Gary Melton wrote:
Now THIS is interesting.  The song was first recorded by Smoky Robinson and the Miracles (August 1966)...but NOT released; then it was recorded by Marvin Gaye (Spring 1967)...but again NOT released.  Next, it was recorded by Gladys Knight and FINALLY released in September 1967 - and it did VERY well, going to #2 on the charts in late 1967.

Meanwhile, the version that had been recorded EARLIER by Marvin Gaye was released on an album of his (1968)...and it gained so much air time play by radio DJ's that it was released as a single in November 1968 - and it did EVEN BETTER than Gladys' version, going to #1 on the charts (for seven weeks from December 1968 through January 1969 - becoming, for some time, the biggest hit single ever on the Motown label).

So, Marvin Gaye's version was NOT a cover of Gladys Knight's version - they were BOTH recorded before Gladys' version was released (and - since Marvin recorded before Gladys - Marvin could NOT have heard Gladys' version prior to recording his version).  Since Marvin's version was done before Gladys', you could conceivably say that Gladys' was a cover of Marvin's.

My take on it would be that, technically, they were more like 2 different versions of the same song.

This is interesting.  Things I didn't know previously.  All I knew before is that her version got released before his did.  I'm not sure if I should remove it from my list of covers that are better than the original but it is something to think about.  Thank you for the information.

Gary Melton wrote:
A different sort of "cover" that took me much longer to appreciate: "I shot the sheriff" by Bob Marley and the Wailers.  Eric Clapton had the biggest hit off that song, but once you get used to Bob Marley's version - which is QUITE different than Eric Clapton's - Clapton's version just doesn't quite sound right anymore (not to me anyway).  Of course - since Bob Marley wrote the song, that probably has something to do with that.

Let There Be Light wrote:
Since Marley wrote the song and performed it originally it hardly qualifies as a cover.

...and that's why I said "...a different sort of 'cover'...

Marley released his version of the song in late 1973 and it was not much of any kind of hit.  Clapton released his version a few months later (in July 1974) and it was a huge hit.

Remember the topic of this thread is "covers that are better than  originals"...Marley's original was not a hit when it came out (though many of his fans prefer it now to Clapton's).

Thus "...a different sort of 'cover'...

Gary Melton wrote:
I certainly agree with Rolling Stones #6 choice: "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles...the fab four hit the bullseye with their rendition!

K I C K H A M wrote:
I was actually a huge fan of most of the list.

I agree with Joe Cocker as well (With A Little Help From My Friends)... But I really like the Wonder Years so maybe I'm biased.

Gary Melton wrote:
"Twist and Shout" is one of those songs that if you'd only heard the Isley Brothers version and loved it, you'd just about have to laugh if you heard The Beatles had covered it.  It was one of those odd quirks of fate that it worked so frickin' well!!

Here's the link to the "Twist and Shout" scene in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" for those who'd like to see it again:

("Twist and Shout" begins at 1:02 into the video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqQFTq2FIdY

Gary Melton wrote:
"Twist and Shout" is one of those songs that if you'd only heard the Isley Brothers version and loved it, you'd just about have to laugh if you heard The Beatles had covered it.  It was one of those odd quirks of fate that it worked so frickin' well!!

I don't think it's better than the original but it was very well done and it feels distinct from the original.

The feeling is extremely different. The tempo, the style of singing, the additional instruments in each, the way they work the rhythm. The singing in the Isley's version drives the rhythm of the song, the Beatles' singing feels driven by the song. It's not a bad thing but listen to the two and it's a notable difference.

SPRINGHEEL  wrote:
Everything Wing has ever done

I always thought that STP and Pearl Jam did a wonderful job of covering one another.

Kincaid Blackwood wrote:

I always thought that STP and Pearl Jam did a wonderful job of covering one another.

I have no idea how that relates to Wing

Andrew Kaiser wrote:
I totally concur with this one.  When I hear the NIN version I find it pretentious but the Johnny Cash version is beautiful.

I love the Cash version but I can't see NIN's as pretentious in the least.

Well it's no secret here there are a few raging NIN fans and I am one. But still, just can't see "pretentious" in there. JMO.

On that note, NIN's cover of Adam Ant's "Physical (You're So)" is way better than Ant's original. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0Pf-TBJFis (Just the audio; the video is some fan creation.)

Oh hey look, they stole one of my photos of Trent and put it in there. JFC I hate people sometimes.

Gary Melton wrote:
"Twist and Shout" is one of those songs that if you'd only heard the Isley Brothers version and loved it, you'd just about have to laugh if you heard The Beatles had covered it.  It was one of those odd quirks of fate that it worked so frickin' well!!

Kincaid Blackwood wrote:
I don't think it's better than the original but it was very well done and it feels distinct from the original.

The feeling is extremely different. The tempo, the style of singing, the additional instruments in each, they way they work the rhythm. The singing in the Isley's version drives the rhythm of the song, the Beatles' singing feels driven by the song. It's not a bad thing but listen to the two and it's a notable difference.

I don't disagree with you at all.

Chris Rifkin wrote:
here they come
(warning,highly blasphemous)
Flotsam & Jetsom-Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting(was posted last week)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOA6USLxSsw
Heir Apparent-Sound of Silence(sorry,this one pwns)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJXOaYgjd50
The Artists formerly known as Queensryche(considering the drama going on with this band...shame what they used to be)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcwQlGjNqrs
Tad Morose(personal friends with vocalist Urban Breed)-Knowing Me Knowing You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZK7rBq8jwg
judas priest-green manalishi(had to go with the classic live version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FpQr1HUGW8

I'm sure I can find more

'Sorry, but I'm going to have to throw all of these out.  Reason?  Blasphemy...

SPRINGHEEL  wrote:
I have no idea how that relates to Wing

Both bands covered her songs. In interviews they often cite her as an influence and when they win awards they thank their agents, Wing and then thank Jesus.

Instinct Images wrote:
Twist and Shout by the Beatles

Originally recorded by the Isley Brothers


Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin

Originally by Kris Kristofferson

McGee was originally sung by Roger Miller & Kenny Rogers before Janis or Kris recorded it.

Cherrystone wrote:

McGee was originally sung by Roger Miller & Kenny Rogers before Janis or Kris recorded it.

Was it a hit?

Justin wrote:
Anyone mentioned Manfred Mann's "Blinded by the Light" (Springsteen song)? Musically, it may not have surpassed the original, but few people outside of Springsteen's fans had heard of the song before the redo hit the charts.

I despise Springsteen,and I love Manfred Mann's version a lot
So IMFUM the cover destroys the origional

ME_ wrote:
I love the Cash version but I can't see NIN's as pretentious in the least.

Well it's no secret here there are a few raging NIN fans and I am one. But still, just can't see "pretentious" in there. JMO.

Agreed.  There was a lot of pain and frustration, but I didn't see the pretentiousness.  Fantastic song, either the Reznor or Cash version.

Justin wrote:
Anyone mentioned Manfred Mann's "Blinded by the Light" (Springsteen song)? Musically, it may not have surpassed the original, but few people outside of Springsteen's fans had heard of the song before the redo hit the charts.

Chris Rifkin wrote:
I despise Springsteen,and I love Manfred Mann's version a lot
So IMFUM the cover destroys the origional

Understandably. The public seems to agree.

A couple things on that song: Of course, they (Manfred Mann) do not sing, "Blinded by the light. Wrapped like a douche, another rubber in the night." Rather, it's, "Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night," the "deuce" being a car.

When they sing, "And little Early-Pearly came by in his curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a ride," I always thought they were singing, "And little Early Burly gave my hand a skirly-whirly and asked me if I needed a ride," and I actually think what I hear is more gritty and suggestive.

And finally, when they both sing, "Scott with a slingshot finally found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand," I thought it was, "threw his rubber in the sand," so I thought there was all kinds of symbolism going on with rubber, slingshot, tender spot, and so on, which was not the case.

And I love, love, love the line, "Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun. But Mama, that's where the fun is," as such a nice enveloping of teenage rebellion and thrill-seeking.

Like Springsteen or not, it's a pretty creative song.

Justin wrote:
Like Springsteen or not, it's a pretty creative song.

Unfortunately he "sings"like he has a serous need of psyllium husks and prune juice

37photog wrote:
Duhhh, I think we all totally forgot Whitney Houstons "I Will Always Love You".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9nPf7w7pDI

IMHO it's a very tough fight to battle that Dolly Partons version is better.  You really need to listen to Dollys one time to make that claim.  It just is lacking compared to Whitneys amazing rendition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GBVGZOkRUA

Well, I was about to object that this song didn't qualify, because I was looking for covers that were better than "hit" originals...because I didn't remember Dolly Parton having a hit with the song (though I did know that she wrote it).  However - I looked it up and Dolly Parton did take the song to #1 herself.

Whitney Houston's version is just so powerful and fantastic...I guess it just totally overwhelmed my memories to the point of not remembering Dolly Parton's original recording.

Gary Melton wrote:

Well, I was about to object that this song didn't qualify, because I was looking for covers that were better than "hit" originals...because I didn't remember Dolly Parton having a hit with the song (though I did know that she wrote it).  However - I looked it up and Dolly Parton did take the song to #1 herself.

Whitney Houston's version is just so powerful and fantastic...I guess it just totally overwhelmed my memories to the point of not remembering Dolly Parton's original recording.

Gotcha.  Yeah, not sure it was a hit, but now I know it was. I knew it was a song & single I suppose. 

I know what your saying though.  An example is Sinead O'Connors "Nothing Compares 2 U".  It was written by Prince, I think for his backup girls/band, however they declined or it just fell apart.  So somehow the song got to Sinead & she did a phenomenal job with it. Though since Prince never released it (although he did afterwards as a compilation or B-side), I wouldn't consider it a cover.