Every artist starts out covering songs of their favorite artists as they learn their craft. Some artists actually have great success covering songs originally written and performed by other artists. Sometimes, you are amazed to hear a song you love, only to find out it’s a cover of a song written over 10 years ago.
Today’s playlist puts the spotlight on some of music’s biggest hits as they were originally intended to be heard. Listen to how similar some of the songs sound to the version more commonly known while others go in another direction.
Before UB40, Neil Diamond was singing about “Red Red Wine” while The Arrows ‘Loved Rock N Roll’ seven years before Joan Jett. Big Mama Thornton wasn’t the only one the King stole from, but her version of “Hound Dog” came four years before Elvis’. P.P. Arnold introduced the world to “The First Cut Is The Deepest” well before Cat Stevens and Sheryl Crow. Johnny Cash didn’t have to look far for “Ring of Fire” as his sister-in-law Anita Carter recorded it first in 1962.
As Australian soap actress Natalie Imbruglia began to transition in to music, she found Los Angeles based Ednaswap’s “Torn” and made it a world wide number one hit. I honestly had no idea that Heart’s hit “Alone” was a cover, nor had any idea that a band named I-Ten existed, let alone recorded it first. I did however know that Blondie’s “The Tide Is High” was a cover but did not know it belonged to The Paragons.
It’s not much of a surprise to people that the 1986 Bananarama hit “Venus” was a cover, but not many probably knew it was a Shocking Blue original. Did you know that the Janis Joplin hit “Piece of My Heart” was originally performed by Aretha Franklin’s oldest sister Erma? Did you also know that Soft Cell’s 1981 hit “Tainted Love” was first recorded by Gloria Jones some 17 years earlier?
It’s not rare at all for a song to be covered multiple times by different artists, but it is a bit rare for the song to top the charts multiple times by different artists. Badfinger’s 1970 track “Without You” was a number one hit the following year for Harry Nilsson and then a Top 5 hit for Mariah Carey in 1994.
The most unique song to make the playlist is “It’s So Quiet” which was a certified Gold hit for Bjork in 1996. Now, I understand that you may not know of any Bjork songs but “It’s So Quiet” is one you have bound to have heard in movies or commercials. It was a B-Side recording for Betty Hutton in 1951 and sounds nearly true to the Bjork version.
Prince was incredibly known for his ability to write hit songs for himself and others throughout his career. His most famous song that was covered is arguably “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor and it’s pretty commonly known now that the Bangles 1986 hit “Manic Monday” was penned by Prince. With the recent passing of legendary country star Kenny Rogers, it is becoming more well known that Prince also wrote Rogers “You’re My Love” under the pseudonym Joey Coco.
Two of the biggest hits of the 1980s were covers as Bucks Fizz and Jackie DeShannon gave the world Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and Bow Wow Wow’s “I Want Candy” respectively.
The one song that is so different from the more famous cover has to be Curtiss Maldoon’s “Sepheryn.” From first listen, you may be thinking “Where do I know this song from?” or “Why can’t I put my finger on this song?” Well, don’t fret because I understand your confusion as I too couldn’t figure it out at first. “Sepheryn” gave birth to the 1998 Madonna smash hit “Ray of Light.” Another song on the playlist to have the cover veer from the original is the 1979 Racey song “Kitty.” Toni Basil made the song her own in 1981 with one of the greatest one-hit wonder songs of all-time, “Mickey.”
Even some of the greatest song writing teams need a little help in the creative department. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards turned to an Irma Thomas song for their 1964 Top Ten Hit “Time Is On My Side.”
Cover songs are recorded by new up and comers, one-hit wonders, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and everything in between.
QUARANTINE JAMS ARCHIVES
Volume 1: New Wave
Volume 2: 90s Movie Soundtrack
Volume 3: Favorite Cover Songs
Volume 4: Gotta Have Faith
Volume 5: What Day Is It?
Volume 6: This One’s For The Kids
Volume 7: Let’s All Go Down To The Chuckle Hut
Volume 8: Straight Outta The ’80s
Volume 9: Don’t Rock The Covid
Volume 10: Music To Clean The House And Your Ass To
Volume 11: Hit Me Baby One Time
Volume 12: Grown And Sexy Playlist
Steven McCash is the Music Columnist for SoBros Network. He is the pioneer of New Music Friday, highlighting each week’s new releases in the world of music, in addition to the occasional live show review. Follow on Twitter: @MC_Cash75
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