Covers that are better than the originals

don't know about better, but there have been some very cool covers; the Pretenders did a sweet version of Hendrix's 'Room Full of Mirrors' in the 80s, and I always liked what Eddie did with 'You Really Got Me', and of course Yes' Every Little Thing--  there've also been some cringers like Sting's 'Little Wing' or Sinatra's 'Something'

Lots of Dylan covers are better than the originals IMHO.  Same goes for some older Americana standards (Hank Williams, Robert Johnson) and even some Stones and Kinks remakes.

Here's a few favorites (you might need some Visine for Spirit's Dylan redeux): 

The original is legendary but Randy California recorded the best cover I've ever heard.

Manfed Mann's Earth Band doing Mike Heron's 'Don't Kill it Carol':

The Greek band WIll-o-the Wisp doing Eden Ahbez's often-covered "Nature Boy" (they covered this twice, once with male vocals and once with female):

David Eugene Edwards of Wovenhand doing Bill Withers' "Ain't no Sunshine":

And my favorite cover ever - Jason & the Scorchers doing Hank Williams' "Lost Highway" (yee haw!):

Snow Dog wrote: zravkapt wrote: This version has everything the original does not: better singing, better drumming, Hammond organ, better guitar solo and let's face it, that riff should be played on a piano       I couldn't possibly disagree more. They turn a great song into rather a dull one. Saaad

zravkapt wrote: This version has everything the original does not: better singing, better drumming, Hammond organ, better guitar solo and let's face it, that riff should be played on a piano

This version has everything the original does not: better singing, better drumming, Hammond organ, better guitar solo and let's face it, that riff should be played on a piano

Damn am I the first to mention Dylan's All along the watchtower? Jimi did that track a thousand times better, if you ask me - and I am a big Dylan fan.