Usually I don't like cover songs and prefer the original artists. However, there are a few that I like just as much, if not more than the originals. How about you?

* Proud Mary by Ike&Tina Turner - I think their version is just as awesome as the CCR version.

* I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston - though I prefer Dolly's version, I think Whitney does an excellent rendition.

I really like the Feelies Paint it Black, done by the Stones originally.

There are many versions of My Funny Valentine that are quite worthy. So many versions out there I do not even know who did the original, but I think I know enough that it's quality has been eclipsed on a few occasions. Miles Davis and Sinatra come to mind.

Cool thread

Just Like Heaven (originally by The Cure) covered in an acoustic version by the Watson Twins. One of the few songs my 15 year old daughter and I agree on.

Ozzy Osbourne did a number of covers on one album that my wife really likes; All the Young Dudes, Mississippi Queen, Working Class Hero...
Elvis did a lot of covers that I like...Blue Suede Shoes, for instance. Even Hound Dog. My wife also thinks Elvis' version of Sinatra's My Way is better.
If you ever want to think about songs that were WORSE as a cover, call Eric Clapton. My wife simply calls him "the only guy who ever ruined his own song." I give you...the acoustic version of Layla.

Wow, now my brain is clicking. Wish I could make money thinking about rock-n-roll! I also like the Bananarama version of Shocking Blue's Venus (don't make fun of me), and The Bangles did an awesome version of Simon & Garfunkel's Hazy Shade of Winter. And, Marilyn Manson's versions of Eurythmics'Sweet Dreams are Made of This, Soft Cell's Tainted Love, and Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus.

I don't know if it's available to download, but Jewel did a version of "The Needle and the Damage Done" on the Howard Stern show a couple of years ago that blew me away. And Carly Simon did an updated version of "Your So Vain" on the same show a few years ago that was awesome. Had her son playing lead guitar plus some keyboards and percussion.

Sometimes when you see someone in concert the live version has so much more than the recorded version. They bring additional musicians to fill in the sound. Lately you can order CD's or MP3 downloads of the actual concert. I saw Supertramp in London in 2010 and have the download on my Android. The live versions of School and Another Man's Woman are just amazing.

All Along the Watchtower originally done by Bob Dylan. Jimi Hendrix recorded his version in 1967. Hendrix was first rock concert for me in 1970. Took a blind date and was the last time I ever saw her again.

GOOD ONE!

I like this.

How about Toys in the Attic by REM first by Aerosmith?
Or Guns and Roses Knockin on Heaven's Door by Dylin?

Femme Fatale--REM originally by Velvet Underground perhaps??

I'll go along with the Knockin' on Heaven's Door cover--that's a good one. However, GNR completely ruined Paul McCartney's Live and Let Die so badly that I want to hang myself whenever I hear even a snippet, and I can still see Axl Rose swinging around the stage in some ridiculous kilt costume---UGH! I will have to check out the REM covers.
Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this thread, especially Perky Realtor who started it. I'm always looking for more stuff to put on my iPod!

Joan Jett's cover of Tommy James and the Shondells Crimson and Clover...

Ringo's version of "You're Sixteen," originally by Johnny Burnette...

...and John Lennon's version of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me"

U2 has a version in one of their live albums that's pretty good. On the same album, they do a version of Helter Skelter. Bono introduces it as "Charles Manson stole this from the Beatles, we're stealing it back"

Not a fan of Metallica but they did a darn fine job with Turn The Page (Bob Seger). I liked Rod Stewarts last album doing remakes also (Love Hurts (Nazereth) and Still The Same (Seger).

I like hearing new perspectives on old songs.