I Drove All Night John Waite 1987

Credited as having been written for Roy he recorded a demo of the song in 1987 which would later be completed by Jeff Lynn. According to Roy's official Facebook page Cyndi Lauper phoned him and asked if she could record the song which was released in 1989 but the first artist to record a studio version was John Waite also in 1987. So who was the first artist to record the song? Sounds like a great trivia question.

[@jfjoubertquebec]

Very nice, very much making it his own. Cindy, Roy, Céline.... all great versions!

[@ka8iedawg]

This is a lovely version and no doubt perhaps a demo recording. However, it would be lovely to have a new version of this song also. It is a lovely tender song. I like all versions of this song that I have heard by various artists. This song never grows old.

[@MissingMars]

This song & 4 other studio tracks that appear on the Live & Rare Tracks album were his first attempt at what was to become his 4th solo album Rover's Return. All were scrapped & he started over to make Rover's Return. Sorry John, but I for one am glad One Way Records released this. Good stuff!

[@jarmyvicious]

I have always loved Cyndi Lauper's heart wrenching rendition of this song... John sounds equally amazing here, in his own right! Roy actually sang and recorded this song too ??!! ...if so, that is so incredible !! Thanks and Cheers !!

[@Tbec01]

And Celine Dion!

[@juanfranciscovazquezfeijoo1984]

Yes. And the versión of roy is 2 steps higher as all the others

[@johnnymeyer4253]

I think John NAILS it better than ALL the others but maybe it's my own personal bias....

[@jimwoo9552]

Roy recorded it before Cyndi, but was released after Cyndi's version

[@kemicalx17]

The whole song is great, but the last min is amazing. I love those 80s power ballad endings.

[@commondevintoo]

I heard a rumor recently that there is a lost recording of Roy Orbison singing "An American Trilogy" made famous by Elvis, I was wondering if this was true?

[@royorbisonpreservationsoci8103]

That rumor has circulated for many years and I can only tell you that no conclusive proof has ever been found to substantiate that claim not even the recording itself. The only reference to Roy having recorded the song was made in a discography section of a book on Mickey Newbury called Crystal & Stone. Roy's MGM catalog and recording dates has been thoroughly documented and no such recording appears in any documents or recording logs which is the time frame when this recording is believed to have been made nor has there ever been a copyright applied for or issued on a recording of the song by Roy.

[@Bronson-bh8lg]

I've never heard this version before or that it was recorded the same year as Roy's demo. I wonder how John Waite came to learn of the song and record it if it had been written specifically for Roy?

[@stevemann3080]

Because they worked together on Roys Black & White DVD concert.

[@royorbisonpreservationsoci8103]

That was Tom Waits on Roy's Black & White DVD concert totally different person than John Waite.

[@stevemann3080]

@@royorbisonpreservationsoci8103 True. I was half asleep

[@christiansuper5057]

I'd guess the publishing company gave it to John. The song was written my songsmiths Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly so it's likely the song was shopped around.

[@georgebarry8640]

@@stevemann3080 One word: caffeine. It's good stuff.

[@marcelomega2159]

wow, great singer!!!!

[@Secondhandsongs]

Which one came first? Roy Orbison's demo or John Waite's studio version? And how do we know?

[@jleisner1974]

Roy's was released posthumously in '92

[@ronsmock1879]

During the sessions for Rover's Return, Waite recorded a version of the Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly song "I Drove All Night". but decided not to release it. The song was also recorded by Roy Orbison in 1987 but his was not released until 1992. Rovers Return was released in 1987. I would have to assume this would have been recorded and then scrapped several months before the album release. It would seem that both versions would have been recorded close to the same time.

[@JonHammerHeart]

listen to the Protomen do this song.

[@dallknowing6071]

I love John Waites music... Except for this version 😕 sorry John