I have a list of songs that move me so much that I collect different versions of them. They include:
MORNING DEW - Best version Long John Baldry from his self-titled LP on EMI, started with Jeff Beck, Truth
SUMERTIME - Can't beat Big Brother & The Holding Company. I get what @crazybookman is saying; but the guts of this music certainly outweigh the poor production and I actually like the guitar. Honorable mention - Perry Como, if you can believe it, and of course Audra McDonald.
HEY JOE - Sorry, Jimi. Spirit, Black Cat Bone, and Vasti Jackson get my vote now.
WALK AWAY RENE - no one beats the original Left Banke; but Sothside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes do a nice one.
DOWN BY THE RIVER - I am a huge Neil Young Fan; but yo gotta hear the Indigo Girls' live.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a_NQoXvE-wHALLELUJAH (Leonard Cohen, although Martin Sexton's song is AMAZING!) - Jeff Buckley, the Grace SACD.
GO NOW - The first release of the song by Bessie Banks.
I also keep a list of songs I heard once (wow) and had to search for, not knowing the exact title or artist. But that's another thread:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/long-lost-songs