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oops. meant to post this:

Dang! Beat me to that one ;-) Two other favorites:

- 'Dancing in the Moonlight' by the Smashing Pumpkins (Thin Lizzy cover)

- 'No Quarter' by Tool (originally by Led Zeppelin)

No, no, no, no, no!   Nothing is better than the original Judy Garland version.

I like the Cash version of Hurt better than the original Nine Inch Nails version.

I never get the Eva Cassidy thing.

She was basically an average pub singer who only did cover versions, and was totally devoid of charisma, charm and musicality.

The only smart thing she ever did for here career was die.

hallelujah _ jeff buckley

also birdy _ skinny love/ VERY beautiful version

So with soooooooooo many Johnny Cash posts I guess there is only 1 question really needing to be asked:

Is there any song that Johnny can't cover better than the original?

Yes, mostly in gospel music and blues/folk.  IMO all Leadbelly versions are better than Cash's like this one, Rock Island Line. Same with Robert Johnson. Problem is most people have never heard the original versions.

Lead Belly has been covered by Delaney Davidson, Tom Russell, Lonnie Donegan, The Beach Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Abba, Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte, Ram Jam, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Dr John, Ry Cooder, Grateful Dead,Johnny Cash, Gene Autry, Odetta, Billy Childish (who named his son Huddie), Mungo Jerry, Paul King, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, Michelle Shocked, Tom Waits, Scott H. Biram, Ron Sexsmith, British Sea Power, Rod Stewart, Ernest Tubb,Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The White Stripes, The Fall, The Doors, Smog, Old Crow Medicine Show, Spiderbait, Meat Loaf, Ministry, Raffi, Rasputina, Rory Gallagher, the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Deer Tick, X, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell,Koerner, Ray & Glover, and Nirvana, among many others.

Compare these two versions of "Crossroads"

I think this is a brilliant remake combining genres and styles.

some of the examples above I would agree with, but not most. Cash's version of "One" is definitely great, but I wouldn't say it's better than U2's original.

Faith No More better than the smooth, soulful sound of Lionel Richie and the Commodores?!? Not in my book.

In my opinion, and I understand we all have different opinions, but the examples of One, Easy, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Mad World, I Fought the Law, Walk this Way are mostly good versions, but not head and shoulders above the originals, which were great versions in and of themselves.

But, have you heard Neil Diamond's Red Red Wine? Bruce Springsteen's Blinded by the Light? Those two are great singers, have great songs, but these particular songs are not their best examples, you know?

oh, and bruce, as far as I can tell, Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" is her original song....

now for something a litttle different:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE9IchvpOPk&ob=av2e 

Agree with everything you wrote with the exception of "Walk This Way." I think the remake is brilliant and equally as good as the original particularly because it illustrates the genius of combining two acknowledged masters of their genres.

But thanks for starting this thread and oh, btw, Hail to the Z!

@translator don't get me wrong - the Run D.M.C version is a GREAT song! I do love the mix of genres, etc. I guess my criteria is: if I heard the original on the radio, would I press the "search" button or would I turn it up? In the case of the original Walk This Way - TURN IT UP, BABY!!!

From RAP to a mellow pop song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV11oDLtlmc

Original to RUN DMC WalkThis Way? By whom?

@chris the original version was written by Steve Tyler of Aerosmith and they performed it as well. Then, it 1980, they teamed up with Run D.M.C. to make a cover version.