I’m sick of politics. Let’s have a respite.
This may lead to a lot of You Tube links in the comments. Please, put the link in FIRST then additional comments AFTER, even if you just type a period.
This will knock out the embed, which we do not want in the comments. Thank you.
Love My Way by the band LIVE
(Remake of Psychedelic Furs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBL-dpHVuxI
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I added the period! I swear I did.
The period has to be on the next line, as in-
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-bfh
“Corrina Corrina”
Done by everybody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSYq0sNSAkA
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Killing me softly (before the Fugees and not Roberta Flack!)
Summertime has be mixed just a little bit, incase you didn’t know, no point picking a single from YouTube, so here’s Wiki:
There are over 25,000 recordings of “Summertime”. In September 1936, a recording by Billie Holiday was the first to hit the US pop charts, reaching no. 12. Other versions to make the pop charts include those by Sam Cooke (US no. 81, 1957), Al Martino (UK no. 49, 1960), The Marcels (US no. 78, 1961), Rick Nelson (US no. 89, 1962), and the Chris Columbo Quintet (US no. 93, 1963). The Zombies released their version in January 1965 on their debut LP The Zombies. The most commercially successful version was by Billy Stewart, who reached no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and no. 7 on the R&B chart in 1966; his version reached no. 39 in the UK. Janis Joplin’s version with Big Brother and the Holding Company has been highly praised. David Starkey in his article “Summertime” says that Joplin sings the song “with the authority of a very old spirit”.
In Britain, a version by the Fun Boy Three reached no. 18 on the singles chart in 1982. Lynda Carter covered this song on her 2009 jazz album At Last. Scottish singer and ex-Eurythmics member Annie Lennox covered “Summertime” on her album with jazz standards Nostalgia in 2014. Jazz pianist, vocalist and musician Norah Jones gave her interpretation of this classic standard in 2003 in a live performance with Marian McPartland.
The song “Doin’ Time” by Sublime starts with the words “Summertime and the living’s easy” and contains elements of “Summertime”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5X8cn4zzA8 Well before Roberta Flack’s version.
http://www.shsmedia.com/originals.html
I’ve lovingly maintained my list of some 170+ “Forgotten Originals” here. These are mostly from the ’60s or ’70s. It’s great to listen to these, and some are so much better than the famous, later version, in my opinion.
Here’s the list, with song name, original artist, artist of famous version:
(There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me Lou Johnson Sandie Shaw
A Groovy Kind Of Love Diane & Annita The Mindbenders
Act Naturally Buck Owens Beatles
All Along the Watchtower Bob Dylan Jimi Hendrix
All My Love Sonny West Buddy Holly, as “Oh Boy”
Angel Of The Morning Evie Sands Merilee Rush
Any Way That You Want Me Evie Sands Troggs
Apache The Shadows Jorgen Ingmann
Baby, It’s You Shirelles The Beatles, 1963; Smith, 1969
Barbara-Ann The Regents The Beach Boys as “Barbara Ann”
Bette Davis Eyes Jackie DeShannon Kim Carnes
Back Magic Woman Fleetwood Mac Santana
Blinded by the Light Bruce Springsteen Manfred Mann
Blue Moon Shirley Ross as “The Bad In Every Man” then The Marcels
Glen Gray and his Casa Loma Orchestra as “Blue Moon”
Boots Lee Hazlewood Nancy Sinatra
Brandy Scott English Barry Manilow
as “Mandy”
By The Time I Get To Phoenix Johnny Rivers Glen Campbell
California Dreaming Barry McGuire Mamas and Papas
California Sun Joe Jones Rivieras
Chains Cookies Beatles
(They Long To Be) Close To You Richard Chamberlain Carpenters
Cocaine J. J. Cale Eric Clapton
Come See About Me Nella Dodds Supremes
Dazed and Confused Jake Holmes Led Zeppelin
Dedicated To The One I Love The ‘5’ Royales Mamas and Papas
Do-Wah-Diddy Exciters Mannfred Mann
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood Nina Simone Eric Burdon and the Animals
Dream A Little Dream Of Me Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra Mama Cass
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love Solomon Burke Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, Blues Brothers
The First Cut Is the Deepest P. P. Arnold Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, others
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger Roberta Flack
Evil Ways Willie Bobo Santana
Galveston Don Ho with the Oak Ridge Strings Glen Campbell
Gentle On My Mind John Hartford Glen Campbell
Girls Just Want To Have Fun Robert Hazard Cyndi Lauper
Go Now Bessie Banks Moody Blues
Got My Mind Set On You James Ray (w/Hutch Davie Orchestra) George Harrison
Hanky Panky The Raindrops Tommy James and the Shondells
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother Kelly Gordon Hollies
Here Comes The Night Lulu and the Luvvers Van Morrison and Them
House of the Rising Sun Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Gwen Foster as “Rising Sun Blues” (1933) Animals
Hush Billy Joe Royal Deep Purple
I Can Hear Music Ronettes Beach Boys
I Can’t Let Go Evie Sands Hollies
I Can’t Turn You Loose Otis Redding Chambers Brothers
I Fought The Law Crickets Bobby Fuller Four
I Hear You Knocking Smiley Lewis Dave Edmunds
I Love Rock & Roll The Arrows Joat Jett
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden Joe South Lynn Anderson
I Shot the Sheriff Bob Marley Eric Clapton
I’ll Never Fall In Love Again Jill O’Hara & Jerry Orbach Bobbie Gentry, 1969; Dionne Warwick, 1970
I’m Into Something Good Earl-Jean (McCree) (of the Cookies) Herman’s Hermits
Indian Reservation Marvin Rainwater as “The Pale Faced Indian” Don Fardon
It’s All Over Now Valentinos Rolling Stones
It’s In His Kiss Merry Clayton Betty Everett as “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)”
Jesus Is Just All Right Art Reynolds Singers Doobie Brothers
Jock-A-Mo James Sugarboy Crawford & his Cane Cutters Dixie Cups as “Iko Iko”
Killing Me Softly With His Song Lori Lieberman Roberta Flack
Kitty Racey Toni Basil
as “Hey Mickey”
Lady Marmalade (Voulez Vous Couche Avec Moi) Eleventh Hour Patti LaBelle
Last Kiss Wayne Cochran J. Frank Wilson
Leaning On A Lamp Post George Formby (1937) (click for info) Herman’s Hermits
Let’s Work Together Wilbert Harrison Canned Heat
Little Honda (click for info) Beach Boys Hondells
(album release) (first single release and hit)
The Look Of Love Dusty Springfield Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66
Louie Louie Richard Berry Kingsmen
Love In Vain Robert Johnson Rolling Stones
Make it Easy on Yourself Jerry Butler Walker Brothers, and then Dionne Warwick
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Fairmount Singers Gene Pitney
Mbube Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds The Weavers as “Wimoweh”,
The Tokens as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
Me And Bobby McGee Roger Miller (first recording) Janis Joplin
Kris Kristofferson (composer)
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Marlena Shaw Buckinghams
Message To Martha Jerry Butler Adam Faith, then Dionne Warwick as “Message to Michael”
Midnight Train To Georgia (click for info) Jim Weatherly as “Midnight Plane To Houston”, Gladys Knight
then Cissy Houston as “Midnight Train To Georgia”
Montego Bay Bar-Kays Bobby Bloom
Mustang Sally Sir Mack Rice Wilson Pickett
My Boy Lollypop Barbie Gaye Millie Small as “My Boy Lollipop”
My Girl Sloopy Vibrations McCoys
as “Hang On Sloopy”
My Little Red Book Manfred Mann Love
My Sweet Lord Billy Preston George Harrison
(Written by George Harrison for Preston, who was first to record it. Harrison was sued by the Chiffons for the song’s alleged similarity to their “He’s So Fine”.)
Needles And Pins Jackie DeShannon Searchers
Nobody But Me Isley Brothers Human Beinz
On Broadway The Cookies (unreleased original) Drifters
Crystals (first release)
One Less Bell To Answer Keely Smith The 5th Dimension
Over and Over Bobby Day Dave Clark Five
Papa Was a Rolling Stone Undisputed Truth Temptations
Queen of Hearts Dave Edmunds Juice Newton
Rave On Sonny West Buddy Holly
Reach Out For Me Lou Johnson Dionne Warwick
Reason To Believe Tim Hardin Rod Stewart
Respect Otis Redding Aretha Franklin
Respectable Isley Brothers Outsiders
Rhinestone Cowboy Larry Weiss Glenn Campbell
Ring of Fire Anita Carter Johnny Cash
River Deep, Mountain High Ike & Tina Turner Eric Burdon and the Animals
Rock Around The Clock Sonny Dae & His Knights Bill Haley & Comets
Shambala B. W. Stevenson Three Dog Night
Shame, Shame Keith Colley Magic Lanterns
Sloop John B The Kingston Trio Beach Boys
(1st recording under this title)
Smiling Faces Sometimes Temptations Undisputed Truth
Someday We’ll Be Together Johnny & Jackey Diana Ross and the Supremes
Something Stupid Carson & Gaile Frank and Nancy Sinatra
Sonny Mieko Hirota Bobby Hebb (who was the composer)
Sookie Sookie Don Covay Steppenwolf
Sorrow McCoys Merseys
Sugar and Spice Searchers Cryan’ Shames
Sweets For My Sweet Drifters Searchers, and the Riddles
Take Me For A Little While Evie Sands Jackie Ross, and later, Vanilla Fudge
The Air That I Breathe Albert Hammond Hollies
The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore) Frankie Valli Walker Brothers
The Tide Is High The Paragons Blondie
The Twist Hank Ballard Chubby Checkers
Time Is On My Side Irma Thomas Rolling Stones
Trains And Boats And Planes Burt Bacharach & Orch Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas
Try a Little Tenderness Ray Noble Orchestra (1932) The contemporary format of a slow start and rollicking ending was first recorded by Otis Redding (1966) and covered by Three Dog Night (1969)
Twist and Shout Top Notes Isley Brothers, and then the Beatles
Unchained Melody Todd Duncan Righteous Brothers
Video Killed the Radio Star Bruce Woolley & the Camera Club Buggles
Walk Tall (Like a Man) Verdelle Smith 2 of Clubs
We’ve Only Just Begun Crocker Bank TV commercial, Carpenters
first recorded as single by Freddie Allen
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On Roy Hall Jerry Lee Lewis
Wild One (1958) Johnny O’Keefe Iggy Pop as “Real Wild Child (Wild One)”
Wild Thing Wild Ones The Troggs
Wishin’ And Hopin’ Dionne Warwick Dusty Springfield, 1964; Merseybeats, 1964
Without You Badfinger Harry Nilsson
Woodstock Joni Mitchell Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
You Showed Me The Byrds (as “The Jet Set”) The Turtles
You’ll Never Get To Heaven Dionne Warwick Stylistics
You’re No Good First recording: Dee Dee Warwick Linda Ronstadt
First charting: Betty Everett
You’ve Made Me So Very Happy Brenda Holloway Blood, Sweat, & Tears
Elvis Presley:
Ain’t That Loving You Baby Eddie Riff (1956) Elvis Presley
Any Day Now Chuck Jackson Elvis Presley, 1969, Ronnie Milsap, 1978
Are You Lonesome Tonight First release by Elvis Presley
Charles Hart (1927)
Blue Moon Of Kentucky Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys (1947) Elvis Presley
Blue Suede Shoes Carl Perkins (1956) Elvis Presley
Burning Love Arthur Alexander Elvis Presley
Good Rockin’ Tonight Roy Brown (1947) Elvis Presley
Heartbreak Hotel Glen Reeves Elvis Presley
Hound Dog Big Mama Thornton (1953) Elvis Presley
Freddie Bell & the Bellboys (1956)
I Feel So Bad Chuck Wills (1954) Elvis Presley
Love Me Willy & Ruth (1954) Elvis Presley
Love Me Tender “Aura Lee” copyrighted in 1861, Elvis Presley
recorded by Frances Farmer in 1936
My Baby Left Me Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (1950) Elvis Presley
Mystery Train Little Junior & the Blue Flames (1953) Elvis Presley
Now And Then There’s A Fool Such As I Hank Snow (1952) Elvis Presley
Old Shep Red Foley (1941) Elvis Presley
One Night Of Sin Smiley Lewis (1956) Elvis Presley
Peace In The Valley Flying Clouds Of Detroit (1947) Elvis Presley
Such A Night Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters (1954) Elvis Presley
Suspicious Minds Mark James Elvis Presley
That’s All Right Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (1947) Elvis Presley
That’s When Your Heartaches Begin Shep Fields Rippling Rhythm (1937) Elvis Presley
Too Much Bernard Hardison (1956) Elvis Presley
When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again Wiley Walker & Gene Sullivan (1941) Elvis Presley
“Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/lzQ8GDBA8Is
Originally recorded/performed by Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton.
…
“My Sweet Lord” …..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rinz9Avvq6A …..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA0GcXV2njY
Joan Osborne just one of my favorites, so hard to choose.
Kevin is winner of the internet today
Simply Red
You Make Me Feel Brand New
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PssiJ9ywc0g.
Formerly done by The Stylistics in 1974
Don’t you mean Kevin used up all the internet today?
‘This Thing Called Love’ ~ Bonnie Raitt,
‘Angel Eyes’ ~ Jeff Healy Group
….both written, composed & performed by John Hiatt
“When I’m Gone” – Anna Kendrick.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmSbXsFE3l8
Previously performed by Lulu and the Lampshades (based on the original from the 1930s by the Carter Family).
@LocoBlancoSaltine – thanks for the “Love My Way” remake! LOVE that song! Chair dancing as I type this! 😀
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,”
Performed by Daryl Hall & John Oates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXX5OtJJWDo.
Of course the original version by the
Righteous Brothers in 1964 still rules.
‘Pancho & Lefty’ ~ Willie Nelson
originally written & performed by Townes Van Zandt
… & performed sooooo much better by Emmy Lou Harris
Back Door Man – Willie Dixon
Doors: https://youtu.be/uk_ilymWo4s
House of The Rising Sun – Lomax family Roy Acuff, Woodie Guthrie and Lead Belly
Animals: https://youtu.be/MgTSfJEf_jM
Crossroads Blues – Robert Johnson
Eric Clapton: https://youtu.be/MtLhPeLB9bA
Baby Please Don’t Go – Big Joe Williams
AC/DC – https://youtu.be/TDZrbTd-kZs
Sha La La-Shirelles then Manfred Mann
One Way Out – Sonny Boy Williamson
Allman Brothers : https://youtu.be/XAyaw4ktO5g
Bad Company
“Young Blood”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShlIDGPVQzs.
There is a live from Wembley version but it has a minute where the band is introduced by Paul Rodgers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRzNNfIhHC0.
Zip to the minute mark
Black Betty – Lead Belly
Ram Jam: https://youtu.be/lJJg3ezoraA
Oops… One Way Out – Elmore James
Dark End of the Street – James Carr
Flying Burrito Brothers.
I know I’m Losing You – Temptations
Rod Stewart
Me and Bobbie McGee Kris Kristofferson
Janis Joplin :https://youtu.be/WXV_QjenbDw
Jumpin’ Jack Flash – Rolling Stones
Alex Chilton: https://youtu.be/mfT7fhmXhvI
Dust My Broom – Robert Johnson
James Elmore https://youtu.be/aKo80b-QfK0
Annie Lennox – A Whiter Shade Of Pale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVYGwqYvPCI.
David Lanz does a great piano version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMA8M7nbYHE.
Procol Harum’s best song ever!
Can’t find a link but Billy Squire had a band in the 70’s called Piper.
They did a remake of the Stones ‘The Last Time’
Jimmy Buffett
Southern Cross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7Ah-Ch8NQ4.
Excellent live version of the CSN&Y song
Brown Eyed Girl
Performed by Everclear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9TWwXyd050.
Many remakes of this one but their take is pretty cool.
Jimmy Buffett does it well too.
You’re sorta doing this backwards.
It’s famous songs that were covered BEFORE the better known version.
Like
RESPECT-
Respect-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGJXmpKGXY
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cdGlA04laNM
?
Try this one on for size – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, before Cyndi Lauper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aLNwOxPsjg
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Kevin, fascinating list. Add “I go to pieces” Del Shannon: Peter & Gordon. And “Apache” first by Jerry Lourdan. Fwiw, Sonny James did a vocal version on RCA that was surprisingly good.
Hey, you wanted a respite.
It’s the best I can do.
*Walks away and kicks at the ground…
Bette Davis Eyes- before Kim Carnes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAQsOJbs-yo
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Here’s Apache:
http://youtu.be/-XzIbjilcYQ
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You’re right.
Respite, any way we can get it.
Tainted Love before it was fruited up by Soft Cell-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U
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“When You Say Nothing At All” by Alison Krauss – done as a tribute to Keith Whitley:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2arIinLwqGQ
Turned out to be much better than original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GpXYKp7_Qw .
Edit please? I can’t follow simple instructions.
The Killers
Romeo & Juliet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtmorUXAwiI.
Oops, still doing it wrong 🙂
They also do a Girls Just Want To Have Fun like the last link you posted Fur
Black Betty
Meatloaf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYKOKTFtc4A.
Racist song? I give up…
How about a “who did it best?”
Céline Dion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxoj-tDDIU.
Meatloaf:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSnkVAAs_l4.
Written by Jim Steinman.
Great power ballad writer.
I prefer Céline
@Moxie Man:
Amen, Alison did that one right. That song/version almost saved my first marriage.
Almost.
ok Fur…. gotcha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d0bs4lA1t4 …
…before Bonnie Raitt
‘Angel Eyes’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d0bs4lA1t4 …
…before the Jeff Healy Band
‘Call Me The Breeze’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlppIdtLw5A
…before Lynyrd Skynyrd
‘After Midnight’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7b16bVdLaI
…before Eric Clapton
‘Cocaine’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGRjQ7WOmq8
…before Clapton …. again
geez, I could do a ton of ‘before Clapton’
“Mares eat oats and does eat oats …”
Done by Tommy James and the Shondells before … or uhhh … after … that other guy … uhhh … damn … now I forgot …
“Wedding Bell Blues”
Original written and recorded by Laura Nyro, 1966.
Hit version recorded by The 5th Dimension, 1969.
Still have no idea how to post a link from a tablet.
“Promises, Promises”
Original: Jerry Orbach (original Broadway cast album), 1968.
Hit: Dionne Warwick, 1970.
Before Judy Collins. Still prefer the Patty Loveless version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37_3sASufZw .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHw62eZpHk4
I’ve always preferred Dolly’s sweet version of I Will Always Love You to Whitney’s, which came later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9LHfBcTeAo
Urge Overkill – Neil Diamond original
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2WKoN8K6nI
Don’t Leave Me This Way by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (before Thelma Houston). I actually like this version better.
Good idea, Fur. I need a rest from presidential politics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhk1Bs6pF6I
Always On My Mind, by B.J. Thomas. The song was written for him by Wayne Carson & Mark James.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bdMSCdw20.
Big Yellow Taxi before that other un-listenable version came alone
Aunt Liz, here’s another one you might like by that same group:
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Qlb8mIiUo.
Norman & Liz, Ed Kowalczyk does a good job with John Lennon’s Mind Games:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhtAv-GSY8U.
He is a solo artist now.
Officially impressed … posts mention at least a half-dozen I didn’t know about! This is truly an eclectic group right here.
Gloria – John Lee Hooker w/ Van not really a ‘cover’ just doesn’t get much better. https://youtu.be/Xi2EgyZo2Pw
Whinin’ Boy Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxkvu_gWlQI
Jelly Roll Morton… (explicit lyrics! Yes, even in 1939 – Tipper, we harldy knew ya)
Hugh Laurie, Eric Copeland, Ernie Hawkins, Hot Tuna (also Jorma Kaukonen with David Bromberg), Janis Joplin, Leon Redbone, Allen Toussaint (instrumental), Grateful Dead… I wonder what “Jelly Roll” would have thought had he known how that dirty little ditty would become a foundation!
Angel From Montgomery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXqFFfVpnhQ
John Prine, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Miranda Lambert, and in the last couple of years it has shown up on “The Voice” teevee show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qo9R5kDZWY
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Going Up The Country – Canned Heat
based on Bull Doze Blues by Henry Thomas.
Always liked Canned Heat.