Better Cover Songs
I have kept an informal list of cover songs and that I believe are better than the originals. Sometimes I don’t know who the original is by, and often it is hard to discern. Initially this was just going to be a Top Ten List but as you can see there are about two dozen of them and I will continue to supplement as others share their own suggestions for this category.
Hound Dog by sung by Elvis Presley but originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton
Woodstock by Crosby Stills Nash and Young but originally performed by its writer Joni Mitchell
Take Me to the River by The Talking Heads but originally performed by Al Green
Hear It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye but originally performed by Gladys Knight and the Pips
Both Sides Now and Clouds both performed by Judy Collins but originally by Joni Mitchell
Black Magic Woman by Santana but originally written and recorded by the original Fleetwood Mac
Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter Paul and Mary but originally written and recorded by John Denver
If I Had a Hammer and Longtime Passing by The Weavers but originated by folk legend Pete Seeger
House of the Rising Sun by The Animals and covered by so many others prior to their masterful version
With a Little Help from My Friends by Joe Cocker but originally a Beatles song sung by Ringo Starr
All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix but originally written and recorded by Bob Dylan
Blinded by the Light and Spirits in the Night both by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band but originally by Bruce Springsteen
The Mighty Quinn by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band but originally by Dob Dylan
Twist and Shout by The Beatles but originally by the Isley Brothers
Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin but originally by Kris Kristofferson
Nothing Compares to U by Sinead O’Connor but originally written and recorded by Prince
I Only Have Eyes for You by Art Garfunkel and covered by many others including Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett
Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds but originally by Dob Dylan
Respect by Aretha Franklin but originally recorded by Otis Redding
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by Elton John but (of course) originally written and recorded by The Beatles
Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul and Mary but written and first performed by John Denver