Cover songs versus the original track, which ones are better?

  • Music
  • Thread starter pinball1970
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Track
In summary, the conversation discussed which songs were performed, arranged, or produced better in a cover than the original version. They also debated which songs should have been left alone and whether restricting covers to released singles limits interesting comparisons. The discussion also touched on the subjectivity of judging which version is "better" and the importance of adding something unique to a cover. Examples of good and unnecessary covers were also mentioned. Overall, the conversation highlighted the different interpretations and emotions that can be evoked by a cover compared to the original version.
  • #36
Never have I heard a cover do justice to an original so much as with Lovers in a Dangerous Time.
It was an OK song when Bruce did it, but the BNL breathed a haunting soul into it that made it all it was meant to be.

Bruce Cockburn (1984)
Bare Naked Ladies (1991)
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
Science news on Phys.org
  • #37
You will never hear the song the same way again......

 
  • Wow
  • Love
  • Like
Likes BillTre, pinball1970 and DaveC426913
  • #38
@DaveC426913 He also does "Hey Mr Tamborine Man" that makes me wish to cry. He's Canadian you know. I used to love Mr Tamborine man.

 
  • Wow
  • Haha
  • Like
Likes BillTre, DaveC426913 and pinball1970
  • #39
hutchphd said:
You will never hear the song the same way again......


I have been waiting for these! Shatner, Legend!
 
  • Like
Likes BillTre
  • #40
hutchphd said:
@DaveC426913 He also does "Hey Mr Tamborine Man" that makes me wish to cry. He's Canadian you know. I used to love Mr Tamborine man.


Ill see your Shatner and raise you a Kojak!

I think William was having fun but I really think this one is supposed to be serious! Reason I know? He lights a cigarette before he starts, gets that gravel ready!

 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes fresh_42 and hutchphd
  • #41
I think I have only contributed one so far! some interesting versions!
 
  • #42
pinball1970 said:
I think I have only contributed one so far! some interesting versions!
Sure that all these have been covers, or did you raise with monopoly money?

Anyway, I pay a William(s) plus a Savallas, no reraise:

Original:



Cover:



Edit: No monopoly money, I found the original. Malheuresement.

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #43
fresh_42 said:
Sure that all these have been covers, or did you raise with monopoly money?

Anyway, I pay a William(s) plus a Savallas, no reraise:

Original:



Cover:



Edit: No monopoly money, I found the original. Malheuresement.


Bread fantastic. London Bridge and Guitar man my favourites. Mum saw David Gates a few years ago in Manchester. Said his voice sounded just as pure.
 
  • #44
pinball1970 said:
Which songs were performed, arranged or produced better in a cover than the original version?
Jimi Hendrix covered Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" with an ethereal voice and superb guitar playing that exceeds the original release. Hendrix's version has itself been covered by singers and poets alike. The 2018 series "Vanity Fair" based on a 19th Century novel by Thackeray features a slow measured "Watchtower" theme by Afterhere based on Jimi's cover that sets the pace and feelings for each episode in the series.

pinball1970 said:
Which songs should have been left well alone?
Many other Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman) songs including the beautiful sleepy "Lay, Lady, Lay" that others cover but do not surpass. Not so much 'left alone' as folksingers by definition interpret and borrow from multiple sources including the blues, baroque, and poetry.

Presuming the King actually wrote the scores, I rather enjoy Henry VIII's dance music played on authentic or accurately reproduced period instruments. Modernized covers tend to over dramatize the inherent simplicity and pace of the original dances.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
Likes mathwonk, pinball1970 and Astronuc
  • #45
Original (Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven):


One of the best covers ever (Heart, etal. Kennedy Center):
 
  • Love
Likes pinball1970
  • #46
BillTre said:
Original (Led Zeppelin, Stairway to Heaven):


One of the best covers ever (Heart, etal. Kennedy Center):

This one is a mixed bag. It's Led Zeppelin and Heart covering so SHOULD have been perfect.

The gospel choir kicked in, not required and unnecessary.
The brass kicked in, should have left that alone.
Jason Bonham on drums was a nice touch.
 
  • Like
Likes fresh_42
  • #47
Klystron said:
Jimi Hendrix covered Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" with an ethereal voice and superb guitar playing that exceeds the original release. Hendrix's version has itself been covered by singers and poets alike. The 2018 series "Vanity Fair" based on a 19th Century novel by Thackeray features a slow measured "Watchtower" theme by Afterhere based on Jimi's cover that's sets the pace and feelings for each episode in the series.Many other Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman) songs including the beautiful sleepy "Lay, Lady, Lay" that others cover but do not surpass. Not so much 'left alone' as folksingers by definition interpret and borrow from multiple sources including the blues, baroque, and poetry.

Presuming the King actually wrote the scores, I rather enjoy Henry VIII's dance music played on authentic or accurately reproduced period instruments. Modernized covers tend to over dramatize the inherent simplicity and pace of the original dances.
Jimmy Hendrix "all along the watchtower" is perfection.
No other way of putting it.

Dylan's Mr Tambourine Man and Mighty Quinn gave the Byrds and Manfred Mann's Earth Band two great songs too.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes hutchphd, Klystron and Astronuc
  • #48
The Byrd's covers of Dylan are superb but suffer from lotech recording. I like The Thorns recent versions of same.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #49


 
  • #50
BWV said:



I thought it was Lou Reed! All these years!
 
  • #51
Burning up Highway Star. Better than the orig I say. Endorsed by Ian Paice. He says they are from Austria.

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #52
pinball1970 said:
I thought it was Lou Reed! All these years!
Iggy Stooge was class valedictorian at my high school.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #53
Hornbein said:
Burning up Highway Star. Better than the orig I say. Endorsed by Ian Paice. He says they are from Austria.


Nice cover, made me think of this for some reason

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #54
Astronomy Domine

Good original from Pink Floyd:


Better cover from Voivod:

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970 and BWV
  • #55
Hornbein said:
Burning up Highway Star. Better than the orig I say. Endorsed by Ian Paice. He says they are from Austria.


Ian Paice is a very nice man. However he is wrong , a nice cover but a woman singing Ian Gillan works in terms of range but not timbre.
 
  • #56
jack action said:
Astronomy Domine

Good original from Pink Floyd:


Better cover from Voivod:


another cool PF cover

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #57
BWV said:
another cool PF cover


Not keen an the Sid years. A few tracks are ok but Floyd kicked in when Gilmore started firing for me. Echoes
 
  • Like
Likes BWV
  • #58
Hornbein said:
Burning up Highway Star. Better than the orig I say. Endorsed by Ian Paice. He says they are from Austria.


Deep purple. Listen to how relaxed his voice is. The try singing it.
He has a go a bouncers who were being rough
 
  • #59
That reminds me, Nick Mason's band Saucerful of Secrets does great Pink Floyd covers.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #60
BWV said:
another cool PF cover


Way better than the orig. (Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun.)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #61


Here's the original. I can't decide which is better.

 
Last edited:
  • #62


Zepparella -- When The Levee Breaks
 
  • Like
Likes BillTre and pinball1970
  • #63
Hornbein said:


Zepparella -- When The Levee Breaks

Not as good as Zeppelin’s cover of the song. The original is quite good though

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #64
A non-cover-band cover of an original Zeppelin tune

 
  • Like
Likes PhDeezNutz and pinball1970
  • #65
This is great. No expensive video, just the guys playing. No semi nudity, gyration or lingual protrusion, just great singing.
Beautiful little trills, lovely tone. It is missing those high harmonies which are perfect but the whole package is great.



Original but this is a stripped down live. No harmony.

 
  • #66
pinball1970 said:
This is great. No expensive video, just the guys playing. No semi nudity, gyration or lingual protrusion, just great singing.
Beautiful little trills, lovely tone. It is missing those high harmonies which are perfect but the whole package is great.Original but this is a stripped down live. No harmony.

My favorite version. I don't like Miley very much.

 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
  • #67
Hornbein said:


Here's the original. I can't decide which is better.


The arrangement is pretty much the same so besides his tone and recording, little in it.
 
  • #68
BWV said:
Not as good as Zeppelin’s cover of the song. The original is quite good though


Drums are wrong. Ignoring technique for the minute, the snare sound is flat. More boom required on toms and bass drum too.
Also 5:24? That is the drum moment. The roll before it more obvious (but wrong, goes to rack too soon) but 5:24 is the Bonham moment for me. 2nd and 3rd beat of a triplet on his BD. She misses it out.
 
  • #69
fresh_42 said:
My favorite version. I don't like Miley very much.


Forgetting who she is (Miley) I was shocked how good that actually was. It was also honest music.

Anyway, OLJ you love her even more than Lemmy!
I have never heard this before. Obviously she was a great singer but those little glottal things she does are just beautiful. Almost Yodel like.

The words do not work though, "Your beauty is beyond compare..."
Yeah right. You're Olivia Newton John! I spent the first few bars just staring at the image of her. Stunning.
 
Last edited:
  • #70
I hated prince when he came out. Everything I detested about the 80s in one artist.
When I found out he wrote this I was gob smacked. Everything you want to tell someone you love in one song (after you have split that is!)
Anyway, I am not keen on the original but I totally appreciate the writing. Words and music. Brilliant.

 
  • Like
Likes DennisN and Freyja
Back
Top