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originals that are less famous than their covers

thecodaqueen

Member
Posts: 3

thecodaqueen @ 2010-02-06 04:21:43 UTC

Some will be surprised at this but Jose Feliciano's cover of Light My Fire by The Doors is better known in some cicles than the original.


This particular cover is is in my view, one the the definitive cover songs. Like All Along The Watch Tower by Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan) it is in many respects the definitive version. It totally reinvented the original. When Will Young had a hit with Light My Fire, his version was a cover of Jose's cover - not of the original.


Anyway - some facts about it here:


http://codaqueen.com/jose-feliciano-light-my-fire/

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Coda Queen - The Doors Covers

idlerwheel

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Posts: 2

idlerwheel @ 2010-02-06 07:41:51 UTC

Strawberry Letter 23 by Shuggie Otis

covered by The Brothers Johnson

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She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand
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rozavlaxou

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Posts: 12

rozavlaxou @ 2010-03-17 14:53:49 UTC

Alabama song the Doors cover made it a hit but the original song was in a Bertolt Brecht's play, the songs music is by Kurt Weill.

Bearcat500

Member
Posts: 1

Bearcat500 @ 2010-08-24 16:29:54 UTC

Got My Mind Set on You was originally released by James Ray in 1962. George Harrison reworked the song and released it as single off his Cloud Nine CD in late 1987.


Time is on My Side was originally released by Irma Thomas but the Rolling Stones released their own version of it shortly afterwords. The Stones wound up with the bigger hit.


Do Wah Diddy Diddy was written for the the Exciters in 1963. Their version did not do well but Manfred Mann's version became a number one million seller in 1964.

Stephan Koenig

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Posts: 2174

Stephan Koenig @ 2010-08-25 17:29:00 UTC

Do Wah Diddy Diddy: an obscure Jeff Barry / Ellie Greenwich song originally cut without success by The Exciters. 10/1964: debut album The Five Faces Of Manfred Mann (real name is Michael Lubowitz !), a collection mainly of R&B covers with a few originals, hits UK #3. Meanwhile, Do Wah Diddy Diddy is US chart debut, hitting #1 for 2 weeks. (10/1964)


Nespresso ? What else ?

Last edit: 2011-01-04 21:44:10 UTC by Stephan Koenig

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I wanna rock'n'roll all nite
Hashi akochchaka (rising sun)
Ghayat assa'adah (the supreme pleasure)
Stephan Koenig

andersion

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Posts: 1

andersion @ 2010-08-31 07:26:01 UTC

Hello Guys,

I am Andersion Smith


here originals that are less famous than their covers

'long black veil'lefty frizzell and covered by 5 other artists before johnny cash made it popular.


when i am free than i work our site and listen hot new music releases


The first time I heard Led Zeppelin's Rock & Roll was Cyndi Lauper doing a cover of it on some Channel 4 chat show. Might've been The Last Resort. I thought it was brilliant, my dad sat me down and said, "Son, you've got a lot to learn."


I haven't heard that Cyndi Lauper version but if she changed it into an 80s synth pop song then HELL YES I want to hear it.

cmulwee001

Member
Posts: 54

cmulwee001 @ 2010-12-20 01:07:30 UTC

Delta Dawn:

Most people know this tune as the song that launched (then) 13 year old Tanya Tucker's career in 1972. It was also covered by Helen Reddy a year later

But the ORIGINAL was a slower, more bluesy song,recorded by it's writer, Alex Harvey(NOT the late British(?)glam rocker, but the American country-rock singer/songwriter of the same name).

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Rose Garden:


Most people associate this song with Lynn Anderson, and why not? She had a HUGE hit with it.

But it was originally recorded by it's writer Joe South.

Also predating Lynn Anderson's version:

Dobie Gray-A very soulful groovin rendition recorded shortly after Joe South.

The Three Degrees(WTF?!): YES! This soul trio, too did this song before Lynn.

A version by Elvis supposedly also predated Lynn Anderson's

It just goes to show you that some songs take a long time to become hits.

PS- I like Dobie Gray's "Rose Garden" best of all!

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Christopher T. Mulwee

Stephan Koenig

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Posts: 2174

Stephan Koenig @ 2010-12-20 14:04:55 UTC

It's quite right that Joe South recorded Rose Garden before Lynn Anderson. Also issued before Lynn's recording.

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I wanna rock'n'roll all nite
Hashi akochchaka (rising sun)
Ghayat assa'adah (the supreme pleasure)
Stephan Koenig

cmulwee001

Member
Posts: 54

cmulwee001 @ 2011-01-04 21:37:52 UTC

Please Mr. Please:

Everyone associates this song with Olivia Newton-John as she had a million seller with this country-folk hit.

However, it was originally recorded by it's writer Bruce Welch, formerly of the British band The Shadows, who did the original version of "Apache"


Welch's original recording of "Please Mister, Please" is a fast country-rock flavored song, and his only known solo recording.

When Olivia covered it, she slowed the tempo WAY down, and did the song more or less as a ballad(not sure who created the slower arrangement).


It's kind of a similar scenario as when Lynn Anderson covered Joe South's fast southern rocking song "Rose Garden", and slowed it down to a mid-tempo straight country tune, and it, too, sold millions.

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Christopher T. Mulwee

stratocat83

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Posts: 27

stratocat83 @ 2011-01-14 17:08:43 UTC

Alone by i-TEN covered by Heart applies to me. Also one I just posted to be added was Thunderbird by The Nightcaps and covered by ZZ Top.

bgspence

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Posts: 1

bgspence @ 2011-02-22 22:24:56 UTC

My favorite is 'Black Magic Woman' written by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac in 1968, covered by Santana in 1970. Fleetwood Mac's live version at the Boston Tea Party is a monster.

purple71

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Posts: 25

purple71 @ 2011-02-23 17:29:02 UTC

"You really got me" by the Kinks. Of course made more famous by Van Halen.

Quentin

Retired Editor
Posts: 3427

Quentin @ 2011-02-23 17:38:51 UTC

"You really got me" by the Kinks. Of course made more famous by Van Halen.


I wouldn't say that. In 1964, it was a number one hit in England, and peaked at no. 7 in the USA.

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purple71

Member
Posts: 25

purple71 @ 2011-03-03 00:00:07 UTC

What about "Blinded By The Light" by Bruce Springsteen? The Manfred Mann version is more famous. That's the only one they play on classic rock stations in my area.

Stephan Koenig

Member
Posts: 2174

Stephan Koenig @ 2011-03-03 15:49:16 UTC

Quite right, Quentin !

March 25, 1978 : Van Halen's cover of The Kinks' You Really Got Me makes US #36. UK : DNC.

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I wanna rock'n'roll all nite
Hashi akochchaka (rising sun)
Ghayat assa'adah (the supreme pleasure)
Stephan Koenig

purple71

Member
Posts: 25

purple71 @ 2011-03-04 13:50:40 UTC

You're right, it was a big hit for the Kinks, but anyone under 30 probably never heard of the Kinks.

cmulwee001

Member
Posts: 54

cmulwee001 @ 2011-12-09 21:39:26 UTC

Up, Up, And Away-[original either by Linda Kaye Henning

(Yes! Betty Jo Bradley!) with backing track and backup vocals by The Sunshine Company, or the version by The Sunshine Company using the same backing track and vocals,but with their own lead singers, Mary Nance and Maury Manseau]


Famous cover versions- The 5th Dimension and The Johnny Mann Singers. Both million sellers.


But The early version By Linda Kaye Henning is the best version

I've ever heard. It's been recently issued on The Girls From Petticoat Junction CD:Sixties Sounds. It's either her version or the one by The Sunshine Company that is the original.

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Christopher T. Mulwee

Stephan Koenig

Member
Posts: 2174

Stephan Koenig @ 2011-12-16 15:17:28 UTC

My favorite is 'Black Magic Woman' written by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac in 1968, covered by Santana in 1970. Fleetwood Mac's live version at the Boston Tea Party is a monster.

Yes, quite awesome : I own the CD (maybe a bootleg ?)

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I wanna rock'n'roll all nite
Hashi akochchaka (rising sun)
Ghayat assa'adah (the supreme pleasure)
Stephan Koenig