I was in a shop a few weeks ago and heard a cover of Echo and the Bunnymens 'the Killing Moon' by Nouvelle vague, or somebody like that. I thought it sounded great, better than the original.

For all the thousands of Beatle cover versions, the only one I've heard that outdoes the original is Wilson Picketts 'Hey Jude'. He doesn't really change the song too much, he just adds some southern soul horns and hammond organ, but a song like that is just begging for a voice like his, and its brilliant.

The Futureheads version of Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love" and funnily enough, Placebo's version of "Running Up That Hill" are both cracking versions.

You're kidding right? It's a decent version alright, but it'll never tingle the spine like the original.

Camera Obscura do a great version of Abbas' Super Trooper, "better" is perhaps a strong word, but it brings home what a melancholy song it is, which goes over your your head when you listen to the upbeat sounding original.

Maddonas version of American Pie wees all over the original by sounding better and being about ten minutes shorter.

Miss Kittins Dub version of Smash TVs "What about me" is fantastic.

No, I'm serious. It was just overheard in a shop though. I hadn't heard the song in a while and the girls fragile sort of voice, matched with that song, took me a little by surprise. And I liked it.

Mazarin's "Another one goes by" is covered by the Walkmen to great effect on their last album. They take the rythm down a notch and strip some of the instrumentation away. Its a bit darker too. I can still appreciate the original though cos a good melody will always shine through.

Saint Etienne did a grat cover of Neil Youngs "Only Love can Break you heart" a couple of years ago - they give a shuffling disco beat and jazz it up a bit. Sounds awful? Surprisingly not. It works, proving that you can really do a lot with a great melody.

They are two that stand out for me. I could go on but i have a country to run!

John cale's version of LCD Soundsystem's All My Friends is the best thing I've heard this year.

A version that really hits the nail on th e head in building up the suspense of the song. If you like the original you'll probably love it

Love that tune! in my case, I heard it before every having heard the original.

"all along the watch tower" the hendrix version, gotta be one of the best covers ever.

i also quite like that cover of hotel california by some spanish geezers, not because its any good, but because of the big lebowski

That version is by Los Lobos - they do a lot of covers. I've even heard them play The Cranberries "Zombie" - it's bloody awful (not that the original was up to much!)

John Cale!?! I've got to hear this! I think thats a great song.

Live andLet Die- GNR..better than the original......

Johnny Cash- Hurt (running for cover from trent fans!!)

Ah I'll back you up on the Johnny Cash - Hurt. Amazing cover.

Great song!

Nirvana - Man who sold the world would be my favourite cover.

It certainly beats the atrocious version that Lulu did (no joke - it does exist and it WAS truly awful)!!

Bowie produced that. Thats him singing in the background too.
He likes Lulu, apparently.

That's coz he was slippin her the baldy lad at the time!

Brian Eno?

thought it was the gipsy kings..top tune

the byrds 'mr tambourine man'

PQ

Manson doing Tainted Love
Cash doing Hurt
Bowie doing My Death
Papa M doing Wayfaring Stranger
Plan B doing No Good (Start The Dance)
Fun Loving Criminals doing I'm Not In Love
Mike Power's Pops doing Wonderwall
The Futureheads doing Hounds of Love
Nina Simone doing I Shall Be Released