Hendrix’s version of ‘Hey Joe’ blows all earlier versions away. Has anybody dared do it since?
Swamp Dogg’s version of ‘Sam Stone’ is unforgettable; John Prine’s original is just good.
I prefer the Pogues version of ‘The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ to Eric Bogle’s good but less good original.
Although British invasion bands had hits with covers of black American songs, none came close to the originals. Do Wah Diddey, Chains, I’m Into Something Good, I’m a Man, Go Now, Under the Boardwalk all come to mind. But the Animals version of ‘House of the Rising Sun’ is the best version of that song I’ve heard.
Dick Gaughan’s cover of Robin Williamson’s ‘October Song’ nudges out a great original version.
I’ve listened to Tori Amos’ cover of “Smells like Teen Spirit” but was unimpressed. The song doesn’t have much to recommend it and without percussion, it falls flat.
One of my favorite covers comes from The Bangles, waaaayyy back in the 80’s. They did a great cover of Simon and Garfunkle’s “Hazy Shade of Winter” for the movie “Less Than Zero”. I heard their version before I had heard the original. I like the cover better.
And speaking of covers . . . anyone familiar with Ashley MacIsaac’s cover of “What an Idiot He Is”? I’ve not heard the orginal (written and preformed by Bob Snider) but I LOVE Ashley’s version. I used it for a Buffy video . . . which I’ve yet to post on the internet . . . because I need a faster connection. Ah well. Hoping that happens in the near future.
I just heard two really good ones today. Ritchie Havens doing Dylan’s “Tombstone Blues” and a version of “New York, New York” by a band with a female jazz vocal, drums, bass and electric piano (maybe some guitar). Does anyone know who does that one?
The Men They Couldn’t Hang got to Bogle’s other great ww1 song, Green Fields of France (aka Willie McBride, No Man’s Land) first, but the Pogues should have done it anyway.
