what's the greatest cover song?

Hendrix: All Along the Watch Tower

followed by, in close second,

Guns N' Roses: Knocking on Heaven's Door


NOTICE: They're both Dylan songs

How about "This Flight Tonight" from Nazzareth, written by Joni Mitchell?

Or "Woodstock" from Crosby, Stills & Nash, also written by Joni Mitchell?

Or "Lady Marmalade" from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, originally by Patti Labelle?

Going the other way, how about covers that suck so bad, the original leaves it in the dust? Like...

"American Woman" trashed by Lenny Kravitz, originally by The Guess Who?

Or one that makes me grind my teeth: "Rock On" desecrated by some recent travesty that shall evermore remain nameless, blown away by the original David Essex.

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Lordathestrings
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Lately I saw Chris Whitley live and he played some songs from his new album. A few covers ,i don't remember the name at this time. But he gave them a very personal touch. So that's the main thing if you cover a song.
There are many songs covered the wrong way, take All along the watchtower by instance, basically a very simple song, U2 called it three chords and the truth also adding some interesting lyrics about a red guitar, . This U2 version is one of the worst and that's the %^&%^%^& truth.
Only Jimmy Hendrix took this song to a high level mainly of his relaxed vocals and solo work.

Nowadays there are covers to see on TMF and MTV turned into the R&B thing. Mostly very taistless versions. Only the kids don't know the originals. When i try to make them listen to the original they are not interested.
Maybe one of these days Stairway to Heaven gets an R&B touch with a rapped solo, ha ha.

Has anyone ever heard of "Dread Zeppelin"? They're a reggae group, who only cover Led Zep. I heard a ragga version of Stairway to Heaven, and it was pretty cool.

Also, "Dream On" by Ronnie James Dio and Yngwie is really good, too, from the Aerosmith tribute album.

I definitely recommend that everyone check these songs out.

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... and that's all I have to say about that.

ALL generalizations are WRONG

[/sarcasm]

Whisky In The Jar by Thin Lizzy - originely a traditional arrangement, ruined by Metallica.

Derek & The Dominoes - Have You Ever Loved A Woman

Gary Moore - Sky Is Crying (SRV Cover)

Thin Lizzy - Rosalie(Bob Seegar Cover)

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Call Me The Breeze

SRV - Little Wing
Bad Covers

Sheryl Crow - Sweet Child O Mine
GNR - Live And Let Die(it was just terrible)
Madonna - American Pie
Tom Jones - Too Many to name
The Corrs - Old Town(Phil Lynott),Little Wing(Hendrix),Long & Winding Road(Beatles)

And of course the mother of all ****ups:

Metallica - Whisky In The Jar

I never knew these two had worked together, tho i had always thought it'd be good if they did.

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