OK, enough emotional, personal, soul-searching posts. Let's talk tuneage.
I have mixed feelings about cover versions (songs that are re-recorded by other-than-the-original artist, to explain the term to my sister). Often there seems to be no point to them other than an attempt to link the new artist to the popularity of the original. Then there's the cover that becomes the definitive version to me, the one I hear in my head when I think of the song.
Here's my top 10, in no particular order. Please share yours!
(Disclaimer: I'm not going back to the Beatles, Elvis Presley, etc. covering even older songs. This isn't a music history blog, it's a personal favorites list. Plus, Christmas songs don't count.)
Top Ten Covers that I like better than the original:
1. Patti Smith belting out Van Morrison's "Gloria," live in Paris in '77 and on "Horses"
2. Johnny Cash's wrenching acoustic version of Nine Inch Nails "Hurt" (not his version of "My Own Personal Jesus" - not better, but weirder)
3. Cowboy Junkies: "Sweet Jane" - I'm guessing Lou Reed would agree
4. Talking Heads "Take Me to the River" vs. the wonderful Al Green's
5. Speaking of Al, "Funny How Time Slips Away" with Al Green and Lyle Lovett
6. Jerry Garcia singing "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" on his birthday, right before his '92 collapse
7. "Run on for a Long Time": The Blind Boys of Alabama - a crazy pounding gospel threat
8. UB40's reggaed-up "Can't Help Falling in Love With You" versus you-know-who
9. "All Along the Watchtower" (written by) Bob Dylan by way of Jimi Hendrix' psychedelic interpretation
10. "Mucho Mas," Frankie J's Spanish version of Extreme's ballad "More Than Words." Sweet.
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