1. Soul Kitchen – X (I love the Doors, they’re probably one of my favorite bands ever, but the X cover of Soul Kitchen is way better than the original. I do think it’s very cool that John Dinsmore produced the Los Angeles record, you can hear Doors influences all over it)

2. Hurt – Johnny Cash. (who’d have thought Johnny Cash could so totally own a song written by Trent Reznor? But he does. Man do I love this song. Haunting, so much more so than the original)

3. Dizzy Miss Lizzy – Beatles (Many people don’t know this one is a cover but it’s one of my favorites and the Beatles did a fabulous job)

4. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley (There are several remakes of this song, Rufus Wainright also does one but Buckley’s always makes me want to weep)

5. The Man Who Sold the World – Nirvana (I love the original too, but Nirvana nailed it)

6. Respect – Aretha (Now don’t get me wrong, I think Otis Redding is the man. I love him and his songs but Aretha made this song as much as it made her. It fits her far better.)

7. If You Don’t Know Me – Simply Red (I love this remake of the original Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes song)

8. Highway 61 Revisited – PJ Harvey (It takes big brass balls to remake a Bob Dylan song and own it, PJ Harvey is who I want to be when I grow up and turn into a rock star)

9. Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix (It’s Jimi, he completely kicked ass when he covered Watchtower too)

10. Proud Mary – Ike and Tina (I love CCR, I do, but Tina’s energy on this song makes it hers)

11. Susie Q – CCR (now this one is a cover of a Dale Hawkins song. Every time I hear it, I think about that scene in Apocalypse Now)

12. Time Is On My Side – Rolling Stones (Irma Thomas did this one in the early 50’s but Mick’s voice and the Stones’ arrangement is better I think)

13. Baba O’Riley – Pearl Jam (This is one where I enjoy the original almost as much but I’ve seen PJ sing it live several times and I love their energy on it and I think Ed’s voice is perfect for it)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

1. Tug
2. Luna
3. Maggie
4. Joely
5. Sylvia