Original or cover version?

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I’ve been listening to some of my MP3 music whilst working in the garden and noticed I have quite a few songs where I have made a definite choice between the original (possibly not the original original but recognised as such) and the cover version. These are a few and my preference is in bold. Do you have any more to add to the list ?

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack vs Manic Street Preachers

I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton vs Whitney Houston

The Sound of Silence – Simon and Garfunkel vs Disturbed

Killing Me Softly – Roberta Flack vs The Fugees

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Always On My Mind - Elvis Presley vs Pet Shop Boys

Oye Como Va - Tito Puente vs Carlos Santana

When The Levee Breaks - Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie vs Led Zeppelin

Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers vs Peter Sellers & Spike Milligan :smiley:

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Hurt - Nine Inch Nails vs Johnny Cash

Nothing Compares 2U - Prince vs Sinead O’Connor

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Black Magic Woman - Peter Green Vs Carlos Santana.

Just Got Paid Today - ZZ Top Vs Joe Bonamassa.

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Hurt. Johnny Cash’s version is far better and darker.

Same way Patti Smith’s version of Smells Like Team Spirit.

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6

Jersey Girl has to be the original by Tom Waits, not Springsteen’s attempt.

As for Cold play….

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Le vent nous portera Noir Désir vs Sophie Hunger

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Man who sold the world Bowie or Nirvana
Hurt, Johnny Cash any day
All along the watchtower Dylan or Hendrix
Whisky in the jar Thin Lizzy or Metallica :thinking::thinking:, probably Metallica, just

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California Dreaming The Mamas & The Papas vs José Feliciano

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Wooden Ships - Crosby Still and Nash vs Jefferson Airplane

This one’s less straightforward - I think the greater emphasis on the lyrics and repetition in the original make it very different to Hendrix’s, much better known version, where his guitar playing becomes the most memorable aspect of the song.

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You’ve got a friend, James Taylor or Carol King.
Love is all around, Wet Wet Wet or The Troggs.
A little help from my friends, Joe Cocker or the Beatles.

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Trent Reznir of NIN liked JC’s version so much, he said it was Johnny’s song now.

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Dubliners or TL? - Thin Lizzie for me.

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Simon and Garfunkle - Sound of Silence - Tom Ball

For me, Tom Ball is the only one who comes near to the original and I love his version.

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Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen or Jeff Buckley

Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush or China Drum

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor or Cake

Thunderstruck - AC/DC or Steve ‘n’ Seagulls

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Next (Au suivant) by Jaques Brel

Next by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

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Re Jacques Brel. Amsterdam vs David Bowie Port of Amsterdam

I know it is not a direct cover but Bowies version is based on the original. So much more passion in the Brel original.

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People Get Ready - Impressions and Vanilla Fudge.

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Best album of covers is Twelve by Patti Smith.

Don’t tell Bob, but Patti’s version of Changing of the Guard is better.

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To be honest, I can’t imagine anyone doing a worse version of anything then Bob Dylan. He really, really doesn’t float my boat.

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