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.
Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede is one of the popular tracks from the soundtrack of Guardians of the Galaxy (some of them here). But, the arrangement, with its ooga-chaka ooga-chaka refrain, is quite a bit different than the original. he song was written by Mark James, who, in the 1960s was a writer, and a very talented … Read more
Song: Red, Red Wine (1968) Artist: Neil Diamond Album: Just For You (Bang) Writer: Neil Diamond In 1988 UB40, a group from Birmingham UK had a no. 1 hit with a song called Red, Red Wine, done in a reggae style (they were not the first, see below). Although UB40 has plenty of original material, their hit-making … Read more
Song: Fire (1987) Artist: Bruce Springsteen Writer: Bruce Springsteen Album: Live: 1975-85 Label: Columbia I’m driving in my car, I turn on the radio… It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when not everything the Boss did rose to the top of the heap. While clawing his way to the top … Read more
Song: Heart and Soul (1981) Artist: Exile Album: Heart and Soul Writers: Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn Label: Warner Curb Records Heart and Soul is undoubtedly one of the most infectious songs from a group known for infectious rock/pop songs, Huey Lewis and the News. I am a huge News fan and always have been. … Read more
You probably know Alone as one of the most famous songs by Heart, and for good reason. But it was actually written and recorded by a little-known group called i-Ten in 1983. Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, the founding members of the band, named after the interstate, ‘wrote the song as a power ballad’ for … Read more
Song: Wind Beneath My Wings (1989) Artists: Bette Midler Writers: Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley As songs featured in movie soundtracks go, Wind Beneath My Wings is a big deal. Played in the movie Beaches, it was a no. one hit in 1989 and won Grammy awards for both song of the Year and Record of the … Read more
When Tina Turner left her tumultuous and abusive relationship with Ike Turner and decided to record and perform rock music, the rock world was forever enriched. Her first big hit off her 1984 Private Dancer album, What’s Love Got to Do With It, was a revelation and a no. 1 hit. Then, Better Be Good to Me … Read more