Covers that equal or better the originals (Page 3 of 5)

when it comes to the Beatles, or Jimi, and others, it's hard to say that the cover is truly equal. Here we can go around in circles, Healey doing Hendrix for one. Jeff's Cover To Cover CD is really fine work, love every tune on it. Freedom and Angel from Jimi, an incredible I Got a Line on You by Spirit, Badge from Cream, and adventurous on his part is the Stealer's Wheels hit Stuck in the Middle with You. This is a must own if you like Healey.
Others to nominate:
She's So Heavy - Eric Gales, Picture of a Thousand Faces
Spanish Castle Magic - Lance Lopez, Wall of Soul
****edit, how could I forget, Whiskey in the Jar - Metallica, Garage Inc

Tres

Its really hard because there are so many good covers.Even Joe has so many I would have to rack my brain to try to figure out which ones are best....Sloe Gin ,Burnin Hell come to mind right off the top as well as the before mentioned Stop.
  I have a cool cd by Phil Brown who does a unique cd covering Hendrix songs gives it a different vibe very cool.

"Dreams I'll Never See" performed by Molly Hatchet
originally done by The Allman Bros. Greg Allman wrote the tune.

Van Halen does a pretty nice job on "Pretty woman", and the kinks "You really got me going"

I think I'm going to say the best cover tune of all time that kicks the originals butt is the Black Crowes "Hard to handle".  The original is ok but the crowes put some balls to it.

Although his link to a YouTube for Pretty Woman was pulled by Orbison's publishers, Brack mentioned Van Halen covering both it and You Really Got Me a ways back on thread! I do like the Black Crowes version much, probably best, although it's not the only ballsy one out there.

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Another version I always enjoyed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmGRm7XQ … re=related

Recently I found a nice album of covers by Marc Cohn called Listening Booth: 1970.  I cherry-picked at first but eventually got the whole thing.  1970 was a memorable year for music, both for its songs and the artists themselves.
Marc Cohn is one of my favorite singers and the arrangments for the pop songs, all from 1970, are tastefully done.  CCR's "Long As I Can See the Light" is stripped down to just guitar and Marc's voice and is transformed into gospel blues.  Bread's, yes Bread's "Make It With You", done as a duet with India Arie sounds like motown and easily eclipses the original.

http://youtu.be/ZgKjFqZjC00
http://youtu.be/5VA7Le6tfxs

I guess this really isn't a cover per se, as it features the original band but I think Mary J Blige's "One" performed with U2 is more powerful and dynamic than the original. This is outstanding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpDQJnI4OhU