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: After Midnight (1965 Liberty Records: Liberty #55931, 1972) Artist: J.J. Cale Album: Naturally (Shelter Records 1972)) Imagine living in your car while Eric Clapton has tremendous success with your song and slowly becomes a legend. Imagine earning royalties from this that allow you to not only eat but to go on recording music. Now … Read more
Song: Black Magic Woman (1969) Artist: Fleetwood Mac – Peter Green Album: English Rose (Epic) Starting with the lyrics ‘don’t turn your back on me baby,’ Black Magic Woman, is best known for the Santana version from 1971. The original, and the best, is from Fleetwood Mac, off the album English Rose, in 1969. The song … Read more
Song: Always On My Mind (1982) Artist: Willie Nelson Album: Always On My Mind (Columbia) Despite the likes of Elvis, Brenda Lee, and The Pet Shop boys having recorded it, Willie Nelson’s version of ‘Always on My Mind‘ is still considered the definitive version, not to mention the song for which he is most known. … Read more
Artist: Bill Joel Album: 52nd Street (1978, released on CD, 1982) The journey toward the CD began in the early 1970s when Sony and Phillips began working on an optical disc with digitally encoded sound that could be read by laser. Before the compact disc, it was all vinyl and cassette tape. It was even … Read more
Song: Blinded by the Light Artist: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (1976 – Original by Bruce Springsteen ) Album: The Roaring Silence (Warner Bros. Records) Most people know the song Blinded by the Light from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (usually known as Manfred Man), but it was actually a Bruce Springsteen Song, and an important one at … Read more
Song: Please Come to Boston (1974) Artist: Dave Loggins Album: Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop) – (Epic) Having just wrote about Danny’s Song, by Kenny Loggins, I couldn’t help but think of another heartfelt song by his kin. If you’re a country fan, you have probably heard one or another country star sing the lyrics “I’m … Read more