To me, the test of a great cover version, is if an artist can cover a version of a song that you really love, and make it even better - or a least different in a terrific way. Take, for example, Del Shannon's classic original version of Runaway. I loved that! For me, it brightened up the early 1960s. But Bonnie Rait's cover version is fablulous. Here is a link to a live version.

Bonnie's Runaway