Was the Original song better than the new one?

Was the original better than the "hit" after?
 
This is one of those threads that is likely to never have an end, but it is a fun one! But at least one of the versions has to have been heard and known a bit.
 
The best one ever: Reynardine - Written by the Farinas, it had a massive blow out by Fairport Convention, with Sandy Denny's voice and an amazing guitar by Richard Thompson. By far, one of the prettiest things ever recorded in rock music. The original is interesting, but does not have the strength and the beauty of this one.
 
And some of the others, starting with the band that made validated at least 4 folks and their writing! Mike Heron.
 
Don't Kill It Carol - Mike Heron Redone by Manfred Mann's Earth Band who got a hit off it. Mike's version is more poetic and theatrical and less rock'y.
 
Blinded by the Light - Bruce His original version was not that great. Manfred Mann's version became a hit, and all of a sudden the song became a massive piece in Bruce's repertoire and he became more important in music.
 
All Along the Watchtower - Bob Dylan I doubt that most of you have ever heard the original. But no one has ever NOT heard Jimi's version which is vastly superior! But while the guitar sings, the words do not have the sarcastic tone that Bob had in the original! Check out Guitar Player and one of the reasons why people love the Jimi version so much.
 
Singing the Dolphin Through - Mike Heron Also redone and made into a hit by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The original was all accoustic and very theatrical and strong by Mike. The hit version made the song more melodramatic and in some ways more visible and important than just one person's opinion.
 
Mighty Quinn - Bob Dylan Another massive hit for Manfred Mann in his early days!
 
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles Several great versions of this. Ides of March had an awesome version of this on their first album ("Vehicle" was also their hit single on this album!). Esperanto also had a rave up version of this that was not as easy to take and enjoy, but it was naughty! It was in their last album called "The Last Tango"
 
Hold Me Tight - The Beatles Stackridge did an awesome reggae version of this song on the album "Mr. Mick"
 
Nektar and the Beatles In the album "Sounds Like This", which is a bunch of live studio sessions, they incorporate a few Beatles lines and bits and pieces that kinda shows where they came from. "New Day Dawning"
Northern Song - Monsoon/Steve Hillage With all the hoopla for doing this song, Steve Hillage did it, and it was alright, but the Hindu band "Monsoon" did a heck of a version of that sone that felt much more "hindu" than the "quasi" feeling in the Beatles song.
 
Jealous Guy - Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry's Tribute to John Lennon after he passed away. Very nice.
 
She's Leaving Home - Bryan Ferry Bryan's goodbye to ...from the Beatles
 
Like a Hurricane - Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry does this Neil Young piece, really nice and it sounds good, and even better.
 
Bryan Ferry did a whole bunch of Bob Dylan songs
 
Sandy Denny did a whole bunch of Bob Dylan Songs
 
Ces Gens La - Jacques Brel Jacques Brel's voice is not the easiest to handle and his style is even tougher. But Ange did one of his songs and never looked back, and it gave this VERY theatrical band, its personality that they never relinquished. Their first 7 albums are fabulous. The solo albums by the lead singer is like a musical on the stage. Very strong!
 
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) and Little Wing and Third Stone from the Sun. Stevie is the only person that EVER did Jimi Hendrix justice and sounded good on stage doing it.
 
I probably will get more but these are all I could find for now

jamesg1213

Moshkiae
 
Oh Carol - Mike Heron Redone by Manfred Mann's Earth Band who got a hit off it. Mike's version is more poetic and theatrical and less rock'y.

'Oh Carol' was a Neil Sedaka song wasn't it? You may be thinking of 'Don't Kill It Carol'

Fixed. Thanks

Phil Collins' "You Can't Hurry Love" -- way better than the original.

Sandy Denny's version of Richard Thompson's "For the Shame of Doing Wrong", as much as i like Richard, Sandy's version is my favourite.

Hi,
 
Another song:
 
Paul Kantner - Have You Seen the Stars Tonite.  I think this was co-written by David Crosby, but I can not locate him singing this, and I know I heard it once a long time ago.

Hi,
 
Pinball Wizard - Roger Ruskin Spear.
And its best version EVER! Totally off the charts falsetto and properly done with the original musicians even, except that Roger played the teaspoons or something else. From the album "Unusual", itself a magnificent album worth getting, as good if not better than any of the Bonzo Dog Band albums.

Hi,
 
I'm not gonna list Dream Theater here, because their list of covers is insane, and has Yes, Genesis, ELP, The Who, Led Zeppelin and many other originals.
 
But I did want to mention Transatlantic, and it is now on the tube, where they did side one of Tales From Topographic Oceans with Jon Anderson  and I have to tell you that all of a sudden YES is nothing but a sick, tired old hit band right now.
 
Early days:
YES - America (was an EP of the Simon and Garfunkel song)

KenB123
> Was the Original song better than the new one?
 
Song:        "Red, Red Wine"
Original:     Neil Diamond
New One:   UB40
 
No. The Original song was NOT better than the excellent UB40 version (IMO).
 

Of course UB40 were actually covering Tony Tribe's 1969 hit reggae cover version. Apparently UB40 were initally unaware it was originally a Neil Dimond song. - My prefrence is for the Tony Tribe version but there is an element of nostalga in that choice.

What about all those Forum Monkey covers?
 
That's some classy sh1te!!!
 

jamesg1213
I'll trot this one out for the 12,563th time;
 

I'll ignore it for the 12,563th time.

NOT better than the original.
 
 

 

Hi,
 
Yeeeerrrr supposed to name the band, so we know who messed up the song!
 
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Tighten Up (Archie Dell and the Drells)(sp.) The EP version that was available in Japanese only, and not issued elsewhere has some funny bits with it, and it makes the song come off really naughty, and even nasty, but kinda funny. The comedy bits are weird to say the least!
 
Riuychi Sakamoto - We Love You (The Rolling Stones). With Robert Wyatt on voice. Very weird, but also off its rocker!
 
Monster Mash - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - Original by Bobby Pickett I think
 
Eight Miles High - Golden Earring (almost 20 minutes long too!!!). The Byrds
 
Tangerine Dream - Purple Haze - Jimi's the original of course. Edgar Froese still says that Jimi is massively important for him, though Edgar has not been shown playing a guitar for some time!
 
Liar - Three Dog Night. They got the hit, but it appears that Capability Brown had this first, and a much better version of it, too, though not as pop music oriented.
 
Mona - Man (band) in Christmas at the Patti, with the famous line from Deke Leonard about BJ Cole as a guest. "he don't know the words, and neither do we!). Quicksilver Messenger Service, I think.
 
Amazing Grace (traditional) - The Groundhogs, mainly Toni McPhee, did a searing version of this, which apparently inspired Jimi to do the American anthem a bit later at Woodstock.
 
Cymbaline - Hawkwind - First album. Pink Floyd's song

I forgot to add Devo's version of Satisfaction (Rolling Stones). 
 
The potatoes took a straightforward rock/pop song and turned it into a quirky robotic comedy. I loved it.

bapu

paulo
IMO Bapu's monkeys singing it underwater would sound better.

Well, there's only Juan Whey to prove that.

 
No need, I'm already 100% sure that whatever the link is for, it couldn't possibly be worse.
 
You can quote me on that in your album reviews if ya like.

Oh, and as to SRV covering Hendrix.
Well I love Stevie, and his covers were excellent; but BETTER than Jimi?
NO, different (and good), not better...
 
Oh and Bit, you're being a bit harsh on Ring; aren't ya?
 
T