10 Rock Cover Songs Better Than The Original
9. Joe Cocker: With A Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles)
It almost feels heretical to state that someone could perform a Beatles song better than the Fab Four. It might be a rare occurrence, but it certainly has happened. Forget Hendrix's wildly explosive cover of 'Sgt. Pepper's' for a moment. Joe Cocker's electrified take on 'With A Little Help From My Friends', makes the Beatles' version feel like it's being performed by a fairground covers band on acid - Side note: the Beatles were definitely on acid.
Cocker recorded and released his version of the 1967 track less than a year after it was originally released. It became an instant hit, propelling Cocker to stardom and introducing the world to his erratic onstage demeanour. His live performance at Woodstock '69 gained the track even more notoriety. When Paul McCartney heard Cocker's cover he supposably couldn't believe someone could reinterpret what the Beatles had done and turn it into a soul number.
There's only one version of this track that's worth your time, and that's the Woodstock '69 version; Cocker looks and sounds as though he's possessed by the very spirit of soul music.