Between the covers

[mattham]

don't know if this has been done before so apologies if it has...was thinking this morning how the smallest thing can set off the most tangential thoughts. I saw a picture of Whitney Houston, and could not help thinking how dreadful her version of I will always love you is. What?s everyone?s least favourite cover version? And which cover do you think is better than the original? I?ve always preferred Hendrix? All along the watchtower to Dylan?s.

[barrymarshall]

One song I have always loved is Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks's Landslide, but the Samshing Pumpkins do a great cover version of it too. It can be found on the Pisces Iscariot LP.

Incidentally, I thought it was about her cocaine addiction ("If you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills") but it turns out it's a song about her dad.

On the other hand, The Corrs' cover of Fleetwood Mac's Dreams is gash.

[mockney piers]

I think it's been discussed before, but hell, music's always a great topic.

Tortoise's (feat' Bonnie Prince Billy) version of Bruce Springsteen's Thunder Road is what cover versions are always about. Taking the essence of the song and then making it completely your own.

 

[Gerrard]

I am a fan of Talk Talk, and hated that (cant remember her name, sorry. Apparently some sort of US singer/style icon...) blonde woman's down right awful version of 'Its my Life' from last year, gash is the perfect word, BM. Loved the White Stripes version of 'just dont know what to do with myself', and loved the video with Ms Moss even more...

[Cassius]

Agree with Gerrard and The White Stripes. Also a few months ago some girlie band did a cover of John Peel's favourite, Teenage Kicks - this version was SO different to The Undertones that it was almost like a completely different song - just don't know who did it.

[atila the gooner]

Mott the Hooples version of Sweet Jane from the All the young dudes LP is magnificent.

[Alan Dale]

removed

[Domitianus]

Christy Moore's cover of Fairytale of New York should be considered a crime. Someone who does great cover versions, however, is Bryan Ferry. He even did a sort of Samba/Latino version of Amazing Grace that is just great.

[Keef]

Sheryl Crow, who I have a lot of respect for, killing

[DaveR]

The Tourists cover of "I only want to be with you"

Marc Almond's cover of "What"

The Communards "Don't leave me this way"

None of them necessarily better than the original, but different, in a good way

[missd]

Best cover for me is Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson - Valerie. prefer it to the original.

[Keef]

Have to disagree with that, I love the Zutons version, and felt it had been bastardised when I heard Amy's version.... Better than Lily Allen's "Oh my God I can't believe it" though!

Eva Cassidy's version of "Fields of gold" is a beautiful cover, and does his song more justice than his own version did! That said, Sting is a knob, so it's hardly surprising!

[atila the gooner]

Gladys Knight - I heard it through the grapevine

[mockney piers]

Sting/police has done some great songs in his time (and quite a lot of wank). However all the related knobbery does rather detract from it all doesn't it.

I know that Keef and I are both fans of this little fella

 

[Keef]

Ah, great great version of one of my faves! That's what makes a good cover, make the song your own rather than copying the original.... That said, Sheryl still should have avoided making GN'R her own!!!

Which reminds me, another GREAT cover would be this bad boy!!!

The Police were great, but Sting solo has done very little that I like, and as a bloke he is a knob!

[mockney piers]

I guess this counts as a cover..ish. It's class regardless.

 

[atila the gooner]

Rolling Stones cover of Chuck Berry's Round and Round

[mockney piers]

I can't work out if this is shocking or pure genius.

 

[Annasfield]

I like Joss Stone's cover of Fell in Love with a Girl/Boy.

Arctic Monkeys Love Machine is hilarious and I also think that Lily Allen's cover of Oh my God, by the Kaiser Chiefs is pretty cool too.

[barrymarshall]

Dolly Parton does a really good bluegrass version of Stairway to Heaven.

Honest!

[Keef]

Biffy Clyro's version of Umbrella

A little repect the Wheatus version.

[mockney piers]

Here you go Blinder, and might I add, blinding!! Added a couple of old favourites too.

 

[mightyroar]

i know a lot of people have done it but on BBC4 last night KD Lang in session had her finishing with Hallelujah.

Fantastic. I'm going to go out on a limb and say better than Jeff, Rufus or Leonard. (IMHO)

[MrBen]

Big Fun - "Blame it on the Boogie"

Charted higher in the UK charts than the Jackson Five original (!)

[PeckhamRose]

Marilyn Manson doing Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams.