Covers good or bad

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:34 am

Following on from the abomination recently produced by Simon Cowell, albeit for a worthy cause I got me thinking about similar travesties, so here are my top 5.

Brian Ferry's version of Bob Dylan's "Hard Rains Gonna Fall"
Brian Ferry's version of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy"
Boyzone's version of the BeeGees classic "Words"
Johnny Cash's version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe"
Boy George's version of Bread's "Everything I Own"

On the flip side, top 5 brilliant covers would be.

Grease Band's version of "With a Little Help From My Friends"
Roberta Flack with her version of Ewan McColl's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
Harry Nillson's version of Badfingers "Without You"
Marvin Gaye and Creedence Clearwater Revival both get honourable mentions for the Gladys Knight song "I heard It Through The Grapevine"
And finally I had to mention Chester Bennington with "Hallelujah" at Chris Cornell's funeral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVb2di5I8NY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Feel free to nominate your own likes or dislikes or not.

HatfieldClaret · Post by **HatfieldClaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:40 am

Sex Pistols - I did it my way.

Bad, very bad.

Goobs · Post by **Goobs** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:42 am

Loads of people seem to love it but personally I've never really liked Joe Cocker's version of with a little help from my friends.

I do like Goldfinger's cover of 99 Red balloons and The lemonheads cover of Mrs Robinson (love the original too)

HatfieldClaret · Post by **HatfieldClaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:45 am

I prefer the original 99 red balloons, in German. far better than the english version.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:48 am

neunundneunzig luftballons

keith1879 · Post by **keith1879** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:51 am

I thought Bryan Ferry's "Hard rain" was excellent - but of course entirely different from Bob Dylan's rendition. There's no point in covering if you just copy.

Having said that ....The Rolling Stones made their name with covers in the early days...I loved Little Red Rooster.

Chuckypad · Post by **Chuckypad** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:55 am

Always liked this cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqZmJ7RGAP4

BleedingClaret · Post by **BleedingClaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:55 am

I Need Glasses

Read it as -Lovers good or bad...

I thought oh dear - I know we digress but it's a football site lads!

Covers... phew!

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:56 am

I agree about Ferry's cover of 'Hard Rain'. It was brilliant.

Best cover for me. Matthews Southern Comfort: 'Woodstock', although CSN&Y's cover of the same song was also brilliant. Both better than Joni Mitchell's original.

claretdom · Post by **claretdom** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:57 am

Nirvana - Man who sold the world

Candy flip - strawberry fields forever

Let others decide which one goes in which category

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 10:58 am

I agree about Ferry's cover of 'Hard Rain'. It was brilliant.

Best cover for me. Matthews Southern Comfort: 'Woodstock', although CSN&Y's cover of the same song was also brilliant. Both better than Joni Mitchell's original.

Chuckypad · Post by **Chuckypad** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:02 am

Another Dylan cover that doesn't quite cut it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBcq5EzBcmQ

....and one that, perhaps, does:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0put0_a--Ng

whiffa · Post by **whiffa** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:02 am

Steps cover of Tragedy by The Beegees.

I'm kidding.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:10 am

To me improving on Dylan is always going to be difficult because he wrote his songs for himself, for his style of delivery, but Hendrix, of course, took this to another level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Melanie Safka didn't need to do covers but this was quite good, certainly better than the sugar coated dross from the Byrds (all a matter of opinion)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LwyOSyWpNg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:12 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3onnJuBS18" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

written by a god, covered by a god.

RocketLawnChair · Post by **RocketLawnChair** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:14 am

I once had the original "Just Cant Get Enough" by Depeche Mode on in my car and my son turned too me and said "whose this singing The Saturdays song Dad?"

HatfieldClaret · Post by **HatfieldClaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:19 am

If I was a rich girl, terrible

must have had Topol spinning in his grave.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:21 am

Always loved purple rain by prince. Adam levines performance is more than outstanding.worth someone putting a link up.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:23 am

piston broke wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3onnJuBS18

written by a god, covered by a god.

Chimes of Freedom is IMO Dylan's best work.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:32 am

I agree with the OP regarding Harry Nilsson's 'Without You'. Possibly the best I've heard.

Wasn't Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You”, a cover, from Dolly Parton? That's another good one.

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:36 am

FactualFrank wrote:I agree with the OP regarding Harry Nilsson's 'Without You'. Possibly the best I've heard.

Wasn't Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You”, a cover, from Dolly Parton? That's another good one.

It was a Dolly Parton song. I always thought that Whitney Houston was a shouter, but that is just my opinion.

Funkydrummer · Post by **Funkydrummer** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:37 am

Sacrilege in the extreme - Scissor Sisters, Comfortably Numb !

Should be shot at dawn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lsCEgcRozY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:42 am

Chobulous wrote:It was a Dolly Parton song. I always thought that Whitney Houston was a shouter, but that is just my opinion.

Sorry that's what I meant - a Whitney cover of the original from Dolly Parton.

brigante · Post by **brigante** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:51 am

Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' Hurt has got to be up there

https://youtu.be/vt1Pwfnh5pc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hampsteadclaret · Post by **hampsteadclaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:02 pm

Elton John's 'Your Song' covered by the late Billy Paul..a cracking version for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22jMZdBUzDI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Elton's favourite version as well.

todclaret · Post by **todclaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:10 pm

Garbage and Screaming Females - "Because The Night"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOmKGjy-Ct0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

hampsteadclaret · Post by **hampsteadclaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:14 pm

Nina Simone - 'Here comes the Sun'

An excellent cover of the Beatles song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJiC6cA3dUA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Darthlaw · Post by **Darthlaw** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:37 pm

A cover of Nina Simone's Don't let me be misunderstood by Santa Esmerelda, brilliantly used in Tarantino's Kill Bill:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVQroWe9tc0

Also another cover for Nina. Muse's version of Feeling Good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmwRQqJsegw

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:44 pm

Nina Simone made plenty of covers herself.
This Billy Holiday song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Lq_yasEgo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And one of Dylan's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xe73l3JqRs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chobulous · Post by **Chobulous** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:45 pm

Not to mention one of Screamin' Jay Hawkins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua2k52n_Bvw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:47 pm

Placebo - Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KEEXyRL0qE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UVjjcOUJLE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Leona Lewis - Run (Snow Patrol)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqpAgMxhx30" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

30 Seconds to Mars - Stronger (Kanye West)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrlXhpuLfeo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Willie Nelson - The Scientist (Coldplay)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v525UGbA448" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Florence and the Machine - You've got the Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQZhN65vq9E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:47 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u-PjvRyr0I" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Heart- Stairway To Heaven. In front of Led Zep. Now that takes balls.

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:52 pm

Chobulous wrote:It was a Dolly Parton song. I always thought that Whitney Houston was a shouter, but that is just my opinion.

I agree about Whitney Houston being a shouter.

Cheshireclaret · Post by **Cheshireclaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 1:42 pm

I have to say, and I am sure I will be shot down, that I really like The Slits' version of Heard it on the Grapevine.

The Jam's version of David Watts too, is my preference.

Bertiebeehead · Post by **Bertiebeehead** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 1:49 pm

Sonic Youth Superstar

TheOriginalLongsider · Post by **TheOriginalLongsider** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 1:49 pm

Best:

Johnny Cash "Hurt" - cover of Nine Inch Nails original

Worst:
Too many to think of - Westlife or Boyzone probably would come top

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 1:59 pm

HatfieldClaret wrote:If I was a rich girl, terrible

must have had Topol spinning in his grave.

It might have done, were he actually dead.

He's 81 and still alive.

Peebs89 · Post by **Peebs89** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 2:02 pm

Joe Cocker's cover of With A Little Help from my Friends is a belter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ecZ94guWl0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Claret&Green · Post by **Claret&Green** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 2:20 pm

Hazel O'Connors version of Hanging Around by Stranglers was as good if not better than the original, as was Toni Basil's Hey Mickey which was a cover/rewording of Racey's Hey Kitty.

HatfieldClaret · Post by **HatfieldClaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 2:20 pm

Lord Beamish wrote:It might have done, were he actually dead.

He's 81 and still alive.

I really will have to start researching before I post.... good to hear he's still with us..

ClaretCliff · Post by **ClaretCliff** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 2:32 pm

surprised this hasn't been mentioned - You're the one that I want - https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=yo ... ORM=VRDGAR

Good or bad? your choice

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 2:33 pm

I might say any cover of a Dylan song has to be better!

Iain Matthews usually chose his covers well. So did Tom Rush. Here is a Jesse Winchester song, Biloxi.

The original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXxt79bxKHk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Matthews' version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2YqqzYvFL8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and Tom Rush's (which is my favourite):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZoZJM_IDFw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 2:46 pm

Bananarama, Venus.

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 2:54 pm

Disturbed's cover of Simon & Garfunkel's sound of silence is actually better than the original,which takes a lot of doing.

BennyD · Post by **BennyD** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:47 pm

Steve1956 wrote:Disturbed's cover of Simon & Garfunkel's sound of silence is actually better than the original,which takes a lot of doing.

I was just going to post the exact same thing! I have to say, it's awesome. What a voice!!

hampsteadclaret · Post by **hampsteadclaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 6:06 pm

'Bend me shape me' - The American Breed [1967]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zarsqZCXO8Y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OR

'Bend me shape me' - Amen Corner [1968]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM-y1a1oeCo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bluelabrador16 · Post by **bluelabrador16** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 7:05 pm

Valerie

The Zutons - Valerie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3xpmfJp0Xc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Amy Winehouse - Valerie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=namFjcO ... gHSE#t=131" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I prefer the latter.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 7:10 pm

I didn't like Madonna's American Pie, but come to think of it, I didn't like the original either.

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 7:18 pm

1000s of covers, but this is undoubtedly the original and best:

Willie Nelson - Always on my Mind- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7f189Z0v0Y

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Fri Jul 21, 2017 7:24 pm

It's pretty impossible to do a better job than Smokey and the Miracles but the Stones still did a great job and I like it.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWwWxZ1N2To" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;