I prefer Michael Andrews and Gary Jules version of 'Mad World' to Tears for Fears' version. The sombre melancholic arrangement just seems more suitable than the typical bombastic ott 80s production of the original.
For example, for me California Dreaming has to be the River City People version, not The Mamas & The Papas.
My favourite version is Jose Feliciano's cover.
A few of my favourite covers I didn't hear first:
Things Behind The Sun by The Mars Volta (originally by Nick Drake) Denim Daemon by Therapy? (originally by Turbonegro) Search and Destroy by the Chili Peppers (originally by The Stooges)
Darling Nicki (Prince... bleh...) Foo Fighters cover was excellent, as was their cover of Baker Street (Gerry Raferty...) although only the former was better than the original.
Come to think of it, I can't recall a single bad cover the Foo's did...
- don't think I'd even heard Bowie's Man Who Sold The World before Nirvana did it on MTV Unplugged, and way prefer Nirvana's version now that I've heard both
I was pretty familiar with the original version of that before I heard Nirvana's, but I still prefer Nirvana's by a long way. Their whole Unplugged session was pretty epic.
Can't remember whether I heard Dylan's or Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower first, but the Hendrix one is deffo the one I prefer to listen to. Mind you, that's true of most Bob Dylan songs for me -- awesome songwriter, obviously, but I pretty much always prefer his songs when they're covered by someone else (apart from Subterranean Homesick Blues, obviously!).
I reckon almost without exception I prefer the first version of the song I hear, rather than the original. Examples that immediately spring to mind include The Damned's "Eloise", Anthrax "Got The Time" and Judas Priest's "Green Manalishi)".
The exception, however, would fall off Metallica's Garage Days Revisited covers album, where the Budgie covers are far inferior to the original songs. There again, Metallica's versions were deliberably recorded a la a garage band, so that's probably why they sound a bit ... well .... crap.
I was pretty familiar with the original version of that before I heard Nirvana's, but I still prefer Nirvana's by a long way. Their whole Unplugged session was pretty epic.
yeah, the other covers on that unplugged set (the 3 meat puppets tracks plus leadbelly's where did you sleep last night) are also better than the originals imo.
talking of big black I love steve albini's other band rapeman's cover of zz top's 'just got paid' much better than zz tops version. I heard it first though I think
I prefer Turin Brakes' cover of Wicked Game to the original by Chris Isaak. They also do a great interpretation of Chim Chim Cheree from Mary Poppins...
I was pretty familiar with the original version of that before I heard Nirvana's, but I still prefer Nirvana's by a long way. Their whole Unplugged session was pretty epic.
Agree with that. Spine-tingling :smile:
Off-topic, but a few of those Unplugged sessions were immense. As well as Nirvana I'm thinking Alice in Chains and Neil Young.
Another batch of covers, this time going classical...
Arabesque n?1 - Isao Tomita. The video shows the opening of a strange TV show for kids. I saw it when I was a kid, and before that show TVE was emitting "Sesame Street" and later "La Cometa Blanca". "Planeta Imaginario" was a departure from that TV shows, and I found it strange. Maybe I didn't understood it.
The Swan Lake - Loom. I'm not a fan of classical music, so the first time I heard "The Swan Lake" was on my 486 playing this fantastic Adventure. Years later, I used the FM Towns version of that song on my wedding, but that's another story.
Beethoven Virus - BanYa. I must confess that this isn't a cover, and I heard most songs before, but this remix is killer!
I was there, too
An' you know what they said?
Well, some of it was true!
This guy is one of the reasons why I think Led Zep are VERY over rated ;)
well, I don't think anyone's ever tried to argue Jimmy page was a master shredder/tapping expert, so not sure about your comparison there tbh
bilbo baggins can play obviously, but I find stuff like that just starts to sound like a demonstration vid after a minute or so. let's hear him write a track as good as Rain Song or Achilles Last Stand, eh? ;-)
Check out Absynth Aura - his band. He can write as well as play ;) To be honest, most of his videos are basically demos for the various 7 string guitar he plays
Page was a master of what he did, that's very true, but there are better players around, both then and now. Malmsteen, Gary Moore, Ritchie Blackmore, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour etc. Different styles maybe, but you can't doubt their talent. It's all opiinion and nothing more, but pretty much anything by Floyd or Dire Straits beats the hell out of Whole Lotta Love. My comparison is simply pure talent.
I hear what you say about people who just sit there with a guitar and play it - but hey, it's all opinion, and mine is - Led Zep are and were, very over rated. Sure they could play, sure they wrote and performed some great tunes - but then so have an awful lot of other people, and many of those make Led Zep seem very ordinary - again, in my opinion.
again I would argue it's not a talent competition - for e.g. some of the best songs ever have 3 chords - but yeah we don't really need to go down that road... and you're right it's all opinions anyway. :)
talking of which, I prefer john fogerty's original of 'rockin all over the world', and I didn't hear it first. in fact I didn't even know the quo version was a cover till that long ago
'It's my Life' by Talk Talk, the version of No Doubt is far better.
Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' was adapted by some artists. The version by Lucie Silvas is as good as the original song. Quite different styles but I like both.
Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower much better than the original by Dylan. :grin:
Yeah, as Mr. Cowley says further up the thread Dylan has written some great songs, but they always sound better sung by someone else (Carole King is another example of this)
Can't believe nobody's mentioned this yet - although for years I thought it was an original tune, and when I heard Elvis's version I just went "meh".
Comments
My favourite version is Jose Feliciano's cover.
A few of my favourite covers I didn't hear first:
Things Behind The Sun by The Mars Volta (originally by Nick Drake)
Denim Daemon by Therapy? (originally by Turbonegro)
Search and Destroy by the Chili Peppers (originally by The Stooges)
I prefer the original, but find it overplayed. The album it came from (the Plastic Age) is great however.
Come to think of it, I can't recall a single bad cover the Foo's did...
Ah, that'll be Songs About An Activity That Rhymes With Trucking, then :)
As is Atomizer, their debut!!! :D
Can't remember whether I heard Dylan's or Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower first, but the Hendrix one is deffo the one I prefer to listen to. Mind you, that's true of most Bob Dylan songs for me -- awesome songwriter, obviously, but I pretty much always prefer his songs when they're covered by someone else (apart from Subterranean Homesick Blues, obviously!).
The exception, however, would fall off Metallica's Garage Days Revisited covers album, where the Budgie covers are far inferior to the original songs. There again, Metallica's versions were deliberably recorded a la a garage band, so that's probably why they sound a bit ... well .... crap.
talking of big black I love steve albini's other band rapeman's cover of zz top's 'just got paid' much better than zz tops version. I heard it first though I think
Off-topic, but a few of those Unplugged sessions were immense. As well as Nirvana I'm thinking Alice in Chains and Neil Young.
Arabesque n?1 - Isao Tomita. The video shows the opening of a strange TV show for kids. I saw it when I was a kid, and before that show TVE was emitting "Sesame Street" and later "La Cometa Blanca". "Planeta Imaginario" was a departure from that TV shows, and I found it strange. Maybe I didn't understood it.
The Swan Lake - Loom. I'm not a fan of classical music, so the first time I heard "The Swan Lake" was on my 486 playing this fantastic Adventure. Years later, I used the FM Towns version of that song on my wedding, but that's another story.
Beethoven Virus - BanYa. I must confess that this isn't a cover, and I heard most songs before, but this remix is killer!
An' you know what they said?
Well, some of it was true!
I'd agree with you there, if only they had done the guitar solo. That sadly let down the whole song for me, you gotta have the solo....
Cover versions? Elouise by the Damned, brilliant track, especially the 12"
yep, me too!
I can do that too :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZuSaudKc68
Listen and weep all you guitar wannabees :)
This guy is one of the reasons why I think Led Zep are VERY over rated ;)
well, I don't think anyone's ever tried to argue Jimmy page was a master shredder/tapping expert, so not sure about your comparison there tbh
bilbo baggins can play obviously, but I find stuff like that just starts to sound like a demonstration vid after a minute or so. let's hear him write a track as good as Rain Song or Achilles Last Stand, eh? ;-)
Page was a master of what he did, that's very true, but there are better players around, both then and now. Malmsteen, Gary Moore, Ritchie Blackmore, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour etc. Different styles maybe, but you can't doubt their talent. It's all opiinion and nothing more, but pretty much anything by Floyd or Dire Straits beats the hell out of Whole Lotta Love. My comparison is simply pure talent.
I hear what you say about people who just sit there with a guitar and play it - but hey, it's all opinion, and mine is - Led Zep are and were, very over rated. Sure they could play, sure they wrote and performed some great tunes - but then so have an awful lot of other people, and many of those make Led Zep seem very ordinary - again, in my opinion.
And hey, we're off topic
again I would argue it's not a talent competition - for e.g. some of the best songs ever have 3 chords - but yeah we don't really need to go down that road... and you're right it's all opinions anyway. :)
talking of which, I prefer john fogerty's original of 'rockin all over the world', and I didn't hear it first. in fact I didn't even know the quo version was a cover till that long ago
Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' was adapted by some artists. The version by Lucie Silvas is as good as the original song. Quite different styles but I like both.
Have to disagree there, I mean it's okay as covers go and I quite like No Doubt, but far better? Nah...
(I'm a big Talk Talk fan though, Spirit of Eden is in my top ten albums of all time, so I'm biased :D)
Yeah, as Mr. Cowley says further up the thread Dylan has written some great songs, but they always sound better sung by someone else (Carole King is another example of this)
Can't believe nobody's mentioned this yet - although for years I thought it was an original tune, and when I heard Elvis's version I just went "meh".