Songs that are Covers but Most Think are Originals

[Richard B]

Felt this could be an interesting topic, seeing so many songs I like actually have earlier versions I'd never previously heard of. Here's the ones I can think of off the top of my head:

Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede
I Fought the Law by the Bobby Fuller Five (or the Clash)
The Tide is High by Blondie
Real Wild Child by Iggy Pop
Last Kiss by the Cavaliers
It's So Easy by Linda Ronstadt
I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
All Along the Watchtower and a whole lot of other Dylan songs

Then there's the rare instances when a person or group covers their own songs, like Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver, or I Saw Her Standing There and Do You Want to Know a Secret by the Beatles.

 

[DrainoBraino]

ah good topic.

one of my favorite songs, "Gentle on my Mind" by Glen Campbell, actually written by John Hartford. I like his version better too.

 

[gooche77]

Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin 1971

Originally performed by Roger Miller in 1969.

Great topic.

 

[Dedpop]

Super good topic.

Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused.
Original by Jake Holmes.

UB40 - Red Red Wine
Original by Neil Diamond

 

[Kolchak357]

Cum on Feel The Noise - Quiet Riot
Original was done by Slade

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer - George Thorogood and the Destroyers (also covered by John Lee Hooker)
Original was done by Amos Milburn

 

[DokkenRokken]

"Mony Mony"- Billy Idol
Original- Tommy James and the Shondells

"All Along The Watchtower"- Jimi Hendrix
Original- Bob Dylan

"Knockin' On Heaven's Doors"- Guns N' Roses
Original- Bob Dylan

 

[Dedpop]

What about "The First Cut Is The Deepest" ? (One of the most beautiful song in the universe to me)
Original is Cats Stevens alright...
But each version I know about this track is as great as the original (well except for that Sheryl Crow singer...)
- P. P. Arnold (1967) ++
- Keith Hampshire (1973) +
- Rod Stewart (1977) +++
Thinking about it gives me chicken pox...

(I still want you by my side
just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
cause I'm sure gonna give you a try
and if you want, I'll try to love again
but baby, I'll try to love again, but I know)

Oh man... this song...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=c5NRH_DxWJE

 

[EldarOfSuburbia]

Cum on Feel The Noise - Quiet Riot
Original was done by Slade

"Mony Mony"- Billy Idol
Original- Tommy James and the Shondells

Was coming here to mention both of these. Ah well. The the point about Mony Mony came up today - it played on the radio (second time we'd heard it that day; on different stations in different cities) and my wife commented that she didn't realize it was a cover. Of course I correctly named the original artist

Tainted Love by Soft Cell, if you like your 80's electronica. Originally a Northern Soul (UK music scene in the '70s) standard, but it originated in 1965.

 

[Dedpop]

Tainted Love by Soft Cell, if you like your 80's electronica. Originally a Northern Soul (UK music scene in the '70s) standard, but it originated in 1965.

Gloria Jones.
http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j...=X3hLLiXtwYrXMTmKVQFnrQ&bvm=bv.76943099,d.ZWU

 

[Dedpop]

A Christopher Lloyds cover...
http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j...=x82EYgP6PZfjukebbYS60w&bvm=bv.76943099,d.bGQ

 

[Dedpop]

Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin 1971

Originally performed by Roger Miller in 1969.

Great topic.

Piece Of My Heart - To me , the best Janis Joplins song.
But... The original version of "Piece of My Heart" was recorded by Aretha Franklin's older sister Erma in 1967.

Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on!
Didn't I make you feel like you were the only man - yeah!
An' didn't I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can ?
Honey, you know I did! And each time I tell myself that I, well I think I've had enough,
But I'm gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough.
I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it, Take it!
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby!
Oh, oh, break it! Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Oh, oh, have a! Have another little piece of my heart now, baby,
You know you got it if it makes you feel good,
Oh, yes indeed.You're out on the streets looking good,
And baby deep down in your heart I guess you know that it ain't right,
Never, never, never, never, never, never hear me when I cry at night,
Babe, and I cry all the time! But each time I tell myself that I, well I can't stand the pain,
But when you hold me in your arms, I'll sing it once again.
I'll say come on, come on, come on, come on and take it!
Take it! Take another little piece of my heart now, baby.
Oh, oh, break it! Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah,
Oh, oh, have a! Have another little piece of my heart now, baby,
You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good.
I need you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it,
Take it! Take another little piece of my heart now, baby!
Oh, oh, break it! Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, c'mon now.
Oh, oh, have a Have another little piece of my heart now, baby.
You know you got it - whoahhhhh!!
Take it! Take it! Take another little piece of my heart now, baby,
Oh, oh, break it! Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Oh, oh, have a Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, hey,
You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good.

What a f****** song !

 

[EldarOfSuburbia]

What about "The First Cut Is The Deepest" ? (One of the most beautiful song in the universe to me)
Original is Cats Stevens alright...
But each version I know about this track is as great as the original (well except for that Sheryl Crow singer...)
- P. P. Arnold (1967) ++
- Keith Hampshire (1973) +
- Rod Stewart (1977) +++
Thinking about it gives me chicken pox...

(I still want you by my side
just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
cause I'm sure gonna give you a try
and if you want, I'll try to love again
but baby, I'll try to love again, but I know)

Oh man... this song...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=c5NRH_DxWJE

How about this version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNGIBjAYdhg

 

[Dedpop]

How about this version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNGIBjAYdhg

Well...
Not for me

 

[Kratos3]

Neil Diamond is a pimp.

He wrote "I'm a Believer" for The Monkees. Not sure if he performed it too.

Shameless by Garth Brooks is a Billy Joel song.

 

[Dedpop]

Gimmick of the week :
"Neil Diamond is a pimp"
I kinda like this one.

 

[shutyertrap]

Honest to God, I heard someone say this and it damn near killed me...

"Do you know who covered that Frente song, Bizarre Love Triangle?"

Then I saw just the other week, this clue in a crossword puzzle...

"Blue Monday" band - and the answer was Orgy!

So, New Order has two of their songs covered and both were successes for the other bands.

Last one, "Hurt" originally done by NIN, covered by Johnny Cash. While I prefer the original, Cash brought a heartbreaking feel to his version.

 

[Bowflex]

Neil Diamond is a pimp.

He wrote "I'm a Believer" for The Monkees. Not sure if he performed it too.

Shameless by Garth Brooks is a Billy Joel song.

My girlfriend actually refers to him as "the pimp" as well. He has a few songs covered.already mentioned but for more obscure, how about Kentucky woman that was covered by deep purple.

I think the biggest examples out there would be respect, which was originally Otis redding and not Aretha, and proud Mary which was ccr and not Tina turner.

 

[Jeff Strong]

It's pretty amzong what Hendrix did with Dylan's All along the Watchtower. He also often covered Like a Rolling Stone live.

Hey Joe is actually a cover as well. Some Scottish bloke wrote it, if memory serves me.

 

[karl]

Last one, "Hurt" originally done by NIN, covered by Johnny Cash. While I prefer the original, Cash brought a heartbreaking feel to his version

Regarding Johnny Cash, there is plenty more to choose from. He did do a lot of great covers on those American Recordings among others. Heck, even "Ring of fire" was a cover song back in the days

And when it comes to Dylan. He might be one of the few artists that I enjoy the cover versions better than the originals. So many great Dylan covers to choose from, but Hendrix and Byrds are prime examples.

 

[Dedpop]

Try a Little Tenderness – Otis Redding.
Originally performed by Ray Noble/Bing Crosby.

I Feel for You – Chaka Khan.
Originally performed by Prince.