Recommended by Hail Eris

Downtown Train

Original - Tom Waits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuSZEBuDUC4

Cover - Rod Stewart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ffj6hKN2n0

Not a huge fan of Rod Stewart, but he does the song much better.

Gah! That's not at all how I expected the voting on this one to go. I'll cast an emphatic vote for Tom Waits.

I struggle with Tom Waits vocal skills and I expected the inclusion of Jeff Beck on the Rod Stewart cover to hold a lot of sway over me. But I liked the grittier feel of the Tom Waits version and his vocals weren't too distracting so I'll go with the Tom Waits version.

For me Rod Stewart is singing a song, doing a good job of it, but Tom Waits is selling the dream.

Original for the win.

When you have two great versions of a song, the votes have to split. I think Rod Stewart honors the song written by Tom Waits, and I just like Rod's singing better here. Although the video for Tom Waits should be in the Video War going on; maybe it is!

I like Rod Stewart's Cover best.

Rod Stewart.

OMG! Tom Waits voice was literally like Poison to my ears. Was he actually singing or grunting out the song, is he sick or something?? Rod Stewart wins this match up 100% of the time!

And that was the Tom Waits song I wanted to use for Rock Wars 80s. Guess I can count on it not getting your vote

Wow, really? I mean, and no joking or exaggeration here at all, that Tom Waits song is quite possibly one of the worst songs I have ever heard in my life. The guy literally sounds like hes singing.....take that back, grunting.....this one out on his Death Bed. His voice makes Bob Dylan sound like John Lennon, and you all know how much I "love" Dylan.

The Cover -- Rod Stewart, please!

I assume this means you vote for Tom?

I prefer Rod Stewart's too. My opinion of Tom Waits' vocals, while not as extreme as DTM's, still leans that same direction.

Wow, I really can't believe the voting on this one. An Emphatic vote for Tom Waits.