10 Cover Songs Better Than the Originals By Joe Robinson Cover songs have been popular in the world of rock ‘n’ roll since, well, the beginning of the world rock ‘n’ roll. Originally, cover songs often carried a negative connotation — they were seen as a less talented and successful act “stealing” the superior work of the composer to make a quick buck — but these days, they are typically recognized as one artist paying homage to another in a show of admiration. Either way, cover versions occasionally turn out to be more popular than and/or artistically superior to the originals. It’s not common, but the following are 10 songs that, despite great original versions, work better as covers. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Higher Ground Original Artist: Stevie Wonder Maybe its wrong to say the Chili Peppers did a better job performing Higher Ground than the living legend who wrote it. But often times, these sorts of preferences are determined by which version one hears first, and being Gen-Xers, we happened upon Anthony Kiedis & co.s Mothers Milk rendition well before the original. In fact, it wasnt until many years later that we discovered Stevie Wonders take, which is slightly slower but no less funky. Its a close call, but well go with the Peppers on this one. The White Stripes, Jolene Original Artist: Dolly Parton Sorry, Dolly fans. Parton certainly turns in a lovely version of her own song, which appeared on the 1974 disc of the same name, but were partial to the White Stripes cover, which first turned up as the B-side to their 2000 single of Hello Operator, off the album De Stijl, and was later released as a single in its own right in live form on Under Blackpool Lights. Both covers find the Stripes doing a pretty straight-up version of the original, albeit with a slightly harder and punkier approach. Really, you cant go wrong with any of them Frente, Bizarre Love Triangle Original Artist: New Order Aussie 90s alt-rock act Frente take New Orders dance-floor hit and turn it on its ear with a mellow acoustic rendition thats downright beautiful. The two versions couldnt be any more different: New Orders original, which appeared on their 1986 album Bsotherhood, was a synth-driven hit that landed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, while Frentes stripped-down take -- which features little more than sparse acoustic guitar finger picking and singer Angie Harts yearning vocals -- hit the Top 10 of the Modern Rock tally and even managed to cross over to No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Ramones: California Sun Original Artist: Joe Jones Credited to Henry Glover and Morris Levy and originally recorded by the 35-year-old New Orleans-born singer-songwriter Joe Jones, California Sun has been covered by numerous acts over the years -- everyone from Dick Dale and Brian Wilson to the Replacements and 60s frat rockers the Rivieras, who recorded the highest-charting and best-known version in 1964. But it was the Ramones that injected the tune with a previously absent punk energy, as it appeared on both their Leave Home album and in their classic 1979 film Rock n Roll High School. Janes Addiction, Rock & Roll Original Artist: The Velvet Underground Heres another thats sure to be controversial. Few bands in the history of rock n roll are considered more influential than the Velvet Underground, so how perfect is it for them to pass a song titled Rock & Roll down through several generations to one of the most classic and original bands of 90s alternative rock? The Velvets original appeared on the album Loaded -- recorded by a John Cale-less version of the band thats hardly the classic lineup -- while the JA stab was from their self-titled 1987 debut, a live album that arrived early in their career, before the band revealed their less-appealing idiosyncrasies. Make sense? The Clash, I Fought the Law Original Artist: The Bobby Fuller Four Written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets, I Fought the Law was popularized by the Bobby Fuller Four, whose 1966 version is itself considered a classic. (It ranked No. 177 on Rolling Stone magazines list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.) Placing the Clash cover above Fullers on this list shows just how legendary their version has become. The Clash cut theirs, which appeared on the American edition of their self-titled debut album, after hearing Fullers on a jukebox in a California recording studio. They stuck close to the original structure, adding a welcome dash of U.K. punk aggression. Dave Grohl, With Arms Wide Open Original Artist: Creed If this list measures how much better a cover songs is than the original, Dave Grohls version of this Creed mega-hit should be No. 1. Even with Grohls annoying vocal guffaws, we like the Foo Fighters frontmans shortened run-through a million times more than what, sadly, is one of the biggest rock hits of the 00s. But hey, maybe thats just us. Jeff Buckley, Hallelujah Original Artist: Leonard Cohen Canadian minstrel-poet Leonard Cohen first released this on his Various Positions album in 1984, and the tune has since been covered by more than 200 artists in a variety of languages. The Velvet Undergrounds John Cale turned in a slightly different take that was the first to gain broader notice, but it was Jeff Buckleys soaring and angelic cover -- based on Cales version and featured on Buckleys much-loved Grace album -- that has since become known as the definitive version. Nirvana, Love Buzz Original Artist: Shocking Blue Nirvanas covers of David Bowies The Man Who Sold the World and Leadbellys Where Did You Sleep Last Night? from the bands MTV Unplugged live album perhaps are better known, but its this up-tempo, fuzzed-out take on Dutch rock act the Shocking Blues Love Buzz that makes our list, the reason being that its remarkably close to Nirvanas early sound. Love Buzz was initially released as Nirvanas first-ever single in 1988 as part of the Sub Pop Singles Club, and it later appeared with a slightly different mix on their 1989 debut album, Bleach. Johnny Cash, Hurt Original Artist: Nine Inch Nails The country legend takes on one of the darkest, most depressing songs in a Nine Inch Nails catalog full of doom and gloom, and wouldnt you know it, he turns in an equally harrowing cover. Johnny Cash surprised the music world when he redid Hurt -- a standout track on NINs double-album magnum opus The Downward Spiral -- as an acoustic ballad for his American IV: The Man Comes Around covers set. As even Reznor admits, the Man In Black made the song his own. It was this other person inhabiting my most personal song ... It felt invasive, Reznor once said. Cash brings a certain darkness to the song. Its melancholy and spooky. See more at diffuser.fm/10-cover-songs-better-than-the-originals/
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:42:23 +0000
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