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  1. #1
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    I don't care who sang it first, that's his/her song!

    Are there any cover version of songs that you consider so superior to the original, that you associate the song with that artist instead of the original. Some obvious answers would be Aretha stealing Respect from Otis Redding, after Otis himself had done the same with Try A Little Tenderness [[which was a tin pan alley song). David Ruffin took ownership of Who's Lovin' You from Smokey before little Michael came along and stole it from him.

    Here's my list

    Message from Maria-David Ruffin [[originally by Joe Simon)
    Bye Bye Love- Ray Charles [[Original by The Everly Brothers)
    Ain't That Lovin' You [[For More Reasons Than One) -tie between Luther Ingram and 100 Proof aged in Soul [[original by Johnnie Taylor)
    I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself-Isaac Hayes[[original by Tommy hunt)
    The Masquerade is Over-David Porter [[original by ???)
    A House is Not a Home- Luther Vandross [[original by Dionne Warwick)
    Wildflower- New Birth [[original by Skylark)
    Until it's Time For you to Go-New Birth [[Original by Buffy St. Marie)

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    When You're Young And In Love - Marvelettes

    And as much it irks me to say this

    A Love Like Yours Dont Come Knocking Every Day - Ike & Tina Turner

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    To my eternal shame, I prefer the Moody Blues' cover of "Go Now" to Bessie Banks' original. The song works so much better with a pop rather than a deep soul treatment.

    As far as sixties music is concerned I would normally say that the original is always better, but this is the exception that proves the rule.

    I also have a fondness for Soft Cell's version of "Tainted Love" but, though memorable, it doesn't quite beat Gloria Jones.

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    Gypsy Woman - Brian Hyland
    Last edited by Circa 1824; 05-27-2017 at 09:48 AM.

  5. #5
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    The Thrill is Gone - Brian Hyland

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    I bet you didnt know Dionne Warrick sung No one in the World first

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    Nice post,as i sit here pondering your question i'm gonna say no for this reason,yes there have been some awesome covers-since i lost my baby[luther]..cupid[the spinners]are two that come to mind,but for me i always give the nod to the original artist,as great as[a house is not a home]sounds by luther i always go with dionne's version,i have many covers in my collection so i may come across one i prefer over the original but it's gonna be very very rare!

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    Ok,one comes to mind-the temps cover of mary wells[what love has joined]their version is a killer.

  9. #9
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    1 The Ban-Lons' remake of "Hey Baby!" by Bruce Chanel
    2 The Checkers', Five Blue Jays', Five Willows', and Robins' remakes of Vera Lynn's "The White Cliffs of Dover
    3 The Checkers' and Del-Vikings' remakes of Judy Garland's "Over The Rainbow"
    4 The Hide-a-Ways' version of "Can't Help Loving That Girl of Mine" male version of Lena Horne's "Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine" show tune from "Porgy and Bess"
    5 The Four Tops' remake of "Walk Away Renee" - forget original group as I never listened to any "Pop" stations. Was it The Left Banke?
    6 The Marcels' remake of 1920s Pop tune, "Blue Moon". Also better than The Chords' mid '50s first R&B version
    7 Marv Johnson's remake of Bobby Parker's "You Got What It Takes"

  10. #10
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    Surprised no-one has mentioned one of the real biggies - Aretha's version of 'I Say a Little Prayer.' Done originally by Dionne Warwick only a few months previous. Apparently Jerry Wexler was against Aretha doing this cover - and for once he turned out to be wrong.
    Also
    Marvin Gaye 'Heard it through the grapevine' [[original by Gladys Knight)
    Supremes/Four Tops 'I had a dream' [[original by Shorty Long)

  11. #11
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    "Working My Way Back To You", originally by The Four Seasons, but bettered by The Spinners

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    Quote Originally Posted by waynesville View Post
    Surprised no-one has mentioned one of the real biggies - Aretha's version of 'I Say a Little Prayer.' Done originally by Dionne Warwick only a few months previous. Apparently Jerry Wexler was against Aretha doing this cover - and for once he turned out to be wrong.
    Also
    Marvin Gaye 'Heard it through the grapevine' [[original by Gladys Knight)
    Supremes/Four Tops 'I had a dream' [[original by Shorty Long)
    Have to agree with "I Say A Little Prayer" Waynesville, especially in The UK where it was a major hit, whereas Dionne's version had only limited success.

    How about The Four Tops version of "If I Were A Carpenter" [[initially a big hit for Bobby Darin) or Roberta Flack's version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". Wikipedia has an interesting potted history of "The First Time" ..... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fi..._Saw_Your_Face

    Roger

  13. #13
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    I understand though I don't necessarily agree with Jai's ideas about
    almost always prefering the original...I mean think for instance
    about a song like Jimi Hendrix's Hey Joe. Few are the folks that
    even remember it was a Billy Roberts cover. Anyway though I've enjoyed quite a few of them, there 3 songs that I believe I've never
    heard anyone do better than the original artists:
    Just My Imagination-The Temptations
    Ooo Child- The Five Stairsteps and
    The Love We Had Stays On My Mind-The Dells. I have to admit they
    did those songs so well that many people refuse to listen to covers
    even when they are good. Not better, but good...

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by robb_k View Post
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    4 The Hide-a-Ways' version of "Can't Help Loving That Girl of Mine" male version of Lena Horne's "Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine" show tune from "Porgy and Bess"
    "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" is from SHOW BOAT.

    My pick is Gladys Knight & The Pips' "Midnight Train to Georgia."

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    Call Me - Diana Ross [[her version was Grammy nominated)

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by robb_k View Post
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    5 The Four Tops' remake of "Walk Away Renee" - forget original group as I never listened to any "Pop" stations. Was it The Left Banke?
    "
    Yes Robb "Walk Away Renee" was by The Left Banke.

    To me the first cover coming to my mind is "Worn Out Broken Heart", by Loleatta Holloway. Though I can't say I don't dig Sam Dees [[sacrilege in U.K. !) Loleatta kills it :


  17. #17
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    Four Tops' version of "I Got a Feeling" far outshines Barbara Randolph for me. In fact it is one of my all-time top five Motown songs.

    Marvelettes' "Here I Am Baby" is better than Barbara McNair, though I appreciate hers more than I used to.

    Both Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Rivers did better version of Tracks of My Tears.

    Marvelettes' version of He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' appeals to me more than the Velvelettes' original, but it could be simply because I heard it first.

    And since someone mentioned Dionne's version of "No One in the World," I have always thought it was light years ahead of Anita Baker's.

    Dionne also did a better job on "Walk Away" than Phyllis Hyman.

    Those are the examples that just roll off my tongue at first thought. I have probably made enough enemies with that list for one night!

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    Quote Originally Posted by daviddesper View Post
    Four Tops' version of "I Got a Feeling" far outshines Barbara Randolph for me. In fact it is one of my all-time top five Motown songs.
    Completely agree david. Not sure why Barbara's version is liked more than The Tops' original. I hate how the tempo is slower and less frantically upbeat! I fell in love with The Tops' version the first time I heard it and thought Barbara's was good but nowhere near as amazing as the original. And, yea, it is one of my favourite Four Tops and Motown songs!! Classic, pure Motown GOLD!

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by abfan View Post
    I bet you didnt know Dionne Warrick sung No one in the World first
    I did!! She recorded it for one of her mid 80's arista albums shortly before Anita got hold of it. For the record i love both versions!

  20. #20
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    How about Dionne's fab version of "can't hide love". Four Tops versions of "walk away renee" and "if i were a carpenter" are both superior to the originals. I adore Diana's version of "summertime", and how about Stevie's smoking version of "we can work it out".Donna Summer killed "macarthur park" big time, and i have to agree the Marvelettes version of "young and in love" exceeds the original, and Marvin totally owned "Abraham, Martin and John" and "grapevine". Supremes and Temptations version of "i second that emotion" at least equals Smokeys original, whilst Gladys and the Pips version of "bourgie bourgie" is better than A&S version to these ears. There will surely be many others but that will suffice for now.

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    Sylvester completely owned Ashford & Simpson's "Over and Over" and arguably Miss LaBelle's "You Are My Friend"; many folks think the latter is a Sylvester original when Patti co-wrote it and did it first!

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    Although the original was the commercial success, I am especially fond of Eddie Kendrick's version of Time In A Bottle by Jim Croce...
    Eddie's version is so delicate and pure...

  23. #23
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    Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude

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    Supremes & Four Tops - "IF", originally by Bread

    Last edited by marv2; 05-29-2017 at 10:37 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by TomatoTom123 View Post
    Completely agree david. Not sure why Barbara's version is liked more than The Tops' original. I hate how the tempo is slower and less frantically upbeat! I fell in love with The Tops' version the first time I heard it and thought Barbara's was good but nowhere near as amazing as the original. And, yea, it is one of my favourite Four Tops and Motown songs!! Classic, pure Motown GOLD!
    Hmmmm ... have to disagree ... personally I prefer the Barbara Randolph version, and seeing as she recorded it over a year after the version by The Four Tops I don't think it fits into this thread, which is about versions that are better than "the original".

    Sorry for being a bit "picky" folks [[and I do like The Tops' version) but for any doubters about which came first please refer to the "Don't Forget The Motor City" website ....

    http://www.dftmc.info/titles/ti-04.htm

    Roger

  26. #26
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    Donny Hathaway "A Song For You" became the standard of Leon Russell song:


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    This country song "Misty Blue" was originally written for Brenda Lee but turned it down and then recorded by Wilma Burgess. Joe Simon had charted with his R&B version but most know it by Dorothy Moore:

    Last edited by Luciano; 05-29-2017 at 07:51 PM.

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    "The Thrill Is Gone" was recorded in 1951 by Roy Hawkins but in 1969 BB King stole it:


  29. #29
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    Al Green version of the Bee Gees "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" is legendary:


  30. #30
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    Curtis Mayfield was right when he let Gladys cover his song "The Makings Of You" for the Claudine soundtrack. She made it her own:

    Last edited by Luciano; 05-29-2017 at 07:52 PM.

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    Lowell Fulson charted with "Tramp" first but Otis Redding and Carla Thomas took it to another level with their interplay:

    Last edited by Luciano; 05-29-2017 at 09:00 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bluebrock View Post
    I did!! She recorded it for one of her mid 80's arista albums shortly before Anita got hold of it. For the record i love both versions!
    I for one, had no idea. I always thought it was written for if not by her.

    Speaking of Anita, she recently had "Angel" swiped from her by Lalah Hathaway [[Donny's daughter). I guess it runs in the family.

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    "Does Your Mama Know About Me?" - Sharon Redd, Charlotte Crossley and Ula Hedwig [[The Harlettes)

    https://youtu.be/gPY7QHjWds0

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    Quote Originally Posted by roger View Post
    Hmmmm ... have to disagree ... personally I prefer the Barbara Randolph version, and seeing as she recorded it over a year after the version by The Four Tops I don't think it fits into this thread, which is about versions that are better than "the original".

    Sorry for being a bit "picky" folks [[and I do like The Tops' version) but for any doubters about which came first please refer to the "Don't Forget The Motor City" website ....

    http://www.dftmc.info/titles/ti-04.htm

    Roger
    Haa... no worries, roger. You are quite right, Barbara's version is the cover and The Four Tops' is the original. Personally I feel the original is better than the cover but for you it is vice versa, so that fits nicely into the thread

  35. #35
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    Actually, can I ask, why do you prefer Barbara's version?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Luciano View Post
    This country song "Misty Blue" was originally written for Brenda Lee but turned it down and then recorded by Wilma Burgess. Joe Simon had charted with his R&B version but most know it by Dorothy Moore:

    Dorothy did have the greatest version. That record is still very listenable today.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Luciano View Post
    "The Thrill Is Gone" was recorded in 1951 by Roy Hawkins but in 1969 BB King stole it:

    There is no other version than B.B. King's! LOL

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    Quote Originally Posted by jboy88 View Post
    I for one, had no idea. I always thought it was written for if not by her.

    Speaking of Anita, she recently had "Angel" swiped from her by Lalah Hathaway [[Donny's daughter). I guess it runs in the family.
    I like Anita's original better.

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    Main Ingredient's - "I'm So Proud" is just a bit smoother than the Impressions' original.

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    The Supremes' & The Temptations" jazz version of "Try It Baby" is far better than Marvin's original, bland, too-laid-back version.

    I also prefer The Ronettes' remake of "I Can Hear Music" to the original. I love the Beach Boys' version, but Ronnie's version on Philles just blows me away.

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    Quote Originally Posted by TomatoTom123 View Post
    Actually, can I ask, why do you prefer Barbara's version?
    Possibly because the Barbara Randolph version is more restrained TomatoTom123. It was the first version that I got to know [[some time around 1969 I guess) and I loved it from the first time I heard it. To me the Four Tops version always sounds a touch too fast and frantic by comparison.

    And another I would add to the list is Aretha's version of "Don't Play That Song", very different to Ben E King's version and she made it sound like a brand new song.

    Roger

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    Quote Originally Posted by roger View Post
    Possibly because the Barbara Randolph version is more restrained TomatoTom123. It was the first version that I got to know [[some time around 1969 I guess) and I loved it from the first time I heard it. To me the Four Tops version always sounds a touch too fast and frantic by comparison.

    And another I would add to the list is Aretha's version of "Don't Play That Song", very different to Ben E King's version and she made it sound like a brand new song.
    Roger
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    I like Barbara's best, as it has the "A" side background instrumental track treatment, while The Four Tops' version has the "throwaway B side" treatment. The Four Tops' great singing brings theirs up some, but not enough to pass Barbara's.

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    Ok,i found a rare cover that i prefer..bobby blue bland's cover of little willie john's[fever]is the better version for me.

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    The easiest two [[one of which has been mentioned) for me are Marvin Gaye's version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and the Al Jarreau/David Sanborn/Bob James version of "Since I Fell For You".


    I also love Klique's version of Jackie Wilson's "Doggin' Around" but I don't know if I quite prefer it.

    EDIT - Nah, after listening to them back to back, Jackie Wilson's version was much better, with no disrespect to the latter song.
    Last edited by Jerry Oz; 05-30-2017 at 01:26 PM.

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    Close to You - Diana Ross
    My Favorite Things - The Supremes
    A Song for You - The Carpenters

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    Quote Originally Posted by arr&bee View Post
    Ok,i found a rare cover that i prefer..bobby blue bland's cover of little willie john's[fever]is the better version for me.
    Bite your tongue! That's sacrilegious! LOL!!!

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    Glenn Miller had a hit with "At Last" in 1942 but the version that has become the standard is by Etta James:


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    Frankie Turmbaues had a #10 pop hit in 1931 with "Georgia On My Mind". I will admit I never heard it and don't plan to as Ray Charles is only version:


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    Dolly Parton wrote and had a hit with "I Will Always Love You" twice on her own but Whitney Houston took it to a whole other place and never gave it back:

    Last edited by Luciano; 05-30-2017 at 07:04 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Luciano View Post
    Glenn Miller had a hit with "At Last" in 1942 but the version that has become the standard is by Etta James:

    Etta had the definitive version in my opinion.

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