I've always been interested in the roots of various music... espeically when the roots lead to blues, folk, or classical - which a lot of what I listen to does. So I got to thinking this might be an interesting topic. To find out what songs have been remade or influenced others that you just would never have thought of. Songs that when you think of them, you sometimes don't even think of the original, and the style is just so different.

I'll start it off with 2 that I know of...

"Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" - Led Zeppelin (originally Joan Baez)

"Diamonds And Rust" - Judas Priest (also Joan Baez)

Both of these songs I think gained most of their popularity in the remakes. I had no idea that Joan had originally done either of them until I heard it somewhere. Wonder what it would sound like having Metallica cover "This Land...", lol!

Jump by Paul Anka, originally Van Halen (as if you didn't know)
I like Pauls better.

LMAO, now that's one I gotta hear... I just can't imagine anyone other than Diamond Dave doing Jump.

OMG, he also covered Black Hole Sun, Wonderwall, and Smells Like Teen Spirit... someone pass him a funny cigarette???

I always associated Diamonds and Rust with Joan Baez. I guess I've heard of Judas Priest, but that sounds more like a curse word than a band.

Lead Belly/Nirvana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3hBPvRoux4
Nirvana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCqQmoH ... re=related

Jimmie Davis and Dottie Rambo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KW6cgbRPI0
Emmylou and Chieftains
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDOASliJYo0
The Lost Bayou Ramblers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7s19FFCZaE
The Star Trek version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGlC9GUQk5s

Sleepwalk:
Santo and Johnny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAk_0N85wNk
Danny Gatton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyjtW-rvWoQ

guess it's a generational thing sometimes....
Diamonds and Rust is a Joan Baez song to me... she even wrote it!....

but it's good when new musicians pick up songs and make them their own...

made me think of "Me and Bobbie McGhee" .... Kris Kristofferson is known for writing it... with Fred Roberts not so known... he sang it... Janis made it big... Kenny Rogers featured it... and now "Pink"....

cause it's a great song?....

Hurt - written by Trent Reznor:
performed by NIN (Trent Reznor)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgSWRicWIy4
later performed by Johnny Cash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ ... re=related[/b]

Speaking of Johnny Cash...

Ring Of Fire

By Cash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2iv_E-Fn9E
By Social Distortion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96x_FiQIB6E

I think they stayed pretty true to the original but gave it a nice kick!

An example of classical with " I can't help falling in love" based on an 18th century melody (by Italian composer Martini).
There's a little difference between the old melody and the new one (1961) but both are beautiful.

Had no idea those metal acts did Joan Baez songs or that Paul Anka did Jump. I like Johnny Cashes version of Hurt but have never heard the NIN version of it...

Patti Smith also put out an album this year full of remakes, which i feel she did agood job with. its got 'are you experienced', 'helpless', 'within without you', 'white rabbit', 'the midnight rider', 'soul kitchen', and some others. the album is called 'twelve'. a lot of groovy stuff for good listening.
peace, freaky. and remember to freak freely.

The Beatles did a nice cover of "Till There Was You" back in the early 1960s, the only Broadway tune they ever recorded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EqHRoD6hgM

Meredith Wilson conducting a 1076 piece marching band at WDW:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpVKEYc18zA

I'm Checking Out of this Heatbreak Hotel
written by Shel Silverstein around 1969
Performed by Meryl Streep at the end of the movie Postcards From The Edge in 1990
accompanied by the Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbyg0ox1Ywc