Better than the original. [View all]

This is about cover versions of songs that are actually better than the original versions, by the original artists. I will start with two: probably the most famous, and then a personal favorite.

In 1968 Bob Dylan put out an album exploring themes found in the Bible called John Wesley Harding, and Jimi Hendrix was blown away by it. Jimi tried to cover The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest but he couldn't make it work (a British metal band liked the name Judas Priest and purloined it!). So he did All Along the Watchtower, reworking the arrangement. Dylan admitted the arrangement was superior and used it himself from that point. Today the cover is a classic rock anthem, and the original is almost unheard.

In 1977 Bonnie Raitt put out a cover of Del Shannon's Runaway on her album Sweet Forgiveness. It was not a huge hit, reaching #57 on the charts. But it's a bluesy masterpiece and I find it unforgettable.



So. Do you have a favorite cover that you think blows away the original? Let me hear from you.