Damn, we got Worst video, remake, and song threads. I think we have enough threads about Brittney Spears now. How about the best Remake?

I like Metallica's version of Bob Seger's Turn the Page or the Jimi Hendrix version of the National Anthem.

Flunk does a great version of "Blue Monday", actually. I must say that I do also the versions of "Landslide" by both Dixie Chicks and The Smashing Pumpkins. I feel like there is another classic remake I'm missing, though...

I'm not a Whitney Houston fan, but you can't deny her remake of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" was incredible. Dolly's version was not bad, but Whitney immortalized this song.

For "my kind of music" the remake that instantly comes to mind is Tesla's "Signs". It seemed like Tesla kind of peaked with that song.

hmmm ... Allure's "All Cried Out" always stood out to me, it was even an infamous break-up song for me about 6 years ago.

U2's version of the Cole Porter classic "Night and Day"
Swing Out Sister's version of the Delfonics' "(La La) Means I Love You"
Simply Red deserves two mentons:
Their version of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and Bob Dylan's "Positively 4th Street"
Robert Palmer also deserves two mentions:
His version of Marvin Gaye's classic "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and War's "Every Kinda People" were undeniably fabulous!

I know I'll think of more later, but the two that immediately come to mind are:

Always Something There To Remind Me (Naked Eyes update of an old Bacharach/David song)

Please Mr. Postman (Carpenters version of Marvelette's Motown classic)

[ January 25, 2004, 06:36 PM: Message edited by: scottie ]

"The closer I Get to You" remake with Beyonce and Luther Vandross.

Another Luther nod for the songs on his album "Songs." I really enjoyed his remake of "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey.

Everything old is new again.

Once again, I argue that the best cover ever is 801's cover of the Beatles' Tomorrow Never Knows.

On June 06, 2003, I said:

As long as we're on the subject of Roxy Music.... My favorite rock album ever, of all time, is 801 Live, which features Bill MacCormick, Brian Eno, Lloyd Watson, Francis Monkman, Simon Phillips, and the amazing Phil Manzanera. Sorry about the hair, but it was 1976. I have the Editions EG version, but the album was also available on the Island label. I saw an Island pressing, but I didn't buy it because of the high price. Once I got home, I recognized my error. I went back to the store, but it was gone.

Anyway, 801 does an astonishing cover of the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" on the first side.

I've met one other person who also thought of this as his favorite album.

If all albums had been this well recorded and pressed, no one would ever have fallen for the CD hoax.

A few that leapt to mind:

The Breeders - "Happiness is a warm gun" (The Beatles)

Ben Folds Five - "She don't use jelly" (The Flaming Lips)

Pet Shop Boys - "Always on my mind" (Elvis Presley), "Try it (I'm in love with a married man)" (Oh Romeo), "Where the streets have no name (I can't take my eyes off of you)" (U2/Frankie Valli)

Devo - "(I can't get no) Satisfaction" (The Rolling Stones)

Blondie - "The tide is high" (The Paragons), "Hanging on the telephone" (The Nerves), "Denis" (Randy and the Rainbows)

Soft Cell - "Tainted love" (Gloria Jones)

The Residents - "(I can't get no) Satisfaction" (The Rolling Stones), "This is a man's man's man's world (James Brown)

"Respect" by Aretha Franklin.

"That girl stole that song from me," Otis Redding says during a clip in a VH-1 special on Aretha Franklin that aired in spring 2001. The "stolen" song is Redding's own "Respect." No doubt the "theft" was made up for by the hefty writer royalties the Memphis soul great earned from the million-plus sales of the single. Though Redding had a 1965 number five R&B hit with the song, it would be Franklin's version which earned the most "respect." Recorded in February 1967, the recording session boasted the same Muscle Shoals rhythm section that had played on her million-selling Atlantic Records debut single, "I Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You." Franklin and her sister/frequent collaborator Carolyn Franklin are credited with coming up with the song's signature "sock it to me" break. Saxman King Curtis supplied the fat, cohesive key-changing solo which is akin to his work on Sam and Dave's "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby." With input from Arif Mardin and engineer Tom Dowd, the Jerry Wexler-produced "Respect" held the number one R&B spot for an astounding eight weeks and number one pop for two weeks in spring 1967. — Ed Hogan

Jeez Jim, are you looking through my record collection? Good choices, and I'd add "Somewhere" from the Pet Shop Boys.

I've always liked the "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go" medley myself.

Speaking of Eno (twin58 ) Bauhaus did a credible cover of his "Third Uncle." Wouldn't call it "best" but good nonetheless, and I had to share.

The remake of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" sang by. Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige.

The remake of "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" by. En Vogue

Two disco era remakes that were very good:

Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston (original by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes)

Never Can Say Goodbye by Gloria Gaynor (original by Jackson 5ive)

Also two others that come to mind:

Walk on By by Issac Hayes (original by Dionne Warwick)

Who's Lovin' You (En Vogue and Jackson 5ive and Temptations all did great remakes of this song originally performed by The Supremes).

Will To Power's remake of Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way". It was a very catchy medley creatively hooked with "Freebird".

Even though I'm not a big fan of Whitney Houston her remake of George Benson's The Greatest Love of All is exceptional.

Ben E King's rendition of The Drifters classic Save The Last Dance.

Barry Manilow's remake of Ian Hunter's Ships.

Good call -- no one thinks of this as a remake!

Since it was an album of covers I'll nominate everything on the "Medusa" album from Annie Lennox. Also, the Diana Ross interpretation of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" -- but only the full-length version, not the edited single version.

UGH! Sacriledge! Billy Corgan has no business singing "Landslide." I didn't care for the Dixie Chicks' version either.

Stevie Nicks doesn't normally do very well with covers, but one exception is her version of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "I Need To Know" (in two concert videos and on every tour she's ever done). Her version is at least 10 times better than Petty's. Much more emotion.

Re: above

I think Aretha also stole Carol King's (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

And Always on My Mind has three good versions: Willie Nelson (songwriter), Elvis and Pet Shop Boys. I think Willie Nelson's version is the best.

Marvin Gaye's version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine (done previously by Gladys Knight and the Pips).

I kept staring at Tapestry and thinking I was missing something. Derrrrr.

10 pts for you.

While we're on the subject, which version of "I Say a Little Prayer" do (any of) you guys prefer? Aretha's or Dionne's? I prefer Dionne's version, by a lot.

"I Will Allways Love You" was also remade beautifully by Gloria Gaynor (Dolly's original version is still the best , tho.)

Tina Turner's version of "Let's Stay Together" is better than the original, so is Ella Fitzgerald's version of "Mack the Knife" (Ella could sing anything, but only she could make such an awful song sound so good.)

Johnny Cash's rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" will break your heart.

Annie Lennox singing "Whiter Shade of Pale" always gives me goosebumps, as does k.d. lang singing "Crying."

Some lesser-known remakes I love: UB40 singing "Can't Help Falling in Love" and Natalie Merchant singing "To Sir, With Love."

They need to add "Keep Young and Beautiful" to that CD someday.

I like Mariah Carey's remake of the song "Open Arms". It was originally a number one hit for the band Journey during the 80's. The song was written by the band's lead singer Steve Perry.

A few that come to mind:

--Chrissie Hynde & UB40: I Got You Babe, much better than the Sonny & Cher original
--Phil Collins: You Can't Hurry Love , originally by Diana Ross & the Supremes
--Diana Krall: The Look of Love beautiful voice! an old Bacharach-David tune with various covers
--Janis Joplin: Me and Bobby McGee, great blues cover of the Gordon Lightfoot hit
--Karen Carpenter: Do You Know the Way to San Jose, another Bacharach-David tune usually associated with Dionne Warwick
--Eric Clapton: Layla , unplugged version of his own 60s hit
--Weird Al Yankovic: Like a Surgeon, don't know if this one qualifies as a re-make, I'm sure you all know who did the original

I 'second' Scottie's choice of Naked Eyes [i]( Always Something There to Remind Me)[/i]; Cattledog's choice of Robert Palmer (Every Kinda People); and Amazin12's choice of Will to Power (Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird). Munson Man mentioned Ella Fitzgerald...I also like her version of Mack the Knife, and would also add Anything Goes, a re-make of a Cole Porter tune. As for Canmark's choice of You Were Always On My Mind, I much prefer the Pet Shop Boys' version over Willie Nelson.

I prefer Dionne's version of I Say a Little Prayer.

I disagree on Phil Collins' remake of You Can't Hurry Love--very whitebread and lacks Jamerson's bass playing.

A couple of other strong covers:

Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross (original by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell)

River Deep Mountain High by the Supremes and the Four Tops (original Ike and Tina Turner).

Okay here are some of mine.

Hazy Shade of Winter by the Bangles. I still love this song years later.

Caravan of Love by the Housemartins (Only because I love them so).

And just for amusement, most of the Erasure remakes from Abbaesqe.

Trevor

Yes, Hazy Shade of Winter by The Bangles is AMAZING after all of these years!
I also go crazy for Can't Help Falling in Love by UB40
Also, You Keep Me Hanging On by Kim Wilde

[ January 26, 2004, 07:11 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

No Doubt's version of Talk Talk's "It's My Life." Great song on its own and a hard song to pull off, but Gwen and the gang definitely pull it off.

Allen. How right you are!!! I caught this remake several weeks back on some award show. No Doubt just totally rocked the song. I love their version as much as Talk Talk's. wink

Puckman1, you and Allen are both right! I do like the way Gwynn Stefani and No Doubt remade this one. The video is awesome as well. Have you seen it? She actually pokes fun at Madonna's "Die Another Day" video. ( Gwynn Stefani kills several boyfriends in the video, and is being taken away to the electric chair with flawless hair and make-up.) Also, the song is on their new greatest hits album. I am definitely going to buy it.

I have listed Whitney's version of I Will Always Love You in the Worst Remake thread...just shows you different strokes and all...

My favorite singer is Linda Ronstadt and she's done mostly covers her entire career. Some of the best:

*Anyone Who Had a Heart-Dionne Warwick
*I Just Don't Know What to Do-Dusty Springfield
*I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine (Duet with James Taylor)-Ike and Tina Turner
*Just One Look-The Hollies
*Blue Bayou-Roy Orbison
*When Will I Be Loved-The Everly Brothers
*I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)-Hank Williams


Other fave remakes:
Tina Turner's version of Let's Stay Together

James Taylor's versions of Up on the Roof and Handy Man

Johnny Cash's version of Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)

I have the No Doubt Greatest Hits CD. A definite must buy!!

[ January 26, 2004, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: Allen ]

Tina Turner's version of "I've Been Loving You Too Long", originally done by Otis Redding.

Also Tina Turner's version of "Help", originally done by The Beatles.

Dolly Parton's cover of Collective Soul's "Shine".

Johnny Cash's Hurt is better than the Nine Inch Nails version. Watching the video also makes you feel hurt and completely sad to see. Too bad he is gone.

Andy Bell and kd lang "Enough is Enough" from the Coneheads soundtrack.

Seal & Annie Lennox cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"

Cyndi Lauper cover of Roy Orbison's " I drove all Night" beats Celine by a long shot.

Tim McGraw's cover of "Tiny Dancer"

Bette Midler's "In My Life" originally recorded by the Beatles (their version is also magical.)

Linda Ronstadt's "I Will Always Love You" is almost as poignant as the Dolly Parton original.

Bonnie Raitt's "Love Has no Pride" and "Angel from Montgomery."

And for the "Say a Little Prayer" sweepstakes, both Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin have wonderful recordings of them, but I favor Aretha; I do prefer Warwick's "Alfie" to the one by Cher, though.

~Adam

Luther Vandross' version of "A House is not a Home" (Dionne Warwick)

Chaka Khan's version of "Go To Be There" (Jackson 5)

Mariah Carey's version of "Against All Odds" (don't know who did it originally, I think it was Phil Collins)

Patti Labelle's verison of "Over the Rainbow"

I think that Allure remake of "All Cried Out" (Lisa Lisa) belongs on the worst remake list. I think the group 112 was singing on that remake with them.

Da Kid.

oooh, another one: Aurora's version of Duran Duran's Ordinary World.

[ January 26, 2004, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

Just bought Ronald Isley sings Bacharach and it's quite good, particularly "Close to You" & Raindrops are falling on my head". A few more:
Luther Vandross's "A House is Not a home" & "Anyone who had a heart"
Deborah Cox's version of Phil Collins's "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"
MPeople's version of Doobie Brothers "What a Fool Believes"
Boy George covering Ultra Nate's "I Specialize in Lonliness"

Barenaked Ladies version of Bruce Cockburn's Lovers in a Dangerous Time.

Johnny Cash's final CD CASH is virtually all remakes -- his voice was clearly weak which made for a wide range in terms of quality from sub-par performances of The Eagles' Desperado and Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water to a moving, well done rendition of Danny Boy.

I must say, I much preferred Alien Ant Farm's version of "Smooth Criminal" over the original by Micheal Jackson. And how could anyone not like "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney.

Isn't it funny how two of the three artists I named are in trouble? Bad news for Alien Ant Farm

You're going to take a lot of hits on I Will Always Love You. I can't stand her version because the music teacher at our school loved it and would sing it incessantly to her class- what it had to do with teaching them music, I have know idea- I guess she just got off on performing for them. Whitney's version kind of bores into your head, but this teacher had her beat. Also, Dolly's version is sweeter/ more bitersweet.

My favorite remake of a song is... 'Train Kept-A-Rollin' by Aerosmith. It was done previously by the Yardbirds but I'm not sure if they were the original creators!

They performed at (I think) the Grammy awards, but I don't know that they ever recorded together. I'm not sure a one-time performance counts. wink

The last Johnny Cash album was mentioned, but you forgot to note the title track, "The Man Comes Around", Johnny's voice seemed crisp on the uptempo tune and the poetry at the beginning and end was almost as haunting as the look Roseanne gave him in the video for "Hurt". I think a lot of us will keep this album in our thoughts as we grow older ourselves.

Here is the video for Hurt, gives you a creepy feeling