Cover versions that are better than the Beatles

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by MGSeveral, Apr 13, 2020.

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  1. spencer1

    spencer1 Great Western Forum Resident

    Looked through all four pages and found one “maybe”.
    All the rest - nope, nope, oh good god no, nope, nope ...
     
  2. Bassist

    Bassist Forum Resident

    Location:
    London
    I am not usually all that keen on the Vanilla Fudge approach to cover versions but I am very fond of the Yes version of Every Little Thing and the Lone Star version(s) of She Said She Said.
     
    sound chaser and sleepjar like this.
  3. MGSeveral

    MGSeveral Augm Thread Starter

    OK, to summarise:

    Better:
    Rolling Stones: "I wanna be your man"
    Earth Wind And Fire: "Got to get you into my life"
    Joe Cocker: "With a little help from my friends"
    The Swinging Blue Jeans: "Hippy Hippy Shake"


    I did think I remembered Esther Phillips doing a cover of "Here, There and Everywhere", but it seems not.
     
  4. hEARt PhoniX

    hEARt PhoniX living musical polyamory

    I am astonished that the magnificent Alarm Will Sound's life rendition of Revolution 9 has not yet been mentioned. My possibly all-time Beatles cover aka tribute favourite, not just because it's awesome, but even the thought of creating an orchestral recreation is pure madness. And wow, does it work well. So I have got at least three aspects to love about this:
    • outstanding musicianship
    • outstanding courage, madness and humour
    • how great it is
     
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  5. Carpenters - Ticket to Ride
     
  6. Adrian Adkins

    Adrian Adkins Forum Resident

    Not possible in My World , different but Not better.
     
  7. idleracer

    idleracer Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    :kilroy: I wouldn't say this was "better" but it certainly is interesting. Apparently influenced by the Mojo Men's version of "Sit Down I Think I Love You."

     
    John54 likes this.
  8. mr. k

    mr. k Master of the Rummage (retired)

    Location:
    The Netherlands
    In my opinion it is better (he said, straightening his hard hat). Give me Wilson and Duane's astonishing climax over Paul's self-indulgent shouting and all that na-na-na-ing any day! :hide:
     
  9. classicrockguy

    classicrockguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Livingston NJ
    The Carpenters awesome version of “Help!”, believe it or not I listened to this version before the Beatles, since “Close to you” was the first “Classic” album I ever had.

     
  10. Johnny Thunder

    Johnny Thunder Feeds on Lightning

    Kami Thompson - Don't Bother Me

     
  11. Suncola

    Suncola Possibilities

    Location:
    NW Indiana U.S.A.
    110 posts and no one thinks Elton's "Lucy In The Sky" throws some shade?

    I do.
     
    l-l-d, sleepjar, Scat Rabies and 7 others like this.
  12. Neil Anderson

    Neil Anderson Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    I wouldn't go so far as to say it's better, but I was very impressed by the cover version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" in the animated movie Kubo and the 2 strings. when i saw the trailer for the movie, I thought it was a Japanese song, and a very good one, took me a moment to recognize it.
     
  13. davidlg1971

    davidlg1971 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Earth, Wind & Fire - Got to Get You Into My Life
    Ray Charles - Yesterday

    Almost as good:

    Hall & Oates - Don't Let Me Down live - they did this song on MTV Unplugged to end their show, and utilized three part harmonies to great effect. Their version goes on too long, just like the Beatles version does. Really, every recording of that song exposes the same flaw - it's got a short verse, a repetitive chorus, and a short middle eight. Despite that, it's 80% of the way to being a classic song, but needs a change in the pattern somewhere - an instrumental hook, a solo, something.

    Jimi Hendrix - Sgt. Pepper live. Would have loved to hear a studio attempt at this one. His Day Tripper ain't bad either.

    George Benson - Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles version is a pitch-perfect song / recording, but Benson's orchestral jazz ballad take on it is interesting.

    Ramsey Lewis - And I Love Her live - it's a great reading in a cocktail jazz / groovin' kinda way.
     
  14. Harp Of Glass

    Harp Of Glass Forum Resident

    Location:
    U.S.A.
    There are two Beatles covers on this Glass Harp demo disc from 1969. Like some others in this thread have stated- I'm not going to claim they are better than the originals. I wanted to post it because it's a somewhat obscure recording. Eleanor Rigby starts about the 20 minute mark and What You're Doing starts a bit before the 33 minute mark.
     
  15. Paul Gase

    Paul Gase Everything is cheaper than it looks.

    Location:
    California
    Well, The Residents’ “Flying” is definitely, infinitely better than the original, if that is your one “maybe”.
     
    humpf likes this.
  16. kouzie

    kouzie Forum Resident

    Location:
    Batavia, IL
    Totally agree! Can't believe it took 37 posts for this one to come up.
     
  17. arthurprecarious

    arthurprecarious Forum Resident

    Location:
    North East England
    zombywoof likes this.
  18. JozefK

    JozefK Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dixie
    If that's the criteria:

     
  19. pokemaniacjunk

    pokemaniacjunk Forum Resident

    Location:
    south paris maine
  20. BigBoiJoe

    BigBoiJoe Well-Known Member

    Billy Joel did a great version of A Hard Days Night,
    As far as i know ther are 2 versions you can listen to, one is on the My Lives box set and the other is part of a medley on the Last Play at Shea album
     
  21. 12" 45rpm

    12" 45rpm Forum Resident

    Location:
    New York City
    Here's an instrumental version of Eleanor Rigby with audiophile sound:

     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2020
    DK Pete likes this.
  22. Everything by The Rutles. Oh wait, they did it first.
     
  23. Terrapin Station

    Terrapin Station Master Guns

    Location:
    NYC Man/Joy-Z City
    This is a great album in general: Come Together - Guitar Tribute to the Beatles (produced by Mike Mainieri)

    Here's Allan Holdsworth's version of "Michelle"

     
    Comet01 likes this.
  24. Mr. E. Tramp

    Mr. E. Tramp Forum Resident

  25. Kurt RUhlin

    Kurt RUhlin Forum Resident

    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    801 - Tomorrow Never Knows
     
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