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Posted by: brian91 17th January 2010, 11:43 PM

Long before we had the internet, it was sometimes difficult to know that a song might be a cover version, unless the DJ on the radio happened to mention it. When you first heard a song you liked, but you thought it was an original tune, and then a while later you find out it was actually a cover version of an old song. Are there any songs that you were surprised to hear were actually cover versions.

Ones that I never knew were covers till a long time after were:

Soft Cell - Tainted Love (original: Gloria Jones)
The Clash - I fought the law (original: Sonny Curtis & Crickets)
Dave Edmunds - Girls Talk (original: Elvis Costello)
Harry Nilsson - Without You (original: Badfinger)
Manfred Mann’s Earthband - Blinded by the light (original: Bruce Springsteen)
Nazareth - Love hurts (original: Everly Brothers)
Pretenders - Stop your sobbing (original: Kinks)
The Byrds - Hey Mr Tambourine Man (original: Bob Dylan)

Posted by: Slick 17th January 2010, 11:50 PM

Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U. That shocked me recently.

Posted by: Poisoned Kisses 18th January 2010, 12:53 AM

That's a cover?? Who did she cover it from?

Posted by: Silver Rocket 18th January 2010, 12:54 AM

Prince, I believe.

Posted by: Slick 18th January 2010, 12:55 AM

Written by Prince and recorded by a side-project of his called 'The Family'

I also didn't know Wet Wet Wet's 'Love Is All Around' was originally by a band called The Troggs.

Posted by: Jonjo Gleek 18th January 2010, 12:59 AM

WOAH! Sinead O'Connor 'Nothing Compares 2 U' is a COVER?!

Posted by: Silas Gleek 18th January 2010, 03:45 AM

Soft Cell didn't do the original Tainted Love?


For quite some time i had no idea the Sugababes Freak Like Me was a cover

Posted by: grebo69 18th January 2010, 07:05 AM

OMG! I never knew that either! Thought it was an original song aside from the Gary Numan sample.

Posted by: Mushymanrob 18th January 2010, 08:33 AM

yes it was... and ive got the original on vinyl... i DETEST the wets awful tripe version

bolndie - denis (denee) (forgot the orig but early 60's )
clash - i fought the law (orig bobby fuller four 1966)

Posted by: B.A Baracus 18th January 2010, 08:36 AM

I didn't know till about 10 years ago that Status Quo's Rockin' All Over The World was originally a John Fogerty song then I heard the original and realised how superior it was to the Quo version

Posted by: Silas Gleek 18th January 2010, 10:40 AM

It's a lyrical cover of a 1995 RnB track. The producer made a mash up of the two and wanted to release it, but the singer didn't allow her vocals to be used. So Richard X approached the Sugababes to sing the lyrics and their first #1 was born.

Would have loved them to work with him again

Posted by: ScottyEm 18th January 2010, 10:12 PM

The irony is that Prince's version of Nothing Compares 2 U is awful. Sinead made it her own, though to be fair, I'm not a fan of her version either...

Posted by: Suedehead2 18th January 2010, 10:20 PM

And Gloria Jones who did the original version was the mother of Marc Bolan's son and was driving the car in the accident which killed him

Posted by: Suedehead2 18th January 2010, 10:24 PM

That's an interesting list. I think I knew that most of them were covers at the time because DJs at the time were more likely to mention it. The one exception would be Love Hurts - the first version of that song I remember hearing was by Jim Capaldi but again it was regularly introduced as a cover version.

Posted by: Suedehead2 18th January 2010, 10:27 PM

Also Blondie - The tide Is High originally by The Paragons and later massacred by Atomic Kitten

Posted by: Hitstastic 18th January 2010, 11:08 PM

'Torn' by Natalie Imbruglia. Never realised it was a cover until a good year or so later when I saw something on MTV at the time.

Posted by: Suedehead2 18th January 2010, 11:13 PM

My Way was an English language version of a French song adapted by Paul Anka.

Posted by: Victor Meldrew 19th January 2010, 09:37 AM

Randy And The Rainbows.

Posted by: Robbie 19th January 2010, 11:49 AM

Keep On Running - Spencer Davis Group

I only found out last year this was a cover version, on the Island 50th anniversary programme broadcast on BBC2.

Posted by: tonyttt31 19th January 2010, 01:37 PM

Madonna - Ray of Light

based on the track "Sepheryn", written by Clive Maldoon & Dave Curtiss

Posted by: fchd 20th January 2010, 08:10 PM

Yes, and it was "Denise" when it was their song.

Posted by: Jonjo Gleek 21st January 2010, 02:38 AM

I know the cover version wasn't retro, but the original was and I didn't realise Gabriella Cilmi's 'Warm This Winter' was a cover of Connie Francis' 1962 hit, until quite recently (thanks to the BJSC ) I always thought it was an original by Gabriella.

Posted by: Silas Gleek 21st January 2010, 04:25 AM

I didn't know that was a cover either



I prefer Cilmi's version tbh.

Posted by: Severin 21st January 2010, 12:34 PM

Some that aren't well known as covers and I don't think have been mentioned

Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone (The Nerves)
Carpenters - Calling Occupants etc (Klaatu)
Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight (King Harvest - I thought it was Van Morrison for ages)
Marvin gaye - I heard It through The Grapevine (The Miracles)
Elvis Presley - Hound Dog (Big Mama Thornton)
Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss (Tarkan)
Robbie Williams - She's The One (World Party)
Annie Lennox - No More I Love Yous (The Lover Speaks)
Isley Brothers - Twist & Shout - (The Beatles/Tremloes/Chaka Demus & Pliers)
Chaka Kahn - I Feel 4 U (Prince)


An interestingly the following were written for another artist then covered by the writer later
Elvis Costello - Shipbuilding (given to R Wyatt)
Elvis Costello - Girls Talk (given to D Edmunds)
Prince - Kiss (given to Mazarati)
Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U (given to The Family)

Posted by: Mushymanrob 21st January 2010, 02:03 PM

i didnt know about those!

Posted by: brian91 21st January 2010, 10:41 PM

I knew about this one. Klaatu released an album in 1976, with no credits, it sounded similar to Sgt Peppers style, and a rumour grew that it was the Beatles reformed under an assumed name. Partly because on Ringo's album Goodnight Vienna he is portrayed as Klaatu from the film "The day the earth stood still" and the album includes the phrase "Don't forget - Klaatu Barada Nikto".

Posted by: Suedehead2 21st January 2010, 10:59 PM

I mentioned the Klaatu original in my chart commentary when the latest Carpenters collection entered the top 40. Don't you read it?

Posted by: Suedehead2 21st January 2010, 11:01 PM

And Bruce Springsteen - Because The Night (given to Patti Smith)

Posted by: Jonjo Gleek 21st January 2010, 11:32 PM

NO WAY AT THOSE! Especially Toploader & Robbie!

Posted by: Mushymanrob 22nd January 2010, 09:25 AM

probably not... although i might have well forgotten... but generally i didnt know.

Posted by: Severin 22nd January 2010, 04:41 PM

True. There is a dodgy quality version of him doing BTN from the (i think) Darkness... sessions but he couldn't get it to work so he gave it to her, she reworked it and then he took her version and has toured with it since then.

Same thing happened with Fire which he intended for Elvis to sing but then he died so Robert Gordon got it. The Pointer Sisters then had a hit with it and he still plays it to this day. There's astudio version of this too with Bruce's Elvis impersonation for the vocal

Posted by: Cod 22nd January 2010, 08:05 PM

Blood Sweat & Tears - You've Made Me So Very Happy (Brenda Holloway)

Posted by: Paul 22nd January 2010, 10:47 PM

Red Red Wine - Neil Diamond

Posted by: Paul 22nd January 2010, 10:50 PM

You'll never walk alone was a cover version when recorded by Gerry & The Pacemakers in 1963
It was from the 1945 film Carousel

Posted by: Paul 22nd January 2010, 10:51 PM

One Step Beyond - Madness (Prince Buster)

Posted by: Mushymanrob 22nd January 2010, 11:17 PM

was that really 1945?... thought it was mid 50's .... featured cameron mitchell , who later found fame in the tv western 'high chaparal' as buck cannon..

Posted by: Mushymanrob 23rd January 2010, 12:00 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carousel_(musical)

yep, the film was 1956

Posted by: Casey_ 23rd January 2010, 12:14 AM

Yeah, the same for me, must have been several years after it was released when I realised

Posted by: Cod 23rd January 2010, 02:33 PM

Deep Purple - Hush (originally by Joe South, but Deep Purple were inspired to record their version upon hearing Kris Ife's interpretation)

Posted by: Mushymanrob 23rd January 2010, 02:45 PM

now thats strange.... because i only knew of joe souths version, i completely missed deep purples cover!

i prefer joe souths version.

Posted by: JakeWild 23rd January 2010, 03:00 PM

i never knew until recently that michael jackson's come together was originally by the beatles. i still prefer mj's version though..

and i agree with whoever said about nothing compares 2 u, sinead's version is so much better!

Posted by: SoManyOstriches 23rd January 2010, 03:38 PM

O-Zone - Dragostea din tei (original by Haiducii)
The Bucketheads - The Bomb! (original by Chicago)
The Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha (I don't remember original artist)

Posted by: Ricky 23rd January 2010, 06:35 PM

Tori Alamaze of OutKast


Great thread guys. Learn so much, many of them quite surprising, especially Soft Cell.

Posted by: Victor Meldrew 27th January 2010, 04:45 PM

For a long time I didn't know that Bye Bye Baby, No.1 in 1975 for the Bay City Rollers, was originally done by The Four Seasons in the 60's.

Posted by: seejayjee 27th January 2010, 09:11 PM

Kylie Minogue - The Loco-Motion is a cover too, originally by Little Eva in 1962.

Posted by: euro music 28th January 2010, 11:55 AM

Mighty Quinn - Manfred Mann -- original Bob Dylan
Red Red Wine - UB40 -- original Neil Diamond
I'm A Believer - The Monkees -- original Neil Diamond
The Boat That I Row - Lulu -- original Neil Diamond
He Ain't Heavy - He's My Brother -- original Neil Diamond
Lonely - Akon -- original Bobby Vinton (titled Mr. Lonely)
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye -- original Gladys Knight & The Pips
Shout - Lulu -- original Isley Brothers
Young Forever - Jay-Z & Mr. Hudson -- original Alphaville (titled Forever Young)
Anyone Who Had A Heart - Cilla Black -- original Dionne Warwick
Silence Is Golden - The Tremeloes -- original Four Seasons (B-Side of Rag Doll)
Better Be Good To Me - Tina Turner -- original Spider
Eruption - I Can't Stand The Rain -- original Ann Peebles
Eruption - One Way Ticket -- original Neil Sedaka
Wet Wet Wet - Love Is All Around -- original The Troggs
Do You Love Me - Brian Poole & Tremeloes -- original The Contours
I Only Want To Be With You - (numorous artists) -- original Dusty Springfield
Mama Told Me Not To Come - Tom Jones & Stereophonics -- original Three Dog Night
Wherever I Lay My Hat - Paul Young -- original Marvin Gaye B-Side
Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - Take That -- original Detroit Spinners
Mandy - Barry Manilow and Westlife -- original Scott English (titled Brandy)
It Only Takes A Minute - Take That -- original Tavares
The Best Part Of Breaking Up - The Symbols -- original The Ronettes
Unchained Melody - Robson & Jerome, Righteous Brothers, Gareth Gates, Jimmy Young -- original Al Hibbler
MacArthur Park - Donna Summer -- original Richard Harris
Kiss Kiss - Holly Valance -- original Tarkan (titled Simarik)
Sailing - Rod Stewart -- original Sutherland Brothers
Handbags & Gladrags - Rod Stewart -- original Chris Farlowe
Soft Cell - What -- original Judy Cheeks (titled What Can I Say)
(Cover Of A Cover) Atomic Kitten - (cover) Blondie - The Tide Is High -- original Paragons
Boney M - Sunny -- original Bobby Hebb
Boney M - Rivers Of Babylon -- original Melodians

Posted by: fiesta 28th January 2010, 04:55 PM

A Groovy Kind Of Love - Mindbenders (originally by Patti Belle & Bluebelles)

Posted by: Mushymanrob 29th January 2010, 08:38 AM

i didnt know about 'silence is golden', but now its blooming obvious its a frankie valli track!!!

Posted by: Tom GleeKay 29th January 2010, 10:18 AM

Sorry, but Haiducii was the cover, an Italian act that had a bigger hit with the song in a few countries like France and Italy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragostea_Din_Tei

Posted by: fiesta 29th January 2010, 12:42 PM

This was in actual fact originally recorded by Eric Burdon (of the Animals)

Posted by: Mushymanrob 29th January 2010, 02:41 PM

i didnt know that!

Posted by: IrisAlbastru 29th January 2010, 10:02 PM

The man who sold the world - Nirvana (cover David Bowie)
Alabama bar - The Doors (a german opera with lyrics by Berthold Brecht)
Seasons in the sun - Terry Jacks and other (amazing orginal "Le moribond" by J. Brel)

Posted by: SoManyOstriches 30th January 2010, 10:34 AM

Thanks, I didn't know it

Posted by: euro music 30th January 2010, 11:02 AM

For anyone else who had not heard this version you can listen to it http://www.worldcharts.co.uk/audio2/fourseasons-silence.mp3
It was originally the B-Side of Rag Doll

Posted by: euro music 30th January 2010, 11:06 AM

Oops! sorry double-post

Posted by: Zippy T Doodar 1st February 2010, 10:30 AM

I do not think that this is actually a ‘proper’ cover version, more an ‘alternative’ version. I remember a few years ago there was a ‘mini-scandal’ where there were two versions of one song that had been released in the UK and Norway. However rather than being an obvious cover version, it was actually the same recording with the vocals of the Scandinavian singer wiped off and replaced by that of the new singer. I cannot remember if the record in question was actually “Torn” or not, but I am quite suspicious that it may have been, as I know for sure that “Torn” was also recorded by a Norwegian female singer [such as Sissel or Silje] as well as Imbruglia and Ednaswap, with all three versions being recorded by the same producer.

Even though I would not expect this type of recording process to be such a rare occurrence in the music industry, especially when thinking about people like S/A/W and the Funk Brothers at Motown, it does make you wonder to what extent records created in this way are really cover versions.

Another area you may like to discuss is when a record has an ‘interpolation of’ credit as the artist has based their new hit on the tune of another person’s work or, as in the case of “My Sweet Lord”, is found to be ‘too similar’. For example, even though these records will not have the full ‘interpolation credit’ as with many American hits, would The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony” and Rest Assured’s “Treat Infamy” be seen as covers of the same record as both would have the same main ‘Jagger/Richards’ credit with an additional sub-credit in regards to the lyrics?

Also another point you may like to dwell upon, is this thought. You may or may not be a fan of the band yourself but please imagine, just for a moment, that you have gone to see the New Beautiful South play live. Even though Dave Hemingway and Alison Wheeler may have sung on the original recordings, would they be actually covering songs by The Beautiful South, if Paul Heaton was the person who wrote them in the first place?

Loz

Posted by: Cod 1st February 2010, 07:44 PM

Stone Poneys - Different Drum (Greenbriar Boys)

Posted by: Suedehead2 1st February 2010, 08:12 PM

Paul Hardcastle had to add Mike Oldfield to the writing credit of 19 because of a close resemblance to Tubular Bells. Richard Ashcroft doesn't get any royalties for Bitter Sweet Symphony or Treat Infamy after losing a court case.

Posted by: no1gagafan 1st February 2010, 08:53 PM

OMG Torn is a cover

Posted by: Zippy T Doodar 2nd February 2010, 12:51 PM

Another good example is Kylie’s “Confide In Me” which, as you will remember, was her first single after leaving Pete Waterman’s company to go to sign with BMG’s ‘trendy’ dance label ‘de/Construction’. Even though at the time, the fact that Kylie was working with ‘hip’ production groups such as The Brothers In Rhythm was triumphed as a fresh beginning, it was soon found out that the song was based upon an old Opus III song, which was coincidentally released by none other than her ‘former masters’ at PWL.

Loz

Posted by: Mattias 2nd February 2010, 01:41 PM

Björk's "It's Oh So Quiet" is a renamed cover of a Betty Hutton song called "Blow A Fuse". I quite like Betty's version too. It's from the 30s or 40s.

Posted by: tonyttt31 2nd February 2010, 03:43 PM

I'm assuming most of Westlife's entire output are cover versions.

Posted by: Mushymanrob 2nd February 2010, 03:51 PM

thats interesting, thanks for that info ....

ps i like reading your posts, very informative

Posted by: Zippy T Doodar 2nd February 2010, 04:00 PM

Thank you very much, it is greatly appreciated that you took the time to read my post.

Loz

Posted by: Severin 2nd February 2010, 05:06 PM

In regards to the previous post about Torn. it was written by Ednaswap with producer Phil Thornally. Initially 1st covered by Lis Sorensen in Danish then later by Norwegian Trine Reine and finally Natalie Imbruglia.

The confusion is because co-writer Phil Thornally has worked with all the cover artists, clearly repeatedly trying to get a hit out of it. But the original 1995 version is undoubtedly Ednaswap's.

Posted by: Severin 2nd February 2010, 05:06 PM

Status Quo - Rocking All Over The World (originally John Fogerty of CCR)
Joan Jett - I Love Rock N Roll (Arrows)

Posted by: Zippy T Doodar 8th February 2010, 03:57 PM

I did not know that “Torn” was covered in the Danish language. Now that is a concept that I can not imagine being done and I can not see how it could work, though having not heard the record, I would not like to dismiss this recording completely.

I briefly went out with a Dane a few years back [think of Finlay Roberts more than Whigfield] and from experience, I do not think that you could ever call Danish a ‘language of love’. I do not think that Danish would ever be a language that could improve the recording of a song if the record you were listing to was not the English version.

I would not say that is true for all languages, in the case of “Der Kommissar” by Falco, I think the original German version should have been better known in English speaking territories, though I would not want it to be the only song he would be remembered for. When After The Fire recorded the song into English they got a big American hit, but I thought that something got ‘lost in translation’ as it was not as good as the original version.

As a child, I think that I would have had not as much fun singing “Rock Me Amadeus” if I knew what Falco was actually singing about. I remember trying to imitate those German lyrics, as I guess most children would have done at the time, with random harsh sounding ‘noises’, as this is what the German language sounded like to me.

To this day I do not know what Falco was actually singing about though I think I heard something in the lyrics about there being “no plastic money anymore”. Maybe the theme of the song was quite ‘apocalyptic’, maybe it was just innuendo, though I doubt that it was just a song about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Even though I have never seen a translation of “Rock Me Amadeus”, I remember that Smash Hits once translated the lyrics to “Joe Le Taxi” by Vanessa Paradis. Once it was translated into “Joe The Taxi”, the appeal of the song was slightly spoiled for me, as the original hit did not seem that it could be simply about a French taxi driver.

As the song featured many other exotic words alongside all the French, I thought that maybe Joe was not just a regular taxi driver, but a driver more like a chauffeur, transporting ‘glam’ film stars to the festival in Cannes or taking fabulous creatures on a ‘fantastic voyage’ across Northern Africa [on the other hand, I do not recall Smash Hits ever translating “Voyage Voyage” by Desireless, and as I do not know what that is about, maybe that song is about doing this].

Whereas I know and like many songs in the German and French languages, I do not think I would be able to tell you the title of a single Danish language hit. I am not sure if any of the Danish acts that I know well would actually sing in their own language, but out of all of the ones that I have heard maybe the ‘Efferrklang’ group would, though I suppose they could be the type of band who would probably make up their own language in a Sigur Ros type of way [‘Efferrklang’ were one of Radcliffe & Maconie’s Record Of The Week picks a few weeks ago with a record that sounds a bit like Coldplay, but are supposed to be more ‘avant-garde’ than this record would make you believe].

It is quite funny that I am talking about Danish artists to you today as on my way back to work from lunch, a clothes shop was playing Brother Brown’s “Under The Water” on their in-store system. You may remember this hit record from the lyrics about growing a mermaid’s tale and from the shuffling house music beat. It was this rhythm that caught my attention, even though for a moment I thought that the store was actually playing another old record called “Ride The Rocket” by Lithium & Sonya Madan [Echobelly]. Even though these records were Top 40 hits, I am guessing that most people would regard them as being quite obscure, that is unless there are some devoted Echobelly fans on the site which could be a possibility.

I think Marie Frank, the singer of that Brother Brown track, may have reverted to singing in Danish as her British album career sunk without trace. I bought her album for about 50p in a second hand shop but can not remember anything about it, apart from the ‘bonus’ track, the aforementioned hit “Under The Water”. I think she was trying to be a sensitive singer-songwriter and this is why she was credited as Frankee on the hit, to distinguish the dance music collaborations from her normal career. Perhaps in her solo career she was supposed to be like a Danish Dido, but as it was a long time ago I would not know, at least “Under The Water” still sounds great and at least she was not quite a one hit wonder as she managed to get another smaller hit with the group.

A few years ago, I used to buy Billboard magazine quite frequently as a shop I knew sold it. I remember reading the Charts Of The World section every other week and if you think the charts are slow in the UK, now that downloads have been introduced, well it was a good job that you did not live in Denmark at that time. Every time I looked at the Danish chart I was amazed that it always looked the same with at Number One each week, a record by actress in a popular TV show called Trine Djerholm.

That record must have been at Number One non-stop for about two years, as it never seemed to move and even when other songs, that had been big international hits, were featured in the Danish chart, it was still at Number One. I cannot remember seeing another chart like this, which had a record like this stuck at Number One for so long [Elton John may have been Number One in Canada for a year but that was a charity tribute, the world’s biggest selling single in a country where you can be Number One having sold just 49 copies in the previous week, whilst Trine’s record was just a normal hit]. I was also informed at the time that Trine Djerholm’s single was not actually a new record and had been first recorded in the late 1980s, but I can not be sure how true this is.

Therefore, I think we should be grateful that Wet Wet Wet and Bryan Adams were only Number One for a few months back in the 1990s. If everybody on here was complaining back then at those records being Number One, I would not like to imagine how people would feel if Journey moved to number one next week and stayed there for another 730 days. I guess there might be a few people who would like this to happen, but I would guess it would annoy the majority of the people on this site [though obviously it will be Simon Cowell’s Haiti single next week, unless MacGowan & Cave’s alternative charity single for Haiti can be rush-released and pushed to Number One by a Facebook campaign instead].

Loz

Posted by: AH Gold 8th February 2010, 04:23 PM

Not a cover as such, but only found out yesterday that Neneh Cherry's Buffalo Stance was based/had the same backing track as Morgan/McVey's Looking Good Diving - a PWL track

Posted by: Severin 10th February 2010, 08:13 AM

Toni Basil - Mickey (originally by Racey but called Kitty)

Posted by: Mushymanrob 10th February 2010, 04:27 PM

ill direct you to look at this site ... tiz in resources too .. interesting browse

http://www.whosampled.com/

Posted by: euro music 15th February 2010, 09:05 PM

Another one here:

Marvin Gaye - Abraham Martin & John - 1970 UK#9 (US did not chart) -- original - Dion - 1968 US#4 (UK did not chart) although I prefer Marvin


David Watts - Jam -- original - The Kinks

Posted by: Zippy T Doodar 17th February 2010, 12:58 PM

Hello,

I do not know if anyone else has perused the latest issue of the Radio Times, but someone here might be interested in a show, that is to be broadcast by Channel 4 next week. The show is all about the song “Blame It On The Boogie”, which was [in]famously recorded by S/A/W trio Big Fun and written by a gentleman called Michael Jackson.

However, this ‘Michael Jackson’ was not the one who had a massive hit with “Blame It On The Boogie” when he covered the song with his brothers, nor was he the guy who used to run BBC Two, but another songwriter who released a number of records under the name Mick Jackson.

Even though I doubt the documentary will be made to the standards of BBC Four’s Latin Music, Skippy and Legends shows [as it will be most likely shot by a presenter-director on a small digital camcorder], I think it may still be worth a viewing. If not, then the coincidence of the artist and writer’s names being the same will still be a great bit of pub trivia to remember.

Loz

Posted by: euro music 24th March 2010, 09:43 PM

Another one is:

Status Quo - Rockin' All Over The World -- original by John Fogerty in 1975 - John was lead singer of Creedence Clearwater Revival

Posted by: Joinwithus 25th March 2010, 12:52 PM

"It's a fine day" by OPUS 3.

The original was by "Jane" which is an acappella song that had a 1940s video and sounds a lot like something from a horror film!

Posted by: Tea Party Kay 25th March 2010, 02:03 PM

That's cos it is - it's from Eraserhead

Posted by: dingdongbass 11th November 2010, 04:52 PM

Aretha Franklin - respect (original by otis reading)

Whitney houston - I will always love you (original by dolly parton)

Jimi hendrix - All along the watchtower (oringal bob dylan)

jimi hendrix - hey joe (cant think its something roberts!!)

Carpenters - superstar (original by Delaney and bonnie)

The Beatles - twist and shout (original top notes)

Mannfred mann’s earth band - blinded by the light (orignal bruce sprngsteen)

The kingsmen - louie louie (oringal richard berry)

Guns n’ Roses - live and let die (original Paul McCartney and Wings)

Fugees (lauryn hill) - Kiling me softly (original Lori Lieberman)

Johny Cash - Hurt (nine inch nails)

Nirvana - where did you sleep last night (oldest recording i found Leadbelly- song dates back even further though apparently)

The Animals - House of the rising sun (oldest recording Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster again origins go back further into folk music history)

otis readin - try a little tenderness (bing crosby

Etta james - I just want to make love to you (diet coke advert) (original muddy waters.

Rihanna -no no no you dont love me (butchered the original) - Dawn penn


KEEP EM COMEIN PEOPLE I LOVE FINDING OUT SONGS I THOUGHT WERE ORIGINALS ACTUALLY ARENT, CRAZY JALFREZI

Posted by: Jmh123 12th November 2010, 06:30 PM

Shayne Ward - Gotta Be Somebody

Posted by: grebo69 12th November 2010, 06:53 PM

Erm... this is the retro forum.

Neither Shayne Ward nor Nickelback are retro

Posted by: TC: Kaisa 12th November 2010, 09:13 PM

Limp Bizkit - Behind Blue Eyes

Posted by: Severin 26th November 2010, 05:27 PM

Can't believe no-ones mentioned The Bluebells' Young At Heart yet. Originally Bananrama

Posted by: mikekeates 27th November 2010, 10:38 PM

Boyzone - Baby Can I Hold You
Madcon - Beggin'
Bananarama - Venus
Steps - Last Thing On My Mind

Posted by: ScottyEm 28th November 2010, 12:27 PM

Get outta here!! Really?!?!

Posted by: ScottyEm 28th November 2010, 12:31 PM

Just youtubed that Bananarama original. Good god it's terrible, but to be fair I truly hate The Bluebells version anyway!! (Still love Bananarama though!)

Posted by: FM11 28th November 2010, 02:28 PM

I didn't know 'As' by George Michael (and Mary J. Blige) was a cover of Stevie Wonder's (which didn't chart in the UK) until last Wednesday!

Posted by: Jonjo 29th November 2010, 01:33 AM

NO WAY!? As you have guessed, I never knew until now! Quite shocked at that.

Anyway; I didn't realise 'Make You Feel My Love' by ADELE was a cover until about 2 weeks after her (original) release.

Posted by: TOP40 29th November 2010, 05:03 PM

I only recently discovered that Downtown Rain by Rod Stewart was originally done by Tom Waits. One of Rod's best songs in my view.

Posted by: Severin 29th November 2010, 05:47 PM

And yet just one of many of Tom Waits gems

Posted by: Severin 18th December 2010, 02:39 PM

Thought I'd mention this since it's topical.

Surfin' Bird is not only a cover but also a mash up of The Bird's The Word and Papa Oom Mow Mow, both by The Rivingtons

Posted by: bsbresource 26th January 2011, 03:40 PM

Wow, so much I have learnt from this thread.

I didn't know that Lady Gaga's Alejandro was taken from Ace Of Base's Don't Turn Around

Posted by: Severin 26th January 2011, 05:28 PM

Ace Of Base's Don't Turn Around???

Originally by a number 1 hit for Aswad I believe

Posted by: zenon 26th January 2011, 10:07 PM

Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise is a cover of Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise.

Posted by: PaulM1983 26th January 2011, 11:42 PM

Are you sure that's the case? Granted, there are musical similarities, but I don't think Alejandro actually sampled Don't Turn Around at all did it? There was a lot of talk about that when the song first leaked, but I'm pretty sure it's just similar sounding.

Great topic by the way. A lot of Bananarama's tracks have been given to other 90s pop artists, and most folk would never have known (Last Thing on My Mind, Moving On, Cruel Summer among others).

Steps - Deeper Shade of Blue is a good one. Originally sung by Tina Cousins, but it didn't make the cut for her first album, so Pete Waterman gave it to Steps instead. Tina's version is very, very rare. I've got an mp3 of it on an old hard drive. The vocals are far superior, but the track sounds extremely dated compared to Steps' version.

Posted by: euro music 27th January 2011, 11:51 AM

Dancing In The Moonlight - also by a band called High Broom on Island label released at the same time as King Harvest
Tarkan's version of Kiss Kiss was a massive hit all over mainland Europe in 1998 it was called Sidikim

Lulu - Shout -- original by Isley Brothers

Posted by: Kathyp 27th January 2011, 11:28 PM

I'm afraid to say this (I'm so ashamed) despite my vast years - I didn't realise Adele's MYFML was a Dylan song!!!!

Kath

Posted by: Suedehead2 27th January 2011, 11:45 PM

It's been mentioned quite a lot over the last few months. Dylan's own version is actually very good.

Posted by: Eric_Blob 29th January 2011, 11:03 AM

This. The songs are very similar (and RedOne has often cited Ace of Base as one of his influences), but it's not an actual sample.

Alejandro does sample a song called Csardas though. It's actually a really clever sample if you ask me, and it's done in a similar way to which Ridin' Solo samples Bittersweet Symphony.

Posted by: Cod 30th January 2011, 05:44 PM

Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working (original by Ann Cole)

Posted by: David John 2nd February 2011, 01:48 PM

Booty luv's Shine is a cover of Luther vandross's Shine which wasn't a hit but included on a greatest hits as a new song. Never knew that till last year.

Posted by: ヽ(´ー｀)ʎ 5th February 2011, 02:18 AM

the original tainted love is incredible. i've always loved it:

Posted by: Jonjo 5th February 2011, 10:00 AM

NO. WAY! I'm actually in shock

Also I forgot to mention the first time around, but I never knew Johnny Cash's 'Hurt' was a cover of Nine Inch Nails, until I joined this site and started talking to Chris (fishlock) more.

Posted by: +Michael 5th February 2011, 09:13 PM

The original Don't Cha

Posted by: euro music 26th February 2011, 07:53 PM

And then the first UK cover was in 1967 - a #44 hit by The Symbols

The Symbols then covered The Ronettes - Best Part Of Breakin' Up a bigger hit at #25 but this was there last hit.

Dawn Penn - You Don't Love Me #3 in 1994 -- original - Gary Walker (of the Walker Brothers) #26 in 1966


Boney M - Rivers Of Babylon -- original Melodians


Boney M - Sunny -- original Bobby Hebb UK#12 & US #2 in 1966
Also covered in 1966 by Georgie Fame #13 & Cher #32

Posted by: Gaga for Glee! 26th February 2011, 08:09 PM

Against All Odds
Live and Let Die – Guns n’ Roses (original by Paul McCartney and Wings)
Hurt – Johnny Cash (Original by Nine Inch Nails)
Sugababes - freak like me
American Pie
Sweet Child O' Mine

Posted by: grebo69 26th February 2011, 08:54 PM

Whattadayamean you didn't know Live and Let Die, American Pie and Sweet Cild weren't covers!!! How old are you?

BTW which is the version of SCOM that you thought was the original?

Posted by: Gaga for Glee! 26th February 2011, 09:01 PM

I thought the Guns N' Roses version was the Original but i was told it wasn't

Posted by: euro music 4th March 2011, 08:46 PM

Love Affair - Everlasting Love - original Robert Knight


Love Affair - Rainbow Valley - original Robert Knight

Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe - original Tim Rose


P.P. Arnold (also) Rod Stewart - First Cut Is The Deepest - original Cat Stevens


Rod Stewart - Sailing - original Sutherland Brothers - 1972

Posted by: Severin 6th March 2011, 10:03 AM

Erm... they wrote it and whoever told it was a cover by GNR lied

Posted by: Gaga for Glee! 6th March 2011, 08:59 PM

Oh i knew it was the Original

Posted by: dannjohn3 6th March 2011, 11:09 PM

Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll".

Posted by: Gaga for Glee! 7th March 2011, 03:27 PM

Britney ruined that song

Posted by: BillyH 7th March 2011, 08:38 PM

Haha, so glad I wasn't the only one! I remember the critical mauling it got, and thinking "What's wrong with it? It's one of the best things Britney's ever written"

Posted by: grebo69 7th March 2011, 08:59 PM

You do realise Joan Jett's version was a cover as well.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 7th March 2011, 11:20 PM

Ay, this one shocked me too. The original is by Ednaswap (1995)

Posted by: Suedehead2 7th March 2011, 11:30 PM

This is one of the running themes on Steve Lamacq's 6Music show this week.

Posted by: Suedehead2 11th March 2011, 04:13 PM

They've just played the original version of The Only Way Is Up by Otis Clay. I never knew that (a number one for Yazz) was a cover. The original is far better.

Posted by: grebo69 12th March 2011, 09:00 PM

Now I never knew The Only Way Is up was a cover. Bloody Hell!

Posted by: Suedehead2 12th March 2011, 09:12 PM

Posted by: Scotland 25th March 2011, 01:43 PM

Like a rolling stone by Hendrix is a Dylan cover
All along the watchtower by Hendrix is a Dylan Cover

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http://touringscotland.net

Posted by: euro music 28th March 2011, 06:59 PM

Here's another 4 - all summer party hits

Saragossa Band - Agadou -- original of the Black Lace cheesy hit -- Saragossa Band were from Spain


Electronica's - Dance Little Bird -- original of The Tweets - Birdy Song -- original titled Original Bird Dance in the UK and peaked at #22 -- Electronica's were from Holland


George Baker Selection - Paloma Blanca -- original of Jonathan King's cheesy hit -- GBS peaked at #10


Samantha - Y Viva Espana -- original of Sylvia's UK hit

Posted by: Brett-Butler 29th March 2011, 02:32 AM

Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

Was originally written and recorded by Jackie De Shannon in 1974. Oddly enough, the original version doesn't feature the synth riff Carnes' version is famous for.

Also, 'I Just Want to Make Love To You' by Etta James (aka the Diet Coke ad music) was first recorded by Muddy Waters.

Posted by: euro music 8th April 2011, 02:44 PM

Girls Aloud - Sound Of The Underground
Originally recorded by a girl band called Orchid. This band featured Louise Griffiths, one-time girlfriend of F1 driver Jenson Button. She also appeard on Fame Academy in 2003.

Cher - Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)
Original: by Betty Everett but with title in reverse - It's In His Kiss (Shoop Shoop Song)
originally released in 1964 but a UK hit on re-issue in 1968 - peaking at #34

Atomic Kitten - Whole Again
Originally recorded by a Swedish girlband PLAY in 2000.

Posted by: MTV79 30th August 2011, 03:14 PM

No, originally a b-side of "Typical Male" - recorded by the one and only Tina Turner :0

Posted by: Severin 30th August 2011, 04:44 PM

I didn't know that MTV so thanks.

Speaking of miss Turner I have just discovered Bonnie Tyler covered her Don't Turn Around and Tina covered Bonnie's The Best for what became one of her signature tunes

Posted by: MTV79 31st August 2011, 08:17 AM

So happy for Tina to cover "The Best". Bonnie Tyler's version is an earrape

Posted by: VincenzoCoccotti 22nd October 2011, 05:25 PM

Status Quo - Rocking All Over The World.

Only found out recently John Fogerty's original which I have to say is far superior.

Posted by: Phil 20 3rd November 2011, 11:23 PM

Without You - Harry Nilsson. Written by Badfinger (more or less)
Mandy - Barry Manilow. Written by Scott English.

Ex-Mud member Rob Davis wrote 3 famous chart-toppers - "Can't get you out of my head" for Kylie, "Toca's miracle" for Fragma and "If this ain't love" for Spiller.

And anything by Blue is probably a cover version............

Posted by: euro music 5th November 2011, 10:49 AM

Scott English also had the original hit back in 1971 with the original title BRANDY peaking at #12
Barry Manilow only released the song in 1974 which was his first US hit.
We all know who else covered it.

Posted by: euro music 5th November 2011, 10:52 AM

The Troggs peaked at UK#5 in 1967 and US#7 in 1968

The Hollies did a few covers:
# 12 hit - Searchin' (The Coasters)
# 8 hit - Stay (Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs)
# 3 hit - Just One Look (Doris Troy)
# 3 hit in 1969/#1 in 1988 - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother (Neil Diamond)

Others I remember not by the Hollies
#2 hit - Peter & Gordon - True Love Ways (Buddy Holly)
#5 hit - Peter & Gordon - To Know You Is To Love You (Teddy Bears - titled - To Know Him Is To Love Him in 1958)
#1 hit - Elvis Presley - The Wonder Of You (US singer Ray Peterson & UK singer Ronnie Hilton in 1959)
#1 hit - Searchers - Sweets For My Sweet (The Drifters)
#1 hit - Searchers - Needles & Pins (Cher -- written by Sonny Bono)
#3 hit - Searchers - When You Walk In The Room (Jackie DeShannon)
#1 hit - Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love (Supremes)
#1 hit - Jagger & Bowie - Dancing In The Street (Martha & The Vandellas)
#4 hit - Stereophonics - Handbags & Gladrags (Chris Farlowe #33 in 1967)
#4 hit - Bryan Ferry - Let's Stick Together (Canned Heat - titled - Let's Work Together)
#1 hit - Tremeloes - Silence Is Golden (Four Seasons b-side of Rag Doll)
#1 hit - Brian Poole & The Tremeloes - Do You Love Me (The Contours)
#1 hit - Fugees - Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack - titled - Killing Me Softly With His Song)
#1 hit - Don McLean - Crying - (Roy Orbison)
#1 hit - Beyonce - Crazy In Love (Instrumental sampled from Sam & Dave - Hold On I'm Comin')
#1 hit - Boy George - Crying Game - (Dave Berry)
#2 hit - Nick Berry - Heartbeat (Buddy Holly)
#13 hit - A-ha - Crying In The Rain (Everly Brothers)
#1 hit - DJ Sammy - Heaven (Bryan Adams)
#1 hit - The Monkees - I'm A Believer (Neil Diamond)
#1 hit - UB40 - Red Red Wine (Neil Diamond)
#4 hit - Lulu - The Boat That I Row (Neil Diamond)
#1 hit - Blondie / Atomic Kitten - Tide Is High (Paragons)
#1 hit - Boney M - Rivers Of Babylon (Melodians)
#3 hit - Amen Corner - Bend Me Shape Me (American Breed)
#9 hit - Aretha Franklin - Respect (Otis Redding)
#4 hit - Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer (Dionne Warwick)
US #4 - Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
#1 hit - Girls Aloud - Sound Of The Underground (Play)
#2 hit - Girls Aloud - Jump (Pointer Sisters)
#1 hit - Girls Aloud - I'll Stand By You (Pretenders)
#4 hit - Girls Aloud - I Think We're Alone Now (Tommy James & The Shondells)
#1 hit - Shaggy - Oh Carolina (Folkes Brothers)
#1 hit - Atomic Kitten - Eternal Flame (Bangles)
#8 hit - Bananarama - Venus (Shocking Blue)
#10 hit - Beach Boys - I Can Hear Music (Ronettes)
#1 hit - Boyzone - Words (Bee Gees)
#1 hit - Boyzone - Love Me For A Reason (Osmonds)
#1 hit - DJ Otzi - Hey Baby (Bruce Channel)
#10 hit - DJ Otzi - Do Wah Diddy (Manfred Mann)
#17 hit - Marc Almond - Jacky (Scott Walker)
#4 hit - Marc Almond - Days Of Pearly Spencer (David McWilliams)
#2 hit - Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want (Jimmy Cliff)
#6 hit - Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
#9 hit - Marvin Gaye - Abraham Martin & John (Dion)
#1 hit - Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapvine (Gladys Knight & The Pips)
#1 hit - Cilla Black - Anyone Who Had A Heart (Dionne Warwick)
#2 hit - Fast Food Rockers - Fast Food Song (DJ Otzi - titled - Burger Dance)
#10 hit - Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight Train To Georgia (Cissy Houston -- mother of Whitney)
#1 hits - Joe Cocker / Wet Wet Wet - With A Little Help From My Friends (Beatles)
#19 hit - Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart (Ray Charles)
#1 hit - Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss (Tarkan - titled - Simarik)
#1 hit - Ronan Keating - If Tomorrow Never Comes (Garth Brooks)
#1 hit - Ronan Keating - When You Say Nothing At All (Allison Krauss)
#2 hit - Ronan Keating - I Hope You Dance (LeAnn Womack)
#2 hit - Ronan Keating - Father & Son (Cat Stevens)
#4 hit - Tom Jones - Mama Told Me Not To Come (Three Dog Night)
#8 hit - Tom Jones - Detroit City (Bobby Bare)
#1 hit - Tom Jones - Green Green Grass Of Home (Porter Wagoner)
#1 hit - Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (Al Hibbler)

Cascada - A Neverending Dream (X-Perience)
Cascada - Wouldn't It Be Good (Nik Kershaw)
Cascada - Truly Madly Deeply (Savage Garden)
Cascada - Because The Night (Patti Smith Group)

Everlasting Love - a hit for Worlds Apart, Sandra & Love Affair was originally a hit for Robert Knight

Posted by: Brett-Butler 11th November 2011, 02:37 PM

Found the video of this.

Posted by: Severin 11th November 2011, 05:42 PM

The ChiLites surely? I thought it was from Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)

Posted by: euro music 12th November 2011, 06:16 PM

Seems Both actually

Chi-lites tried to copy Sam & Dave with Beyonce actually sampling the Chi-lites
I'd not heard the Chi-lites track before

Here's Sam & Dave

Posted by: Severin 12th November 2011, 07:53 PM

Is that a statement of fact or opinion? Personally I'd never considered the two songs particularly similar so if it was inspired by Sam & Dave I'm a little surprised

Posted by: Phil 20 13th November 2011, 04:36 AM

The thing with cover versions is that there are several types really:-

a) the obvious blatant cover, where the original song is well-known and everyone knows its a cover because the original is so famous
b) a cover version of a fairly obscure song or album track, such as Chesney Hawkes covering Nik Kershaw's "I am the one and only"
c) where someone has written a song specifically for another artist (is this classed as a "cover version" though)?

But anyway, here's a few.....

Most of Paul Youngs early hits were cover versions, such as "Everytime you go away", "Love of the common people", "Come back and stay", "Wherever I lay my hat" & "I'm gonna tear your playhouse down".
Some of the most famous hits of the 50's and early 60's were covers of Carole King songs. These include "I'm into something good" by Hermans Hermits, "Will you still love me tomorrow" by The Shirelles and "Take good care of my baby" by Bobby Vee.
Bruce Springsteen wrote some famous songs such as "Blinded by the light" by Manfred Manns earth band, "Pink Cadillac" by Natalie Cole and "Fire" by the Pointer Sisters.

Posted by: Brett-Butler 13th November 2011, 11:29 PM

That Sam and Dave track was sampled by Amerie on her song 'Gotta Work.'

Posted by: tonyttt31 15th November 2011, 10:50 AM

I was sitting here smugly reading all the posts in this thread thinking..."I knew that was a cover, and that, and that". Now I'm gobsmacked that this was a cover too.

Posted by: MTV79 16th November 2011, 10:40 AM

The One And Only was not a cover - it was penned and co-produced by Nik Kershaw for Chesney!

Posted by: Phil 20 16th November 2011, 10:24 PM

Yes it falls into that ambiguous category of whether the written version is classed as the "original", even when it was never actually performed by the writer, as is the case here. Chesneys version is the original sung version although it was written by someone else.

Nik Kershaw made a fortune from it anyway.......

Posted by: Grebo 16th November 2011, 10:28 PM

Don't see how that makes it a cover though.

Posted by: euro music 17th November 2011, 06:26 PM

A cover is a track that has been recorded by another act previously.
NOT one especially written for another artist

Posted by: Suedehead2 17th November 2011, 07:45 PM

I wouldn't class it as a cover. Similarly, Patti Smith's Because The Night doesn't count as Bruce Springsteen gave it to her. The fact that he has since performed it live doesn't change anything.

Posted by: Grebo 18th November 2011, 12:03 AM

That was actually a co-write between the two. The original song was demoed by Sprinsteen but Smith recast it hence the co-write credit.

Posted by: SKOB 18th November 2011, 08:20 PM

Janis Joplin's Me and Bobby McGee is a great example of a song written for someone who didn't record it first. It's written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster. At the time, Joplin dated Kristofersson and apparently he wrote the song for her. But Joplin wasn't first to record it, as Roger Miller released it in 1969. Joplin later recorded it for her album "Pearl" couple of days before she famously died and it was released in 1971.

Posted by: euro music 2nd December 2011, 06:27 PM

#4 hit in 1976 - Sylvia - Y Viva Espana -- original by Belgium singer Samantha (as Eviva Espana) in 1972
#7 hit - Take That - It Only Takes A Minute -- original Tavares
#3 hit - Take That - Could It Be Magic -- original Barry Manilow
#5 hit - Jonathan King - Una Paloma Blanca -- original (as Paloma Blanca) - George Baker Selection
#3 hit - The Damned - Eloise -- original Barry Ryan
#1 hit - Westlife - I Have A Dream -- original Abba
#1 hit - Westlife - Seasons In The Sun -- original Terry Jacks
#1 hit - Westlife - You Raise Me Up -- original Josh Groban
#4 hit - Lulu - Shout -- original Isley Brothers
#8 hit in 1986 - Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All -- original #27 hit in 1977 George Benson
#3 hit - Maureen Evans - Like I Do -- original Nancy Sinatra

Posted by: blackcat 24th January 2012, 12:21 PM

Just went through this thread, and I am sure someone said that Live And Let Die by Guns & Roses was not a cover version!

Certainly was, original was by Paul McCartney and Wings in the seventies, and done for the James Bond film of the same name.

My contribution? George Harrison's Got My Mind Set On You is often assumed to have been written by George himself - not true! Original was by an artist called James Ray.

Posted by: fiesta 25th January 2012, 08:19 PM

My Sweet Lord by George Harrison is a curious one.

George wrote the song but was found to have accidentally plaigarised the Chiffons one fine day, however as a nod to George Harrison The Chiffons later recorded their own version.

Though what is less known is that George Harrison gave My Sweet Lord to his friend Billy Preston who recorded it first and released it as a single (unsuccesfully) before George did.

Posted by: fiesta 25th January 2012, 08:23 PM

A cover version that is very rarely mentioned or known is Delilah by Tom Jones which was originally recorded by PJ Proby

Posted by: blackcat 25th January 2012, 10:21 PM

The surprising thing is that Phil Spector produced both George Harrison's My Sweet Lord and The Chiffons He's So Fine. You would think that Spector, at some stage, would have turned around to George and told him that My Sweet Lord Sounded an awful lot like an old Chiffons record he had already produced!

I have not got George's All Things Must Pass album, but I am told that there is another example of alledged copying on that, with the track "It's Johny's Birthday" sounding very much like Cliff Richard's Congratulations.

One check on youtube or some other source might confirm that allegation.

Probably the most successful cover version in recent years has already been mentioned in this thread - Whitney Houston's multi million selling I Will Always Love you was originally done by Dolly Parton, and all things considered, I prefer Parton's version.

Posted by: jkac 25th January 2012, 11:16 PM

'Girl with one eye' by Florence and the machine and 'Hiding my heart' By Adele.

Posted by: Gretchen Wieners 26th January 2012, 03:35 AM

No Angels' "Daylight In Your Eyes" is also a cover of a American rock band New Life Crisis.

Posted by: fiesta 26th January 2012, 08:25 PM

Chiffons weren't produced by Phil Spector, they were produced by The Tokens (Lion Sleeps Tonight) who 'discovered' them.

I Will Always Love You I hate that song - in any version

Posted by: blackcat 26th January 2012, 09:58 PM

Sorry, my mistake, was probably thinking of The Crystals or some other girl group from that era.

I was right about "It's Johnny's Birthday" though - the writers of Congratulations did, according to one source I have read, successfully sue George for breach of copyright on that track.

Poor George!

Posted by: Graeme 5th February 2012, 07:16 PM

It sounds like Nik Kershaw too (especially in the chorus - must be him on backing vocals).

On a similar note, Manic Monday by the Bangles was originally written and recorded by Prince but he scrapped it and later gave it to the Bangles as he wanted to get his leg over with Suzanne Hoffs.

Posted by: Tom Titanium Kay 5th February 2012, 11:39 PM

Didn't realise that until really recently The other one I just found out about is Animotion - Obsession, originally by Holly Knight & Michael Des Barres...

Posted by: blackcat 6th February 2012, 09:30 AM

Money's Too Tight To Mention by Simply Red - not sure if that has been mentioned yet. Original by The Valentine Brothers.

Posted by: davetaylor 21st February 2012, 05:28 PM

I've spotted a couple of wrong suggestions.

The Birdie Song was originally recorded by Cash & Carry in 1974. They were from Belgium & the song was called "Cheep Cheep".

King Harvest did not do the original of "Dancing In The Moonlight". They were the 3rd act to do it. The 2nd was a group called Hi-Broom...the original version escapes me, but it was in 1970.

Then the big one is "Whole Lotta Love". Not originally a Led Zeppelin song.

Posted by: Grebo 21st February 2012, 07:44 PM

Whole Lotta Love is not really a cover but LZ were sued for plagiarism by Willie Dixon in the 80s who won.

The writing credits now include Dixon along with the four members of Led Zep.

Posted by: davetaylor 22nd February 2012, 10:15 PM

And we know how Ray Parker Jnr plagiarised M's "Pop Muzik".

Posted by: blackcat 24th February 2012, 09:49 AM

I always thought that it was Huey Lewis And The News that Parker plagiarised, their song "I Want A New Drug" sounding very much like Ray Parker Jnr's Ghostbusters.

Posted by: jkac 24th February 2012, 11:32 PM

'Girl with one eye' by Florence and the Machine. I always kind of wished she didn't write that one.

Posted by: 152chris 26th February 2012, 02:58 PM

Best song on the album whattt?

Posted by: euro music 9th March 2012, 12:53 PM

When Scott English wrote & recorded it in 1971 it was titled BRANDY - it was a #12 hit

Posted by: FM11 20th June 2012, 10:27 PM

A bit of bump. I didn't realise 'Word Up!' by Korn was a cover until lately. It's actually by Cameo back in 1986. I swear I never knew that before.

Posted by: MTV79 6th July 2012, 08:26 AM

I never knew Korn released "Word Up" anyway

Posted by: Robbie 6th July 2012, 07:53 PM

I wonder if he meant Gun?

And for anyone who didn't know it was originally recorded by Cameo, then they obviously didn't see Cameo's TOTP appearance back in 1986 - it's one of those jaw dropping moments you can't forget! It was all about THAT codpiece!

Posted by: Robbie 6th July 2012, 07:57 PM

Just checked - apparently Korn did record it!

Posted by: FM11 6th July 2012, 09:31 PM

No. I didn't even know that version (not even Melanie GB's version!) until I searched the song on Wikipedia. Definitely shows how little is my knowledge for older music. Oh, and I'm also aware of that country version in the VO5 advert!

Posted by: euro music 27th August 2012, 03:53 PM

Sylvia - Y Viva Espana - 1974

Original was by Samantha as Eviva Espana in 1971 but was in Flemish

Here's the original

Posted by: euro music 16th July 2013, 04:58 PM

Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss

Here's the original -- Tarkan - Simarik

Posted by: MTV79 17th July 2013, 11:27 AM

I have just found out that "Touch Me (All Night Long)" by Cathy Dennis from 1991 was a cover version.

I've recently watched "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge" from 1985 and heard the above song performed by Fonda Rae. (#49 single in 1984)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfQobxa23nY

Posted by: Rob Summers 17th July 2013, 01:03 PM

Much prefer Holly's version

Posted by: Brett-Butler 13th November 2014, 10:19 PM

Now this one really surprised me. I knew that "No Matter What" had not been written for Boyzone, as it was written by Jim Steinman and Andrew Lloyd Webber for the musical Whistle Down The Wind (I once performed another song from that musical, "When Children Rule The World", for a Youth Theatre Group when I was a child, but that's another (more boring) story). But what I didn't know is that their first artist to record the song was in fact Meat Loaf. Jim Steinman famously wrote and produced the bulk of Mr Aday's good material, so he produced a version for a Meat Loaf Greatest Hits album in 1997, before Boyzone's version became a massive hit. Although oddly enough, reissued versions of the same GH album omit the song.



Thanks to my dad for pointing this out to me.

Posted by: fiesta 14th November 2014, 01:04 PM

It was first performed by the cast of Whistle Down The Wind in December 1996. According to Wikipedia Meatloaf recorded it but wasnt released until his Very Best Of in 1998 after boyzones version.

Posted by: Suedehead2 14th November 2014, 01:37 PM

Oh dear, does this mean we can expect a Boyzone version of Bat Out Of Hell?

Posted by: poppet15 18th February 2015, 12:04 PM

Swinging Blue Jeans - Hippy Hippy Shake (1963) -- original by Chan Romero (1959)

Posted by: ErnieJackson 16th April 2015, 09:53 AM

Young at Heart was the first track I bought! A trip down to Woolies after the VW advert 😉

Favourite cover? Elvis Presely - Blue Suede Shoes (Carl Perkins).

Posted by: Earl Purple 4th June 2015, 01:43 PM

This is supposed to be songs you didn't know were covers until recently.

With regards to Elvis Presley, one I discovered recently is "Are You Lonesome Tonight" which dates back to about 1927, has verses and no silly talking bit about the world's a stage.

Posted by: Broken Heart 10th June 2015, 08:48 AM

Original of Jamelia "Superstar", # 1 in Denmark for 7 weeks period.

Posted by: poppet15 17th June 2015, 04:45 PM

Relight My Fire by Take That & Lulu was a cover version
The original was by Dan Hartman in 1980


Smoke - Living Next Door To Alice
Original by New World in 1972


In 1995 a naughty version under the title Alice, Who The X Is Alice by Gompie was a massive hit in mainland Europe and made UK #18.

Posted by: Ninjabait 6th July 2015, 06:56 PM

Elvis Presley - Hound Dog (originally written for Big Mama Thornton)
Frank Sinatra - New York, New York (originally written for Liza Minnelli)
Blue Swede - Hooked on a Feeling (I'm pretty sure this is a cover of a cover of a cover of a cover or something, but it was originally by B. J. Thomas)
Baha Men - Who Let the Dogs Out? (originally "Doggie" by Anslem Douglas, which was actually about sex)
Metallica - Turn the Page (originally by Bob Seger)

Also, not sure if these count, but I was surprised to find that the lyrics to Carmina Burana and the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth were taken from poems.

Posted by: fiesta 5th August 2015, 11:53 AM

Tina Charles I Love To Love (Sydney Thompson & Orchestra, 1966 and a more recent version recorded by its co-writer as Napoleon Jones in 1975)

Posted by: lovejoy 4th January 2016, 12:34 AM

Siouxsie And The Banshees covered a Bob Dylan song called This Wheel's On Fire for their covers album Through The Looking Glass (1987)

Posted by: popchartfreak 20th January 2016, 08:17 PM

I was just browsing the songs of childhood fave songwriters (bubblegum, The Archies, The Banana Splits) and came across a list of Mark Barkan's (still with us) as he co-wrote most of my then-fave Archies tunes - I was surprised to find he wrote this Connie Francis hit, and even more surprised to find out Gabriella Cilmi wasn't the original!



Just goes to show....

Posted by: Colm 20th January 2016, 10:34 PM

Posted by: King Rollo 12th January 2017, 09:30 PM

Have read this thread all the way through. Two that haven't been mentioned so far:

Substitute - Clout

A no.2 hit in 1978,I recently found out it was first recorded by the Righteous Brothers.


I Want You - Sophie B Hawkins

From her first album,I never checked the writing credits as she writes all her own songs so I was surprised when someone mentioned on a similar thread to this on another forum that it was written by Bob Dylan. It was a top 20 hit for him in 1966.

Posted by: Steve201 12th January 2017, 11:55 PM

Yeh I heard that last Christmas and was a bit annoyed was I consider it a modern Xmas classic!!

Posted by: 🚡🚟🍥-b 13th January 2017, 12:28 AM

In terms of remixes I can think of two. At the time I thought the DONS remix of Pump Up The Jam in 2005 was a completely new song, but it was a remix of the 80s one I had never heard before. I thought the same with 'Thunder In My Heart Again'.

In terms of covers I thought until recently that XTM, DJ Chucky and Annia's version of Fly On The Wings Of Love was the original as despite almost certainly watching 2000's Eurovision I did not remember the original.

Also Ultrabeat's Pretty Green Eyes and Inaya Day's Nasty Girl. Didn't know until recently they were covers.

Posted by: Juranamo 13th January 2017, 12:50 PM

MIND. BLOWN.

I always assumed 'Superstar' was written specifically for Jamelia. The original sounds pretty much identical except with the final pre-chorus removed and some lyrics are different! Either way, the Jamelia version is still one of my favourite tracks!

Posted by: Brett-Butler 17th April 2017, 10:10 PM

This is probably quite a big one that most people already know, but I recently learned that the biggest selling single of 1986, and quite possibly the campest song ever released, "Don't Leave Me This Way" by The Communards was a cover. The first version was by Harold Melvin, which itself was a top 10 hit in 1977. Very different to the NRG which become the monster hit -

Posted by: Suedehead2 17th April 2017, 10:17 PM

Some of us are old enough to remember the original There was another version of the song by Thelma Houston in the chart at the same time as the Harold Melvin version. The Communards version is easily the best one.

Posted by: Brett-Butler 17th April 2017, 10:34 PM

Indeed. I think that it was the Thelma Houston version that The Communards took as the blueprint for their version rather than Harold Melvin's, from the sounds of it.

Posted by: DalekTurret32 17th April 2017, 11:05 PM

Bananarama - Venus (Original: Shocking Blue) [It took me 3 and a half years to find out]
Kula Shaker - Hush (Original: Deep Purple)
Wonderland Avenue - White Horse (Original: Laid Back) [Like Venus, this also took me 3 and a half years to find out]
UB40 - Can't Help Falling In Love With You (Original: Elvis Presley)
Steps - Tragedy (Original: Bee Gees)
)

Posted by: fiesta 11th July 2017, 10:10 AM

No Mercy's 1997 hit Where Do You Go was originally by La Bouche in 1995

Posted by: popchartfreak 11th July 2017, 11:45 AM

late reply, but I loved the Harold Melvin original, Teddy Pendergrass' vocals are still the best interpretation. Communards were a fun pop cover, and nicely inverted the high female/low male vocal expectations, but also was a tad shrill...

Posted by: popchartfreak 11th July 2017, 11:46 AM

didn't know that. la Bouche had a good track Be My Lover about that time...

Posted by: Good Old Days 14th July 2017, 06:07 PM

Classic Rocky Sharpe & the Replays' hit "Martian Hop" was written by the Ran-Dells and released in 1963. It has been described as a one-hit wonder novelty song and it reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.



Maybe you didn't know it, but "The Best" originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler on her 1988 release "Hide Your Heart". The single reached number 10 in Norway and number 95 in United Kingdom.



"Human On the Inside" is a song originally recorded by Australian rock duo Divinyls, released in 1996 as the fourth single from their fifth studio album "Underworld". A minor hit in Australia in 1996, the song became better known after it was covered by The Pretenders in 1999 under the title "Human". In this version, the song became a 1999 chart hit in UK and New Zealand.

Posted by: Good Old Days 14th July 2017, 06:09 PM

Famous Tight Fit's hit "Fantasy Island" was recorded for Dutch National Eurovision 1982 pre-selection and performed by three different acts (The Millionaires, Bonnie St. Claire, Bill van Dijk)

The Millionaires - Fantasy Island



Bonnie St. Claire - Fantasy Island



My favourite single from 1975 year (Reparata - Shoes) also is a cover version.

The song was first recorded by Felix Harp, a band from Trafford and Level Green, Pennsylvania, with music and lyrics by bandmember Eric Beam. It was released as a single in 1973, renamed "She Didn't Forget Her Shoes (Johnny and Louise)".

In 1974 the German group Love Generation recorded the song, retitled "Johnny and Louise (She Didn't Forget Her Shoes)", and it was released as a single in 1974. They also recorded a German-language version called "Johnny und Louise".

Also in 1974, the British folk group The (New) Settlers released a version with a different title again, "She Didn't Forget Her Shoes".

Posted by: Laura130262 24th August 2017, 10:50 PM

Phoebe Snow Every Night in 1978

I loved that song for years and never knew it was a Wings song.

Posted by: popchartfreak 25th August 2017, 11:40 AM

I knew aboutPhoebe, Tina & Rocky Sharpe, but that Tight Fit & Reparata news is a surprise to me! Just when you think you know all of the cover versions in the 70's and 80's....

Posted by: Good Old Days 26th August 2017, 06:28 PM

Ultimate hit for Will Young "Evergreen" originally recorded by Westlife.

Posted by: Good Old Days 4th October 2017, 06:23 AM

Original version of "Es Neesmu Dzeina Fonda" was a huge hit for Latvian band Eolika in 1987 year.

Posted by: Good Old Days 7th October 2017, 04:56 PM

"A New England" was song written and recorded by Billy Bragg, included on his album Life's a Riot with Spy Vs Spy, released in 1983. It became a hit single when covered by Kirsty MacColl the next year.

Posted by: Good Old Days 13th October 2017, 01:48 PM

Kylie Minogue's song "Tears On Pillow" is not original and also was covered many times before.

Posted by: DalekTurret32 3rd January 2018, 02:18 AM

Venus by Bananarama (original by Shocking Blue)
Finest Dreams by Richard X and Kelis (mashup of SOS Band's The Finest and The Human League's These Are The Things That Dreams Are Made Of)
Splash #1 by The Mighty Lemon Drops (original by The 13th Floor Elevators)

Posted by: mdf 3rd January 2018, 12:43 PM

Tainted Love by Soft Cell and the Only Way Is Up by Yazz and the Plastic Population. Both covers of 'northern soul' songs.

Posted by: mdf 3rd January 2018, 12:53 PM

I don't think its sounds that camp compared to Dead or Alive - Lover Come Back or some of the other Stock Aitken Waterman produced stuff.

Also is one of the first electronic dance chart hits to prominently use piano (albeit only in a small part of it) which would go on to dominate chart dance music by 1989.

I prefer Never Can Say Goodbye tbh from them although both are very good.

Anyway, back on theme for the thread, there are two ones I didn't know were covers until recently, Simply Red's Money's Too Tight To Mention and KWS's Please Don't Go.

Posted by: Brett-Butler 13th January 2018, 09:54 AM

I only learned recently that "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner was originally a Creedence Clearwater Revival single. And in the UK at least, it was the more successful version - it went #8 on the charts here, whereas the Tina Turner version didn't chart until 2010, at #62.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 13th January 2018, 12:40 PM

and Never Can Say Goodbye was also a cover - of a Gloria Gaynor classic early disco version of a gorgeous Jackson 5 ballad.

Dead Or Alive and KWS both covered KC & The Sunshine band hits.

I do love pop connections

Posted by: Good Old Days 24th January 2018, 06:06 AM

Posted by: fiesta 28th January 2018, 01:14 PM

Heart All I Want To Do Is Make Love To You originally Dobie Gray

Posted by: The Snake 28th January 2018, 02:43 PM

Oh my! Those pop connections!

Never Can Say Goodbye I prefer to Don't Leave Me This Way I think. It sounds a bit more modern and dancey with the beat. Both songs are brill though.

Speaking of Don't Leave Me This Way, I found this recently, a track from from 1985 (a year before The Communards/ Sarah Jane Morris version), when looking up 80s Hi-NRG tracks....



Maybe the Communards and Morris heard this and were inspired by this HI-NRG version?

Posted by: Shaky Fan 8th August 2018, 06:24 PM

Is that Jason Donovan around the 0:48 mark???

Posted by: Shaky Fan 8th August 2018, 07:16 PM

They were quick off the mark getting the Tight Fit version out. A quick search reveals the had it in the shops the day before that year's contest And in those days the national finals were normally held closer to the final.

Posted by: Shaky Fan 8th August 2018, 08:09 PM

I've seen a few references to Westife. One song of theirs which people not realise is a cover is Hey Whatever. It was originally called Rainbow Zephyr and was written and recorded by a band from Northern Ireland called Relish (who came from the same town as Ash). The original was called Rainbow Zephyr, was released in 2001 as a single and appeared on their 2001 album "Wildflowers". The lyrics were adjusted to make them for suitable for Westlife's audience.

Posted by: WhoOdyssey 8th August 2018, 08:52 PM

I didn't realise Florence + the Machine's You've Got the Love was a cover until a few days ago.

Posted by: Spiceboy 16th August 2018, 12:27 AM

Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
Save up all your tears - Cher
Heart of stone - Cher (from Bucks Fizz of all acts!?!?)
What I am - Emma Bunton (I didn't know for years)

There's loads more I'll add them when I remember them

Posted by: Spiceboy 16th August 2018, 12:32 AM

WOW and I just found out 'The best' is not a Tina original!

Alice who the X's Alice is far superior in its original form Smokey, my mum loves that song played it all the time I adore it

Posted by: DalekTurret32 26th August 2018, 12:27 PM

Robbie Williams - She's The One (original by World Party in 1997)

I heard that World Party did it, but I thought they covered Robbie's hit.

Posted by: Good Old Days 7th November 2018, 06:18 AM

Original "Everytime We Touch" was recorded by Maggie Reilly in 1992.



Only # 99 in UK.

Cascada version became a big chart hit in 2005 and was peaked at # 2 (only behind "Hips Don't Lie")

Posted by: Christmasteve201 19th December 2018, 09:25 PM

Showing your age here mate!!

Posted by: Good Old Days 27th December 2018, 10:43 AM

Original "What I Am" was released in 1989 year by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians (UK # 31).

Posted by: Good Old Days 27th December 2018, 10:44 AM

Original "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" was recorded in 1931 by Ozzie Nelson.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 28th December 2018, 11:27 PM

Seriously didn't realise this was a cover until they said on totp 1986 recently

Posted by: Christmasteve201 28th December 2018, 11:27 PM

Also actually got two weeks at no1 in 1970 for him after checking polyhex!!

Posted by: Good Old Days 23rd January 2019, 07:32 AM

Personal big shock, original "Rings" was recorded in 1971 by Memphis band Cymarron, not in 1977 by Twiggy.

Posted by: Good Old Days 31st January 2019, 01:21 PM

"One Way Ticket" was originally performed by Neil Sedaka and included as the B-side on Sedaka's 1959 single "Oh! Carol".

Posted by: myxxd 19th January 2020, 03:20 AM

You Raise Me Up is not an original by Josh Groban

Posted by: Brett-Butler 30th March 2020, 10:31 PM

Hard rock stalwart "Since You Been Gone" by Rainbow was originally written/recorded by Russ Ballard. His version is quite similar to Rainbow's version, albeit with less heavy guitars & a synth solo -

Posted by: Popchartfreak 31st March 2020, 06:34 PM

I adore Russ Ballard, he wrote some brilliant songs, in Argent, solo, and than as a jobbing songwriter - he's just had a new album out recently, though his voice is not quite the same anymore. Since You've Been Gone was also recorded by Clout of Substitute fame.

God Gave Rock n Roll To You (Argent)
So You Win Again (Hot Chocoalte)
I Know There's Something Going On (Frida)
You Can Do Magic (America)
New York Groove (Hello)
No More The Fool (Elkie Brooks)
and his solo songs Fly Away and Voices
among many others

all come loved by me...

Posted by: Jordan Lee 1st April 2020, 12:38 AM

I’m stunned at some of these! Bonnie Tyler doing the original of (simply) The Best by Tina Turner has just thrown me!

Posted by: Brett-Butler 4th August 2020, 05:22 PM

This one took me by surprise. The Vegaboys' hit "Sha La La La La" was a cover of a 1973 track by Danish glam-rock band The Walkers -

Posted by: Last Dreamer 1st February 2021, 06:34 AM

Original "Alone" (future big hit for Heart) was recorded by I-Ten in 1983 year.

Posted by: Bjork 1st February 2021, 06:56 AM

^I-TEN was the name of the band that the original writers had, Steinberg/Kelly, who also wrote lots of other 80s hits
like Madonna's Like a Virgin, Eternal Flame etc

Posted by: Last Dreamer 7th March 2021, 05:52 AM

Original "Everlasting Love" was recorded by Robert Knight.



UK # 1 for Love Affair in 1968, European hit for Sandra in 1987.

Posted by: Last Dreamer 17th March 2021, 07:52 PM

Yes, you are right. Original "You Raise Me Up" was recorded by Eurovision winner Secret Garden in 2002 year.

Posted by: My Random Music 12th April 2021, 08:14 PM

Here's a couple that haven't been mentioned yet:

Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It (Bucks Fizz)
Aswad - Don't Turn Around (Tina Turner)

Posted by: TheSnake 12th April 2021, 09:59 PM

Laura Branigan - Self Control is a cover of a song by Italo disco singer Raf - found that out when listening to Radio 2 a few years ago.

Posted by: Last Dreamer 27th May 2021, 11:18 AM

I'm not 100 sure % but ...

Popular Lithuanian hit Gintare - Debeseli, Debeseli is possibly a cover version of Dutch song "Smoesjes Arie" by Tineke Schouten from 1988 year.

Posted by: sn👠ke 30th May 2021, 08:30 PM

Since this is rising in the charts in the 1991 TOTP BBC 4 reruns at the moment. The original is by Brenda Russell, release year 1988. Only found out the Oleta Adams version wasn't the original recently.

Posted by: Bjork 31st May 2021, 11:08 AM

both versions are great, but I do prefer the original of Get Here, it's more raw and from the guts... the Oleta version is too polished

can't remember exactly the story, but in the US the Oleta version got lucky cos it was adopted like the anthem of the Gulf wart, cos of the line in the ing about walking in the desert and the arabs or something

Posted by: Dill Doe 31st May 2021, 06:11 PM

Florence - Lover to Lover was a Supreme's song!

Posted by: No Sleeep 1st June 2021, 11:29 PM

Whitney's Step By Step was originally an Annie Lennox B-side

Posted by: chartfridays 1st September 2021, 02:06 PM

In The Army Now by Status Quo

Posted by: Last Dreamer 22nd February 2022, 09:03 PM

Original "Gloria" was recorded by Umberto Tozzi in 1979. This song became a big hit for Laura Branigan.