42 Songs You Didn't Know Are Covers

[@DavidBennettPiano]

📌 18:14 I had to cut out the clip of Ram Jam's "Black Betty" due to copyright issues. Sorry for any confusion caused by the janky cut.

[@quicktastic]

The Star Spangled Banner which was a popular hit for Whitney Houston, was actually written by Frank Key in 1814 and released on his album 'Songs Of The Revolution' in 1816.

[@lawrencebenjamin502]

... Giggle !

[@zimmejoc]

I preferred Jimi Hendrix's version to Whitney's though.

[@jsos9434]

That’s a solid debut wax cylinder

[@ElwoodPDowd1970]

The Star Spangled Banner used the music to a song called To Anacreon in Heaven written in 1775, or so it is claimed. Dunno, I didn't pick up all the many similarities when I checked it out, personally, but I'm far from the best at noticing those kind of things. FWIW, the Battle Hymn of the Republic is nothing more than re-written lyrics to the music used for John Brown's Body. That one, even I notice. I think this kind of thing used to be very common, before effective copyright came into existence.

[@rdspam]

I’ve always wondered whether Lady Gaga was singing an original at the inauguration…

[@ronpieket8164]

Hi David! Has anybody mentioned "Venus", made famous by Bananarama in the late eighties? This song was first recorded by the Dutch rock band Shocking Blue in 1969.

[@CJSports307]

Love Buzz by Nirvana was a Shocking Blue song too (he might’ve covered that in this series already, I don’t remember)

[@tau.r.u]

Shocking Blue's Venus in turn is a rework of The Banjo Song by The Big 3 (which in turn is an arrangement of the folk song Oh! Susannah, but the melody is very different). One of the members of The Big 3 by the way was Tim Rose, who made the arrangement of Hey Joe that Jimi Hendrix used. (Coincidentally, another member of the Big 3 was called Jim Hendricks. He was the husband of the third member, Cass Elliot, of the Mamas & the Papas fame)

[@rossamullen5918]

Didn't Bananarama originally write Young at heart, which was later released by The Bluebells?

[@MadCatNobody]

what's weird is they play both versions of this song where i work.

[@Grombags]

@@rossamullen5918 I didn't know that! It seems Robert Hodgens of The Bluebells co-wrote it with Bananarama and then adapted it. Listening to the original and it's very different

[@DonovanPresents]

"Black Magic Woman," famously played by Santana, was originally released by Fleetwood Mac from their lesser popular blues album of the same title. I found this out when my college was clearing out some of their vinyl collection and were giving them out to students at the time

[@cakemartyr5794]

That's on the previous video he did on this subject

[@SamiKankaristo]

Fleetwood Mac's "Black Magic Woman" wasn't released on an album, it was only released as a single (and on later compilation albums, like "English Rose"). That was pretty common back then, even for popular songs.

[@ericparker163]

Learn something new every day, thanks 🍺

[@bfish89ryuhayabusa]

​​@@SamiKankaristo I think they're referring to a compilation album titled Black Magic Woman, which is just the debut album and the English Rose comp in one package. Still technically a non-album single.

[@Pataluhta]

@@SamiKankaristo I remember Juice Leskinen with his band that time was playing before Santana at some summer festival, Santana denied anyone to play his tunes there. Juice played Black Magic Woman, Carlos was upset, Juice pulled him back to ground: "We played Fleetwood Mac's Black Magic Woman" :D

[@robertlight2370]

I have to say that I'm loving how you show as many of the old 7" singles sleeves as possible. They are a real slice of history.

[@SatelliteSounds]

Nilsson is one of my favorite artists ever, and all his covers he took to another level. What a voice, what a soul.

[@nicktaylor2657]

Pete Ham gave the song Without You to Harry Nillson because he thought he could turn it into a hit He was right 😊

[@pelucrespins8562]

Very good, but he didn't compose a fu.... one

[@wladmuir]

@@pelucrespins8562 Who wrote "One" then? I thought he did.

[@ziggystardog]

Killing Me Softly reportedly has over 160 covers, but it wasn’t originally by Roberta Flack or The Fugees, but by the songwriter Lori Lieberman. Flack heard the song on an airplane flight and decided to cover it to great success. It’s reportedly about a performance of another singer songwriter, Don McLean.

[@Panda_man..]

The original version by Lieberman is so beautiful. Now, I’m not saying that Flack’s and the Fugees versions aren’t great in their own right and ways, but being that the idea for the lyrics came from Lieberman herself, you can really feel what she’s singing about in a way you haven’t before when listening to this song. Almost like growing a new sense of understanding of the lyrics.

[@oravlaful]

lori's version is my favourite

[@dougbrockelbank1196]

I love the Roberta Flack version. Lieberman should get more credit for creating the song but was cheated by her colleagues.

[@CarysCreatesThings]

When I was a kid, I entered a competition to win Fugees concert tickets. The question was ‘who originally sang Killing Me Softly?’ I answered Roberta Flack, and I won. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I discovered Lori Lieberman recorded it first. So if I’d known the correct answer, I would have lost.

[@MortanAMrk]

Still crazy Liebermann is still uncredited

[@NorkelFjols]

Here's one: Soft Cell's Tainted Love (1981) is a cover of a Motown-sounding recording from the mid 60's by Gloria Jones.

[@cjlister8508]

I think that's pretty common knowledge though. These are mostly deeper cuts.

[@NorkelFjols]

@@cjlister8508 I don't know. I knew several in the video, but this one was new to me fairly recently.

[@TheTrumpReaper]

Northern Soul style. 🇬🇧👍🏽🥾

[@specialkalberta]

I could've been knocked over by a feather when I found that out.

[@AndrewAMartin]

@@NorkelFjols I think he covered that in the earlier video on covers...

[@iliketowatchducks]

Best part of this video is the fact you just get on with it, no transitions or bs. Thanks!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

😊😊

[@barbarahallowell2613]

So TRUE that!😊

[@richdiddens4059]

How about I Heard It Through The Grapevine? Written for Gladys Knight and the Pips but first recorded by The Miracles, and then by Marvin Gaye, and finally by Gladys Knight. Her version was released first and became Motown's biggest hit at that time. Then The Miracles version was released about 1 year later and Marvyn Gaye's about 4 months later. His version eclipsed hers and became Motown's best seller ever. But whose is the original and whose the cover.

[@reuireuiop0]

​@@richdiddens4059 Most white rockers know it by CCR, quite a monumental reworking, but nowhere a soul song like Marvin or Gladys

[@klaxoncow]

@@DavidBennettPiano You're doing it wrong, David. I've watched many "WatchMojo" countdown lists and what you're supposed to do is give us an audio description of every clip, without actually showing the clip - because that's what everyone clicks on the video for, to experience a "tell, don't show" audio description list - and then "mansplain" it all for an extra minute as well, because you need the video to last 10 minutes for the ads. (I jest. But the KZbin Algorithm - all hail the Algorithm! - seems to think this is awesome, as "WatchMojo" plagues every recommended list, no matter what you're watching or searching for.)

[@shazbot7192]

I like the way you thread the story through the music and the artists, it adds some love. I'm 63, so I did know a lot of these, but mostly forgotten, so thanks for trip down memory lane. Keep it up :)

[@JockoJonson17]

Nirvana "Love Buzz" is a cover of the Shocking Blue song. They also wrote "Venus" which was covered by Bananarama.

[@dannyheroufosse9580]

And Shocking Blue found their inspiration in 'The Banjo Song' by The Big 3

[@succumbtoviolets]

Tom Cochrane's "Life is a Highway" was a major hit in the US (and Canada obviously) and was a staple of mainstream rock radio for many years (and basically still is). It's the much better known version here; it just didn't cross the pond.

[@gemfyre855]

It was big in Australia, I remember when it was a hit in the early 90s.

[@LuisSantos-nf9rs]

In Portugal, it was also a hit - when I heard it in Cars, I knew straightaway it was a cover.

[@gabrielhicks8043]

Just an anecdote but I'm from the US and have never heard the Cochrane version before, but I've heard the Rascal Flats version countless of times. I'm not sure if the original is the more popular one over here.

[@eileennono5039]

@@gabrielhicks8043 I suspect it's a generational thing. The original came out in 1991 and was popular for a long time afterwards (especially in Canada) so if you were listening to rock radio in the 90's then it's the one you know. After 2006 the Rascal Flats version probably took over (except maybe in Canada where CanCon rules apply).

[@0xFEEDC0DE]

@@eileennono5039 Agreed. I think it even showed up in a soundtrack to a big American movie, so there must be some non-Canucks that heard it back then.

[@spindriftdrinker]

Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair" is also based on an old English folk song, but their particular version comes from an English folk singer named Martin Carthy, who was not properly credited. One of my favorite 1960s singer-songwriters is Laura Nyro - I lover her original versions of "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoney End", "And When I Die", "Eli's Coming" and "Save The Country" - these were big hits for The Fifth Dimension, Barbra Streisand, Blood Sweat and Tears, Three Dog Night and again 5th Dimension.

[@Nomad-vv1gk]

Nyro was a good writer, but a less than average singer.

[@spindriftdrinker]

@@Nomad-vv1gk Ridiculous comment

[@brianruyack7632]

Great comment, I've been a fan of those songs for a long time. There's a version of Save the Country from a TV show with Ray Stevens and Lulu that is also awesome.

[@salerio61]

Ewan MacColl might have a few things to say it was copied from Carthy. Anyway, the song goes back to the 19C

[@Bacopa68]

Whiskey in the Jar is Irish and at least 300 years old. Black Betty dates back to a game played at Appalachian weddings 200 years ago, but a similar song was known to freed slaves serving alongside British forces during the War of 1812. Also, in the South, black and white people often shared music. Cotton Eyed Joe is a good example. Most people think it's whiter than white, but earliest accounts say it's black. And where I live there are plenty of black kickers who line dance one county over. They even have a Reconstruction era HBCU. BTW, "kicker" is short for "sh1t kicker", an East Texas term for a small plot rancher.

[@cisium1184]

And of course Texas has the whole German-Mexican thing, too. Texas is a far more diverse place than its sometimes given credit for.

[@Highrollinhunter]

The Metallica cover of Whiskey In A Jar is badass

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

@@cisium1184 Texas was also originally a Mexican territory before seceding and then joining the US shortly after. We were taught that in school, at least in Florida, but most people seemed to quickly forget, and the popular perception seems to be that there's a lot of Mexican culture in Texas strictly because of Mexican immigrants, like borders are real geographical or even social constructs and not political ones subject to whim. As an aside "Come and take it!" as an anecdote from the Texan secession is something I love about Texas as a non-Texan. The fact that it was -a cover- an echo of something Leonidas told Xerxes at Thermopylae only makes it better. That human-spiritual connection across two millennia is fantastic.

[@jayco800]

I thought the Irish Rovers wrote it, too funny. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYqqqniImpeJmNk

[@mr.k905]

I read somewhere that in the case of California Dreaming by McGuire it has not only Phillips and Cass singing the backings, it IS the same backing track as the Mamas & Papas version.

[@cinquettitt6161]

yes, that's right!

[@thomasblecha]

that's correct, it's actually the same recording with just the lead vocal re-recorded by Danny Doherty and the harmonica solo replaced by a flute solo

[@cazgerald9471]

Manfred Mann covered three songs from Springsteen's debut album, "Blinded by the Light", "Spirit in the Night", and "For You"

[@P1984-z5i]

I never thought I'd hear David Bennett mention Irish comedian/singer Brendan Grace. He was huge in Ireland in the 90s my parents loved him ,a very niche Irish audience

[@rossamullen5918]

And a starring role in Father Ted.

[@MilliganCleese]

“Who’d he be like? Hitler or one of those mad fellas?” “Good god no. You wouldn’t find Hitler playing jungle music at three in the morning.”

[@nonddd9222]

Fr Stacks fave banging tune is itself a remix ( or cover version, if you will ) of Cutty Ranks Limb by Limb, by someone i cant google right now. So now ye are all sitting there , imagining it, with a big smile on yer faces.

[@AidaCF]

La Bamba, made famous by Richie Valens, is actually an Afro-Mexican folk song.

[@amiquigonzales7917]

And very very sung and celebrated in Hispanic America, I don't know if in Spain. A traditional song we all sing in Spanish.

[@petersage5157]

I actually remember hearing the original versions of most of the songs on this list on the radio. Wow, I'm old. A lot of songs from the Big Band era were originally written for somebody else and only later recorded by the original songwriter. Two that immediately spring to mind are "My Way" by Paul Anka (made popular by Frank Sinatra) and "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé (made popular by The King Cole Trio). It's a fairly common practice in the music industry to this day. It's important to remember that the reason they're called "covers" is because back in the day the songs were re-recorded and surreptitiously placed in record stores, often blatantly violating the song owner's copyright, literally covering up the original recordings with the covers. In many cases the original singer was Black and the cover singer was White.

[@welcometonebalia]

Well, "My Way" is the adaptation in English of a French song by Claude François, "Comme d'habitude", so...

[@alexkunce2002]

@@welcometonebalia David Bowie took a crack at the lyrics, but they didn't like them, gave the song with new lyrics to Sinatra, Bowie got upset, and wrote Life On Mars?.

[@karelvandervelden8819]

No, the lyrics of ¨My way¨ were written by Paul Anka, the melody was stolen from that french song. Something like ¨I´m a man¨ by Chicago was an honest known cover of ¨The Spencer Davis group¨.

[@Freekoismus]

​@@welcometonebaliaabsolutely!!! David Bennett is the not absoulte knowledge. Wish he becomes aware of this...

[@CarysCreatesThings]

When I found out Elton John recorded a cover of ‘To Be Young, Gifted, and Black’, I assumed he did it as a political statement to celebrate the Black community and show solidarity with them. Then I found out that he was actually hired as a session singer to record one of those ‘soundalike’ knock-off records in 1970 (a few months after Nina Simone released her version). So they hired a white British man to impersonate a Black American woman singing a civil rights anthem about Black excellence. Edited: I just looked up Elton’s version as it’s been years since I listened to it, and his version was a copy of Bob & Marcia’s reggae version. There’s a female vocalist duetting with Elton who was apparently white too.

[@fry9700]

This documentary was hypnotic, I loved every second of it. I could watch it for hours and hours, I hope they release more.

[@pelucrespins8562]

Vete al peo

[@muskratdove]

I feel so old...I've been collecting music since I was given my first lp in 1963 - before I could read. Had 8-Track, cassette, reel-to-reel, cds. Started digitizing everything in the late 90s. I have most of these originals, plus the covers. Still, it was nice to hear and learn a few new tidbits! Two of my uncles were DJs, but the whole family loved music! Thanks!

[@EmoBearRights]

Love is All Around by Wet, Wet, Wet made famous by 4 Weddings and A Funeral was a no.1 hit for The Troggs most famous for Wild Thing.

[@benjamingeiger]

And famously covered by Billy Mack, becoming the Christmas #1... 😄

[@EmoBearRights]

@@benjamingeiger The best version except for maybe the one REM did on their Unplugged.

[@stoodsea3221]

Underdog by Sly and The Family Stone is also one of those weird covers of unreleased songs. It was originally writen by Beau Brummels but never released until Sly and The Family Stone covered it.

[@Alice-qt9mz]

since you mention cascada and manfred mann's earth band there is a direct pipeline of songs originally written by bruce springsteen, then recorded or covered by someone else and then covered or remixed by a german techno duo in the 2000s... ok by pipeline i mean it happened 3 times but ‘if i had a penny’ etc etc the songs i am referring to are ‘because the night’ (springsteen (inconplete and only recorded live in concert)->completed and recorded by patti smith->patti smith version covered by cascada) ‘blinded by the light’ (springsteen->covered by manfred mann->manfred mann remixed by michael mind) ‘for you’ (springsteen-> covered by manfred mann-> remixed by the disco boys) though the cascada version was the only intl hit, the other 2 got a good amount of radio play at least in germany and france

[@fnjesusfreak]

I think Cascada based their version on the cover by 10,000 Maniacs, but I may be wrong.

[@m.l.1320]

@@fnjesusfreak jan wayne did also a cover of because the night in 2002. most of his song are covers

[@factoidband]

"Because The Night", made really famous by that superb version by 10,000 Maniacs, was actually a Springsteen song that he gave to Patti Smith, who completed it, so they're both considered writers.

[@ChristianRThomas]

You are quite wrong about Richard Harris. He was absolutely stellar in the '60s as a singer alone, though he was already a very accomplished actor with an Oscar. He played the lead in Camelot which was only marginally less successful than The Sound of Music or Oliver! His interpretation of MacArthur Park is fantastic and basically sets the template for Donna Summer. To get a 7 minute song into multiple Top 10s and be a million seller is no mean achievement, especially when it's on such an abstruse topic. Dumbledore is unquestionably going out on a high but if one properly appreciates the rest of his career, both singing and acting, then it's really only a postscript.

[@DavidMoxham957]

Jimmy Webb was about 19 when he wrote it. Talented little bugger!

[@robertbrescia3196]

Jimmy Webb originally wrote a piece of music that was a 17 minute cantata with the Association in mind. He played it for the group and their producer Bones Howe in late 1967. Although Bones thought that the group should record it, they turned it down because it would take up a whole side of an album. They thought that they could do better (they only had one more top 10 hit after that "Everything That Touches You"). Jimmy was quite disappointed and decided to take the last seven minutes of the cantata, called "The MacArthur Park Suite" and produce it for Richard Harris, who took the song to No. 2 on the Hot 100. Ten years later Donna Summer would best Richard's chart position and took the song to No. 1 for three weeks in November of 1978.

[@ChristianRThomas]

@@robertbrescia3196 Thanks for taking the time to give us that bit of backstory and history. It's very much appreciated. I think, from the reading around I did to check my facts but which are a little rusty 2 weeks later, that he got to No.1 in the UK, which is what counts. ;) Having said that, Donna Summer's version is the one I tend to listen to these days.

[@johncarroll772]

Harris mad ex hell raiser

[@davidwalterhall]

I think there's a video to be made on Songs You Thought Were Traditional. I grew up thinking the song Fields of Athenry was written in or around the 1840s, when it's set. It's an important song in Ireland, where I'm from, not least for being sung by crowds at rugby matches. I was shocked to find it was written in 1979. It just feels too authentic for that. I think most rugby crowds singing it assume it's old too, but you'd have to ask them. Maybe similarly, there's also And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda, set during the first world war but written in 1971, but for me, when I first heard that, I took it to be a modern (post-Dylan) piece of writing, which it is. For all the great poetry of the first world war, nobody thought to write a song like that in 1918.

[@barbarahallowell2613]

And Back Home in Derry. Lyrics Bobby Sands MP, music is Gordon Lightfoot's Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Back Home in Derry just sounds like it's really old, telling a tale but was like 1980 or 81. Christy Moore made it famous.

[@popfortyfive]

If Not For You was an album track for George Harrison but it was also Olivia Newton-John's first international hit. She uses George's arrangement.

[@rslitman]

Yes, I was going to post that Olivia's version is probably the most famous.

[@BarbaraBylow]

Right! That's the version l remember. My prepubescent voice could nail Olivia's range. Now, I'm more like Ronnie Millsap 😂

[@BlacksBeachBoogieBurner]

Hers was best imo

[@bill-y5j3q]

Actually, Harrison was covering a Dylan tune released on his New Morning album.

[@andrewhudson8966]

@8.08 Bob Dylan does not play on George Harrison’s version of If Not For You but George does appear on Bob’s version that was released on Bob’s Bootleg Series Vol 1-3.

[@PaveDearce]

"When You Say Nothing At All" was also expertly performed by Alison Krauss and Union Station.

[@pensivepenguin3000]

The only version I was aware of, and judging by the sounds of those clips, by far the best version. I was shocked he did not mention her

[@margaretschultz6209]

​@@pensivepenguin3000I first heard the song in a homemade video Brian and Katie's evolution of wedding dance

[@barbarahallowell2613]

So true.

[@charlesgladden7886]

But the Original was Sung by Keith Whitley

[@simonshaw2449]

4:22 The original Badfinger version of Without You is one of my favourite songs from the 70s. Good to see someone remember them.

[@amiquigonzales7917]

Badfinger were extraordinary talented, and their music was so outstanding .... but they were so so unlucky and got scammed. So so so sad. Good those who were enchanted by their music still remember them. They should get all the credit they deserve. From South America with gratefulness.

[@r.r.f.kalkhoven]

Red Red Wine by UB40 is a cover of a cover. The original version is by Neil Diamond and in 1969 Tony Tribe made a boss reggae/skinhead reggae version which inspired UB40 to make their reggae cover of the song.

[@Millwall77]

Thank you! Finally.

[@antonioeasypiano]

"One Step Beyond" recorded by Madness in 1979 is a cover of the song firstly recorded by Prince Buster in 1964 (a wonderful song to be covered)

[@weevie833]

Just about everything The Specials recorded on their first album were covers. This is immediately apparent if you listen to the SomaFM music channel Heavyweight Reggae. Even "Stupid Marriage" is derived from a couple "Judge Roughneck-style" novelty reggae records.

[@reuireuiop0]

​@@weevie833The original of "You wondering now" is one of the best reggae ballads I know, but I doubt I'd ever heard it if for the Specials

[@JimmyMacDaddy]

They also got their name from a Prince Buster song.

[@krisbraun4754]

@@reuireuiop0 andy and joey at studio one.orignal reggae mix, wondering now

[@eileenmclaughlin4354]

'You're Wondering Now' is the theme tune of the TV drama 'Death in Paradise'.

[@bryanschimmel]

All By Myself originally recorded by Eric Carmen and became a huge hit for Celine Dion. I Will Always Love You, originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton became the massive hit for Whitney Houston. Both of the hit versions by Celine and Whitney were arranged and produced by David Foster.

[@alexkunce2002]

Wow! And I Drove All Night by Celine Dion was a cover of Roy Orbison. My favourite version of the song, however, is Cyndi Lauper's, before Celine Dion.

[@reggaebothsidesnow2772]

Co written by Rachmaninoff 😮😮

[@0xFEEDC0DE]

That Carmen song was YUGE in the 70s!

[@Erlewyn]

And in both cases he added a key change.

[@rawfish_8.3]

Actually the original 'All by Myself' was sung by Tre Cool for Green Days 1994 breakthrough album Dookie, where it appeared as a hidden track

[@Ian45968]

I drove all night was a hit for Cindi Lauper in 1989. It was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly in 1987 for Roy Orbison. He recorded a demo that was never released, so the writers gave the song to Cindi. Then in 1992 Jeff Lynne produced a new version with Roy's vocals which was a big hit.

[@Speedbird9L]

Could taste your sweet kisses, Your arms open wide, This fever for you, Is just burning me up insi…. iiiiiid… iddddeeeee! Roy Orbison, eh? What an amazing voice!

[@adamgh0]

Half of "She's So Unusual" is covers.

[@dashcamandy2242]

Celine Dion covered it, and it's a great cover. Still love Cyndi's version, though.

[@dirkvonhoegen5365]

Foe me, Cyndi's Version is the most amazing one.

[@rslitman]

I was a big fan of Herman's Hermits as a teenage girl in the mid-1960s. I later learned that most of their hits were covers: "I'm Into Something Good" - American r&b singer Earl-Jean "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" - Goldie or Goldy & the Gingerbreads "I'm Henry the 8th I Am" - song dates back to 1911 "Leaning on the Lamp Post" - song dates back to the 1930s "Silhouettes" - late 1950s hit by the Rays "Wonderful World" - late 1950s or early 1960s hit by Sam Cooke, later covered by Art Garfunkel I don't think "A Kind of Hush" was a cover, but it was later covered by the Carpenters.

[@Resgerr]

Wonderful World was sung by Louis Armstrong not Sam Cooke

[@rslitman]

@@Resgerr The Sam Cooke song that was also done by Herman's Hermits is a different song from the Louis Armstrong song. And while the Louis Armstrong song is sometimes called "Wonderful World", its actual title is "What a Wonderful World".

[@notu13man63]

A Kind of Hush was cover. It was originally done by the New Vaudeville Band, the guys who did Winchester Cathedral.

[@rslitman]

@@notu13man63 Thanks. I didn't know this.

[@CarysCreatesThings]

@@Resgerr Don’t know much about (music) history

[@thegreatkompass]

You probably know this already, but Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by TMBG is a cover, the original song was made by The Four Lads for the 500th anniversary of the collapse of Constantinople.

[@dashcamandy2242]

It's nobody's business but the Turks'.

[@hebneh]

“Why they changed it, I can’t say - people just liked it better that way..”

[@phynex06]

Let's not kid ourselves. The most popular rendition of MacArthur Park is undoubtedly Jurassic Park by Weird Al.

[@Chigger]

Weird Al's version makes more sense.

[@almyvannucci392]

I know the Richard Harris and the Weird Al versions but not the Donna Summer version.

[@illegal_space_alien]

@@Chigger 🤣 Seriously. MacArthur Park lyrics feel like they were written in a fever (or drug) delusion.

[@0xFEEDC0DE]

@@illegal_space_alien Believe it or not, the song captures an afternoon in the eponymous park. If Webb was high on anything, it might have been heartbreak.

[@pensivepenguin3000]

I had no idea it was based on a real song until this video lol. I thought it was one of Al’s genre pastiches

[@MakkaPakka7999]

Another well known cover is Cum On Feel The Noize, which was covered by Quiet Riot but was originally by Slade.

[@mattwuk]

And Oasis

[@jmiguelrodriguez]

Just wrote the same 😅. Not to mention that Slade version is way better (just listen to the drum section) than the copy.

[@Bacopa68]

Slade did it better.

[@RhymesWithCarbon]

It was a more minor hit, but they covered Slade again with "Mama Weer All Crazee Now"

[@jamespohl-md2eq]

@@RhymesWithCarbonIt wasn’t a hit at all.

[@pillmuncher67]

"Act Naturally", written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, first recorded and published by Buck Owens & The Buckaroos, later covered by the Beatles.

[@dustmybroom288]

I have only ever heard of the Buck Owen’s version

[@TheFreeBass]

@@dustmybroom288 Ditto.

[@richardgratton7557]

@@dustmybroom288I have always been a fan of Buck Owens. He had a great sound. But I think the Beatles version is superb. It rocks more. Ringo is the lead vocalist on it. Also, Ringo recorded a duet with Buck Owens of « Act Naturally » in the 80s, I think.

[@MrMockigton]

lets be honest: for most songs between 1910 und 1960, pretty much everything is a cover. and lets not kid ourselves: 90 % of mainstream music still are covers to this day.

[@wendigo53]

Both "pretty much everything" and "90%" seem high. I agree there are less covers these days, as the internet has changed the music industry. (Much like Dutch Elm disease changed elm trees.)

[@lMonopolyguy]

Badfinger is the most underrated band of all time, with the most tragic fate at the same time.

[@polyvg]

One of quite a number of Welsh bands who did some amazingly influential work. Like Amen Corner.

[@amiquigonzales7917]

Badfinger were extraordinary talented, and their music was so outstanding .... but they were so so unlucky and got scammed. So so so sad. Good those who were enchanted by their music still remember them. They should get all the credit they deserve. From South America with gratefulness.

[@alastairdallas]

City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie, originally recorded by its author, Steve Goodman. (Maybe this was in Part I.)

[@ivanobellini]

Laura Branigan’s 2 most famous songs are covers of Italian song. Gloria by Umberto Tozzi and Self Control by RAF

[@MKPiatkowski]

Her producer was producing both those songs and had her record them almost simultaneously!

[@dashcamandy2242]

"How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" was pretty big too, written by Michael Bolton and Doug James (and later released by Michael Bolton, where it became a hit all over again). Of course, this track was released on her 2nd album... (SIDE NOTE: Laugh all you want about Michael Bolton, he wrote "I Found Someone" for Branigan, which was a minor Branigan hit, a massive Cher hit, and a massive hit a THIRD time when Bolton himself released it.) Man, she had a set of pipes on her! Her unique vocal cracks always added a certain something to her tunes. I grew up listening to the entire "Self Control" cassette in my father's car, and nearly forty years later a digital copy still gets regular playback in mine. Her rendition of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" is probably my favorite cover of that song. "Heart, are you still beating? Is there enough of you left to break?" from "Heart," off "Self Control."

[@boscotheman82]

She also did covers of The Power of Love and Forever Young

[@diamonddog13]

One fascinating example of a cover is Diana Ross's version of Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Originally done by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. The Ross cover is so different from the original that you could probably call it less a cover and more an extrapolation (like 7 Rings). But that version was produced by the songwriters, Ashford and Simpson. Very smart, as they were able to double-dip on the royalties.

[@pensivepenguin3000]

I love Diana Ross but that one just doesn’t quite do it for me the way the original does

[@rslitman]

A lot of Motown hits were originally recorded by one of the label's other artists before the hit version.

[@BlacksBeachBoogieBurner]

My favorite version of the Dylan song "If Not For You" is actually Olivia Newton John's, I believe it was her first major hit also. Pretty sure it was recorded after George Harrison's version

[@digbybaines7813]

If Not For You was also the first top ten hit for Olivia Newton John in 1971. As a kid from that time, hers was the first version of that sing I heard.

[@45jch45]

I love rock n roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts is also a cover. The original version was recorded by the band The Arrows in 1975.

[@ChasMusic]

Joan Jett has done a lot of covers and I love most of them

[@TheRealDoctor1AndOnly]

​@@ChasMusicyup crimson and clover is another one.

[@Hilldrum]

I'm glad this video exists. It scratches the itch of "where have I heard this song before?" Growing up in the 90s I vaguely remember listening to handful of these originals on the local AM station, only for my memory to be overshadowed by the newer artists. I'm not saying the covers aren't good in their own right, but it's a nostalgic to hear "Denise" and "The Tide is High" ring in my head as it did back then.

[@TheStickCollector]

A good reason to look at the original to look at the differences

[@BlacksBeachBoogieBurner]

Very few people are aware that the famous Procol Harum song "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is actually a cover of a JS Bach organ sonata. I got into Bach in the mid seventies and had a vinyl record back then on the Deutsche Grammafon (German) label of Bach organ sonatas, which had that particular sonata with the exact song melody. Unfortunately I later donated that record to a public library. Nobody (including the world wide web) seems to be aware of this connection of Bach to Procol Harum, and credit the song to PH members. Wish I still had that record...

[@DavidMoxham957]

Not sure it's Bach? It's a piece called "Canon in D Major" by an even earlier baroque composer called Johann Pachelbel.

[@BlacksBeachBoogieBurner]

​​@@DavidMoxham957 Yes I'm sure it was Bach because the entire vinyl record was solely Bach organ works, and labeled as such on the "Archiv" label, which was or is still a subsidiary of Deutsche Grammafon. I was never much a fan of Pachelbel actually and would've noticed if there was a single work of his among the Bach works, I would've thought that odd. The only Pachelbel work I'm very familiar with actually is that canon similar to an endless loop with variations worked in, never really liked it.

[@DavidMoxham957]

@@BlacksBeachBoogieBurner I bow to your superior knowledge especially as I don't have the well rounded knowledge of classical music that you obviously have. My favourite piece by Bach remains "Jesu' joy of thy desiring".

[@BlacksBeachBoogieBurner]

@@DavidMoxham957 yeah that's a great one among so many greats, what's funny is I had forgotten this video was about pop and rock music, I had gotten so absorbed in the Bach thing...

[@amiquigonzales7917]

As a non-English native looking out for information about Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale, the first thing I read was to notice the Bach's intro. And it was back in 1968.

[@davidlees2963]

There was a radio station I was listening to who was using the tagline "Original songs by the Original artists" which was followed by Cream's version of "Crossroads".

[@Quintzal]

I'm a Believer: most people these days probably know The Smash Mouth version and be vaguely aware that it's a cover. The Monkees had a hit with it in the mid 60's, but Neil Diamond originally wrote it. I don't know if Mr. Diamond's version was recorded before or after the Monkees' version, as he wrote many songs for other artists back then.

[@mikeddolphin]

Pretty sure I'm a Believer was written specifically FOR the Monkees. According to Wikipedia, Neil Diamond plays on that recording. Also of note, other than Mickey Dolenz's singing, the Monkees don't play ANY of the instruments. All studio musicians. I think they did play instruments in their live performances later though...

[@MelissaThompson432]

Bands typically did not play their own instruments in those days. All four band members had been working musicians before getting the Monkees gig. If you do a little research, you'll find that each studio or locale had its own group of dedicated studio musicians. In LA, it was the Wrecking Crew. In Muscle Shoals, they were known as the Swampers, cited in the song, "Sweet Home Alabama."

[@MelissaThompson432]

Diamond probably did pitch "I'm a Believer" to the Monkees. They recorded it in 1966; he recorded it in 1967. They sang several of his songs. If I remember correctly Kirschner contacted several songwriters and asked for submissions.

[@mikeddolphin]

@MelissaThompson432 true. Also true in modern times, in many cases! But the Monkees were not originally a band, but a TV show. The execs never expected them to play instruments on their songs. But as they grew in popularity, they became an actual band, and even wrote a few songs (I think). The band members had to campaign for that, as they were not necessarily cast in their best instruments (Dolenz was a guitarist, I believe). The story of the Monkees is particularly interesting!

[@adamp2029]

The original Life is a Highway was a big hit as well. At least it was on WXPN in Philadelphia back then.

[@daylightrambler]

It dominated on VH1, which at the time targeted the Adult Contemporary audience

[@MKPiatkowski]

Couldn't escape it in Canada.

[@pauljordan8033]

Yeah, I never heard the Rascal version of it.

[@JohnHazl]

The quintessential "two original versions" for me is Because the Night. It was mostly written by Bruce Springsteen, but he wasn't happy with it and agreed to let Patti Smith record it (they shared an agent). Smith's version has some original lyrics by her, but the music is all Springsteen; Springsteen has never put his version on a record, but plays it live.

[@scottruisch6593]

It was also recorded by 10,000 Maniacs. Not sure if their version charted but Natalie Merchant did a great job with it.

[@smjpl]

I was under the impression Springsteen wrote the music and chorus, but didn't have any verses. It was given to Smith who added the verses. I could be wrong though. I though Life is a Highway was Tom Petty until I saw this video.

[@dashcamandy2242]

@@scottruisch6593 "Well, it's time to start so let's say hi to uh, Natalie and 10,000 Maniacs!" Their MTV Unplugged album is great, and when you listen to it in surround sound... 🤯 Fully-immersive, it really sounds like you're at an actual concert in-the-round. Even the person in the audience who randomly whistles during "About the Weather" seems to have a specific place that "feels" as if it's across the stage on the opposing side. The audio engineers and mixers really nailed it. According to a brief Wikipedia search, in 1993/94 it reached #7 on Billboard US Top 40/Mainstream, #7 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, and #9 on Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary. Not too shabby, especially for a live recording of an all-acoustical song!

[@escapecar]

The verses Springsteen eventually wrote are quite different, and were in a state of flux for a while. The versions he played live from 78-84 eventually coalesced into what's on the "Live 75-85" box set. He did go back and rework his '78 recordings with lyrics closer to Patti Smith's on the 2010's "The Promise", a collection of 77-78 era outtakes.

[@THE_HMRC]

1:34 Don't Leave Me This Way was sung by the late, great TEDDY PENDERGRAS, and at that time he was the lead singer of the group, Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes. Melvin did not like it that Pendergras was usurping him (Melvin was NOT a great singer) as the star of the group, and soon after this song, Pendergras went solo.....and the rest is history...

[@marcosmenescal2962]

Thanks, David, for compiling those amazing covers! For your next video, you might want to explore the fascinating world of plagiarism in music. As a Brazilian, I can share stories about Brazilian singers, but I’m sure there are many similar cases out there. Here are some well-known cases worth exploring: 1- There's a rumour in the music scene that Deep Purple's famous "Smoke on the Water" riff was plagiarised from Carlos Lyra's "Maria Moita." Ritchie Blackmore has never confirmed this, but the similarities are undeniable. 2- Gotye, aka Wouter André "Wally" De Backer, had to pay 1 million dollars to Luiz Bonfá's family for plagiarising Bonfá's work in his hit “Somebody That I Used to Know.” 3- Jorge Ben Jor sued Rod Stewart for plagiarising his song "Taj Mahal" in the hit "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy." Stewart admitted to the plagiarism and, as part of the settlement, agreed to donate all profits from the song to UNICEF. This resolution has since become a well-known example of copyright disputes in music. 4- Black Sabbath and Brazilian singer Vanusa have been compared due to similarities between Black Sabbath's song "Solitude" and Vanusa's song "What to Do." Vanusa released her track in 1973, while "Solitude" appeared on Black Sabbath's Master of Reality album in 1971.

[@AutoReport1]

"I know an old lady who swallowed a fly" covered by a lot of people including Pete Seeger and Burl Ives, although most don't know it is not traditional and was first recorded by one of the writers in 1952. Led Zeppelin also covered "nobody's fault but mine", from a WPA recording of Blind Willie Johnson.

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

The original Harris version of McArthur Park is the only one I've ever heard, until today.

[@perlman-t2g]

You are not missing anything.

[@nyobunknown6983]

Harris' version is fantastic and a classic 60s song. It shows how old I am because I find it hard to believe that anyone wouldn't know the newer one was a cover. The cover version sucked.

[@Scott_From_Maine]

Glen Campbell also covered it, as he performed so many Jimmy Webb songs.

[@Nicksonian]

Harris’ original version was a HUGE hit. I remember hearing it on the radio daily. Nothing against Donna Summer, she was in a different universe from Harris as a singer, but I would bet Harris outsold her.

[@benjamingeiger]

I mean, it was popular enough for Weird Al to parody it...

[@davidfrischknecht8261]

My introduction to "MacArthur Park" was Weird Al's parody "Jurassic Park". My introduction to "To Make You Feel My Love" was Garth Brooks' cover.

[@RhymesWithCarbon]

Jurassic Park _is_ frightening in the dark!

[@rslitman]

My introduction to "Make You Feel My Love" came via covers by two of my favorite singers, Neil Diamond and Billy Joel. Neil's is not bad, but I can't stand Billy's.

[@artembaguinski9946]

His Achy Breaky Song parody is on the same album :)

[@cm4n63]

my introduction was Maynard Ferguson's cover. if you like brass or jazz, definitely worth a listen

[@elijahrivasinmyxlyrics761]

The tide is high (got that feeling) Cover by : Atomic Kitten The original was The Paragons (1967) 3:29 timestamp.

[@SaltBayGull]

A great example of a song with two original versions (like China Girl) is Our Lips are Sealed, about Jane Wiedlin and Terry Hall’s relationship, and released, fittingly, by the Go-Go’s and Fun Boy Three (Fun Boy Three’s version came out a couple years later)

[@CFWhitman]

I thought of one: "Whenever I Call You Friend" was written by Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester, who planned to record it together, but couldn't find common time in their schedule. Instead, Kenny Loggins recorded a version with Stevie Nicks, which was released as a single in 1978, while Melissa Manchester sang it with Arnold McCuller for her self-titled album the next year. Interestingly, they finally recorded it together just last year.

[@JoeKell365]

i don't know if you've mentioned either one yet, but i can think of two songs by Robert Johnson that have cover versions that are much more famous than his originals: They're Red Hot, popularized by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1991, and Cross Road Blues, popularized by Cream as "Crossroads" in 1968

[@beethockmtee8565]

Surprised there was no mention of the fact that, although Bob Dylan did indeed write and record "Make You Feel My Love," the earliest release of the song was actually performed by Billy Joel.

[@jasonremy1627]

I was always much more familiar with the Tom Cochrane version of Life is a Highway. It was a big hit when I was younger.

[@samkingsway6564]

100%!!

[@CarysCreatesThings]

Here’s an interesting one you might want to use in a future video: Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson. Jackson co-wrote it with Paul Anka in 1980, but they only recorded a demo with Anka on piano and Jackson on vocals. Then Johnny Mathis recorded it for his 1984 album A Special Part of Me. After Jackson died, the original demo was remixed for the ‘Michael’ album, but didn’t make the cut. It was eventually released in 2014 as the first single from Xscape. It’s another one of those “whose version is the original?” scenarios, because although MJ co-wrote it and recorded a demo, Johnny Mathis was the first to record and release a full studio version. Then again, the vocals from Jackson’s posthumous release were taken from his original demo, so I don’t think it can really be considered a cover.

[@CharlesOffdensen]

21:33 ОК, here are some songs, that are known because of famous covers: American Pie - Don McLean Hound Dog - Marc Shaiman Some Guys Have All the Luck - The Persuaders Venus - Bananarama Living Next Door to Alice - New World Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Ozzie Nelson Stranci U Noci - Ivo Robic (actually written by Bert Kaempfert and I don't know who recorded the song first) Suga Suga - Baby Bash, Frankie J Private Emotion / Heimliche Sehnsucht - Live The Hooters Easy - Commodores Somebody To Love - The Great Society Angel Of The Morning - Evie Sands Since I Don’t Have You - The Skyliners Something Stupid - Pessoa, Carson and Gaile One-Way Ticket (To The Blues) - Neil Sedaka Mambo No. 5 - Pérez Prado Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You - George Benson The Twist - Hank Ballard Love Hurts - The Everly Brothers I Want A New Drug - Huey Lewis & The News Games People Play - Joe South Sha-la-la-la-la - Torben Lendager It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Pandora's Box Classical Gas - Mason Williams Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland Riders In The Sky - Vaughn Monroe

[@rony_ucing]

Venus originally released by Shocking Blue

[@robo3007]

Some more I think are worth mentioning Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love Soft Cell - Tainted Love Pet Shop Boys - Always on My Mind Talking Heads - Take Me to the River Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower Deep Purple - Hush Johnny Cash - Personal Jesus Johnny Cash - Hurt Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World Nirvana - Love Buzz Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U Bjork - It’s Oh So Quiet Guns N' Roses - Knockin' on Heaven's Door Guns N' Roses - Since I Don't Have You Quiet Riot - Cum on Feel The Noize Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople) Smash Mouth - I'm a Believer Lenny Kravitz - American Woman Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy Bananarama - Venus Gary Jules - Mad World Coolio - Gangster’s Paradise The Monkees - I'm A Believer No Doubt - It's My Life Blonde - The Tide is High Amy Winehouse - Valerie Whitney Housten - I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You Nine Inch Nails - Dead Souls Nine Inch Nails - (You're So) Physical Filter - One Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground Rage Against the Machine - Renegades Of Funk Faith No More - Easy Korn - Word Up Primus - The Devil Went Down to Georgia Disturbed - The Sound of Silence Black Sabbath - Evil Woman Metallica - Am I Evil? Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 Rod Stewart- The First Cut is the Deepest The Troggs - Wild Thing Stevie Wonder - Superstition Stevie Wonder - We Can Work It Out

[@alfonsomango_suyu]

Who recorded Istanbul first ?

[@EmoBearRights]

​@@alfonsomango_suyuThat song is old.

[@robo3007]

@@alfonsomango_suyu The Four Lads in 1953

[@dwc1964]

Just skimming through quickly, I see Blondie "The Tide is High" mentioned - it's mentioned in this here video. Several others have been mentioned in previous video lists he's done on this topic; I recommend them all.

[@robertbrescia3196]

I'm A Believer was written by Neil Diamond during his stint in the Brill Building in New York, under the umbrella of Don Kirshner. The Monkees did it first (their biggest hit). Neil then recorded his own version (not released as a single). Smash Mouth covered it for the closing credits of "Shrek". I am sure it's been covered by other artists over the years. Stevie Wonder wrote Superstition and originally gave it to Billy Preston, who recorded his version before Stevie.

[@luigiscazzari4724]

This list is so British it features even Dumbledore

[@kamojet]

Yeah anyone that really knows what's going on is always going to know Richard Harris as "A Man Called Horse"...

[@amiquigonzales7917]

@@kamojet 1970 !!! and NO STUNT was engaged! Quite a fellow Irish Richard Harris ...

[@davidwalterhall]

It Ain't Necessarily So by George and Ira Gerswhin is (cheekily) based on a Hebrew blessing. From Wikipedia: "The first and most direct example of influence occurs at the start of the song; the melody and phrasing is nearly identical to the blessing incanted before reading from the Torah. The words "It ain't necessarily so" stand in place of Bar'chu et adonai ham'vorach, meaning Bless Adonai, who is blessed. This motif repeats multiple times in both, and both include a response from a congregation."

[@vf1923]

Wow, this is great. Thanks!

[@TSGEnt]

Great bit of music history. Thank you. 8:54 let'a not forget, Wagon Wheel was also covered by Darious Rucker and Nathan Carter.

[@antonioeasypiano]

¡¡¡5 wonderful songs to make a piano cover, which were covered!!! 1.- "One Step Beyond" by Madness in 1979 is a cover of the song recorded by Prince Buster in 1964 2.- “Red Red Wine” by UB-40 in 1983 is a cover of of the song recorded by Neil Diamond in 1967 3.- “The Man Who Sold the World” by Nirvana in 1993 is a cover of the song recorded by David Bowie in 1971 4.- “One Way Ticket” by Eruption in 1979 is a cover of a song of Neil Sedaka in 1959 5.- “La Foule” by Édith Piaf in 1957 is a cover of the song composed by Ángel Cabral in 1927.

[@beatsado6529]

David not knowing Life is a Highway was from Cars before the Office is the most surprising thing of this film

[@DavidBennettPiano]

It’s not a well known song in the U.K. 😊

[@MonsieurBooyah]

@@DavidBennettPiano your highways aren't as long, so the metaphor isn't as appropriate ;)

[@pensivepenguin3000]

David is a kiddo lol. It was before his time

[@CarysCreatesThings]

@@DavidBennettPiano It’s well known to any Brit who’s ever watched Cars!

[@DavidBennettPiano]

@@CarysCreatesThings I was only 13 when I watched Cars so I guess I don’t recall. 🙂😅

[@RussellFlowers]

Tom Cochran's "Life is a Highway" was seemingly the *only* song on the radio at the time, lol.

[@CFWhitman]

Yes, I remember hearing it many times on the radio before Rascal Flatts ever did it. Perhaps that was mostly a US thing.

[@tomobedlam297]

I much prefer his song: "I Wish You Well" that came out in the mid 90s. You never hear it played these days.

[@cdprince768]

The origins of "Black Betty" are somewhat murky, but it's generally believed to be a traditional African American work song with roots in the 19th century, possibly even earlier. The song was first documented in 1933 by the musicologist John A. Lomax, who recorded an African American prisoner named James "Iron Head" Baker singing it in a Texas penitentiary. This was 6 years before the Leadbelly version.

[@kwerk2011]

The James Baker version is pretty haunting, it's out there on youtube.

[@damouze]

Nirvana's debut single, "Love Buzz" is a cover of the same song by Dutch band Shocking Blue, albeit with slightly altered lyrics. Shocking Blue is more wellk-nown for their original song "Venus", which in turn was covered by Bananarama.

[@Kendro311]

I've been an audiophile my whole life. Almost 50. Listened to just about every genre there is. 1. It's cool I can still be surprised by some of these. 2. It's kind of depressing music today seems to have lost something, and I rarely run into a young person who knows any music or bands before the 2000's. Keeping music and artist history is important. Keep it up 👍🏼 Between music, movies and video games... All the best stuff is the older stuff. That may be the grumpy old dude in me talking.

[@wendigo53]

I remember being 49 years old, I was still playing soccer. Every age of music has a tiny number of good songs, and a huge number of crappy songs.

[@Sweetestsadist]

My mother's favorite song was MacArthur Park. I've heard several versions including the original. This is the first I've ever heard of a Donna Summer cover.

[@Bacopa68]

Have you heard the Beggars Opera version?

[@Sweetestsadist]

@@Bacopa68 Had to look it up, but yeah.

[@spenfranklin13]

Was not expecting to get Wagon Wheeled mid video.

[@iankrasnow5383]

It's interesting he brought up the Old Crow Medicine Show version and not the Darius Rucker cover which came a few years later, because that's the one that was the true crossover hit that everyone's heard. The Old Crow Medicine Show was only a hit in bluegrass circles.

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

Midnight Special and Cotton Fields are two more Lead Belly songs that were covered by other musicians. He wrote Cotton Fields, while Midnight Special is a folk song of unknown origin. CCR did versions of both songs, and Johnny Rivers' cover of Midnight Special was used as the theme song for the TV concert show of the same name. The Beach Boys also covered Cotton Fields.

[@rslitman]

The Highwaymen and Creedence Clearwater Revival also did pretty good versions of "Cotton Fields".

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

@@rslitman CCR = Creedence Clearwater Revival

[@rslitman]

@@Jeff_Lichtman I apologize for the duplicate information. My post was originally just going to mention the Highwaymen, and then I thought, "Another group has a version I really like, who is it, oh yes, CCR, but I had better spell it out in case some younger people don't know the group's official name." I was so focused on the Beach Boys mention that I didn't realize you had mentioned another artist, too.

[@rogerpyle1359]

"When You Say Nothing At All" was first performed by Whitley in 1988 but became popular when Alison Krauss and Union Station released their version in 1995.

[@femkes3014]

Many people today don't know that Big Yellow Taxi is not by Counting Crows originally, but by Joni Mitchell! Absolutely love this song.

[@Hairyfoot_Studio]

Harold Melvin and the Blue notes is the superior version of Dont Leave Me This Way. Teddy Pendegrass' vocals on this are simply incredible 🤩

[@JymDyer]

I just watched it, it's so excellent!

[@inuyashafangirl6083]

"Handbags and Gladrags" was covered multiple times. But still, my favorite one is from The Office UK :)

[@B.J.Winzer]

Yes! Big George's cover is brilliant.

[@tonkaGuy888]

It’s Rod Stewart

[@hod2116]

Stereophonics

[@sidselamundsen5051]

I love that song! Written by Mike D'Abo, also known for being the main vocalist in Mannfred Mann 1966-69. Chris Farlowe published a singel of it in 1967, the same year D'Abo wrote it. This was the first time the song got recorded and published. Love Affair covered it in their album in 1968. Rod Stewart did a cover in 1969. Big George used it for the Office in 2001, the same year as Stereophonics made a cover of the song. ❤

[@cfhollister8766]

What's funny for me is that, for a lot of these, I was aware of the original version without knowing it had been covered later, particularly if it was originally from 50s-70s and a regular on the "oldies" radio station my parents always listened to in the car when I was a kid in the 80s and early 90s or on one of the vinyl albums that they would play at home.

[@staceymohr8107]

I think this shows the power of what MTV and music videos did for artists and songs. Not all of them, but a lot of them.

[@Dido01]

You did mention Neil Diamond, and I was a bit disappointed that you did not include "I'm a believer". The Monkees recorded it in 1966, Diamond himself only in 1967, so it would fit in the "which one is the original"-section :)

[@amiquigonzales7917]

Ah, 1966 "I'm a believer, couldn't leave her if I tried ..." The Monkees.

[@4dultw1thj0b]

Ohh you know, it makes sense now that If I Were A Boy was a cover, because I don't think Beyonce ever revisited those themes in that way.

[@gabet3514]

All Along the Watchtower was another Bob Dylan song made famous by someone else, that someone being Jimi Hendrix

[@jontalbot1]

But not so much a cover as a transformation.

[@G5BTB5G]

tide is high was then cover again by atomic kitten who covered the blondie version!

[@GrahamDallas]

Which is a over of the original from the 60s by The Paragons.

[@eliaslara2502]

The Beatles 1.-Carpenters - Ticket to Ride 2.-Naked Eyes - Cry Baby Cry 3.- John Denver - In My Life 4.- Joe Cocker - Let It Be 5. -Cher - The Long and Winding Road 6.- Siouxie And the Banshees - Dear Prudence 7.- Duane Allman - Hey Jude 8.- Evanescense - Across the Universe 9.- Harry Nilsson - She´s Leaving Home 10.-Diana Ross - I Will 11.-Linda Rostand - Good Night 12.-Elton John - Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds 13.-Nina Simone - Here Comes the Sun 14.-Sara Vaughan - You never give me Money 15.-Deep Purple - Help 16.-Leon Rusell - Act Naturally 17.-Rare Earth - Eleanor Rigby 18.-Stevie Wonder - We Can Work it Out 19.-Echo and the Bunnymen - All you need is Love 20.-Boney M - Two uf Us And More....

[@purplehaze1274]

First time I've seen Sublime get a reference. A lot of Sublime songs are covers or partial covers. Brad Nowell was like a DJ, he would take bits and ideas from from other songs, add his own ideas and combine them all to make a whole new song.

[@TheLobsterCopter5000]

One song I was surprised to learn was a cover was Crash by Matt Willis. I grew up with Willis' version thanks to the movie Mr. Bean's Holiday, so I was quite surprised to learn it wasn't the original.

[@Speedbird9L]

The Primitives, right? A roommate at university in the 80s had it on heavy rotation.

[@wyattstevens8574]

10:21 The only reason I know about BfS is Phineas and Ferb, where they sing the intro!

[@Chigger]

I know of them through their cover of "I Ran (So Far Away)" for the video game Backyard Wrestling.

[@arutezza]

​@@Chigger it was used in the Knights of the Zodiac anime too!

[@Chigger]

@@arutezza I've never seen it. Mostly because I never got into watching animes.

[@henryglennon3864]

Fun Fact: the song "Sexy, and I Know It" by pop duo and national embarrassment LMFAO, was originally written by Eric Satie in an early draft of his "Gnossiennes" compositions, including the lyrics, although they were originally written in French. The only reason that it was never published as an official part of his collection was the threat of obscenity charges, which would have prevented it from being played live.

[@jontalbot1]

The guitar break is nicked from Hendrix

[@pjesf]

“Summertime” was also used by Mahalia Jackson (I think in the 60s) and merged with “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” for an absolutely exquisite spiritual version ❤

[@seaningram3285]

"Heartbeat" by Don Johnson (1986) is a cover of the original song "Heartbeat" by Wendy Waldman in 1982

[@G5BTB5G]

Mambo No 5, Walking On Sunshine, 500 Miles, Dizzy, Crocodile Rock, Big Fish Little Fish, is this the way to amarillo, hey baby & even more beside that small selection (many with lyrics changes) have been covered by Bob The Builder

[@p_mouse8676]

Isn't Summertime actually just a traditional folk song? I have seen Doc Watson performing that song way back. Edit: the original is from George Gershwin from 1935

[@Fivemonthslater1]

Even deeper, William Grant Still likely wrote it as Gershwin stole a lot of his music. Now there’s a rabbit hole to venture down if you’re into cross-genre music.

[@ZOB4]

The Byrds version of Mr. Tambourine Man cuts out significant portions of the song that change some of the potential meanings of Dylan’s original - they simplify the lyrical messaging a lot and in doing so strip out a lot of Dylan’s artistry in my opinion.

[@ethanschoof4953]

From a lyrical sense I would agree, but they were trying to make radio friendly singles, and I think they more than made up for it with the expanded instrumental arrangement. That 12 string guitar and vocal harmonies gave the song a unique life of its own.

[@jamesmungall6669]

Dylan’s version still tears at my soul. The Byrds turned it into bubblegum. This is imho Dylan’s greatest song and is always what I think of when I think of his Nobel prize

[@0xFEEDC0DE]

@@jamesmungall6669 As mentioned, it had to be reworked to fit on a 45. This was the beginning of the era of album versions vs. radio edits, and for a good reason.

[@pensivepenguin3000]

That’s why we have both Bob’s version and the Byrds’ version. They serve different purposes and they’re both wonderful

[@pensivepenguin3000]

@@jamesmungall6669 excuse me but I won’t have anyone calling The Byrds “bubblegum”! I also love Bob’s version, but if you don’t like The Byrds version, something inside you is dead. Let’s not forget that Roger and Bob were close friends, so Dylan was good with it

[@cisium1184]

Joe Cocker's 1974 hit "You Are So Beautiful" was written and originally recorded by Billy Preston. George Harrison's 1970 hit "My Sweet Lord" was written by Harrison but originally recorded and released by Preston.

[@JennetPreston]

Or, some would argue (and US District Court Judge Richard Owen ruled) written by Ronnie Mack as He's So Fine , a 1963 hit for the Chiffons.