The World is Waiting for the Sunrise (1919 ) "A post-World War I song, with lyrics by American actor Gene Lockhart and music by Canadian-born concert pianist Ernest Seitz. This became a signature song of Les Paul and Mary Ford in the 1950's. Recorded by Willie Nelson (on Moonlight Becomes You, 1993). Live performance with Paul Buskirk on the electric mandolin and Paul Schmitt on the piano. Can't nail down the date. Maybe 2004?
I should have included the original, done by Hall and Oates. I think Cee Lo Green is underrated; his range is incredible.
Cover Original I'm not really convinced the cover is "better." They're both great. Shout out to @Thomas Stillhere for posting the original here.
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End - Phil Collins 1998 (Beatles, Abbey Road, 1969 ) This is more like a karaoke version. It sounds like the original instrumental sound track, except vocals and additional drums. The older man is George Martin, who produced many of the Beatles songs, including the Abbey Road album. There is no need to provide a link to the original 3 song sequence because it is always taken down from YouTube eventually. However there is a live version with both Paul McCartney and Phil Collins (1997).
Wow, I was actually shocked by this one. Canned Heat's big 70's hit "Going Up the Country" was apparently plagiarized from this 1928 song, "Bull Doze Blues" by Henry Thomas. Not exactly a cover, though.
There are more from the Lounge-A-Palooza album: "She Don't Use Jelly" from the Flaming Lips: The cover from Ben Folds Five: