I was listening to the radio and they played Hippy Hippy Shake by the Swinging Blue Jeans, which is their most famous song. Then the DJ mentioned it wasn't their song but originally by Chan Romero. This got me thinking about band's whose most famous song isn't actually by them, and the first one that sprang to ming is Status Quo - Rockin All Over The World, which is by John Fogerty.
Then later in the radio show they interviewed Joan Jett and it was mentioned that I Love Rock'N'Roll isn't actually by Joan Jett, but by The Arrows.
any more examples of this people can think of..? I supose a lot of one-hit-wonders did a a cover version then disappeared forever, but I'm trying to think of more established acts where this is the case...
Excellent topic, there is much to choose from. I too have made the mistake of thinking a band or two was responsible for someone else's work. Heres a few off the top of my head.
Alient Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDl9ZMfj6aE
Pseudo Echo - Funky Town (one of my favorite covers btw)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnejLmQGYhg
Erasure - Tainted Love. So many people don't know this was a motown song from the 60's.
Another one I thought of...
Orgy - Blue Monday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_nJRzCpBE
Quote from: Flick James on June 24, 2010, 09:07:52 AM
Erasure - Tainted Love. So many people don't know this was a motown song from the 60's.
Wasn't that Soft Cell rather than Erasure?
Quote from: JJ80 on June 24, 2010, 09:26:18 AM
Quote from: Flick James on June 24, 2010, 09:07:52 AM
Erasure - Tainted Love. So many people don't know this was a motown song from the 60's.
Wasn't that Soft Cell rather than Erasure?
Yes, though they all blend together after awhile and sadly, I like most of them. :bluesad:
Quiet Riot = Slade "cum on feel the noize"
Quote from: The DarkSider on June 24, 2010, 09:57:01 AM
Quote from: JJ80 on June 24, 2010, 09:26:18 AM
Quote from: Flick James on June 24, 2010, 09:07:52 AM
Erasure - Tainted Love. So many people don't know this was a motown song from the 60's.
Wasn't that Soft Cell rather than Erasure?
Yes, though they all blend together after awhile and sadly, I like most of them. :bluesad:
That's true, they do tend to belnd together a little. I do like most of that genre myself too.
Smith - Baby It's You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEs-3zC9zSw&feature=related
Manfred Mann's Earth Band for Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light" and Bob Dylan's "Quinn the Eskimo." They had several other cover singles, I don't think they ever had a hit with original material.
Quote from: Flick James on June 24, 2010, 09:07:52 AM
Erasure - Tainted Love. So many people don't know this was a motown song from the 60's.
"Tainted Love" was covered by
SOFT CELL in 1981...
GLORIA JONES had the first crack in '64, but it missed national charts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U
JIMI HENDRIX really ramped up
BOB DYLAN's
"All Along the Watchtower" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bng3agUOYiI
Quote from: Allhallowsday on June 24, 2010, 05:11:38 PM
Quote from: Flick James on June 24, 2010, 09:07:52 AM
Erasure - Tainted Love. So many people don't know this was a motown song from the 60's.
"Tainted Love" was covered by SOFT CELL in 1981...
GLORIA JONES had the first crack in '64, but it missed national charts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U
JIMI HENDRIX really ramped up BOB DYLAN's "All Along the Watchtower"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bng3agUOYiI
Sorry, all. Yes, Soft Cell. I just immediatly thought Erasure in my head when I posted.
Fear Factory - Cars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbUsw6PvUYM
These ladies were not in bands, but were known for singing othere people's songs.
Patsy Cline made "Crazy" famous, but Willie Nelson wrote it.
Whitney Houston's version of "I will always love you" made The Bodyguard a best selling soundtrack, but Dolly Parton wrote it and sang it years before.
I may be wrong, but I think Tiffany's biggest hit would be the cover of :
"I Think We're Alone Now"--Tiffany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=826PTEuHKhE
Quote from: HappyGilmore on June 24, 2010, 08:20:34 PM
I may be wrong, but I think Tiffany's biggest hit would be the cover of :
"I Think We're Alone Now"--Tiffany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=826PTEuHKhE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMFLUXTEwM
Quote from: Flick James on June 24, 2010, 05:45:45 PM
Quote from: Allhallowsday on June 24, 2010, 05:11:38 PM
"Tainted Love" was covered by SOFT CELL in 1981... GLORIA JONES had the first crack in '64, but it missed national charts:
Sorry, all. Yes, Soft Cell. I just immediatly thought Erasure in my head when I posted.
No problem; I had seen the other responses, I like to clarify and/or confirm if I'm able. Your posting made me look up
GLORIA JONES! :smile: :thumbup: An excellent contribution.
Quote from: Allhallowsday on June 24, 2010, 08:37:45 PM
Quote from: HappyGilmore on June 24, 2010, 08:20:34 PM
I may be wrong, but I think Tiffany's biggest hit would be the cover of :
"I Think We're Alone Now"--Tiffany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=826PTEuHKhE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkMFLUXTEwM
That's it...Tommy James. I knew she covered it, but couldn't think of the original. And from what I could recall, it was her biggest hit. I couldn't name you one other song she did.
Side note, I'm basing my selections off what garnished the most air play for the particular band. For example, Fear Factory has a rather large METAL following and are known for many other great songs but their cover of GN's "Cars" snagged them the most airplay. Same with Orgy's cover of "Blue Monday".
Wet Wet Wet is famous for Love is all Around which is a cover version of the original by...
Laura Branigan - Gloria (1982)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gucn6XIb5qM
Umberto Tozzi - Gloria (1979)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ2uQhgNYVY&feature=related
Twist and shout - Top Notes, made famous by The Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsDpc-8iR8g
Great idea for a thread!
Goldfinger seems to qualify. They have a number of original songs that did good, but their covers of 99 Red Balloons and Is She Really Going Out With Him? are quite popular.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASScXyEMSmc
Goldfinger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8PScDbLdeQ
Joe Jackson original
I seem to be one of the few who likes Goldfinger's version better. I think it's because I find the exaggerated inflections of the singer pretty funny.
The Ataris - Boys Of Summer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64_7R-7vCS0
Children of Bodom did a remake of Opps, i did it again w/ Britney Spears.
Awful band covering a great song.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTPFlwZ6gmI
Swans got a major label deal beacause of the success this cover, but Gira despises it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiQsv3Q5P8Y
Another good one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvAYIJSSZY
Rockwell's original version is his one hit, with Michael Jackson singing the chorus.
You may have heard Mysto & Pizzi's version on the Geico commercials.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkf95onRgcc
I like both versions, actually.
cheers for these,guys. quite a few I never knew of...
Quote from: The DarkSider on June 25, 2010, 11:40:30 AM
Side note, I'm basing my selections off what garnished the most air play for the particular band. For example, Fear Factory has a rather large METAL following and are known for many other great songs but their cover of GN's "Cars" snagged them the most airplay. Same with Orgy's cover of "Blue Monday".
my neighbour had a fear factory CD with a cover of Nirvana 'school' as th last track. can't remember what album
The Byrds's version of Turn Turn Turn is more famous than Dylan's version I think..
Quote from: Flick James on June 24, 2010, 09:07:52 AM
Erasure - Tainted Love. So many people don't know this was a motown song from the 60's.
talking of Erasure does anyone remember Wheatus's second song the cover of 'Respect' by Erasure? I thought at the time it was a really random song for them to cover. they're still more well known for the dreaded 'Teenage dirtbag' though :teddyr:
Silhouettes (on the shade) originally performed by the doo-wop group known as the Rays in 1957,
then picked up by Herman's Hermits in 1965
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdGYK7VpeEE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrBYFFDTwio
Quote from: Jim H on June 28, 2010, 04:45:03 AM
Another good one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YvAYIJSSZY
Rockwell's original version is his one hit, with Michael Jackson singing the chorus.
what about Blame It On The Boogie, written by Michael Jackson, but not
that Michael Jackson, who then heard it and covered it, making it famous, while the other Michael Jackson's version went nowhere. you couldn't make it up!
Stories' "Brother Louie" was originally recorded by Hot Chocolate.
Naked Eyes' "Always Something There To Remind Me" was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and Dionne Warwick did the original demo in 1963. Sandie Shaw and Lou Johnson, as well as many others, had covers before Naked Eyes had theirs in 1983.
The Kingsmen's version of "Louie, Louie." (I prefer Richard Berry's original).
Metallica "One Last Caress" which was originally written and performed by the Misfits.
But at least it introduced people to the Misfits.
Quote from: Nukie 2 on June 29, 2010, 02:50:57 PM
Metallica "One Last Caress" which was originally written and performed by the Misfits.
But at least it introduced people to the Misfits.
also Diamond Head originally did "Am I Evil"
suppose this thread should be about 2 different things: artists who are most well known for someone else's song, and artists who made a song more well known than the original artist did. because obviously Metallica are not most well known for a cover. (probably have to say Enter Sandman is their most well known tune? debatable one, Master Of Puppets is up there...)
Quote from: DCA on June 29, 2010, 05:45:52 PM
Quote from: Nukie 2 on June 29, 2010, 02:50:57 PM
Metallica "One Last Caress" which was originally written and performed by the Misfits.
But at least it introduced people to the Misfits.
also Diamond Head originally did "Am I Evil"
suppose this thread should be about 2 different things: artists who are most well known for someone else's song, and artists who made a song more well known than the original artist did. because obviously Metallica are not most well known for a cover. (probably have to say Enter Sandman is their most well known tune? debatable one, Master Of Puppets is up there...)
I'd hate to go too off topic, but I'd say Sandman is their most well known tune. If anything, cause it was a crossover type hit, with a lot of MTV play, not just on Headbanger's Ball either. I would hear it not just on the "Rock" stations, but on the Top-40/Pop style stations. Hell, even heard it on an Adult Contemporary station that plays stuff from Hootie and The Blowfish and Richard Marx, so yeah.
I too belive Metallica in their early days (before they were signed) got kudos for covering Diamond Head, Savage, and lots of other NWOBHM bands. People were telling them how great their songs were but little did they know that they were covers.
On the Garage days EP they covered Killing Joke's "the Wait" which introduced me to that band.
Also, Blue Cheer got famous for their cover of "Summertime Blues".
Quote from: Rev. Powell on June 29, 2010, 10:52:35 AM
The Kingsmen's version of "Louie, Louie." (I prefer Richard Berry's original).
That's one of the more extreme ones, I'd say. Good example. Must admit I greatly prefer the Kingsmen version - I find the background singer in the original kind of annoying, and I like the more upbeat instrumentation of the Kingsmen version. Like 'em both though.
The Kingsmen version is so iconic now that most covers include the error where the singer comes in early. That's pretty incredible, really.
Blue Swede had their biggest hit with "Hooked On A Feeling", which was originally performed by BJ ("Don't call me Blow Job") Thomas.
Blondie- Hanging on the Telephone is originally by the Nerves but I don't think a lot of people are aware of that.
Quote from: StatCat on July 23, 2010, 12:54:31 AM
Blondie- Hanging on the Telephone is originally by the Nerves but I don't think a lot of people are aware of that.
I did not know that. good shout