That Time You Found Out a Great Song Was a Remake

[Wheeltax]

"Sloe Gin" was originally written for actor Tim Curry

 

[Pal]

 

[drylandfish]

 

[vintageguitarz]

Forget about Led Zeppelin for this thread.

Did you ever have a song you thought was originally done by the artist that made it most famous, and then find out it was done by someone else famous?

Like almost EVERYTHING The Beatles, Rolling Stones and all of the "British Invasion" recorded early on, were covers or stolen melodies. Elvis the Pelvis never heard a Black song he didn't like to rip-off with not so much as a thank you or mention ever.

Makes you wonder how in the hell these bands make it so big being so UN-original??

 

[macjohn]

I saw Judas Priest mentioned and was shocked this wasn't the song listed, so here it is (Diamonds and Rust):

How they created that from this, I have no idea (Joan Baez):

 

[agquake]

I real

Forget about Led Zeppelin for this thread.

Did you ever have a song you thought was originally done by the artist that made it most famous, and then find out it was done by someone else famous?

A big example of this is Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" made ultra-famous by Whitney.


I just learned that possibly the greatest rock vocal of the 80s.... (head to 2:05)

Was done years earlier (poorly) by...... John Stamos

I really like how the original was done.

 

[LiSky]

I just learned that possibly the greatest rock vocal of the 80s.... (head to 2:05)

Was done years earlier (poorly) by...... John Stamos

Wow, this is That Time I Found Out a Song Was a Remake
I didnt know Alone was a cover song :O

oops, accidently clicked POST too early.
Anyway, I knew all the other songs posted here were already cover songs but here is one song i recently found out as a cover song

 

[major]

The upbeat remake by Elvis Costello:

The soulful original by Sam and Dave:

 

[armandodiaz]

Carlos Cavaso was the correct name for the QR guitarist mentioned above.

Seems like Quiet Riot should have been called Slade 2.0
With the exception of replacing the goofy guitarist with Carlos. It's practically the same band.

 

[armandodiaz]

Wow, this is That Time I Found Out a Song Was a Remake
I didnt know Alone was a cover song :O

oops, accidently clicked POST too early.
Anyway, I knew all the other songs posted here were already cover songs but here is one song i recently found out as a cover song

If I remember the story correctly, Prince gave the song to O'Connor. But then liked it so much he recorded it after. So if that's the case... the cover is older than the original. Hmmm.

 

[armandodiaz]

No one mention these. I like them all...

 

[afire]

Had no idea this was a cover until a few years ago, and I'm a pretty big Everly Brothers fan.

 

[edouglaspratt]

Yeah, sure. "Train Kept a' Rollin". Many people think it's an Arrowsmith song. A few are quick to correct that and inform them it's a Yardbirds' song with Jeff Beck and I believe Eric Clapton was still with them for "Train Kept a' Rollin". However...

It was recorded in 1954 by the Johnny Burnette Trio as a "Jump Blues". Hotter'n Georgia asphalt.

Doug Pratt
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

 

[Eddie 70]

 

[Tezuka27]

Then, of course there's this very famous cover:

by Harry Nilsson

Which was written and originally recorded by Pete Ham and Tom Evan of Badfinger.

 

[Tezuka27]

The Kingsmen:

and the original, by Richard Berry, the only reason any of us ever heard of the Kingsmen.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

Three Dog Night "Try A Little Tenderness" written in like 1932, recorded by many, including Bing Crosby.

Three Dog Night "Mama Told Me Not To Come" Recorded by Eric Burdon in 1966.

Jimi Hendrix "Hey Joe" recorded by a few people since it was written around 1962.

Spinal Tap, "Lick My Love Pump" originally recorded by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra in 1961.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

P.S.

Clapton, "I Shot The Sheriff"

 

[fleahead]

When I found out In A Godda Da Vida was originally by the Box Tops

 

[mdubya]

The only one that I can think of off the top of my head was many years ago, I think I was probably in jr high.
The Green Manalishi.
I thought it was an original JP song.

Around the same time, I also learned that Am I Evil was not an original Metallica song.

Green Manalishi and Black Magic Woman were the first two that came to mind for me. I remember hearing Unleashed In the East around 1980 and thinking Green Manalishi was the most badass thing I had ever heard.
And now I might need to learn Diamond Head's version of Am I Evil.

***Sorry I had to edit the original posts for too much media.