Forgotten originals - post a song whose cover version(s) are better known.

[nomorenomore08]

Hank Ballard - "Look at Little Sister": http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7d7Yn2pe1HE

J.J. Cale - "Cocaine": http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sCQI98NDJa0

That should get you started. I might post more later.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. janis joplin me and bobby mc gee

edited because I found a better version:
http://www.youtube.com/v/irU5oihACj4&hl=en&fs=1

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. But Kris Kristofferson's version was the original

:-)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. I think I read the OP wrong ...oops

I thought they wanted the cover version...oh well.

[JimGinPA]

9. Kris Kristofferson Wrote & Recorded That

And her version blew his away.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. yes. I read the OP wrong. Sorry.

:blush:

[SeattleGirl]

33. I love Janis's version of that song!

Love it!

[nuxvomica]

45. I am mourning her death all over again now

There was never a better match between a singer and a song. What an awesome voice she had! Thanks for posting.

[ogneopasno]

2. The Meat Puppets songs that Nirvana covered.

Plateau, Oh Me and Lake of Fire.

[nomorenomore08]

3. Don't forget "Son of a Gun" and "Molly's Lips," both originated by the Vaselines.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=B0qIARknhMg&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EO9tOwVmulo&feature=related

Oh, and of course, "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam": http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RcLM_gqLlYc&feature=related

[soleft]

4. Phil Collins covers Mind Benders "Groovy Kind of Love"

[dana_b]

5. Slade

Cum on Feel The Noize

also "Last Kiss" - Wayne Cochran

[Oeditpus Rex]

23. And

"Mama Weer All Crazee Now."







Quiet Ripoff couldn't find Noddy Holder's ass with two hands and a Marshall stack.

[rockymountaindem]

27. I was gonna say Last Kiss

Although I think the original, the J. Frank Wilson version and the Pearl Jam one are all good in their own ways.

[Tighelander]

6. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Paul Revere and the Raiders "Indian Reservation" was a cover

of Don Farden's original.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. I would say "All Along the Watchtower"

Not that Dylan's original was that obscure, but Hendrix's version is the one everyone hears and recognizes when that song is mentioned.

[GOPisEvil]

11. "Cum On Feel The Noize" and "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" by Quiet Riot.

Both covers of a Slade songs.

[Oeditpus Rex]

24. Only because Slade never made it in the U.S.

Two tours in the '70s opening for some Big Names and they just didn't catch. :shrug:



Meanwhile, Britain still loves 'em. They're freakin' legends Over There. :headbang:

[kentauros]

14. "Family Man" by Mike Oldfield

Better known by the cover by Hall & Oates

Oldfield's version - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDYCatlR9vI

Hall & Oates' version - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqsLfl-rnyU

Both are live, for more fairness in comparison ;)

I still prefer Mike Oldfield's version, always will :D

[Radical Activist]

15. Hard to Handle

It was only recently that I realized it was a cover song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwY2B6s068s

[nomorenomore08]

16. Yeah, it's probably one of Otis's best tunes, and that's saying a hell of a lot.

Give the Black Crowes credit, though - they damn near managed to do justice to the original, sort of in the vein of the Stones' best Motown covers ("Ain't Too Proud to Beg," etc.).

[Radical Activist]

17. I love the Crowes version.

They did a great update on it. But there's nobody like Otis Redding.

[GReedDiamond]

18. The Byrds' version of...

...Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man."

The Beatles' version of "Twist and Shout," originally recorded by the Top Notes, and also covered (more famously) by The Isley Bros.

Elvis' version of "Blue Suede Shoes," written and originally performed by Carl Perkins.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience version of "Hey Joe" is the more well known version of the song originally recorded by legendary 60s garage band The Leaves.

Then there is Manfred Mann's Earth Band's version of Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light."

And speaking of Manfred Mann, their version of Burt Bacharach's "Little Red Book" was outdone by Arthur Lee and Love's 1966 version, from their truly great debut LP, "Love."

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

19. Surprised no one has

listed "Hound Dog" as in "You ain't nothin' but a ...." by Elvis versus Big Mama Thornton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcK6Ct22Y8A

[Left Is Write]

20. Have I Told You Lately

Many people seem to have forgotten that this is a Van Morrison song, not a Rod Stewart song.

[XemaSab]

21. "I will always love you"

Originally (?) by Dolly Parton.

[Left Is Write]

22. Good one.

And yes, Dolly did the original, and she wrote it too. It's her song, and I hate that it's associated with Whitney Houston.

[jobycom]

57. Are there really people who think of the Whitney Houston song first?

Dolly's version hit number one twice on the country charts and once on the pop charts and is one of the most recognizable songs of all times. I like what Whitney did with it, making it more of a declaration than a cry, but it's nowhere near as good as Dolly's.

And as for your question mark, yes, Dolly wrote it, so it's hers. She wrote it to Porter Wagoner, the man who gave her her start in the industry and her closest friend, as she left his show and started her solo career without him. They remained lifelong friends, and she was at Porter's bedside when he died late last year, and according to rumor, she even sang to him on his death bed. Don't know if it was that song, but it's sure beautiful and painful to think it might have been.

[TommyO]

78. Better known, but certainly not better

When Dolly sings it, she sings it with a passion that the crack whore couldn't even begin to touch, simply because it's right out of her life.

[leeroysphitz]

25. Wooden Ships. n/t

[Left Is Write]

26. Puttin' On The Ritz.

Remake by Taco.

Originally sung by Harry Richman in the 1930 film of the same name.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

90. Or by Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein. nt

[namahage]

28. "Unchained Melody" and "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You"

Originally by Todd Duncan and George Benson, respectively.

[Richardo]

29. Nanci Griffith's "From A Distance"

SO much better than Bette Midler's.

[blondeatlast]

40. Lou Rawl's veresion makes me absolutely melt, though.

Subdued and oooh, that voice...

[Richardo]

48. I'd love to hear that

[blondeatlast]

51. Oops--I was thinking about "Wind Beneath My Wings." But here it is anywya.

http://www.imeem.com/ozambesi/music/IO-hSmwk/lou_rawls_wind_beneath_my_wings/

Blonde moment!

[CreekDog]

67. Griffith wrote that

and FWIW, Kathy Mattea says that her favorite song is "From a distance" (the Griffith version)

[GReedDiamond]

30. A regional hit that was ultimately overshadowed by it's original version...

...Van Morrison's band Them had a "B-side" hit in the UK with the song "Gloria."

But if you lived in the Chicago, IL area in 1965, like I did, the version of "Gloria" that went to #1 was by local band The Shadows of Knight.

(edited subject for clarity)

[pfitz59]

31. One of the most famously covered songs EVER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_ncQgjIlFM&feature=related

[pfitz59]

32. Here are some of the covered versions.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCwCBh0z3Hs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTDNG8puHF0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_tJnj2j5kI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EoJUkF3r7E&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3lv5gbMSSY&feature=related

[Tom Kitten]

34. Louie Louie

Made famous by the Kingsmen, covered by everybody and their grandmas,originally written by Richard Berry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF_bM8JU57w

[Sgent]

35. "Blinded by the Light"

The popular version (#1 hit) is by Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Originally written and performed by Bruce Springsteen. Personally, I think there is a reason Bruce's version didn't get anywhere, its terrible.

[Beausoleil]

81. That's the first one I thought of

Most people can't believe it's a Springsteen song.

[REP]

36. Take Me To The River

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QT6BxytzR8 Original

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2BpsCwUa2I Cover

[myrna minx]

37. Rod Stewart's massacre of Tom Wait's 'Downtown Train' n/t

:grr:

[blondeatlast]

41. I so agree. Annie Lennox did a respectable version, but nothing still compared to Waits'. nt

[taterguy]

38. Cheap Trick's cover of the old Big Star song Down the Street

Cheap Trick's version is a lot more famous since it was used as the theme for That 70s Show

[Frank Cannon]

39. Badfinger - "Without You"

I still run into people who compare Mariah Carey's version to Harry Nilsson's "original".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyBS_1vGwpU

[blondeatlast]

42. I know the pain of that; younger co-worler LOVED her version.

I had to leave the effin' room. :mad:

[PassingFair]

44. Have you heard THIS version?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgL2MKfWTo

[Frank Cannon]

53. Words fail me.

Coincidentally, I used to work for a guy named Ken Lee.

That is just... amazing. Thanks for that

[nuxvomica]

47. I just listened to all three

And Badfinger mops the floor with Nilsson and Carey.

[Frank Cannon]

55. Although I personally prefer the Harry Nillson version...

I think that Badfinger's original song is much more genuine and touching than Carey's bloodless vocal demonstration.

Badfinger was an incredible band that just seemed to attract all the bad luck and tough breaks of the rock universe. "Without You" is, for my money, one of the greatest songs ever written.

[Mad_Dem_X]

54. Nice

I like Nilsson's version better, tho'. :hide:

[Frank Cannon]

56. No argument from me

According to Dan Matovina in his Badfinger biography, "Without You", Badfinger was actually in the same study as Nilsson when he was recording it. Nilsson found out about this, invited the boys over, prepared a lunch for them, and played the song. They were, of course, blown away. Pete Ham said that Nilsson had performed the song exactly the way they wished they could have done it if they'd only had the vocal and production capability.

[last_texas_dem]

43. Just discovered a couple of originals from the same album

"Beggar's Day" and "I Don't Want to Talk about It" are both on the self-titled Crazy Horse (w/o Neil Young) album. I knew these songs by the versions by Nazareth (on their big Hair of the Dog album) and the minor hit single by Rod Stewart, respectively, and didn't know there were earlier versions of either.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

46. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Ewan MacColl's song is totally different from the Roberta Flack version. Still, I love what she did with it.

[cinci_democrat]

49. Woodstock

Written/recorded by Joni Mitchell - better known by the Crosby Stills Nash & Young version.

[baldguy]

50. Big Mama Thornton singing "Hound Dog"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-YR8aejyGc

If you listen to the words, it makes more sense when a woman sings it.

[cinci_democrat]

52. Call me the Breeze

Written/recorded by JJ Cale - better known by Lennard Skinard version

"One" (is the lonliest number) - written/recorded by Harry Nilsson better known by Three Dog Night version

"Mama Told Me Not to Come" - written/recorded by Randy Newman better known by Three Dog Night version

[lavenderdiva]

58. Lenny Kravitz's version of Guess Who's 'American Woman'

Elvis Presley's version of 'And I Love You So' by Don McLean

[Giant Robot]

59. Really? Really? A brazillian replies on this thread and I'm the first one to post this?

Gloria Jones, "Tainted Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U

(Yes that Tainted Love!)

[jobycom]

60. "Tainted Love" by Gloria Jones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U

I love the Soft Cell version, but the original is more soulful and more interesting to me.

[blondeatlast]

61. Christmas Wrapping, covered by somebody or other this year (badly), but nailed by The Waitresses

and the inimitable, sadly departed Patty Donahue.

[MineralMan]

62. About half of Bob Dylan's songs.

[Bennyboy]

63. Even Bob says the Dead did them better than he does.....

In Rolling Stone last year.

[Witchy_Dem]

64. I like Blackfoot's version of Morning Dew.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

65. Many Rivers to Cross

Version by Harry Nilsson and John Lennon.

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=wgzWqfZo8fY&feature=related



Original by Jimmy Cliff.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

66. Subterranean Homesick Blues

Harry Nilsson:

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=67vbrVpD6PM&feature=related

[Manifestor_of_Light]

68. You Keep Me Hangin' On

Vanilla Fudge:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=6QTrp8LDv4Y

Originally by the Supremes.

[nomorenomore08]

71. That version is friggin' great. It's like the ultimate in 60's psychedelic excess.

Aside from "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," of course. :P

[Manifestor_of_Light]

69. You Showed Me

Written by Gene Clark of the Byrds.

Performed by Roger McGuinn:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=NmdncxbHxhI

Hit version was by The Turtles. Also done by the Lightning Seeds.

[Fire Walk With Me]

70. "The Barber of Seville" by Rossini, "Des Rings des Nibelungen", "Tannhauser", "Die Walküre": Wagner.

Contrary to popular belief, Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd did NOT write these pieces of music and actually =changed= the lyrics. What a car-wreck of mis-crediting and mistaken sourcing. x(

[JimGinPA]

72. Tobbaco Road...

There are a couple hundred better than the original. It's probably the most covered song in history.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

73. Van Diemen's Land

Ewan Maccoll and Peggy Seeger:

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=-jOGAO15gPY&feature=related

Better known by U2 performed on "Rattle and Hum"

[blondeatlast]

74. What;s So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understandin'? Widely attributed to Elvis Costello

but written by Nick Lowe--but EC actually did it just as well as Lowe did.

[Pale Blue Dot]

75. Jonatha Brooke's "Eye in the Sky"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNB068IVWVI

[MrScorpio]

76. Otis' "Respect" by Aretha

[Gormy Cuss]

77. Proud Mary

The Creedence Clearwater original version and subsequent versions by John Fogarty alone were good, but Tina Turner owns that song.

Creedence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfyEpmQM7bw&feature=related

Tina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XRNQ2C2x0

[Burma Jones]

79. Quinn The Eskimo......

The Cover by Manfred Mann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX-5FByUZCo&feature=related


The Original by Bob Dylan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa3kAOG-tnY

[TheMightyFavog]

80. All Along the Watchtower -- Bob Dylan

Everyione knows the hendrix cover, but not everyone knows the Dylan original.

[Forkboy]

82. Metallica's versions of The Wait and Helpless.

I like Metallica's version of Helpless better than Diamond Head's, and I like Killing Joke's version of The Wait far better, mainly because I was already into Killing Joke even before Metallica, and Killing Joke are awesome, and still make great music.

Diamond Head - Helpless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdqwR0ISPDE

Killing Joke - The Wait
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f42MLoLbnnQ

Metallica made a bunch of covers more popular than the original versions, sometimes for the good, sometimes not. :)

[Beausoleil]

83. Several of Willie Nelson's early songs were big hits for other people

including:
Crazy - Patsy Cline
Hello, Walls - Faron Young

[MAGICBULLET]

84. Get Out Of My Life Woman - Allen Toussaint

re-recorded hundreds of times. what a classic rhythm and the beat is just so catchy int he original.

[AngryAmish]

85. Walk This Way by Run-DMC

[BarbaRosa]

86. Steppenwolf ..The Pusher

Three Dog Night..Joy To The World
Kingston Trio..Greenback Dollar

all originals by Hoyt Axton.

You did say better known, cuz I like Hoyt's The Pusher quite a lot

Heartbreak Hotel..Elvis Presley..co-written by Mae Boren Axton, Mom.

[Beausoleil]

87. Also "Snowblind Friend"

Steppenwolf hit written by Hoyt.

[KamaAina]

88. "Time Is On My Side": Irma Thomas, "the Soul Queen of New Orleans".

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

as it turns out, Keith Richards (of the band that covered it, whoever they are :-) ) is a NOLA fanatic who has been known to go down there and jam with whoever's playing at one of the many funky hole-in-the wall joints thereabouts.

[Guava Jelly]

89. k

I'm Just a Gigolo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CodmlmxpZeQ
Louis Prima - Just a gigolo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbXPHiyE7uE
david lee roth(Just a gigolo)

[JohnnieGordon]

91. Delete

Moved post to correct placement

[JohnnieGordon]

92. Fonda Rae - Touch Me (All Night Long)

Cathy Dennis had her biggest hit with the song in 1990, which spent two weeks at #2 on the pop chart. But Fonda's version was first in 1984. I doubt it charted on the pop chart at all, it was just a dance-club hit. Fonda's voice is definitely better than Cathy's though, and Cathy's isn't bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqo888gWsCI

[nomorenomore08]

93. Not technically a cover, but a ripoff so brazen it might as well be:

Led Zeppelin - "How Many More Times": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5-8rcu8T-k

Howlin' Wolf - "How Many More Years": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ou-6A3MKow


And in a similar vein:

Nirvana - "Come As You Are": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOL5cpwTkes

Killing Joke - "Eighties": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1oyfG6t2ew

[Tikki]

94. Sam & Dave, Dwight Pullen and Richard Berry & the Pharaohs...their versions vs...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFOaqqqahvo
Sam & Dave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r_ekZHdgBA
Elvis Costello & the Attractions


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuEaY10K3wc
Dwight Pullen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URrQB44W41s
The Cramps


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr2fKFkcxsg
Richard Berry & the Pharaohs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20S_kwNb4rg
The Sonics


Tikki