Rock covers. When the cover was better.

[John Picard]

Nerys Myk wrote:

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Guy I worked with played it constantly. Had no clue it was a cover till I told him. But that happens a lot. No kids, "Sweet Dreams" is not a Marilyn Manson original.

Man, I cannot *stand* that version of Sweet Dreams, but that's damned funny!

[Goliath]

CaptJimboJones wrote:

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IMO Frankie Goes To Hollywood recorded the definitive version of "War."

And the band Laibach recorded an entire album's worth of covers of Sympathy For The Devil that deconstructed the song with seven different versions. None of them were better than the original, but it is nonetheless a fascinating listen.

On the other hand, their version of Queen's "One Vision," and their German-language version of Opus's "Life is Life," are classics.

Leben!
Leben heisst Leben!

[Alidar Jarok]

Pingfah wrote:

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Glen Campbell's new cover of Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) is SO much better than Green Day's original.

I find Green Day extremely irritating and quite uninspired personally, but Glen Campbell's version really outlines what a solid piece of songwriting that song is. I offer my congratulations to the GD (Billy something?) singer for his songwriting skills, but not his performance.

Add my vote to the Buckley Hallelujah crowd also.

Billie Joe Armstrong, who I think is a very underrated song writer. He co-wrote one of my favorite Rancid songs. Glen Campbell's version's not bad, though.

Nerys Myk wrote:

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Always thought it was epitome of a bad cover. hard band covers a softer band material and makes it sound like very other hard band covering a softer bands material beacuse they always use the same gimmicks.

Yeah, I'll agree. I'm not really a fan of the original, but it makes me like the song even less listening to David Draiman sing it.

[Rowan Sjet]

Living Colour's version of Back in Black is better than AC/DC's.

[M'Sharak]

Outpost4 wrote:

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It certainly is a matter of opinion and exposure. For me, one of the first ten LPs I owned was Bayou Country by CCR. Beyond the long jams on the record, Proud Mary seemed to me then, and still now, to be 3:08 of perfect rock 'n' roll song writing and performance.

But I can certainly see any young boy being attracted by Tina Turner shakin' her booty. Those legs, man, those legs!

All the way up to there. The whole "Memphis horns and soul" aspect didn't hurt, either.

Outpost4 wrote:

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And "The Name of the Game" with Gene Barry. You're reaching now, M'Sharak! I remember that show well. Part of a rotating series on NBC. Wasn't McCloud one of the other shows in rotation?

I believe that The Name of the Game was a standalone weekly series, although the leads (Barry, Tony Franciosa, Robert Stack and Susan Saint James) rotated from week to week. The rotating series was the NBC Mystery Movie, alternating 90-minute eps of McCloud, McMillan & Wife and Columbo (added later was The Night Stalker.)

[Outpost4]

M'Sharak wrote:

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All the way up to there. The whole "Memphis horns and soul" aspect didn't hurt, either.

And you read Playboy for the articles...

I kid. Ike's production was hot.

M'Sharak wrote:

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I believe that The Name of the Game was a standalone weekly series, although the leads (Barry, Tony Franciosa, Robert Stack and Susan Saint James) rotated from week to week. The rotating series was the NBC Mystery Movie, alternating 90-minute eps of McCloud, McMillan & Wife and Columbo (added later was The Night Stalker.)

That's it. Tony Franciosa. Now there's a name I haven't thought of for years.

[Allyn Gibson]

Pingfah wrote:

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ITL, Elbow are a great band!

Agreed, Elbow is fantastic. I only know them through their albums, true, but they're incredible.

"The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver" reduced me to weeping the second time I heard it. The first time, I wasn't really listening. The second time, the moment of emotional climax at 3:43 was so breathtaking that I turned into a gibbering wreck.

Fantastic band.

Oh, and some random covers I really enjoy.

An Australian Beatles cover band, The Beatnix, did a version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," in the style of the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand." It is absolutely wild to hear "Stairway" as a two-minute pop song.

Sad Kermit. Pretty much anything he's done. "Hurt" is a thing of beauty.

[M'Sharak]

Allyn Gibson wrote:

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An Australian Beatles cover band, The Beatnix, did a version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," in the style of the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand." It is absolutely wild to hear "Stairway" as a two-minute pop song.

That one really is a treat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WfoccRna6I

[Moocey]

I like Elbow's cover of Independent Women better than the Destiny's Child original.

[number6]

mrcoaster wrote:

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KISS' "God Gave Rock And Roll To You II" is a big improvement on Argent's original song.

No.
Paul Stanley's liitle pep talk in the middle makes me want to stick meat hooks in my ear canal

[Rÿcher]

Disturbed, "Land of Confusion"

Gary Jules, "Mad World"

Disturbed, "Shout"

[number6]

A few more...

Three Dog Night-Liar
Sonic Youth- Superstar
Bongwater- Porpoise Song
Scissor Sisters- Comfortably Numb
Blind Faith- Well Alright
Joe Cocker- Feelin Alright
Yes- America
Bangles- Hazy Shade of Winter (You should know I can't really stand the Bangles, but their version of this rocks!)

[Messianni]

number6 wrote:

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Johnny Cash- Hurt

Good one.

I actually really liked Shatner's cover of Common People. His Has Been album I'm always enjoyed a lot more than I initially thought I might. Rocket Man it is not.

[HappyDayRiot]

John_Picard wrote:

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Call me weird, but I like it.

Disturbed's is boring as hell. In Flames did a far more interesting cover of Land of Confusion.

Disturbed have also ruined Faith No More's Midlife Crisis.

In fact I would go so far as to say that Disturbed have ruined music.

[ITL]

moocey wrote:

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I like Elbow's cover of Independent Women better than the Destiny's Child original.

It is rather good, isn't it?