crappy originals - great covers

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Songs which are in original real bullshit, but someone takes it and turn it to real gold.

Only two examples:
Aluminum Groups cover of "Sweet Child O'Mine"
Johnny Cashs cover of "One"

Your suggestions?

― ronsens, Monday, 20 September 2004 18:56 (twenty years ago)

Travis - "Baby One More Time" to thread.

― Mr. Snrub, Monday, 20 September 2004 19:04 (twenty years ago)

so far you're 3 for 3 in naming originals that were fabulous pop songs. what am i missing here?

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 20 September 2004 19:06 (twenty years ago)

yeah, Sweet Child of Mine is fucking awesome. i haven't heard the cover, but there is little likelihood that aluminum group's version is anywhere close.

― frankE (frankE), Monday, 20 September 2004 19:08 (twenty years ago)

"Gold"
original: MC5 (in their latter days)
cover by: Rocket From The Crypt

― Tofukyo Scramblass, Monday, 20 September 2004 19:14 (twenty years ago)

"Wild Horses" - Rolling Stones

improved by

"Wild Horses" - The Sundays

― Salvador Saca (Mr. Xolotl), Monday, 20 September 2004 19:16 (twenty years ago)

"White Horses"
original: British TV show theme
cover by: Kitchens Of Distinction

― Tofukyo Scramblass, Monday, 20 September 2004 19:21 (twenty years ago)

"Hello, I Love You"
original: The Doors
cover by: The Cure (the reprise version specifically)
another cover by: Plunderphonics (sorta)

― Tofukyo Scramblass, Monday, 20 September 2004 19:26 (twenty years ago)

I remember liking the Luna cover of "Indian Summer" much more than the Beat Happening take, but I can't remember the latter enough to say it's crappy.

― nickn (nickn), Monday, 20 September 2004 19:39 (twenty years ago)

I prefer MxPx's pre-crossover remake of Joy Electric's "Drum Machine Joy" to the orginal.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Monday, 20 September 2004 19:41 (twenty years ago)

"White Horses"
original: British TV show theme
cover by: Kitchens Of Distinction

Reckon this one doesn't count. The question asks for "crappy originals". The original is far from crappy.

― everything, Monday, 20 September 2004 19:47 (twenty years ago)

Manfred Mann - "Mighty Quinn"

Billy Stewart - "Summertime"

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 20 September 2004 19:48 (twenty years ago)

We Can Work It Out
The Beatles original sounds dry and phoned in,
Stevie Wonder's cover is all over it.

― mucho, Monday, 20 September 2004 19:55 (twenty years ago)

the fall "i'm going to spain" may fit

― amateur!!st, Monday, 20 September 2004 19:56 (twenty years ago)

cat power 'satisfaction'.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 20 September 2004 20:26 (twenty years ago)

now now julio

― amateur!!st, Monday, 20 September 2004 20:30 (twenty years ago)

Britney Spears, 'Satisfaction'

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 20 September 2004 20:34 (twenty years ago)

los apson - satsfaccion

(but every single one of the originals mentioned in this thread is good if not great!)

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Monday, 20 September 2004 20:37 (twenty years ago)

Yo La Tengo's cover of "Griselda" is much more pleasant than the Holy Modal Rounders' original.

― frankE (frankE), Monday, 20 September 2004 20:39 (twenty years ago)

fritz I read the title of the thread.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 20 September 2004 20:40 (twenty years ago)

The Sisters of Mercy - "Gimme Shelter"

(there's a lot of Stones hate on this thread, isn't there?)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 20 September 2004 20:42 (twenty years ago)

Dinosaur Jr. covering The Cure's "Just Like Heaven"

(ducking and running...)

― Edward Bax, Monday, 20 September 2004 20:54 (twenty years ago)

when i was a kid my dad would take me to see the wonderful isaac guillory, who used to play a lot around the fylde coast, and he'd sometimes do this astonishing, transcendent, exquisite song called "with god on our side".

soon i came across a less-brilliant-but-still-astonishing version of said song on a neville brothers CD. that was the point when i discovered it was written by ...

... bob dylan.

man, i'll never forget the day i finally heard dylan's honking version. JESUS CHRIST. it was so bad i think i cried.

the next year, a similar thing happened when i heard john cale's cover of hallelujah before leonard cohen's original. but by then i'd become conditioned to the idea of such crushing disappointment.

rip isaac: you were a god amongst guitarists, and indeed among human beings.

― grimly fiendish is back, woo (grimlord), Monday, 20 September 2004 21:37 (twenty years ago)

whether the cover versions are "great" and the originals are "crappy" is definitely debatable, but when was the last time you sang in your head the beatles' "a little help from my friends" or randy newman's "you can leave your hat on"? joe cocker now owns those songs.

― lemin (lemin), Monday, 20 September 2004 21:42 (twenty years ago)

"All Along The Watchtower"
original: Bob Dylan
covered by: Jimi Hendrix, XTC

― Tofukyo Scramblass, Monday, 20 September 2004 21:46 (twenty years ago)

"Family Man"
original: Mike Oldfield
covered by: Hall & Oates, Henry Rollins (arf arf)

― Tofukyo Scramblass, Monday, 20 September 2004 21:50 (twenty years ago)

"It's You, Only You (Mein Schmerze)" by the (Dutch) Meteors (not the Brit Rockabilly outfit) -- later covered by Lene Lovich. I tirelessly tracked downt he 7" of the original, only to be hugely let down. Lene's is the definitive version.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 20 September 2004 22:52 (twenty years ago)

Manfred Mann's "My Little Red Book" is schlocky but not exactly crappy. Love's is one of the best things ever recorded though.

― Kris (aqueduct), Monday, 20 September 2004 23:04 (twenty years ago)

mucho OTMFM on the "We Can Work it Out"

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Monday, 20 September 2004 23:14 (twenty years ago)

"San Francisco" (Scott MacKenzie, p-u), covered by Ted Hawkins (amazing).

Jimi Hendrix' "All Along the Watchtower" blows, as does Stevie Wonder's "We Can Work It Out."

― Burr (Burr), Monday, 20 September 2004 23:16 (twenty years ago)

At least half the songs mentioned on this thread were way better in their original versions. I don't feel like going into details, though.

What I want to know is what the original versions of "Bette Davis Eyes," "Tainted Love," and "I Love Rock'n'Roll" sounded like.

― chuck, Monday, 20 September 2004 23:23 (twenty years ago)

I just heard the original of "Tainted Love" last year -- It's great!

― Burr (Burr), Monday, 20 September 2004 23:27 (twenty years ago)

galaxie 500 "her she comes now"

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Monday, 20 September 2004 23:27 (twenty years ago)

"Tainted Love" is on that ridiculously long Boom Selection MP3 set.

― Burr (Burr), Monday, 20 September 2004 23:31 (twenty years ago)

DEVO, SATISFACTION, JESUS PEOPLE

― LLLLLLLLL, Monday, 20 September 2004 23:33 (twenty years ago)

Correction: All Along the Watchtower is Hendrix's best song by a galaxy mile.

― David Allen (David Allen), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 00:11 (twenty years ago)

"Puttin' On The Ritz"
original: Irving Berlin
covered by: Taco

― Tofukyo Scramblass, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 00:24 (twenty years ago)

Pet Shop Boys - Always on my mind

― daavid (daavid), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 00:31 (twenty years ago)

Nilsson "Without You"

― BbetaA, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 00:31 (twenty years ago)

R.E.M.: "There She Goes Again"

― Burr (Burr), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 03:16 (twenty years ago)

Chuck - The original "Bette Davis Eyes" is pedestrian honky-tonk. Though having described it that way, I suddenly suspect you'll like it. Jackie DeShannon's in fine voice on it.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 04:08 (twenty years ago)

The correct "Always on my mind" answer is that Elvis' cover pisses on the Willie Nelson original (tho the original isn't bad).

Also, on the topic of Elvis, his "Blue Suede Shoes" easily surpasses the original.

I dunno who did the original of "Proud Mary" but it can't be better than Ike and Tina's version.

Also Steps "Tragedy" >>>> BeeGees "Tragedy"

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 04:45 (twenty years ago)

CCR did the original, and IMO it fits this thread perfectly

― Symplistic (shmuel), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 04:49 (twenty years ago)

"Baby Blue"
Bob Dylan --> Chocolate Watchband.

"Soul Kitchen"
Doors --> X.

― babyalive (babyalive), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 05:14 (twenty years ago)

The Clash - "I Fought the Law" (originally written by Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly's Crickets; made famous by the Bobby Fuller Four)

Nirvana - "Do You Love Me" (originally by KISS)

Jawbox - "Low" (originally by R.E.M.)

― johnnyg, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 05:19 (twenty years ago)

Most of you people have me confused - are you interpreting "crappy originals" as "bad SONGS", or "bad PERFORMANCES of a song" of whatever quality? Hmmm...come to think of it, I'm not even sure what Ronsens was looking for, anymore. But I personally interpreted it as "bad performance". So, with that in mind...

Jimi Hendrix, "Wild Thing", original by The Troggs.
A pretty good song, but I disliked the original for the same reason I hate 90% of the Troggs catalog: Reg Presley. I truly can't stand this guy or his singing. To me, he's always sounded EXACTLY like "Squiggy" from "Laverne & Shirley"! This is not as funny as it sounds. This is not a good thing.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 06:55 (twenty years ago)

...oh, and I have never heard that "Squigtones" record.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 07:08 (twenty years ago)

That Erasure cover of the doors song.

Communards - "Don't leave me this way"

Bronski Beat - "ain't necessarily so"

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 07:48 (twenty years ago)

all interpretations of "crappy song" and "great cover" are interesting for me, that is the reason why I have chosen a (little) provoking question :)

― ronsens, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 08:40 (twenty years ago)

Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young (boo! hiss!), St Etienne (hooray!)

― Robin Goad (rgoad), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 08:49 (twenty years ago)

are you interpreting "crappy originals" as "bad SONGS", or "bad PERFORMANCES of a song"

hmm. surely the answer is "bad performance". because if it were simply a bad *song*, how could another performance rescue it? that's certainly true of my pick (with god on our side), anyway.

i mean. i can't imagine a mogwai cover of the macarena would be ... actually, no. that would be *wonderful*. hmm.

― grimly fiendish, Tuesday, 21 September 2004 12:02 (twenty years ago)

I second The Fall's version of "I'm Going to Spain". It seems that most of the songs mentioned above could be well liked by a lot of people, but the original of this song (by Steve Bent, I think) is honestly terrible. If you do like it, you're probably just wrong.

― Charlie Rose (Charlie Rose), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 12:14 (twenty years ago)

Bob Dylan owns this thread

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 12:16 (twenty years ago)

Negativland's "U2(I Still haven't found what I'm looking for)" over U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking for" any day!!!!!

― herbalizer12 (herbalizer12), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:29 (twenty years ago)

> Also, on the topic of Elvis, his "Blue Suede Shoes" easily surpasses the original.

No it doesn't.

> I dunno who did the original of "Proud Mary" but it can't be better than Ike and Tina's version.

Yes it can.

― Burr (Burr), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:33 (twenty years ago)

Fatima Mansions - Shiny Happy People

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:35 (twenty years ago)

> Bob Dylan owns this thread

He didn't do all that many covers, did he?

― Burr (Burr), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:38 (twenty years ago)

other way around.

― peter smith (plsmith), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:40 (twenty years ago)

but i disagree. i like a few dylan covers better than his originals, but i wouldnt call (m)any of his covered songs crappy.

― peter smith (plsmith), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:41 (twenty years ago)

elvis's "blue suede shoes" is pretty lame, actually. as are all the beatles' versions of carl perkins songs. they just miss the wit and energy of the originals.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:41 (twenty years ago)

The Band - I Shall Be Released >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Bob Dylan - I Shall Be Released

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 13:43 (twenty years ago)

Nah, I can't agree with that. The Band's high-end vocals are near comical on that one.

― jim wentworth (wench), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 00:58 (twenty years ago)

Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young (boo! hiss!), St Etienne (hooray!)

Kinda like saying The Scream is better than the Mona Lisa. Boo! Hiss! My ass. After the Gold Rush is one of the best albums ever made -- nothing else sounds like it. It pre-dated all the Cali singer-songwriter stuff of the mid-70s. Neil invented a radio template for years to come ...

― Chris O., Wednesday, 22 September 2004 01:10 (twenty years ago)

Though I am a fan of the St. Etienne version. And Everlast's actually isn;t bad either.

― Chris O., Wednesday, 22 September 2004 01:10 (twenty years ago)

Couple more thoughts:

Dylan covers usually are better than the original, though not always. All the amazing stuff on the second record is to a song much, much better than the covers, though Pearl Jam's version of "Masters of War" is very good.

Supposedly, Wyclef is a big fan of "Jokerman." That would be interesting to hear him re-do that.

And a half and half ... RATM's take on "Renegades of Funk." Music and production on the original? Classic. Vocals and cadence and guitar work on the cover -- magnifique. Zach actually raps, which is very, very cool.

― Chris O., Wednesday, 22 September 2004 01:14 (twenty years ago)

Don't Let Our Youth Go To Waste

― koogs (koogs), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 07:37 (twenty years ago)

> I dunno who did the original of "Proud Mary" but it can't be better than Ike and Tina's version.

Any cover of a CCR song is inferior. It just is. Sorry Tina.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 08:05 (twenty years ago)

Communards - "Don't leave me this way" = better than Teddy & Thelma?
TRY:DEBROX Earwax Removal Aid
Directions
*adults and children over 12 years of age
tilt head sideways
place 5 to 10 drops into ear
tip of applicator should not enter ear canal
keep drops in ear for several minutes by keeping
head tilted or placing cotton in ear

― lovebug starski (lovebug starski), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 09:13 (twenty years ago)

Lola-The Raincoats improved the song though I like the Kink's version too.

― Rachel Hella Myles, Wednesday, 22 September 2004 20:54 (twenty years ago)

Less Than Zero's on Bravo right now, and I was reminded just how good Slayer's cover of 'Inna Gada Da Vida' is. Much much better than Iron Butterfly's original.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 21:41 (twenty years ago)

And also how bad of an adapted screenplay it is.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 21:48 (twenty years ago)

snowbird, anne murray, covered nicely by mark eitzel

also, shock me, kiss, covered famously by red house painters (they improved a few things when they covered them)

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 22:48 (twenty years ago)

God Gave Rock & Roll to You - KISS vastly improved on the original

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Thursday, 23 September 2004 12:34 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone ever heard the original "Police on My Back"? (not the Clash's version, but Eddie Grant's.) Always been curious to hear it, as it's probably my fave Clash song.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 12:41 (twenty years ago)

"California Sun" by the Rivieras is a fairly good song, but The Ramones version is great.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:26 (twenty years ago)

"God Gave Rock & Roll to You" by Kiss seconded. Not exactly a crappy original, but I prefer Ace Frehley's "New York Groove" to Hello's; Kiss really new how to flaunt those songs.

― Diego Valladolid (dvalladt), Thursday, 23 September 2004 14:26 (twenty years ago)

Fatima Mansions - Shiny Happy People

See also Fatima Mansions "Everything I Do, I Do It For You".

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 23 September 2004 17:25 (twenty years ago)

The Frehley song was a cover? Damn, learn something new every day ...

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Friday, 24 September 2004 02:42 (twenty years ago)

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