bands most famous for someone else's song

[Allhallowsday]

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

[Allhallowsday]

"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!      An excellent contribution. 

[HappyGilmore]

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.

[Mr. DS]

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". 

[Doggett]

Wet Wet Wet is famous for Love is all Around which is a cover version of the original by...

[claws]

Laura Branigan - Gloria (1982)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gucn6XIb5qM

Umberto Tozzi - Gloria (1979)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ2uQhgNYVY&feature=related

[Criswell]

Twist and shout - Top Notes, made famous by The Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsDpc-8iR8g

[Jim H]

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.

[Mr. DS]

The Ataris - Boys Of Summer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64_7R-7vCS0

[Leah]

Children of Bodom did a remake of Opps, i did it again w/ Britney Spears.

[voltron]

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

[Jim H]

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.

[zombie no.one]

cheers for these,guys. quite a few I never knew of...

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..

[zombie no.one]

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 

[Nukie 2]

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