Cover versions--bad and good

Someone in the "horrifically bad prog album" thread suggested I start this one since it elicited a hearty response.  So go ahead--there's a host of clunkers, and worthy efforts, from which to choose.  Lay 'em on me!

Nice subject, I've always liked Deep Purple's cover of River Deep Mountain High, but the versions by Tina Turner and Supremes/Box Tops are good too. It's just a great dramatic song that is hard to screw up.

Another good cover is Yes' version of Every Little Thing.
I also like Miles' cover of Time after Time.


Bad covers include Bowie's version of Brian Wilson's God only knows ..., how can you screw a song like that up, it practically plays itself if you let it.
Really bad covers also include Zeps horribly heavy-handed screech vocal blues covers.

Edited by Easy Money - November 08 2008 at 09:38

Good Cover: Tool playing Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter". It gives a classic rock tune a whole new light and makes it dark, metallish, and progressive.

Bad Cover: Jordan Ruddess' take on Tarkus. The intro is fine and one little riff in it is better than in the original, but most of the song lacks power and parts are ridiculously light-hearted. This song is supposed to rock your socks!

Is this thread limited to Rock? 

I'm only interested in good covers.

Santana's version of "Black Magic Woman" is one of the great covers of all-time. They totally made Peter Green's song all their own. Santana's version of "Oye Como Va" by Tito Puente is up there as well. I also dig the covers Primus has done over the years like "Silly Putty" by Stanley Clarke and "Have a Cigar" by Pink Floyd.

 

When it comes to covers, I might have some very different tastes than most people...

Good:
Robert Berry covering Yes's "Roundabout"
     I thought this rendition was very fresh and original
Spock's Beard covering George Harrison's "Beware of Darkness"
     Great progressive take on a good song
Peter Frampton covering George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
     Peter Frampton's album Now is his best work since Frampton Comes Alive
Us and Them- Symphonic Pink Floyd
     I enjoy the orchestral take on many of the songs, particularly "Money"
Chris Squire and Billy Sherwood covering Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb"
     Great vocal work, and the mandolin is a nice touch

Bad:
Stanley Snail covering Yes's "Siberian Khatru"
     They really add nothing new to this piece, except for butchering the middle section
Kevin Gilbert covering Genesis's "Back in NYC"
     I actually think the lowdown country acoustic opening is highly enjoyable and original- I think they should have kept it that way, instead of reverting to the original music (with such grating vocals)

Zitro wrote: Good Cover: Tool playing Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter". It gives a classic rock tune a whole new light and makes it dark, metallish, and progressive. Bad Cover: Jordan Ruddess' take on Tarkus. The intro is fine and one little riff in it is better than in the original, but most of the song lacks power and parts are ridiculously light-hearted. This song is supposed to rock your socks!

Tool's "No Quarter" is excellent indeed. Another cover that impressed me a lot was Voivod's take on PF's "Astronomy Domine". As regard "Tarkus" covers, I don't know if any of you have heard the one featured on Magna Carta's ELP tribute album, where LaBrie sings a snippet of "Battlefield".  Musically the cover is quite good, but those vocals ....

PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION wins the trophy for best in prog!

The Spooky Tooth cover of "I am a Walrus" by the Beatles is excellent and the first one that comes to my mind.
Other good ones are Steve Hillage's covers of "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan and "It's All too Much" by George Harrison.
And of course 801's cover versions of "Tomorrow Never Knows" by the Beatles and "You really Got me" by the Kinks.


Edited by BaldFriede - November 08 2008 at 00:53