Cover songs better than their original

[Summer_Days]

'Respect', Aretha Franklin. Otis' original is really great but man Sister Re went places with it. I'd also say that about her cover of Elton John's 'Border Song'.

'See You in September' by The Happenings is a big improvement over The Tempos' original.

The Beach Boys' version of 'Hushabye' is way better than the original by The Mystics.

Dunno if it quite counts since it's a standard but The Four Seasons take on 'I Got You Under My Skin' is my favorite, even over Sinatra's.

[JK]

I've never heard the original of this Bowie song. My wife saw Joan Wasser in concert a few years back (just her voice and piano) and was most impressed. So this is for her:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_As_Police_Woman

[RangeRoverA1]

2 Smiley Smilers - what do you regard the best "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"? It's song featured in few films; by different artists in different times. Don't give Platters.

[JK]

2 Smiley Smilers - what do you regard the best "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"? It's song featured in few films; by different artists in different times. Don't give Platters.

Love to join in, RR, but to be honest I only know The Platters' rendition.

I checked the song's wiki page and listened to a few versions but in my view The Platters own it.

[JK]

This is one I play every day these days. "Jet Boy Jet Girl" was written and first sung by Alan Ward aka Elton Motello. It may be about something Ward went through himself (see link). The Damned's version adds a new, more sinister twist by being one step removed. The original is pretty cool but to these ears The Damned nail it. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQKyMZ8gsPI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Boy,_Jet_Girl

[RangeRoverA1]

Thru youtube comments found fast garage "Runaway" cover: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dL2fzJ2qxpQ

It doesn't tell year but could be 80s. Pretty cool.

[JK]

Thru youtube comments found fast garage "Runaway" cover: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dL2fzJ2qxpQ

It doesn't tell year but could be 80s. Pretty cool.

Good find! Of course, JK wouldn't be JK if he didn't go in search of these things.

Batmobile is a Dutch psychobilly band and "Runaway" comes from their 1993 album Blast from the Past. (The cover in the vid is misleading.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batmobile_(band)

[RangeRoverA1]

2 Smiley Smilers - what do you regard the best "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"?

Heh, not the best but found & liked this instra by Fausto Papetti; it brings good New Year/ Christmas imagery, it bizarrely seems to these ears jolly Christmasey/ winter-festive. Besides, pretty melody's intact - even hideous s'pho' doesn't ruin it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=knCRo2qD5JQ

[RangeRoverA1]

Dana "Who Put The Lights Out" >>>>>> dull weak-voiced Barry Ryan (Ryan Brothers' fame, UK twin duo, soon Paul'll refuse & begin writing songs to Barry who went single; Irish 1970 Eurovision winner Dana asked Paul/Barry to sing it. She did it pitch perfectly).
Dana's rendition is interesting due to least bit fact she sang choir girls' bits, whilst Barry didn't.
Peculiar tune with baroqueness to it. Btw, she got beautifully-shaped lips & the way she moves them when sings. Pretty girl, in addition to lovely & really good voice. Next thing - I still hear it "who who the lights", "put" said in such breezy way like they breathe it than say "put". Interesting technique. Next next thing - she sings it *live*. Barry's link is *studio*, after how many takes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RJTP3OdTM8Y
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NvGazVSLPuc

[RangeRoverA1]

Finally. Mary Hopkin gets out of safety zone - she made changes to her samey half-folkie-half-operatic ballady singing style, here she added drive & what seems like grooving to the song. I'm usually really curious to hear & *must* hear smb. with samey singing to break away it & try at least single time different way to sing. Scanned thru many-many clips with Mary to find precisely this.
She in 1981 with some country guys Sundance with "Cottonfields": https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qPBZUbaNe14

[RangeRoverA1]

Ha, usual duh in the Internet - nobody pays attn to things you say.
I like RS "The Singer Not The Song" better than by anybody.
Ditto "Time Is At My Side".
Ditto "Piglets Dance Around Freaky Clownades".

[JK]

Ha, usual duh in the Internet - nobody pays attn to things you say.

Actually, RR, I really enjoyed reading your two posts about Dana and Mary H., they're just not favourite artists of mine.

So I for one did pay attention but had nothing further to say on either subject. For better or for worse, the internet is like that at times.

[JK]

I won't say it's better, hahaha, but it's so very touching! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpwIbqm-umk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_than_This_(Roxy_Music_song)

[RangeRoverA1]

I use this thread to link "interesting covers", "new songs which didn't hear till today", "faves". It's fine, thus.

Right now, shall link example 2 - I didn't hear song "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" till today. I read it's famous standard, many-many artists sang it, yet I didn't hear it - you see, usually it's very easy to be familiar with standards due to the reason stated - MANY sang it. It should be difficult to pass it by. Easy to pass by obscure songs by famous & rare artists. Not standards. But, looks like even standards can be "new".

Been checking Dana's catalog, she sings the song described. I.e. she's gateway to this famous standard. Will listen to everybody singing it. But back to Dana, it's really nice melody with good arrangement. & significantly, this song/melody fits Dana's lovely, princess-like youthful pitch-perfect crystally pure voice (it'll change in the 80s, get lower, *little bit* husky).

Puzzling title. What's it mean? Reading lyrics, it seems to be saying everybody went crazy. Is it it?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSZhPSTzoE

[JK]

I use this thread to link "interesting covers", "new songs which didn't hear till today", "faves". It's fine, thus.

Right now, shall link example 2 - I didn't hear song "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" till today. I read it's famous standard, many-many artists sang it, yet I didn't hear it - you see, usually it's very easy to be familiar with standards due to the reason stated - MANY sang it. It should be difficult to pass it by. Easy to pass by obscure songs by famous & rare artists. Not standards. But, looks like even standards can be "new".

Been checking Dana's catalog, she sings the song described. I.e. she's gateway to this famous standard. Will listen to everybody singing it. But back to Dana, it's really nice melody with good arrangement. & significantly, this song/melody fits Dana's lovely, princess-like youthful pitch-perfect crystally pure voice (it'll change in the 80s, get lower, *little bit* husky).

Puzzling title. What's it mean? Reading lyrics, it seems to be saying everybody went crazy. Is it it?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSZhPSTzoE

I only know the 1965 original by its author, Jonathan King:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ks2TPPyho

It seems to be about loneliness and alienation, using the moon as a metaphor. See the page linked below, which adds other interesting information about Mr. King:

https://rbhsjukebox.wordpress.com/tag/everyones-gone-to-the-moon/

[RangeRoverA1]

Dana "Crossword Puzzle" > Lynsey De Paul
Dana "Trying To Say Goodbye" > Neil Sedaka
Fortunes "Storm In Teacup" > Lynsey De Paul
Dana "If" > Bread
Dana "Do I Still Figure" > Joe Bore Cocker
Dana "I'm Not" > 10cc
Dana "Day By Day" > musical

tbc

[JK]

I never realized "You Might Need Somebody" was recorded earlier by Randy Crawford. (And that wasn't even its first outing, which was by Turley Richards). I still prefer the more fragile take by Shola Ama:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4swgfp17kkk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Might_Need_Somebody

[RangeRoverA1]

95% songs Dana sang = better than originals. She's better than many Motown singers. Btw, she's Irish singer & you know what, folks? Irish is amazingly VERY similar by accent to...(drums)...American! They got "r" which British/ limeys mute. & the other details. Cool, ain't it? Googled it to check & I been right! Many stated Irish sound like Americans. Knew I got good ear to these things.

[RangeRoverA1]

^Check Dana. She's got voice, she sings since being school girl going to cabarets each Saturday. She's like Beatles - they began by singing in stuffy nothing special clubs nobody cared about. She & they got experience b4 real cool careers. She'd written song at 15 AND get it published 45 double side vinyl. She's cool like it. That.Is.Facts. Best thing about Dana she didn't get star disease, she & husband in fact created Fan Club "Friends Of Dana" when they'll invite really nicely fans, treat them with tea, cookies,candies - food, y'know. Such good people, such good Dana. She can sing jazz, blues, pop, even Christian music. Versatile artist, zero denying years in cabaret added to it. In short, she's great!

[B.E.]

America's version of "Head and Heart" from their 1972 album, Homecoming. I prefer the lead vocal and the addition of chorus harmony vocals.

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

[JK]

Good call to resurrect this topic, B.E.

I was only thinking of this one yesterday. I'm not a fan of the original 1930 rendition by Lotte Lenya but The Doors really nail it for me:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Song

[RangeRoverA1]

FB brought "Weight" international cover, diff. musicians in diff. places sing-play the Band's song featuring Robby Robertson, Ringo Starr. Sitar player's even joined. Cool collab, to the song's fans (link accessible):

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157908563491142&id=591766141

[JK]

FB brought "Weight" international cover, diff. musicians in diff. places sing-play the Band's song featuring Robby Robertson, Ringo Starr. Sitar player's even joined. Cool collab, to the song's fans (link accessible):

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157908563491142&id=591766141

Wow, amazing! They're right about it making you a bit happier. Thanks for sharing, RR.

[RangeRoverA1]

Taco's "Cheek To Cheek" can't be beat (duh). Nevertheless, Desi Arnaz sings it really well, croon paired with mischievous sweetness "as dancing cheek to cheek":
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mL7m_Pvnkqg

[mtaber]

I don’t know if this has been mentioned in this space, but Johnny Rivers has to be included in any “cover versions” thread.  The guy took several songs that had previously been hits and made his own recordings, most of which were bigger hits by him than by the original artist.  “Maybelline”, “Memphis”, “Baby I Need Your Lovin”, “The Tracks of My Tears” - all huge hits for him.  He failed to top the success of the song’s originator when he covered some little-known tune called “Help Me, Rhonda”...