Eleanor Rigby
It's been said that if you're going to cover a song, you should make it your own. I don't think anyone could argue that Aretha Franklin didn't do that when she covered "Eleanor Rigby" in 1969. In fact, she did it quite literally by singing the song in first person. The arrangement is also radically different, converting it from a somber ballad into a driving soul number. It might not be for everyone (especially Beatles purists), but there's no denying that it's a powerful performance. It's available on the album This Girl's In Love With You.
Aretha Franklin - "Eleanor Rigby" (mp3)
Photo of the Eleanor Rigby statue in Liverpool, England.