The songs here are cover versions of songs that are more famous than their originals. There are hundreds of examples of famous songs that people know only from a cover version. Many times they think the cover artist(s) actually wrote the song. Even with a song as well-loved as “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton, there are younger listeners who think it was a Whitney Houston original. However, the songs on this list are ones where the cover version completely eclipsed the original, while “I Will Always Love You” was a no. 1 hit for Dolly Parton more than once.
Sometimes, a cover version becomes more popular because it improves on the original in some way. Just as often, however, it is pure timing, luck, and circumstance. The original artist may have believed in their song, for instance, but the record company or the producer did not. Lots of cover hits were originally B-sides.
Keep in mind that a “cover song” is a song that was previously recorded and commercially released and then recorded again by a new artist. A song that is written by another person but never recorded, and then later recorded by another artist, is not a cover song.
Song: Got My Mind Set On You (1987) Artist: George Harrison Album: Cloud Nine Label: Dark Horse Writer: Rudy Clark George Harrison had a number one hit with Got My Mind Set on You in January of 1988. It was his last number one hit and the only one he didn’t write himself. The song … Read more
Song: Tainted Love (1981) Artist: Soft Cell Album: Non-Stop Erotic Caberet Label: Some Bizzare/ Sire/ Warner Bros. Records Writer: Ed Cobb When Tainted Love was first released in 1964 as the B-side of a record called ‘My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home’ it was a total commercial failure. No, you are not experiencing a senior moment. … Read more
Song: Unchained Melody (1965) Artist: The Righteous Brothers Label: Philles Writers: Alex North, Hyman Zaret The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody is a soaring, or as Billboard put it in 2007, towering song. Few know that it was not an original. In fact, the song was over ten years old when The Righteous Brothers recorded it. … Read more
Song: Ring My Bell (1979) Artist: Anita Ward Label: Juana Records Songwriter: Frederick Knight Yes, some people think that the hit disco song Ring My Bell was recorded by Blondie and sung by the great Debra Harry. In fact, if you search for “blondie ring my bell lyrics” you will get a result that lists … Read more
Song: Bull Doze Blues (1928) Artist: Henry Thomas, aka Ragtime Texas Label: Vocalion Records Canned Heat had a smash hit with their 1968 song ‘Going Up the Country.’ Few know that their song was actually a reprocessed version of a much earlier blues song by Henry Thomas, aka Texas Ragtime called Bull Doze Blues, recorded … Read more
Song: House of the Rising Sun (1964) Artist: The Animals Label: Columbia Writer: Traditional (arrangement by The Animals, et al.) House of the Rising Sun Original? The tune most identified with the animals was not written entirely by them and yet was not a cover. House of the Rising Sun, also known as Rising Sun … Read more
Song: I Love Rock ‘n Roll (1982) Artist: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Album: I Love Rock ‘n Roll (Boardwalk) Writers: Jake Hooker, Alan Merrill Joan Jett has had a storied career. Before she was the frontman of her own band, she was a part of the band The Runaways, famous for such songs as “Cherry … Read more