Best Cover Versions

[SuperSurfer]

Dig a Pony

The Beatles v St Vincent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjuswQVf86s v http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lan-UQfN0zs

[hippynumber1]

Anyone? The definitive version isn't always the original...

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0AUVGrUTE-Q

[Keef Monkey]

I like this a lot, Far's cover of Pony by Genuwine. It's an utterly ludicrous song originally, but Matranga's voice and the meaty riff they've given it brings a smile to my face every time. It was a hidden track on an album and I gather was done as a joke, but it rocks all the same.

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

[rogue69]

there was an interesting Carpenters cover album that came out mid 90's "If I was an Carpenter"  that had covers like Goodbye to love by American Music Club, Top of the World by Shonen Knife & Superstar by Sonic Youth along with several  other "Alternative" rock bands of the time

[COMMANDO FORCES]

Once listened to there is no going back to the original.

HEY JUDE

[Frank]

Once listened to there is no going back to the original. HEY JUDE

I'm surprised no-one's posted anything from The Transformed Man yet. Anyway, time to stop pissing about - this is clearly the best cover version of all time, especially since the original is such mawkish pish. It's also the only decent Christmas number one.

[Fungus]

Song to the Siren (and original).

Never did see Cocteau Twins* live, but if the press were to be believed they were pretty crap affairs. Can see how they wouldn't translate easily to live.

* This Mortal Coil, I know...

[shaolin_monkey]

Anyone like Zappa?

I like 'Dirty Love' from 'Overnite Sensation':  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5IZobXdJyE

However, Dweezil Zappa has taken his Dad's stuff and gone touring with it.  In some cases he alters the tunes very subtly.

With 'Dirty Love' he replaces the male lead vocal with a female lead vocal, which not only changes the subtext of the lyrics, but also comes across as a much better piece of music, bizarrely!

Here's an incredible live rendition to illustrate what I mean!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF4XxcZZv-I

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Soft Cell's Tainted Love is so definitive many think it the original. I really like Marilyn Manson's cover, which twists it into something darker.

Korn's cover of the Wall is might fine, but doesn't stray far from the Floyd.

Placebo (a band I don't like) vastly improved Running Up That Hill, to the extent it's the second most played track in my music collection according to Itunes.

[Colin YNWA]

there was an interesting Carpenters cover album that came out mid 90's "If I was an Carpenter"  that had covers like Goodbye to love by American Music Club, Top of the World by Shonen Knife & Superstar by Sonic Youth along with several  other "Alternative" rock bands of the time

Yeah I put a linkie to Da Youff version of Superstar towards the start of the thread. 'Tis a great cover.

Sure I've done these before but off the top of my head I always go for 'Superstar' by Sonic Youth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y21VecIIdBI

[rogue69]

on You Tube there's a video of Rob Scallen covering slayer's raining blood on the Banjo

http://youtu.be/nZ2ucr74YNk

[Mister Pops]

When I discovered this at four in the morning I knew I'd had enough internet for one night

[DaveGYNWA]

When I discovered this at four in the morning I knew I'd had enough internet for one night

Thank you 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXo8_5YCZvs

[Frank]

Can anyone confirm or refute my theory that the nineties rash of acts performing bluegrass or Cajun cover of rock tunes stemmed from that bit in Back To The Future part III where the 1885 version of ZZ Top play a banjos and violin arrangement of the film's notional theme tune, Double Back *, at a hoe down?


* don't worry, no-one else remembers that song was BTTF3's theme tune either, or even that it had a theme tune

[Mister Pops]

While that may (or may not) be one of the earliest examples, I think the proclivity towards bluegrass covers in recent years stems from Hayseed Dixie