Songs You (Probably) Didn't Know Were Covers archived

You're going to hate me forever for this but...

http://youtu.be/QD0x--qavfo

And before Milli Vanilli there was Numarx, who DID perform all the vocals on the original version.

http://youtu.be/W_53Szv3PGg

Utterly obscure: The Duelling Banjos from Deliverance is actually based on Feudin' Banjos by Don Reno and Arthur Smith originally recorded in 1955.

http://youtu.be/TmMk9tsCjsc

Final one for this go around. The Go-Go's Our Lips Are Sealed was originally a hit for Fun Boy Three, and in this live version, there appear to be just as many women playing in the band as there were in the Go-Go's, which is really cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqQT3oKA3v8

ridski said:

Final one for this go around. The Go-Go's Our Lips Are Sealed was originally a hit for Fun Boy Three, and in this live version, there appear to be just as many women playing in the band as there were in the Go-Go's, which is really cool.

Actually the Go-Go's released it first, but...it was written by members of each group.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lips_Are_Sealed

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7NV5StCLu4

kook_10 said:

ridski said:

Final one for this go around. The Go-Go's Our Lips Are Sealed was originally a hit for Fun Boy Three, and in this live version, there appear to be just as many women playing in the band as there were in the Go-Go's, which is really cool.

Actually the Go-Go's released it first, but...it was written by members of each group.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lips_Are_Sealed

Well, I'll be danged. I don't think I heard the Go-Go's version until about 1985.

Tons of covers done by the Beatles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_covered_by_the_Beatles

Okay, to make up for that, here's Cherelle (better known to me for the Cherelle/Alexander O'Neal duet Saturday Love) doing I Didn't Mean to Turn You On a year before Robert Palmer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isoZ2h2BE-0

The Eleventh Hour before Labelle:

http://youtu.be/SeWMdoetN6Y

Sir Mack Rice before Wilson Pickett (both had been members of the Falcons, along with the above-posted Eddie Floyd):

http://youtu.be/PPBOXOtBUE0

James Ray before George Harrison:

http://youtu.be/k68Fob0QA_k

John Henry Kurtz before Dobie Gray:

http://youtu.be/sxJv8C8uZ_0

? and the Mysterians before both The Colourfield and Smash Mouth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxLEte9D40g

? and the Mysterians before The Stranglers

http://youtu.be/XeolH-kzx4c

jeffl said:

Tons of covers done by the Beatles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_covered_by_the_Beatles

Blues covers, too, could fill a long thread of their own. A friend of mine has a hobby of collecting blues originals of rock classics and compiled several CDs' worth (titling them after the lyric "The blues had a baby, and they named it rock 'n' roll"). Arnomation posted one of Led Zep's many examples. The Stones, like a lot of British Invasion bands, had their fair share, too, though some casual fans might be surprised that "The Last Time" is among them. One that the Who slipped past me for many years: "Eyesight to the Blind" from "Tommy."

Has anyone found this one yet?

Exile in 1981: Heart and Soul.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjr5U7g6aiA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxvYsxf7f5s&feature=youtu.be

Before Rod, before the Koobas and before Yusuf:

http://youtu.be/aBccr-aLu4I

I've only ever heard the Sheryl Crow version of The First Cut. I just read this thread for the first time and my mind is officially blown that there exists an Erma Franklin.

Thanks for the education guys! Lovin' this thread.

(Mop tip to this morning's Times article Licensing Deal Gives Fresh Play to Beatles.)

The Rolling Stones before the Beatles:

http://youtu.be/DJCkbbMnEPg

Well, this totally explains why, over the last 50 years or so, when I'd hear a song and I'd stop and think "gosh, I know this song from somewhere". This whole thread explains WHERE I'd heard them.

This thread is nominated for the best thread in 2013! Thanks for the fun arnomation!

Marvin Gaye before Robin Thicke:

http://youtu.be/wRcVQDELAd4

Robin Thicke sues Marvin Gaye's family over 'Blurred Lines'

Been away for a bit with no internet access, been some great additions and thanks for the "Thanks", glad you all are enjoying it

Here's one that may be known (but maybe not)... as great as Ray Charles was, he was actually more of a song stylist, his strength was more in interpretation than song writing ... this is one of his more famous interpretations...


Hoagie Carmichael - Georgia On My Mind (1931)
http://youtu.be/rYRCbCOui8Q

I'm having trouble downloading onto my computer, but how about:

Summertime Blues: Eddie Cochran, The Who, Blue Cheer, Alan Jackson,

Here's another one along the same lines as my previous post where "Pains of Life" was the "inspiration" for "Chain of Fools" Here Johnny Cash took "Crescent City Blues"and replaced some of the lyrics to create his hit "Folsom Prison Blues"

Beverly Maher with the Gordon Jenkins Band - Crescent City Blues (1953)
http://youtu.be/eloMTom-fpI

Here's a "Reverse Cover" by which I mean a song that was written by a recording artist but was not recorded by them first. Jeff Healy was the first to record it and it wasn't until years later that John Hiatt finally recorded "a cover" of his own song.

John Hiatt - Angel Eyes
http://youtu.be/RtP6QKJ_tlw

Most people remember Linda Ronstadt's version from the 70s... Dee Dee's.... not so much

Dee Dee Warwick - You're No Good (1963)
http://youtu.be/yMi_BCcpWRs

Mark who???? Mark James wrote and recorded this before Elvis launched it


Mark James - Suspicious Minds
http://youtu.be/mFP0EP-Oi2I

arnomation said:

Most people remember Linda Ronstadt's version from the 70s... Dee Dee's.... not so much

Dee Dee Warwick - You're No Good (1963)
http://youtu.be/yMi_BCcpWRs

That is a talented family. Dionne, Cissy and Whitney Houston

There's a Spotify playlist of (most of the) songs in this thread on the MOL group Facebook page, or pm me.

How about TV themes that were mini cover songs?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z_s92CmtKI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwXu0tmdceQ

There's a Cheap Trick version in between.

Another of REM's covers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDclzxulwT8