Cover Versions That Are Better Than The Originals

Although it’s all subjective opinion (or is it?), most cover versions aren’t a patch on the originals (and that’s even truer when it comes to movie remakes) – but occasionally a cover version bucks the trend and either slightly improves on the original, or in some cases blows it out of the water. There aren’t many, but here is my list of cover versions about which I think that applies – divided into four categories:

Category 1 - The original is ok, but the cover version is better

Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" (Gloria Jones)
Urge Overkill, “Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon” (Neil Diamond)

Category 2 – The original is good, but the cover version is even better

Aretha Franklin, "Respect" (Otis Redding)
Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse, "Valerie" (The Zutons)
Matthew’s Southern Comfort, “Woodstock” (Joni Mitchell)
Yo La Tengo, “You Can Have It All” (George McRae)
Eva Cassidy, “Over The Rainbow” (Judy Garland)

Category 3 - The original is ok, but the cover version completely blows it out of the water

The Beatles, ‘Twist and Shout’ (The Isley Brothers)
The Animals, ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’ (Traditional)
Sinead O'Connor, "Nothing Compares 2 U" (Prince)
Led Zeppelin, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” – (Joan Baez)
Led Zeppelin, “Dazed and Confused” (Jake Holmes)

Category 4 – The original is great, but the cover version completely blows it out of the water

Jimi Hendrix, "All Along the Watchtower" (Bob Dylan)
The Stranglers, “Walk On By” (Dionne Warwick)
Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)

Now my top 5

1) The Stranglers, “Walk On By”
2) Jimi Hendrix, "All Along the Watchtower"
3) Led Zeppelin, “Dazed and Confused”
4) Aretha Franklin, "Respect"
5) Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah"

Any further contenders that you’re outraged I’ve precluded, do let me know.