My Top 8 Picks for Cover songs - Are they better than the original?
Do they suck? Who did it better?
When you learn how to play a guitar, a bass, the drums, etc...your initial goal at 17 years of age is to join a band and become the next big rock star. In these bands, you are obligated to learn as many cover songs as possible. Sometimes, if you're lucky and you have actual talent in your band, your version of a song might sound pretty good. Then there are those bands where everything you play turns out to be crap. I've been in both of those bands a dozen times each. I liked playing covers of songs I knew well, but that didn't mean that the rest of the band was on board. I always believed that I had my proverbial ear-to-the-ground on the music that most people liked. I eventually realized that no matter how well or how badly you play a song, you just gotta try to get it as close to the original as possible and still make it your own.
Many famous bands and artists followed the same logical approach when it came to their interpretations of songs. Some actually sounded better than the original. This article is about those songs. All of this is going to be off the top of my head, which means that I will be making this up as I go along.
1) "With a little help from my friend".
In memory of the 54th anniversary of Woodstock, I'll start off with Joe Cocker's version of this song. I actually met Ringo about thirty years ago when I worked as a skycap at the Orlando International Airport. He was so cool. You can read that story here.
Ringo was known primarily for his masterful drumming skills. He wasn't known for his ability to sing. He sang the lead vocals to this song as the second track on the Sgt. Pepper album. It was a good song, a mild success on a monster album. Then Joe Cocker got up on stage and sang a slower "waltz" version that was clearly far more magical. Joe Cocker's version gets my vote.
2) "Lucy in the skies with diamonds".
Since we're on the subject of the Beatles, I must talk about Elton John's version of this song. Elton completely rearranged this song to make it far more interesting. When I heard it as a kid, I didn't know that it was originally recorded by the Beatles. I just thought that it was yet another Elton John smash hit. I still think of it that way. As far as I'm concerned, Elton John's version is better than the original.
3) "Come together".
Continuing with the Beatles, I had to mention Aerosmith's version of this song. C'mon, it's Aerosmith. Of course it's better. Don't get me wrong, I love the Beatles original version, but Aerosmith's version is far better.
4) "You're no good".
Van Halen did a cover of this song on their 1979 Van Halen II. As great as that version is, Linda Ronstadt's original version is way more soulful. Linda wins this one, hands down.
5) "Jumpin' Jack Flash".
Peter Frampton versus the Rolling Stones. When "Frampton Comes Alive!" came out in 1976, it was a monumental album for me. It changed my life and made me want to learn how to play the guitar. I had no idea that Frampton's version was a cover. I thought it was just another great song from the live album. A few years later, when I realized that it was a Stones song, it was abundantly clear to me that Frampton did it light years better.
6) "Spooky".
In 1979, the Atlanta Rhythm Section did a cover version of this 1967 "Classics IV" hit. To me, the biggest difference is the key change about a third of the way through the song. This was easily the deciding factor for me because not only did I already like the cover version from A.R.S., the arrangement choice to modulate the song up one-half step, sealed the deal for me.
7) "Woodstock".
Joni Mitchell or Crosby, Stills and Nash? This one is quite simply, a tie. Both versions are absolutely amazing in their own right. However, if I were to lean one way or the other, I might be more inclined to point at Joni's original version as being better, but it's only because, well - it's Joni Mitchell.
8) "Got to get you into my life".
The Beatles or Earth, Wind and Fire? This is another one that could go either way. I like both versions, but - I have to go with E,W & F on this one. It's much more of a groovy, funky, jazzy version. Besides, I'm a huge fan of rock bands with horns.
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