Covers (2): And now for something completely different
Isley Brothers
Whether these covers are better than the originals is up to personal taste. They are, however, completely different. Different mood, different message. (For the first one, I'm including the original because it's there's a good chance you haven't heard it.)
The Yardbirds “Still I’m Sad”
Here is the original, from 1965, performed in the style of a Gregorian chant. This song nudged rock into its psychedelic phase:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONVXNH7D4Qw
Rainbow “Still I’m Sad”
Rainbow did the most radical thing they could: they changed it into an instrumental. The drum track features the cowbell like you’ve never heard it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRpsA-UvJDg
Isley Brothers: “Hello It’s Me” (Todd Rundgren) (suggested by Robert A.)
Honestly, I never liked the original. But I had no idea the Isley Bros. did a cover. In their hands it’s a completely different thing, with swing and soul, which is what it always needed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ryexJGJXHRc
Cake: “I Will Survive” (Gloria Gaynor) (suggested by Chris B.)
The original and this version are so different that they’re hard to compare. The original is polished, bright and optimistic. This version is raw, dark and sarcastic. It also happens to have a mean bass line.