Best Cover Version

[The Reservoir Dog]

In recent times a cover version or sampling is all you hear now. Music nowadays is coming from TV talent shows which is all just glorified karaoke. Bands don't seem to go through the "apprentice" stage of playing bars and clubs to a small audience. Now it is on "You Tube" etc.

Anyway, remember the days when a cover version was an honour. When established bands would include one on an album.

What are your favourites?

A few to get you started.

It Must Be Love by Madness - A beautiful take on an early 70's Labi Siffre song. (He even appeared in a cameo on their video.

Jealous Guy by Roxy Music - Bryan Ferry sang a great version to John Lennon's classic.

Ol 55 by The Eagles - Tom Waits didn't like their version until he got the royalty cheques.

Be interested to see what you guys come up with.

[TinkerbellT421]

I know I have a few but the one that sticks out the most is the 311 version of "love song"

[Jeff]

Marc Cohn - covering Van Morrisons "into the Mystic"

Rush - covering "Crossroads" by Robert Johnston and covered by many, many others.

Pretenders- covering Dylan's "Forever Young"

Wallflowers- covering Bowies "Heroes"

Just a few favorites

[PirateLover]

I was reminded yesterday of how much I love Stone Temple Pilots' cover of Led Zeppelin's "Dancing Days."

I also used to love Jeff Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," but it's lost a little something in recent years since it starting appearing in all these TV shows and movies and everyone started covering it...

[DisneyDog]

I love Phil Collins' version of True Colors, originally sung by Cyndi Lauper. That being said, the other day I heard a cover version of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun sung by a boy band. Ugh. It was creepy weird.

There is a version of Don Henley's Boys of Summer sung by my favorite band, The Hooters. Don Henley has told them that this was HIS favorite cover version of the song. It's beautiful.

[SBETigg]

The Dream Academy's version of Morrissey's (The Smith's) version of Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, which is at the heart of the Ferris Bueller soundtrack in the instrumental version, far better than the original.

I also like Mumford and Sons' take on The Boxer, but I can't say it tops the Simon and Garfunkel.

[Hammer]

First one that came into my head was Whitney Houston's cover version of "I'm Every Woman". I may actually like her version better than the original by Chaka Khan. Also, I like the Red Hot Chili Peppers cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground".

[Hammer]

I also used to love Jeff Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," but it's lost a little something in recent years since it starting appearing in all these TV shows and movies and everyone started covering it...

I agree for the most part, but sometimes the use of song is well done. I loved it as the backdrop in the season 3 West Wing finale when Mark Harmon's character is killed.

[Ian]

1. Social Distortion's cover of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire
2. Jane's Addiction's cover of the Stones' Sympathy for the Devil
3. The Ataris' cover of Don Henley's Boys of Summer
4. Jose Feliciano's cover of The Doors' Light My Fire
5. Marilyn Manson's cover of the Eurythmic's Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)

[PirateLover]

I agree for the most part, but sometimes the use of song is well done. I loved it as the backdrop in the season 3 West Wing finale when Mark Harmon's character is killed.

I think this was one of the earlier uses. Once it was used in "Shrek" and everyone was singing it on reality TV shows it became over kill.

1. Social Distortion's cover of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire

1. Good one!
   

2. Jane's Addiction's cover of the Stones' Sympathy for the Devil

[Ian]

Stone Temple Pilots also did a nice cover of this, I believe for a VH1 tribute. Used to listen to it a lot.

Actually it was from The Doors induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I believe. And it included all the surviving members of The Doors at that time (Ray Manczarek has since passed away).

[PirateLover]

Actually it was from The Doors induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I believe. And it included all the surviving members of The Doors at that time (Ray Manczarek has since passed away).

Oh was that it? Now that I think of it, it was "Break on Through" that they covered.

[PirateLover]

OK, not that anyone else cares that much but I went to my old pal Google. STP covered "Break on Through" on a tribute album that came out in 2000 called Stoned Immaculate, and then Weiland sang it live with The Doors for their VH1 Storytellers special.