Over at Brad De Long’s a discussion on cover versions that are better than the original. Check out the comments for some good ideas : obviously Jimmy Hendrix and ” All Along the Watchtower “, and his version of The Leaves’ ” Hey Joe”. Another shoe in, Elvis’ version of Big Mamma Thornton’s “Hound Dog” ( and the Beatles’ ” You Can Drive my Car” is suspiciously like her ” You can be my Chauffer “) , and perhaps the Sid Vicious version of ” My Way ” should be included. Santana’s version of Black Magic Woman beats the Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac version, maybe.
( A little note in rock history : Santana and Fleetwood Mac were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the same ceremony. Peter Green, the founder of Fleetwood Mac, had recovered from his 20 year mental breakdown, and was available to play. F Mac didn’t allow him/ didn’t ask him to join them, even though he had been their founder, lead guitarist, and wrote their early hits. Carlos Santana, whose only contact was to have covered a Peter Green song, the above Black Magic Woman, had Peter up on stage to play with him. Thank God there are still gentlemen in this world, even if one can no longer assume that the English will act as one.)
These lists can go on and on, the Eric Clapton/ John Mayall version of Steppin’ Out better than T Bone Walker ? Or EC’s version of Cocaine better than JJ Cale’s ( not I think ) ?

But how odd that an economist would miss the Flying Lizards’ version of that old Berry Gordy song :

” Money, that’s what I want “.