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You'll be shocked when you find out the origins of these iconic tracks! For this list, we’ll be ranking popular songs that actually had a life prior to being recorded by a different artist. Our countdown includes “I Fought the Law”, "Torn", “The First Cut is the Deepest”, “All Along the Watchtower”, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, and more! Did any of these picks surprise you? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!
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Did any of these picks surprise you? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments! For more Music, check out our playlist: kzhead.info/sun/qadyoJmfkKyDhKs/bejne.html Want more music? Check out Innersleeve, WatchMojo's new music podcast! kzhead.info/channel/PLXtYorCEjScR7Hjc3CLotRzQyxG_tvLis.html
I fought the law was originally performed by The Crickets, and the Bobby Fuller Four version was a cover.
Excelen.Musica.Lo.Expresa.Nacho.Zambrano
Original: Kool & the Gang - Ladies Night Cover: Atomic Kitten feat. Kool & the Gang - Ladies Night
I hate no doubt is my life they ruined the song so much, nothing goes up against what Talk Talk did
Come on feel the noise Originally by Slage covered by Quiet Riot
Here’s a fun fact for ya: The song ‘Valerie’ made partially popular by a cover from Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse was originally made by rock group The Zutons.
'I fought the law' was written Buddy Holly and the Crickets.
Mark Ronson produced both
I Fought The Law was originally recorded by the Crickets (minus the late Buddy Holly) in 1960, 5 years before the Bobby Fuller Four. All three versions kick ass!
It is a reggae song first by dates, just saying...Sonny Curtis seems to have copied it from a reggae writer who was not famous but had been playing it before Sonny "wrote it"
Don't forget the Dead Kennedys version
@@kevinb2743 Green Day would also cover I Fought The Law.
It's common knowledge that Prince wrote Nothing compares 2 U.
What many don’t get, is that Whitney and Dolly’s song I Will Always Love You is about breaking up and leaving, but so many people use it at weddings.
That’s with a lot of songs though. For example, Born in the USA is an anti war protest song yet so many thought it was the opposite. I think most people only really listen to the hooks on the songs.
@@kenyattaclay7666 That’s funny…when George Bush came to speak at my high school during his run for re-election in 2004, they played that right before he came out. Either his team didn’t realize the real meaning or they were using the irony to screw with him😂
Fortunate Son by CCR is another one. It is played in patriotic settings, but it's a protest song as well.
Where was Hallelujah? For me, Leonard Cohen wrote & recorded one of the best songs ever, but for versions you cannot beat what Jeff Buckley did with it! (the Rufus Wainwright version is pretty amazing too!)
KD Lang's version is iconic
@@timhiuser4198 I'm not aware of that one, I'll definitely have to check it out! Thanks for the heads up about it. 🙂
Probably the most covered song of all time (don’t know that for a fact lol).
@@guynicoletti5811 think it could be. A few good versions out there. Also a few weaker ones, then there is the 'version' Alexandra Burke did, which was unforgivable!
The Pentatonix version is amazing.
"Black Magic Woman" by Santana, originally done by Fleetwood Mac. Santana did such an incredible job on it that FM hardly ever performed it afterwards. Mick Fleetwood has even said that it's pretty much Santana's song now.
another one: "black magic woman" is originally not by santana, but fleetwood mac.
I actually did not know that.
@@Jamaicafunk me either
@@Grantly the original is wonderful, a bluesrock by peter green (fleetwood mac). check it on youtube. none is better than the other, both are great in their own right.
Fleetwood Mac was so much better with Peter Green!
I think Green Manalishi is also a Fleetwood Mac tune.
The Jimi Hendrix version of watchtower is the greatest cover ever... it might actually be the definitive version
my al time Favorite song
He made that song his, like Johnny Cash and Hurt
@@orlandovazquez9662 what about stevie ray Vaughan's texas flood? Technically its a cover of larry davis
Excuse me, that's just my thought, so it should have been #1 as the best ever cover version of any song.
@@pounderpolizzo7269 I'm not up on that yet but definitely gonna check for that
Some other honorable mentions: “I’ll Be There” - Mariah Carey, original by The Jackson 5 “(There Is)Always Something There to Remind Me” - Naked Eyes, original by Dionne Warwick “Hound Dog” - Elvis Presley, original by Big Mama Thornton “Waiting for Tonight” - Jennifer Lopez, original by 3rd Party “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” - Diana Ross, original by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell “Killing Me Softly” - The Fugees, original by Roberta Flack “If You Ask Me To” - Celine Dion, original by Patti LaBelle “The Greatest Love of All” - Whitney Houston, original by George Benson “All The Man That I Need” - Whitney Houston, original by Linda Clifford
Actually, Lou Johnson sang "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" first back in 1964.
"Love T.K.O." by Teddy Pendergrass (originally by David Oliver)
@@jrebecca0195 I have to look that version up. Thanks for that info.
@@twannifufuyou're welcome. It's a great version, but I guess it wasn't a big hit.
There's Always... was already pointed out, but Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly is also a cover. Without looking it up, I think the original version is by singer Lori Liebermann (spelling may be off).
Whitney’s version of I Will Always Love You is an incredible showcase for a phenomenal voice. No doubt. But I still love Dolly’s version better. There is more emotion in the song, you really feel the pain in her voice. It feels like doomed lovers whispering a goodbye to each other in the dark.
Give it a try to Linda Ronstadt's version. I think you'll like it too.
@@dblanco77 I have never heard her version before today. I found it on your recommendation, and you’re right. It is lovely. See, she sings it with emotion like Dolly does, and that’s how the song should be sung IMHO. Whitney’s is a power ballad, and while technically incredible, it doesn’t carry the same feeling that Dolly’s and Linda’s versions do. Thanks for sharing. 😊 (The song is better suited filled with emotion. I mean, it is a sad song after all.)
@@LadyKC67 I agree. Personally, as much as I love me some Whitney, I feel she butchered it by making it so loud and bombastic. I love pretty much everything else she's done...but not that one.
@@WrenFaithBridger that’s it, you said it well. Loud and bombastic. Technically it was good, but performed that way lost all feeling to the song. If you ever saw Dolly do it in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, it makes sense. She was in love with Ed Earl (Burt Reynolds) since she was 16 years old. She was leaving him because she knew he had political dreams that would never come true if he was married to the madam of a whorehouse. She’s choked up with emotion and does some crying in the scene. On the other hand, I felt none of that in The Bodyguard. Whitney was a bitch to Costner throughout the movie. I never really felt love between them. Not like Dolly & Burt.
I honestly didn't know this wasn't Whitney's song, because anytime someone sings it they try and hit those high notes like Whitney was able to.
I would include Proud Mary by CCR covered by Tina Turner. Two amazing and completely different versions of the song.
Songs you didn't know were covers
Everyone knows that
What's your point Niel? Anyone who followed R&R since the 50s knew that half these songs were covers just from having heard the original artist perform them.
@@UserName_no1 keyword:half
Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's All along the watchtower is my favorite
Cringe to not see it #1, where it should belong as the best cover.
And no mention of Dave Matthews Band
It's common knowledge that Dolly Parton sang "I Will Always Love You" first - it's in the film that Whitney's soundtrack comes from! Talk Talk's version of "It's My Life" is infinitely better than the other one.
Dolly wrote it as a goodbye to Porter Wagoner show
Randy Newman wrote a few songs that became more famous when they were covered. Joe Cocker’s ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ and Three Dogs Night’s ‘Mama Told Me Not To Come’, to name two.
I think there should be a part two, considering how many amazing covers reintroduced (& sometimes improved) songs to us...
I agree
A lot of people in the comments are confusing "good cover" and definitive version, that said I am blown away that you missed "Hard to Handle" that's a song that most people think was originally done by the Black Crowes
Another Otis Redding one ;)
Right, that's what I just commented about
Great list! I would have included "I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends, originally written by The Beatles and soulful covered by Joe Cocker. Arguably, one of my favorite cover songs.
With all due respect to Jimi, the cover that most 'made it there own' was Johnny Cash with Hurt. Trent Reznor says that the song is Cash's now, while Bob Dylan's version of All Along the Watchtower is still great in its own right.
She also covered Prince ("When You Were Mine") and Marvin Gaye("What's Going On"). Also... "I Want You", Massive Attack/Madonna and Robert Palmer(w/"Mercy Mercy Me(The Ecology Song") "More Love", Kim Carnes(Smokey Robinson) "You Keep Me Hanging On", Kim Wilde(The Supremes) "Running Up The Hill", Placebo(Kate Bush) "I Feel For You", Chaka Kahn(Prince) "I'm Every Woman", Whitney Houston(Chaka Kahn) "With A Little Help From My Friends", Joe Cocker(Beatles) "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window", Joe Cocker(Beatles) "Smooth Criminal" Alien Ant Farm (Michael Jackson) "Scream", Cast of "Glee"(Michael and Janet Jackson)
What's Your Mama's Name-Tanya Tucker (George Jones) That's What Friends Are For- Dionne & Friends (Rod Stewart) Endless Love-Diana Ross & Lionel Ritchie (Sheila "Shea" Chambers-[sung by Ms. Chambers in The movie, with an unknown actress lip syncing to her vocals, but, sadly, left off the Soundtrack Album]) Rose Garden- Lynn Anderson (Billy Joe Royal) Working My Way Back To You/Forgive me Girl-Spinners ( Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons) Can't Stop Dancing-Captain & Tennille (Ray Stevens)
We all know All Along the Watchtower is Bob Dylan's. But we all know Jimi Hendrix's is way cooler.
Pffttt suuuuure
Hendrix's cover is superior, but the original version by Dylan is still great.
BSG made a cool version ro..
Both are incredible, I think. But so, so very different.
Before I became a Dylan fanatic, had no idea it was not a Jimi song. As much as I love Bob and his music, this song will forever be a Hendrix song.
Blinded by the light should be on this list. Especially how good the cover of this song is
Agreed
That was mentioned on another video with a similar title from the same channel a few years ago.
@@kevinelmendez Blinded By the Light was originally written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen. Later on Manhiem Steamroller later covered the song and their version was way more popular than Springsteen's version.
@@paulluna8099 got you, sorry :) didn’t know that song. Will listen to it! 🙏🏻
That's cause the original is still better.
One huge song you missed... Status Quo's biggest hit 'Rocking All Over The World" is a cover of John Fogerty's original.
Pasty Cline=Crazy=chef's kiss perfect.
I never knew 'Torn' had 3 different versions to bore us all to death with. Also 'Blinded by the light' could have been included.
Re: "All Along The Watchtower" - Dylan loved Hedrix's version so much that he uses Jimi's arrangement for his own stage show. Brilliant combination.
Did I just miss it on the list? How was nine inch nails hurt covered by Johnny Cash not on the list? I've been in many an argument from people who didn't believe cash covered a NIN song.
they showed a clip in the beginning, too. wildin
because there’s far more than 20 songs in which the cover was more popular than the original
Bizarre that they showed it at the start for 2 seconds. Bet it got copy striked
@@misseselise3864 probably, I just know that one because NIN is my favorite band so it's been a topic many times. Cash fans are always saying he wrote it about his life and I'm always correcting them saying Trent Reznor wrote it about HIS life.
It's songs you didn't know we're covers... Everyone knew it was a cover
"Love Hurts" Nazareth, original Everly Brothers. there's a cool version by Roy Orbison too.
"cool" more respect to Roy rude lol
Gram Parsons and Emilylou Harris did it in 1973. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1983! Emmylou Harris made the song a staple after Parsons' death in Sept. 1973.
@@brittanygil6806 Nothing wrong with calling a Roy Orbison cover "cool." Roy Orbison may not have invented cool, but he perfected it.
1) you should do all the Prince covers. 2) Am I the Same Girl by Swing Out Sister also called Soulful Strut 3) Venus by Bananarama and Shocking Blue 4) Two Chuck Berry done by the Beatles Roll Over Beethoven and Rock and Roll Music 5) Heatwave Linda Rondstadt and Martha Reeves 6) Spirits in the Night and Blinded by the Light by Bruce Springsteen covered by Manfred Mann
7) When you Say Nothing at All by Keith Whitley covered by Alison Krauss and Ronan Keating.
Oh yea Bruce was the 1st to b Blinded by the Light
Heat Wave also covered by The Who and The Jam
So Sad About Us and Disguises . A few obscure Who tunes given better, and far more high energy versions by The Jam. Cake does a great horn driven take in Black Sabbath's War Pigs.
Only one D In 'RONSTADT'. She is from an old Tucson, Arizona family. I am a native Tucsonian who took a while to notice this myself. We have 'the Ronstadt transit center' bus station downtown. It's where there old family house or hardware store was.
I will always love the Talk Talk version!
Yes. It’s way better. No disrespect to No Doubt but Talk Talk kills it.
@@TheSiralex76 I disagree but two each their own
Right Round - Flo Rida. Also a song I didn’t knew was a cover Original: You spin me round - Dead or Alive
Well to be fair it’s more of a sample than a cover. He uses the chorus but that’s about it.
There is the cover of Ladies' Night by Atomic Kitten, originally recorded by Kool & the Gang.
@@jericothe1 Nono, you’re right. I thought about it after I posted the comment, but didn’t feel like deleting it haha :p
@Michael Rutherford Nono, you’re right. I thought about it after I posted the comment, but didn’t feel like deleting it haha :p
I think Flo Rida did wrong with that. It is SUCH a catchy fun song, and flo just messed it up!
the Beatles mentioned the Isley Brothers version. Twist and Shout was the last song recorded for the Please Please Me album. They recorded the entire album in 12 hours. By the time they got to record Twist and Shout, John's voice was in shreds. He was having so many cough lozenges to get through. John never liked his voice that much himself, he was always self conscious of listening to himself. But he had a great voice for rock, yet it could be so melodic in songs such as In My Life. Incidentally, if you listen very closely to the Please Please Me album, in some places you can hear the aircon running in the background. The Beatles covered Twist and Shout, and others, because that music was their inspiration, plus they were doing them live in the Cavern Club and those were the songs fans knew and wanted to hear. After the Beatles split John did an interview about how he felt some remorse for fans which were born later and would never get to see them live. But he said the records were far better and that we wouldn't have missed much anyway because of all the screaming: they couldn't even gear themselves on stage. But thanks Johnny. The Beatles will never be bettered. Still the biggest ever selling music act of all time. But they weren't just performers, they admired their musical inspirations, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard etc. At the time they toured the southern states of America segregation and racism was the fashion, it probably still is, but the Beatles had it written in their stage contracts that they would ALWAYS refuse to play to a segregated audience. They didn't have to include that clause but they did. It also pissed off a lot of racists pricks in the U.S. too. Say what you like, but the Beatles had more of a social conscience and better values than a lot of want to be's that waste our time now. But they weren't the only ones, but were one of the first in extremely hostile times.
British reggae group Aswad also scored a major hit with "Don't Turn Around"
And so did Luther Ingram.who also scored a major hit with ''Don't Turn Around".
One of the most remarkable covers of all times: Dear Prudence, from the The Beatles covered by Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Something like this list has been around for years... And I love it every time! Great job to both original artists and the covering crews! And the video crew too. Nice job guys!
The Dead Kennedys also covered, I Fought the Law. It's fantastic!
I fought the law, and I won
They play a “a message to you rudie” by the specials in banking commercials, but the original is Dandy Livingstone…. Admittedly, this one didn’t get as popular as the Blondie track mentioned before but every UB40 hit was a cover. Red red wine--come on… Neil Diamond! Teasing Hurt was clever to any non NIN fan. Props for that…
@James Dougherty Speaking of UB40, there's also another cover song worth mentioning. (I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You was originally an Elvis Presley song, but was massively popularised through the UB40's cover of the song.
Anyone who grew up in anything even CLOSE to the 80s knew that Talk Talk first made "It's My Life". It was a frigging classic anthem for many. It also happens to be one of the best damn songs from the 80s, and even though many rate it very highly, it's still super-underrated, and apparently somewhat unknown to many, since it's making an appearance on this list. But give the original a few listens. The sound and production is not "painfully 80s" as many other 80s songs are, and the haunting, deep vocals are just unmatched in terms of emotional impact.
You sound like that scene out of American Psycho?! 😅
@@Grantly Show me your new business card, I dare you!! :)
The song "I Swear" by All for One is a cover version of country singer Michael Montgomery. And the original is so good.
One of the best cover, i've Heard is the song "I Can't Explain" by Scorpions originally from The Who
There were so many artists who essentially said, "That's Aretha's song now", including Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Carole King ... May the Queen rest in peace
Was never on one of his albums, but at Bob Dylan’s 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden, Eddie Vedder covered “Masters of War” and his voice gave so much to that song, it was brilliant.
:"I feel for you", a major hit for Chaka Khan, was first written and released by Prince.
Joe Cocker - With a Little Help From My Friends (Beatles), Guns N Roses - Live and Let Die (Wings), Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons, (Nena), Rod Stewart - Downtown Train (Tom Waits)
Im surprised the most covered song of All time didn't pop up on here, Baby Please don't Go. Just look up how many times it was covered .
For Girls just wanna have fun, I still prefer Cyndi Lauper's version, but I still adore the guitars in the Robert's version of the song.
Despite Cyndi Lauper rewriting the lyrics of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Robert Hazard still has sole writing credit for the song.
Favorite cover better than the original, William Shatner: Common People, the Pulp version is great, but Shatner's delivery is exactly what it needed, and Joe Jackson singing the chorus, what's not to love?
Great list. One that surprised me was Bananarama’s hit Venus was a cover of a 60s single by Shocking Blue…..
Wow! I actually didn’t know so many of these. Hound dog belongs on the list. The Elvis hit, originally by BigMama Thornton
Or Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins.
The Monkees covered Neil Diamond's I'm A Believer
Neil Diamond wrote I'm A Believer, but the Monkees were the first to release it so the Monkees version wasn't a cover.
And then Smash Mouth ramped it up even more thanks to the popularity of the movie Shrek.
@@scottwerber8271 Wrong, Neil Diamond actually recorded both "I'm a Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" before the Monkees did.
Our Lips Are Sealed by the Go-Go's belongs to UK punk group The Specials. Love 'em both.
Was fun boy three😁
Was fun boy
@@jasonduncan8379 Ah yes, Fun Boy Three! Thanx Jason. 👍
Rod Stewart's "First Cut is the Deepest" is a masterpiece of interpretation. Sheryl Crow's version sounds like she's reading the lyrics off the sheet music.
i said to myself "they're not gonna put i will always love you on this list because everyone knows about whitney and dolly" and yet here it is at #3 on this list. wtf watchmojo? every knows, everyone has known for decades. 'i will always love you' is not a 'song you didnt know was a cover'. everyone knows!
On the contrary, many people still don't know. Once you step outside the music nerd bubble you'll realize that a lot of consumers aren't aware the song is Dolly's
I can name a few that aren't on this list: You Can't Hurry Love - Phil Collins, original by Diana Ross and the Supremes; Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins, original by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders; When a Man Loves a Woman - Michael Bolton, original by Percy Sledge; This Magic Moment - Jay and The Americans, original by The Drifters just to name a few. I can go on and on, but, I don't want to bore people.
Like how many covers of On Broadway have there been?
Great collection!
I'm surprised you didn't mention "Give a Little Bit" by the Goo Goo Dolls, which was originally done by Supertramp. And also interesting that you opened with the allusion to Johnny Cash covering "Hurt" but never went into into detail about it being a cover of the song by Nine Inch Nails.
The Supertramp version's more well-remembered
Shinedown’s version of Simple Man, Disturbed’s version of Sound of Silence. Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah. These take the original and make them better
These were songs that weren't known as covers
In the early 2000's, I was work as a janitor at a grocery store(s). At 1, we could change the satellite radio station. 1 night I changed the channel to a classic rock station, and they played Rod Stewart's The first cut is the deepest. I asked myself, when did Rod decide to cover Sheryl Crow's hit song. 😀
"Praise You" by Fatboy Slim contains the "na na na" part of the Fat Albert Show theme in it.... I always hear it! Right Said Fred sampled "Love Shack" during the chorus (the crowd cheers are from the end of the song!)
How about “Come and get your love” by Red Bone covered by Quad city djs, or “Hard to Handle” covered by The Black Crowes I thought both of those songs deserved a distinction. Also the late Chris Cornell covered Nothing compares to you as well.
Sinead O'Connor already made the cover famous. While Chris' version is good. People already know it was a cover
Aretha didn’t write any of her songs, so it isn’t a surprise that “Respect” is a cover. One of the most mind-blowing covers I think you overlooked was “Downtown Train,” cover by Rod Stewart, original by Tom Waits! If you’re looking for surprising and unexpected cobras, that should’ve been on your list. Nirvana also performed numerous covered, and not just on the unplugged album.
Same with Elvis he never wrote any of his own songs either
No more I love yous by Annie Lennox was a cover of a song originally made by a group called the lovers speak in 1986 and honestly the original has more of an emotional impact than Annie Lennox's version because the song was written and performed by the front man of the lovers speak and you can really feel the pain in the guys voice
Never knew "Tainted Love" and "I Love Rock & Roll" were covers. Never heard of the originals, until this video. Didn't know "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" was too. I'm surprised "Proud Mary" didn't make the list. Original by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Tina Turner has been identified by this song by most people. She sung the hell out of that song. Surprised "Hard to Handle" wasn't on the list. Recorded by Otis Redding and The Black Crows. I like both versions. Ditto "Don't Be Cruel" by Elvis Presley and Cheap Trick. Like both versions as well.
Thanks For Sharing!
“I Fought the Law” was originally sung by Buddy Holly. Then the Bobby Fuller Four. As mentioned the Clash performed “I fought the Law” and also Green Day.
@Christopher Bingham Neat! I didn’t know that! Buddy Holly was the earliest I was aware of.
Buddy Holly never sang i fought the law, the crickets did but it was after his death
I'd add Bobby Hatfield's (The Righteous Brothers) cover of Unchained Melody, especially his live performance on The Andy Williiams Show in 1965. I thought for decades that his was the original. In any case he totally owned it! And how about The Animals' "House of the Rising Sun" and "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"?
While there were a few in your selection that I did not know were covers, most them I did. Maybe that's just because I'm older. Fun video, anyway.
Best version of FirstCut Is The Deepest is done by Keith Hampshere. Drift Away sung by Doby Gray vs Uncle Cracker. I Can't Stand The Rain done by Humble Pie vs Tina Turner are a couple that comes to mind that you missed. Kiss wrote Hard Luck Woman and offered it to Rod Stewart but he turned it down. Lucky them. If memory serves me Stewart also was offered or supposed to record Drift Away but Doby Gray got to it first. Just one more. Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum vs Sammy Hagar
Bruce Springstein Patty Smith Because The Night. Love Patty's version
I'm sure WatchMojo can do a few one hour videos about British bands and musicians making their careers by doing covers of blues and rock and roll hits.
Finally a good song. Joanne Jett, I love rock n roll. 100% Joanne Jett was the one I remember. Though I didn't know thier name. Thought it was Pat Benatar. Same style, same girl greaser band. Rock a belly.
I only found out quite recently that Tina Turner's "The Best" was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler. Apparently Tyler covered Turner as well with "Don't Turn Around".
Yep.
Imagine a parody for this song called "The Worst" written by "Weird" Al Yankovic!
I adore Dolly, but Whitney owns that song. Patsy beats Willie. My fave covers are Jimi Hendrix Watchtower and Letters to Cleo I Want You To Want Me.
I'm not surprised Elvis and Ray Charles not on this list but it's a very, very good list. Thanks WatchMojo. 👍🏿
"Heard it through the grapevine" original Gladys Knight and the Pips, cover Marvin Gaye....
Wooooow, never knew that was a cover, it just sounds so Marvin Gaye
Sorry to correct you but it was recorded in this order Smokey Robinson and the Miracles -1966 but wasn't released until 1968 Marvin Gaye - 1967 but not released until 1968 his was the 2nd version recorded but the last to be released. Gladys Knight and the Pips - 1967 and theirs was the first version released by Motown But all 3 versions were available by 1968 Gladys Knight and
The White Stripes cover of Jolene by Dolly Parton is something everyone should experience.
Or Miley Cyrus lol
@Christopher Bingham Yep and thr original is better as well.
The thing with covers when it comes to music is that if the original singer/songwriter/band is good with it it's always a solid thing. Although considering how covers are treated usually it's hard to tell with them, but I do know that at the very least some of the best surprises when it comes to live music is when artist/band decides to bust out a cover on the fly to entertain the audience.
The arrangement in Whitneys version of I Will Always Love You actually owes a lot to Linda Ronstadt's cover. Listening to all the versions of this amazing song in a row is an experience in itself.
Much of this is new information to me, and for that I am grateful.:)
I have an issue with posts that say "songs you didn't know were covers" when most of the songs it's no secret that they were covers, and the title should be just "songs that are actually covers" to avoid the 'how can you not know that?' looks. :) There are three categories: A) Songs that get a lot of airplay even today and the covers get a bunch too, some more and some less, so it's hard to believe you don't know the original; B) Songs that don't get much airplay now so you might have to be a bit older to have heard it, thus it's plausible you didn't know it was a cover especially if you're younger; C) The original is obscure and the cover is huge, so you have every right to think the cover on the radio is the original (I admit this about "I Love Rock & Roll" and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun").
So right, the problem of these liste is in their title. Yet another factor to consider is where is a listener from. Hits, charts and airplay vary from country to country. A song can be really famous, iconic or legendary in its country of origin (and others), get versioned by an artist from somewhere else, and that cover turn into an international hit in places where the original is unknown (and where it will be considered "owned" by the cover artist who did the "definitive" version, i.e. the one that plays there). Still, as you have pointed out, since people would have no reason to think it might actually be a cover, they have every right to be surprised when they find out there's an original. But if just because nobody where you live knows it's a cover you include it in a list with this type of "universal" title, while somewhere else the original remains The One, then you will get the looks/questions (and quite rightfully so). The classic: those which for most Americans are "famous songs you didn't know were covers", for most Brits may be "covers you didn't know of famous songs", and viceversa.
I’m a fan of Hall & Oates and I never knew that Family Man was a cover song by Mike Oldfield. I was also surprised that That’s What Friends Are For by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder was a cover, Rod Stewart did the original. Also, You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker was a cover of Billy Preston’s song, You Belong to Me by Carly Simon was a cover of The Doobie Brothers,
As a fan of Mike Oldfield, I will say that the only good thing that came from either version was another chance to hear Maggie Reilly's vocals.
I was gobsmacked when I initially learned I love Rock N Roll was a cover. Surprised when I heard about Torn
FINALLY!! someone knows evil woman/wicked world transposition based upon country of album issue!!. NOTE: ALBUM BLACK SABBATH issued on NEMS had evil woman and was a bifold with an upside down cross and a poem in it. The one with wicked world was released by Warner bros.
Can you guys make a top 10 Music Made Popular by Tick Tock trends plz ?? Love your job as always !
Carlos Santanna coveted Fleetwood Mac with Black Magic Woman. As it comes from the heavy blues days of FM, quite a long time before their pop/rock days it's not surprising when it's unfamiliar
Marilyn Manson also had amazing covers of Tainted Love and Sweet Dreams.
Correct, but his covers are well known
@@mixfour4230 I mean, I knew most of these were covers.
"Amazing"
sweet dreams for sure. can't say the same about tainted love tho...
@@brittanygil6806 these are just my opinion. Not everyone is gonna like them.
"Police On My Back" by The Equals covered by The Clash. "Take Me to the River" by Al Green covered by the Talking Heads. Am I really the only person in the universe that knows this? Or is it the fact that I'm not which disqualifies them from this list?
Good Catch on the Talking Heads.
No mention of Black Majic Woman by Fleetwood Mac covered by Santana? What were you thinking?
I have one. I didint know that blinded by the light by Manfred Manns Earth Band was a cover of a Bruce Springsteen. The manfred version is just too gods in my opinion I didint even know that!
6 and 3......Duh?!!! Also Whitney also did Chaka Kahn's I'm Every Woman. Hands up. Who didn't know 3 and 6 were duhs?!
Smokin in the Boys Room - Motley Crue. original by Brownsville Station The Tide is High - Blondie original by The Paragons Gloria - Laura Branigan original by Umberto Tozzi (and it's in Italian) Red Red Wine - UB40 original by Neil Diamond Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann original by Bruce Springsteen Cadillac Ranch - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band original by Bruce Springsteen Cum on Feel The Noize - Quiet Riot original by Slade You Can't Hurry Love - Phil Collins original by The Supremes
Led Zeppelin's In My Time of Dying. Old blues tune done by the Animals before Zep. Judas Priest Diamonds and Rust is actually a Joan Biaz tune.
Here's one you probably didn't know about. The hit song You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me wasn't originally ny Gladys Knight. There were other versions of sung before her by artists such as Dean Martin, Steve Lawrence, Andy Williams and country singer Ray Price. Please comment or like if you've ever heard any of these other versions.
Awesome Video
I Turn to You - Christina Aguilera (originally by All 4 One for the Space Jam OST), Friends and Strangers - Ronnie Laws (originally by David Oliver) and Native New Yorker - Odyssey (originally by Frankie Valli)
Did anyone else know talk talks version but not no doubt? 😂
I was actually expecting Hard to Handle by Black Crows, originally sang by Otis Redding.
13:00 “And the Dave Matthews Band has been also covering the song for more than twenty years much to the delight of fans old and new” Could’ve said something like that. 🤷🏾♂️
not even a mention for Whiskey in the Jar? I was shocked when I found the original on Classic Vinyl
It's was literally on a cover album
It is an old Irish folk song so no one really knows the original artist.
I have to mention a historically very important one that many people don't know (or maybe just forget). In fact, it could take the number 1 spot based on the irony. Garth Brooks' cover of "Shameless" was originally written and performed by Billy Joel. It was on Billy's Storm Front album but never released as a single. Garth covered it in 1991, just 2 years after Billy released the original. At the time, and over the course of the late '70s and through the '80s, Billy Joel was second only to Elvis as the most successful male solo artist in the music business. Ironically, Garth Brooks overtook him sometime during the 90's not too long after Brooks' cover of "Shameless" hit #1.
Jimmy hendrix, and Johnny Cash covers, are the Best by far. Even better than the original version.