Taking on a cover of a legendary rock song is far from an easy task. Still, these five artists and bands managed to do it so well that their covers are widely believed to be better than the originals. But itโs all up to your personal opinion, of course. Letโs look at five rock covers that were (debatably) better than the original song!
1. โAll Along The Watchtowerโ by Jimi Hendrix
The first entry on our list of rock covers that are better than the original song goes to Jimi Hendrix for his 1968 cover of Bob Dylanโs โAll Along The Watchtowerโ. Youโd be hard-pressed to find a song that Hendrix performed badly. But this particular cover is absolutely legendary. Not only is it one of the best Bob Dylan covers out there, itโs one of the best covers out there period.
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2. โCลซm on Feel the Noizeโ by Quiet Riot
English rock band Slade hit no. 1 on the charts when they released the song โCลซm on Feel the Noizeโ in 1973. However, Quiet Riot breathed new life into the song in 1983. They put a โmodernโ spin on the song that made it stand out, without diminishing the campy glory of the original track.
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3. โI Love Rock N Rollโ by Joan Jett &The Blackhearts
When one thinks of the song โI Love Rock N Rollโ, one usually thinks of the iconic rock star Joan Jett. However, some may not know that the 1981 cover was originally written and performed by the British rock band Arrows in 1975. Joan Jett fell in love with the song and covered it often during her live shows. This is a great example of a fan-covered song that is even better than the original.
4. โI Fought The Lawโ by The Clash
Punk rock outfit The Clash popularized the song โI Fought The Lawโ in 1979. However, the song was originally penned by Sonny Curtis of the band The Crickets in 1960. This isnโt the first time the song was covered, either. The Bobby Fuller Four covered it in 1965. However, The Clashโs version added a punk rock edge that Americans loved, helping the band gain some global attention outside of England.
5. โMiss Amanda Jonesโ by The March Violets
โMiss Amanda Jonesโ was originally a Rolling Stones song from the 1967 album Between The Buttons. Stones fans likely still remember the original song. However, younger fans of the track often associate it with The March Violetsโ 1987 cover. The song was famously part of the soundtrack for Some Kind Of Wonderful.
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