette City"
The Specials covering Toots Hibbert's "Pressure Drop"
The Clash covering Toots Hibbert's "Pressure Drop"
The Specials covering Toots Hibbert's "Monkey Man"
Sublime covering Toots Hibbert's "54-46"
It goes on...

, I guess I just let out my nerdy ska side.

[tarkman1]

The post should be the "Second Best..."

"All Along The Watch Tower" played by Hendrix written by Dylan. Listen to Dylan's version then you can understand why many people claim that no one is even close.

[Grange]

I thought Johny Cash's cover of NIN's "Hurt" was good until the radio ruined it for me by playing it over and over.

[DJSapp]

Johnny Cash covering Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt"

edit: beat to the punch. Radio didn't kill it for me. Such a powerful song coming from him.

[Arty50]

Lot's of great suggestions here.

I've always like Jane's Addiction version of "Sympathy for the Devil."

And along similar lines the Gram Parsons tribute album "Return of the Grievous Angel" is really, really good.

[Woodsy]

since we are racing for second I will throw a few out that may not be as well known.

When the levvee breaks- Leftover Salmon
Over the Hills and Far Away- Purdymouth
Water tower (originally by the box car kids wrtten by john Schuman) Purdymouth
Memphis in the Meantime -Sam Bush
Poor Wayfaring Stranger-Natalie Merchant
Loves a word I never throw around-Greencards
"ace of spades" Hayseed Dixie

, guess I just let out my nerdy bluegrass side.