Worst and best versions of the same Beatles tunes

[Barking Spiders]

BBC4 showed a rerun of a 1988 edition of TOTP last night . It was probably a time when old (and younger) f@rts bemoaned the state of pop. Hardly surprising when the most rock n roll tune on it was Aztec Camera, that's if you don't count Tiffany's dire take on I Saw Her Standing There. She made amends for this by later doing a Playboy shoot., which was very nice actually 😊, as was Belinda Carlisle's. She was also in the show it but I always quite liked her, tunes wise and as an example of fit totty.  But I digress. Just when I thought the Tiffany tune was the worst Beatles cover I've heard , alongside came the aptly named Wet Wet Wet and their p1$$poor of  With A Little Help From My Friends but not helped by Marty Pellow's perma-smirk.  Mind you the most cringe-inducing video of the night was Rod Stewart with some  long forgotten and unlamented thing called  Lost In You. It features a lot his ..errm.  moves. He's also mauled some Beatles tunes but that's his stock in trade of late take some classic 60s pop, Swing or Motown classics and suck the soul out of them.

So, I'll raise you Tiffany for the worst version of I Saw Her Standing There, although cleverly and cunningly she replaces 'him' with 'her'.  Almost as radical a reworking as Money by The Flying Lizards.

For best, is this live rendition by The Tubes

 

[Lozz196]

The best cover of a Beatles track I’ve heard is Helter Skelter by Motley Crue, so I suppose I’ll have to name Siouxsie & The Banshees version as the worst (tho it’s not bad, just not as good as Crues)

[bigjohn]

Joe Cocker innit?

This is good though. If only for the keyboard solo. 

 

[Mykesbass]

4 hours ago, Barking Spiders said:

Almost as radical a reworking as Money by The Flying Lizards.

 

 

Which was a Barrett Strong original.

[Mykesbass]

Oh and Siouxie Dear Prudence in the running for best.

[paul_5]

I've always been partial to Tori Amos' version of Happiness Is A Warm Gun.

 

 

[DaveFry]

Value judgements are subjective , but I prefer the second version :

 

[markdavid]

8 hours ago, Barking Spiders said:

BBC4 showed a rerun of a 1988 edition of TOTP last night . It was probably a time when old (and younger) f@rts bemoaned the state of pop. Hardly surprising when the most rock n roll tune on it was Aztec Camera, that's if you don't count Tiffany's dire take on I Saw Her Standing There. She made amends for this by later doing a Playboy shoot., which was very nice actually 😊, as was Belinda Carlisle's. She was also in the show it but I always quite liked her, tunes wise and as an example of fit totty.  But I digress. Just when I thought the Tiffany tune was the worst Beatles cover I've heard , alongside came the aptly named Wet Wet Wet and their p1$$poor of  With A Little Help From My Friends but not helped by Marty Pellow's perma-smirk.  Mind you the most cringe-inducing video of the night was Rod Stewart with some  long forgotten and unlamented thing called  Lost In You. It features a lot his ..errm.  moves. He's also mauled some Beatles tunes but that's his stock in trade of late take some classic 60s pop, Swing or Motown classics and suck the soul out of them.

So, I'll raise you Tiffany for the worst version of I Saw Her Standing There, although cleverly and cunningly she replaces 'him' with 'her'.  Almost as radical a reworking as Money by The Flying Lizards.

For best, is this live rendition by The Tubes

 

Wow re the tubes version it's a cover that sounds like another song (sounds a lot like new rose by the damned)

[Heathy]

This could be the winner in either category. Enjoy:

[PatrickJ]

Come Together

Candidate for Worst

Candidate For Best

 

[Deedee]

10 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

The best cover of a Beatles track I’ve heard is Helter Skelter by Motley Crue

Wow that’s a real blast from past. I haven’t listened to that for 20 years or so but I agree, a great version.

[Baxlin]

Another vote for Joe Cocker for best,  but the worst version of 'a little help from my friends'?

Sorry to say, but The Beatles' original.   Sounds like a 'SingalongaMax' treatment (there’s one for the oldies!) in comparison.

[Fozza]

This is top stuff.

 

[Frank Blank]

Worst...

Best...

 

[Frank Blank]

 

[WAYNESWORLD]

Best

 

[Shaggy]

7 hours ago, Baxlin said:

Another vote for Joe Cocker for best,  but the worst version of 'a little help from my friends'?

Sorry to say, but The Beatles' original.   Sounds like a 'SingalongaMax' treatment (there’s one for the oldies!) in comparison.

I know Joe Cockers version is generally regarded as a classic, but I absolutely cannot listen to his pained, mannered over-singing - original every time for me with Ringo's understated and endearingly slightly off-key vocals.

this is a cover I always liked, but can't think of a "worst" version -

 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

There's so many Beatles covers out there so it's hard to pick definitives, but here's a particularly good one.

 

And for balance...

 

 

[acidbass]

The fantastic Reo Brothers from Phillipines. As pristine a cover as you will ever hear. They have loads of others too, proper studio quality harmonies etc

 

[operative451]

Best, definitely 'money ' by the flying lizards.

Worse: same song by the Beatles....

[Paul S]

I always quite liked this version of Helter Skelter, although I am not entirely sure why

And this version of Day Tripper

 

[Paul S]

Just realised there is a link between these two bands!

Edited September 7, 2019 by Paul S

[Frank Blank]

4 hours ago, Shaggy said:

I know Joe Cockers version is generally regarded as a classic, but I absolutely cannot listen to his pained, mannered over-singing - original every time for me with Ringo's understated and endearingly slightly off-key vocals.

this is a cover I always liked, but can't think of a "worst" version -

 

 

[Bilbo]

There are lots of great Jazz versions of Beatles tunes. A couple of favourites. 

 

The organ solo in this is exquisite 

 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

12 minutes ago, Bilbo said:

 

The organ solo in this is exquisite 

 

That was incredibly beautiful.  Thank you.