Some songs are remakes (Called covers) but sound so good that history forgets about the original artist. Here are my Top 10 favs!


10. LATELY
Original Artist: Stevie Wonder
Covered By: Jodeci
The Hailey Brothers is one of the rare times someone has performed a Stevie song and made it better. Stevie sung it subdued and melancholy but the Jo-Jo and KC took it to church with their trademark “Oohh-Yeahhh”


9. SMOOTH CRIMINAL
Original Artist: Michael Jackson
Covered By: Alien Ant Farm
I cant name another song by the Alien Ant Farm but this cover was a big hit and its always interesting to hear someone cover Michael cause its not done much cause his songs are so distinctively Michael..


8. CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF LOVE BABY
Original Artist: Barry White
Covered By: Taylor Dayne
This is Barry’s signature tune so if you are gonna do a remake you better do it justice. In this case Taylor did so, and the fact that female covered it sounds delightful cause you are used to hearing Barry’s powerful low frequency voice on it.


7. SWEET THANG
Original Artist: Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
Covered By: Mary J Blige
There are some 16-year-old kids walking around thinking that this is a Mary original. She did a fine job of this considering that Mary doesn’t have half the range the Chaka has. I like both versions.


6. SUPER STAR
Original Artist: The Carpenters
Covered By: Luther Vandross and Ruben Studdard
This is the song that got Ruben in the top 10 in American Idol and set up his eventual win. Depending on your age that is who you will associate with the song..


5. HARD TO HANDLE
Original Artist: Otis Redding
Covered By: The Black Crowes
A big hit for the Crowes in the 80’s and few rock fans know that “Mr. Sittin On The Dock Of the Bay” cut this tune back in the 60’s. A song about being super macho that all men would like to think they are.


4. LEAN ON ME
Original Artist: Bill Withers
Covered By: Club Nuevo
Is something is a hit once; it can be a hit again right? This R&B/Pop group updated Bill’s anthem of help and understanding into a danceable/hip-hop/reggae inspired blend of pure fun in the late 80's


3. PROUD MARY
Original Artist: Credence Clearwater Revival
Covered By: Ike and Tina Turner
It’s so hard to believe that this is a remake because Tina just owns it. You can see the frantic dance routine to this anthem as you read this can’t you? They took a sleepy forgotten song by CCR and funked it up!

2. I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
Original Artist: Gladys Knight & The Pips
Covered By: Marvin Gaye
Some hail the Gaye version as the greatest song ever recorded of the rock n’ roll era but it’s not even an original. It was first released by Gladys and the Pip a whole year earlier than Marvin’s. They were both on Motown at the time and they had a policy of cutting several different artists on the same song. The genius of Norman Whitfield as producer
Took Glady’s gospel inspired up tempo version and slowed it down to a haunting and dark tale of betrayal that we know today.

1. RESPECT
Original Artist: Otis Redding
Covered By: Aretha Franklin
Another song considered by many to be one of the best songs ever recorded. This is Aretha the queen of soul’s signature song, but once again, it is NOT an original but a cover of another Otis Redding original. It just shows how influential that Otis. Even though his career was cut short by a plane crash. He kicked a lot of ass his short professional singing career.

Discussion 1

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Locked but still readable:
Discussion 5

Plenty of reading to get you started.

Marvin Gaye recorded "Grapevine" before Gladys Knight but released it after, so technically that's not a cover.

And I whole-heartedly disagree about CCR's "Proud Mary" being a "sleepy forgotten song". I prefer it to Ike and Tina's version.

No, I'm sorry, Bill Withers is still the best.

Am I the only one that likes CCR's 16 min jam session version of Grapevine? I don't even like jam session tracks, and I love this one.

Gots to be Hendrix covering Dylan on "All Along The Watchtower".

I've always liked the Joe Cock gospel version of "With a Little Help From My Friends"

[Cottington]
I Saw Him/Her Standing There
Original Artist: The Beatles
Covered By: Tiffany
[/Cottington]

Joe Cock?

I think it's Cocker. I did a google search for "Joe Cock" but the results weren't exactly work safe ----(perhaps that's a nickname for him?)

Oh whoops...yes you are right...I was wondering why you asked about him like that. I was going to correct you.

at least you didn't say it wasn't a Freudian slip

In no particular order (except possibly alphabetical):

Black Label Society - Snowblind (Black Sabbath)
Ray Charles - Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles)
Faith No More - War Pigs (Black Sabbath)
H.I.M. - Wicked Game (Chris Isaac)
Korn - Word Up! (Cameo)
Nonpoint - In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins)
Joe Satriani - Sleep Walk (?)
Shadow's Fall - Welcome to the Machine (Pink Floyd)
Voivod - Astronomy Domine (Pink Floyd)
Me First & The Gimme Gimmes - I've enjoyed pretty much everything I've heard by them, but my favorite album (and first one) was "Are A Drag". How about the Kermit the Frog song "Rainbow Connection"...I'll pick that one.

Speaking of Joe Cocker, I like his version of "You are So Beautiful" by Billy Preston. I also really like all of Johnny Cash covers from his American Records project with Rick Rubin, especially NIN's "Hurt".

You got your opinions and I have mine.. but Mary is so distinctively associated with Tina now that even John Fogerty said himself that when he plays it he thinks of Tina doing all that dancing in her upbeat version!
Most people would name at least 10 CCR classics before getting to Mary

"Always on My Mind" by Pet Shop Boys

Speaking of Joe Cocker:
"Darlin' Be Home Soon"
"Let it Be"