Nina Simone's cover of feeling good is better than Muse's, as is John Coltrane's. The Muse version is very good though. The again the original was pretty ordinary.

Another one for hurt by Johnny Cash
+
Arctic Monkeys version of Sex Machine.. awesome (as is their cover of Diamonds are forever)
China Drums version of Wuthering Heights too

Apologies to all the Rolling Stones fans out there but the Guns and Roses version of 'Sympathy for the Devil' is far better (IMHO of course).

The Dammed's version of Ballroom Blitz 🙂

Bootsy's cover of If 6 were 9 (well Axiom Funk really, not just Bootsy).

I'll try and dig out some links when I get home.

Elbow – Teardrop (Massive Attack) is beautiful.

For covers that are funnier than the original, Richard Cheese is up there at the top. Lounge style covers version of Snoop's Gin & Juice is ace, as is Nirvana's Rape Me. He does some classics, so tricky to say they're better. Other cover bands I'm partial to are Hayseed Dixie (Black Eyed Peas' "Caroline" is definitely better than the original) and Senor Cocunut and his Orchestra. No way you can be angry whilst listening to that!

Joan Baez's voice and Dylan's music is a good mix, too.

Soft Cell – Tainted Love.

we gotta get out of this place – DOA feat. Jello Biafra
i think we're alone now/quikfit fitter/branflakes – Snuff
revolution – mudhoney
rawhide – dead kennedys

Dave Phillips – Tainted Love 😉

I love mad and bad cover versions – some are so awful they are great

Senor Coconut is great – I love his smoke on the water

ukulele orchestra do some fantastic covers

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes versions of Country Roads, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Wild World, etc etc.

Punk covers rock 😀

TJ – have you heard Senor Coconut doing Autobahn? – the proper album version with the cars starting (or not) is hilarious, could only see rubbish live versions on you tube.

The Damned's version of Eloise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3CZONdLDmc

Nightwish – Phantom of the Opera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VgLKXD-BoY&feature=related

not too much of a fan of Elvis, but Blue Suede Shoes being Sabbathed rocks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uryWJ1T1q4

Hmmm…

Tori Amos – Smells Like Teen Spirit – maybe not better than but as good as… 🙂

Jamelia – Numb – Very good!

Dickyboy – Member

TJ – have you heard Senor Coconut doing Autobahn? – the proper album version with the cars starting (or not) is hilarious, could only see rubbish live versions on you tube.

Found it on spotify – brilliant.

Rage's cover of The Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springsteen.

And I'm not sure it's better, but Luther Wright and the Wrongs' country version of the entirety of Floyd's The Wall is definitely worth a listen.

Oh, and Turisas covering Boney M:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLo02AquUCs

I knew you'd like it gazman!

haha clubber but i have to agree fnm fuggin mint tune defo one of the best covers what about knockin on heavens door gnr tttuuuuunnneee

Jerry Garcia and grismans version of "shady grove"

cradle of filth covering- ABC's temptation, Clif Richard's DEvil woman and the sisters of mercy's no time to cry. All funny as f*ck.

Ultraviolence Gabba techno cover of Van Halens Jump

Creaming jesus's cover of the cure a forest and Louis armstrongs wonderful world!

Gillan – New Orleans

Kraftwerk fans go here.
http://www.filestube.com/fb62737916d9fcb503e9/details.html

Another vote for Ryan Adams but reckon "Always on my Mind" (the Elvis classic) is a blinder. The bloke sure knows how to send shivers down my spine.

Like a Virgin – Teenage Fan Club. Can't find an MP3 of it anywhere!

+1 for Richard Cheese. (I almost got lynched in Tesco when I was singing along with 'rape me' on the mp3 player 😈 )

The doubtful guest's version of Josh Ritter's Harrisburg (not done justice by http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK7plVK28R0 ) but playing in the Wine Vaults Bath on Friday

Or maybe Nick Cave's Somethings gotten hold of my heart. maybe

Very dissapointed by Cash's Hurt. NIN original much better IMO.

Anyone mentioned Betty Davis Eyse yet?

Original
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAQsOJbs-yo&gt;

Cover

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Al9blQOhNw&feature=player_embedded#&gt;

(edit) actually no way is Cave's version better.

Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" done by Alien Ant Farm.