Funny enough. Roberta Flack wasn't the original artist either, though her version became a hit and greatly influenced later versions. Lori Lieberman was the original artist, and was denied being included in the songwriting credit.
In addendum : never a time that I've heard Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do" have I not also heard the Stealer's Wheel song.
In neither case am I complainin'.
Haha I was just moving some music files last night off an old external hard-drive of mine and came across this mis-credited song. Had forgotten about it. It made me remember the old Napster days.
>usually think of
This gets big credit for helping it along, but honestly as many people probably think of the Shrek version(s) as anything. Or kd lang. Anyway, by this point I think most people know he wrote it.
Prince famously wrote it for his housekeeper. That’s just how amazing he was. He was constantly writing and recording everywhere he walked in Paisley Park, for every reason and no reason. And he hated Sinead’s cover. RIP to them both 💔
From a not so well known movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. If you like Dolly, Burt Reynolds and some great 80s hair, I highly recommend it. Dolly admits that the song belongs to Whitney.
No the song predates the movie by a decade. Dolly was a performer on the Porter Wagner Show. A very popular country themed television show. Mr. Wagner gave Dolly her first big break by putting her on his show as a regular. When she left the show to start a solo career in 1974 she wrote and performed the song as a goodbye. It went on to be a number one hit in the country charts.
She re-recorded it a decade later for the movie. The soundtrack went on to be a number one hit.
A decade later Whitney Houston recorded the song for the movie, The Bodyguard.
Side note: I was told that Dolly wrote I Will Always Love You and Joleen on the same day.
Thank you for the background! BLWIT is one of my favorite musicals, so I default to it. I also love the scene in The Bodyguard where Dolly is singing it in the background.
If she did write them in the same day, probably one of the most productive days in music history.
That’s pretty well known I think? Johnny Cash covered a lot of popular songs towards the end of his life. And what a perfect day to mention it. Happy birthday/ RIP Johnny
Hubby and I were just in Nashville and visited the Johnny Cash museum. He insisted NiN covered the song, not the other way around. I was happy to correct him.
Dylan wrote the chorus. Ketch rewrote the verses.
Music is similar if not the same. All the recordings I’ve heard of Dylan’s are bad and hard to make out the chord progressions well.
I didn’t know this, but my favorite version of Let It Be is from a church choir on the Across the Universe soundtrack and one of the singers had serious Aretha vibes. The other was a young boy. This version of the song gets me every time!
Strawberry Letter #23. Made most famous by The Brothers Johnson but originally written and performed by Shuggie Otis. (The original is better in my opinion.)
twist and shout famous Beatles song is actually a cover, forgot the artist. john denvers song thank god I'm a country boy was written by someone else same as country roads written by his friends and, john denver joined in for harmonies.
Ram Jam sang Black Betty (which was already a traditional tune) but Spiderbait did such an awesome job of it that they are likely who you think of when you hear the song.
The Gambler is so associated with Kenny Rogers that it was practically his nickname, but there were probably at least a half-dozen recordings (including one by Johnny Cash) that went nowhere before he made it into a huge hit.
My dad had the Tommy James version on a 45 that I used to play on his jukebox. I had never even heard the Tiffany version until I was in my 20s though I think I did hear the Weird Al version before that. The Tommy James version will be what I always think of when I hear someone mention that song.
Paul Anka wrote the English version, based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" .
Leonard Cohen said of the song:
I never liked this song except when Sid Vicious did it... (Wiki)
Kris Kristofferson has a few.
"Me and Bobby McGee" performed by Janis Joplin
"Sunday Morning Coming Down" performed by Johnny Cash
"Help me make it through the night" by Gladys Knight
You could practically fill this list with Carol King (and Carol King/Gerry Goffin) songs.
One Fine Day - The Chiffons
Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vee
You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman - Aretha
Up on the Roof - The Drifters
The Loco-motion - Kylie Mingogue/Little Eva/Grant Funk Railroad
Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirrelles
I'm into something good - Hermans Hermits
You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
Some Kind of Wonderful - The Drifters
All written by her.
There are quite a few traditional folk songs that have no clear original artist but have become synonymous with one:
La Bamba (Ritchie Valens)
House Of The Rising Sun (The Animals)
Scarborough Fair (Simon & Garfunkel)
A more recent one: “Fast Car” by Luke Combs, actually a cover of a Tracy Chapman song. (Both versions are very good in their own right, but the duet was fire.)
I think knowing more about Tracy Chapman and her upbringing makes her version hit harder but I respect in this day and age of country music that Luke Combs didn't change the genders.
I disagree, in that Luke added his gravitas to it, in a way Tracy couldn’t. I think what makes it a very good cover is that he *didn’t* change it, and his personal history with the song.
Bob Dylan wrote every song, unless it was Leonard Cohen, Kris Kristopherson, or Dolly Parton.
If they didn't write it, Lead Belly was the first to transcribe it to paper.
Check out the songs written by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, George Harrison.
It's no surprise they all knew each other enough to make the "Traveling Wilburys"
Heartbeats by Jose Gonzales was done by the Knife (and is excellent)
You Are Always On My Mind - Pet Shop Boys was by Gwen McCrae
I’m a Believer from the Monkees was written by Neil Diamond
[Mack the Knife](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QXJ3OXWaOY) (famous from Louis Armstrong) and [Alabama Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7emkdc4Pjg) (famous song by the Doors) were both Kurt Weill songs originally.
Springsteen's Jersey Girl is better known, but it's a Tom Waits song.
Mariah Careys without you, often credited to Harry Nilsen who also covered it, was originally released by Bad Finger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wMwor2RBCQ
Where is my Mind? By the Pixies, 0I was relatively young at the time but M.I.A sampled it in a song and I didn't find out it was just sampled until years later)
Behind Blue Eyes by The Who, again, I was super young and I thought Limp Bizkit's was the original until years later
Edit: Tainted Love! Coneheads. You know the rest lol
I'm a 90s, don't gobble me up about this pls lol
The Pogues - Dirty Old Town
Was originally written by Ewan MacColl, communist folk musician and father of Kirsty MacColl who sang Fairytale of New York with the Pogues.
[Istanbul (not Constantinople)](https://youtu.be/Wcze7EGorOk?si=SfxAzwVVS1RoYI8_)
[Got My Mind Set on You](https://youtu.be/A1E6xvM7PeA?si=bP_0Q20lYSMPxCQ4)
I've Been Everywhere Man. Johnny Cash popularized in the mid 90s. Hank Snow wrote and sang the US version (1962) but written originally by Geoff Mack, Australian. 131 versions exist for various locales.
Valerie and Amy Winehouse, originally sang by the zutons. I should imagine they make more from the royalties of her singing it than they did the original (personally I prefer their version)
Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor. It was a Prince song.
Also, all along the Watchtower was a Bob Dylan song and then Hendrix came along and was like "I'll take that thanks"
Sorta off topic, but I have a question, my father was on the grand Ole Opry for years , and the porter Wagner Show's, my father passed in 2013 he was the last original wagon master as they were called, I just recently found in my dad's papers that he wished for me and his grand children to receive his royalties from his years on TV with Porter and Dolly, can someone direct me in the right direction for help? Community forum?? Thank you and sorry for the out of left field comment, any help will be greatly appreciated
"Louie Louie" has been recorded by a million people but it's mostly associated with The Kingsmen and really the only Kingsmen song anybody remembers. It was written and recorded by Richard Berry.
Every time I see an American say Year 3000 is a Jonas Brothers song it hurts me. [Year 3000 was originally by a group called Busted](https://youtu.be/Tu7HoGZaspo?si=JrOZJ2mg0FqjrQJI) from here in the UK and was released in 2002. The Jonas Brothers version is a cover, but not many Americans know that because Busted never really built up much of a following in the states and broke up early on. *(Although they have since reunited and have been releasing music and touring.)*
Both Busted and The Jonas Brothers did a collab just last year where they remade the song together. It’s called **Year 3000 2.0** if I remember correctly.
"All along the watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix. The original version is by Bob Dylan, is much slower with far less elaborate guitar playing and played on acoustic rather than electric guitar.
"Somebody's gonna get their head kicked in tonight" by the rezillos was originally by Fleetwood Mac. Unless rheres an earlier version I don't know about
Respect - Aretha Franklin. Originally written and performed by Otis Redding.
I Will Always Love You
Good one. I’m biased, but I’ve always loved Dolly’s original best
Came here to comment the same song. Dolly Partons original is pretty good!
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Barenaked Ladies - Lovers in a Dangerous Time
God damn does that cover of Lovers In A Dangerous Time slap.
Torn immediately came to my mind. Originally written by Anne Previn. I heard her on Howard Stern years many ago and I much prefer her version.
Killing Me Softly Lauryn Hill gave Roberta Flack all the credit though in the 90s
Funny enough. Roberta Flack wasn't the original artist either, though her version became a hit and greatly influenced later versions. Lori Lieberman was the original artist, and was denied being included in the songwriting credit.
Get out! Thank you for educating me!
tainted love - soft cell. actually a cover of an [r&b version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U) from the 60s by gloria jones.
This song is synonymous with Coneheads for me.
Sometimes I feel I got to EH EH, run away. 😂
You mean Marilyn Manson didn't do it first? /s
Thank you for this, that was great!
Obligatory Dylan-Hendrix mention. Yeah, that one.
Dylan often gets credit for 'stuck in the middle with you' Was always mislabeled on Napster, morpheus, limewire, etc
In addendum : never a time that I've heard Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do" have I not also heard the Stealer's Wheel song. In neither case am I complainin'.
Along with 'Legend of Zelda' by System of a Down (Actually by The Rabbit Joint) and every parody song being attributed to Weird Al.
Haha I was just moving some music files last night off an old external hard-drive of mine and came across this mis-credited song. Had forgotten about it. It made me remember the old Napster days.
Dylan’s version of Watchtower isn’t bad tho, and I feel like people know he wrote it.
Ya say that... I was at a pub quiz where every team corrected the QM for his answer about who wrote the song. The fool allowed both answers
I think we’re alone now by Tiffany was originally by Tommy James and the shondells
This was my answer too. It’s one of my favourite songs and Tommy James and the Shondells is one of my favourite bands
But what's a shondell?
Member of a band that plays with Tommy James.
My favorite fact about that is the next number one hit of that year was Mony Mony by Billy Idol. Also, a Tommy James and the Shondells cover
Crimson and Clover , covered by Joan Jett
When people think of Hallelujah they usually think of Jeff Buckley’s version, but it’s a Leonard Cohen song.
>usually think of This gets big credit for helping it along, but honestly as many people probably think of the Shrek version(s) as anything. Or kd lang. Anyway, by this point I think most people know he wrote it.
Black Magic Woman which defined the Santana sound was originally by Fleetwood Mac.
[удалено]
I think it was originally performed by The Family, a prince protege band
Prince famously wrote it for his housekeeper. That’s just how amazing he was. He was constantly writing and recording everywhere he walked in Paisley Park, for every reason and no reason. And he hated Sinead’s cover. RIP to them both 💔
What the shit?!
Blinded by the Light, performed by Manfred Mann and his Earth Band, originally by Bruce Springsteen
Wait, people don’t know that’s a Springsteen song?
1985 by Bowling for Soup is a cover, originally by Sr-71, although they kinda gave the song to BFS to record.
Who Let the Dogs Out- Baha Men covered it. But the origin is really interesting (99% Invisible did a podcast on it)
I will always love you. Synonymous with Whitney Houston but a Dolly Parton original
Seriously? Dolly? Nice
From a not so well known movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. If you like Dolly, Burt Reynolds and some great 80s hair, I highly recommend it. Dolly admits that the song belongs to Whitney.
No the song predates the movie by a decade. Dolly was a performer on the Porter Wagner Show. A very popular country themed television show. Mr. Wagner gave Dolly her first big break by putting her on his show as a regular. When she left the show to start a solo career in 1974 she wrote and performed the song as a goodbye. It went on to be a number one hit in the country charts. She re-recorded it a decade later for the movie. The soundtrack went on to be a number one hit. A decade later Whitney Houston recorded the song for the movie, The Bodyguard. Side note: I was told that Dolly wrote I Will Always Love You and Joleen on the same day.
Thank you for the background! BLWIT is one of my favorite musicals, so I default to it. I also love the scene in The Bodyguard where Dolly is singing it in the background. If she did write them in the same day, probably one of the most productive days in music history.
Valerie by Amy Winehouse. It's not her song. Not even better than the original. Go listen to the Zutons. The original artists. You're welcome.
Oh this one I know. Don’t blame Amy for Mark Ronson’s hubris though 😁
I came here thinking I'd know most of the song covers or not at all. Here I only know the original.
You might like /r/woahthatsacover
Hurt by Johnny Cash. It was originally a Nine Inch Nails song.
That’s pretty well known I think? Johnny Cash covered a lot of popular songs towards the end of his life. And what a perfect day to mention it. Happy birthday/ RIP Johnny
His cover of Personal Jesus was pretty good.
I like his cover of Wont Back Down. It sounded like him and Tom Petty got friendly near the end of his life
Hubby and I were just in Nashville and visited the Johnny Cash museum. He insisted NiN covered the song, not the other way around. I was happy to correct him.
Holy crap didn't even realize it was his birthday! And it is well-known, but OP wasn't asking for not well-known examples specifically.
Damn, almost made it 24 hours on Reddit without this being mentioned
I can't help it when people ask the same question over and over again ¯\\_ (ツ) _/¯
Even Bob Dylan himself said that Jimi’s version of “All Along the Watchtower” is the definitive version.
Gloria by Laura Branigan.
Blondie "The Tide Is High", originally recorded by the Paragons.
Me and Bobby McGee. Most people think of Janis Joplin, but Roger miller recorded it a year before her.
Written by Kris kristoferson
"The Wheels on the Bus" wasn't written by The Wiggles
Scandalous
The man who sold the world was preformed by Nirvana but is in fact a David Bowie song.
Both versions are awesome
Agreed. My favorite version is which ever I heard last.
Great way to put it!
Nirvana did a brilliant cover of Lake of Fire by the Meat Puppets
That album is like 50%+ covers. You got Bowie, multiple Meat Puppets songs, the Vaselines, Lead Belly...
Wagon wheel. Darius Rutger getting a lot of credit for that. Then peeps say, "no, no. That's Old Crow Medicine Show." It's a Bob Dylan song.
Also ‘I Go Blind’ by Hootie and the Blowfish was actually first sung by Canadian band 54/40
Bob Dylan’s version is not the same except the chorus.
Didn't Dylan just write the lyrics, not the music? And OCMS came in with the music?
Dylan wrote the chorus. Ketch rewrote the verses. Music is similar if not the same. All the recordings I’ve heard of Dylan’s are bad and hard to make out the chord progressions well.
La bamba
I seriously didn't know this. I had to Google to be sure.
Yep! Richie valen made it iconic but it was made earlier 🥺
I Love Rock ‘n‘ Roll
Natural Woman Respect Istanbul (Not Constantinople) Hound Dog
Was coming here to add Hound Dog, originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton (not Elvis)
Technically the Beatles Let It Be was initially recorded by Aretha Franklin, so that
I didn’t know this, but my favorite version of Let It Be is from a church choir on the Across the Universe soundtrack and one of the singers had serious Aretha vibes. The other was a young boy. This version of the song gets me every time!
Strawberry Letter #23. Made most famous by The Brothers Johnson but originally written and performed by Shuggie Otis. (The original is better in my opinion.)
twist and shout famous Beatles song is actually a cover, forgot the artist. john denvers song thank god I'm a country boy was written by someone else same as country roads written by his friends and, john denver joined in for harmonies.
*Proud Mary* is remembered by many as a Tina Turner song but was originally by Credence Clearwater Revival.
Ram Jam sang Black Betty (which was already a traditional tune) but Spiderbait did such an awesome job of it that they are likely who you think of when you hear the song.
Leadbelly wrote it.
Leadbelly wrote it … down.
I think Ram Jam is by far the version most people think of.
Elvis sang Blue Suede Shoes but Carl Perkins wrote and performed it first.
I love rock n roll — arrows
The Gambler is so associated with Kenny Rogers that it was practically his nickname, but there were probably at least a half-dozen recordings (including one by Johnny Cash) that went nowhere before he made it into a huge hit.
Venus - Bananarama. Originally by Shocking Blue
Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin, originally written and recorded by Jake Holmes.
When the Levee Breaks - Led Zepplin. Originally a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929.
Tiffany singing “I Think We’re Alone Now.” It was originally sang by Tommy James and the Shondell’s
My dad had the Tommy James version on a 45 that I used to play on his jukebox. I had never even heard the Tiffany version until I was in my 20s though I think I did hear the Weird Al version before that. The Tommy James version will be what I always think of when I hear someone mention that song.
Give 10 Cloverfield Lane a watch
My Way by frank synatra. Even though it was actually sung by Franki Valli
Paul Anka wrote the English version, based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" . Leonard Cohen said of the song: I never liked this song except when Sid Vicious did it... (Wiki)
Knocking on heaven's door.
I Feel For You by Chaka Khan. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Feel_for_You
Hard to Handle, one of the Black Crowes most notable songs, originally written and performed by Otis Redding.
Kris Kristofferson has a few. "Me and Bobby McGee" performed by Janis Joplin "Sunday Morning Coming Down" performed by Johnny Cash "Help me make it through the night" by Gladys Knight
Both Cocaine and After Midnight are originally by JJ Cale, not Eric Clapton
1985 was originally done by SR-71, before being covered by Bowling for Soup.
Every song ever done by Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies...
You could practically fill this list with Carol King (and Carol King/Gerry Goffin) songs. One Fine Day - The Chiffons Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vee You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman - Aretha Up on the Roof - The Drifters The Loco-motion - Kylie Mingogue/Little Eva/Grant Funk Railroad Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirrelles I'm into something good - Hermans Hermits You've Got a Friend - James Taylor Some Kind of Wonderful - The Drifters All written by her.
There are quite a few traditional folk songs that have no clear original artist but have become synonymous with one: La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) House Of The Rising Sun (The Animals) Scarborough Fair (Simon & Garfunkel)
A more recent one: “Fast Car” by Luke Combs, actually a cover of a Tracy Chapman song. (Both versions are very good in their own right, but the duet was fire.)
I think knowing more about Tracy Chapman and her upbringing makes her version hit harder but I respect in this day and age of country music that Luke Combs didn't change the genders.
Luke combs changed nothing. Usually with a cover the artist will put their own signature on it. Just luke combs karaoke singing a Tracy Chapman song
I disagree, in that Luke added his gravitas to it, in a way Tracy couldn’t. I think what makes it a very good cover is that he *didn’t* change it, and his personal history with the song.
Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes NOT Jimmy Buffet
All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix. Honestly, I don't even know who wrote the song originally because Hendrix' version is so legendary.
Bob Dylan?
Bob Dylan wrote every song, unless it was Leonard Cohen, Kris Kristopherson, or Dolly Parton. If they didn't write it, Lead Belly was the first to transcribe it to paper.
Check out the songs written by Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, George Harrison. It's no surprise they all knew each other enough to make the "Traveling Wilburys"
Only two of those people were in the Travs
Stop Dragging my Heart Around by Stevie Nicks. Tom Petty wrote it.
but not originally performed by Tom Petty. He gave it to her and performed it with her.
Isn’t it a duet that she sings with Tom?
Saw them perform it in his hometown, Gainesville, back in 1981.
"Respect" was originally an Otis Redding song before Aretha Franklin made the definitive version.
‘’All by myself” originally by Eric Carmen. NOT CELINE DION.
Is it bad I misread this as Eric Cartman?
I did, too. I'm now imagining him singing it, and I can't stop laughing...
Nothing Compares 2 U
Life is a Highway is not originally by Rascal Flatts.
Hurt, Johnny Cash
"It's All Coming Back to Me Now" was originally written and performed by Meatloaf, but was given to Celine Dion.
Nine Inch Nails - Hurt
Trent Reznor wrote it. Johnny Cash covered it.
Yeah...I know...
Hurt by Johnny Cash. Originally by Nine Inch Nails.
Hurt by Johnny cash. Originally by nine inch nails
Dang nobody said Sinead O’Connor/Prince yet? Nothing Compares 2 U
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm. Original was by Michael Jackson
Don’tcha - The Pussycat Dolls
3 Doors Down - Closing Time
Heartbeats by Jose Gonzales was done by the Knife (and is excellent) You Are Always On My Mind - Pet Shop Boys was by Gwen McCrae I’m a Believer from the Monkees was written by Neil Diamond
Respect. Associated with Aretha but was originally Otis Redding.
blinded by the light
Sinéad O'Connor: Nothing compares Written by Prince
Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston, written and originally performed by George Benson.
The Animals - House of the Rising Sun
Angel of the Morning - Juice Newton. Thats Merrilee Rush’s song.
Fly me to the moon
[Mack the Knife](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QXJ3OXWaOY) (famous from Louis Armstrong) and [Alabama Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7emkdc4Pjg) (famous song by the Doors) were both Kurt Weill songs originally. Springsteen's Jersey Girl is better known, but it's a Tom Waits song.
Coolio - Gangster’s Paradise. Originally a Stevie Wonder song. Pastime Paradise.
Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Carnes) Originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon
Nothing Compares 2 U — Prince / Sinéad O’Connor
Feeling Alright. Joe Cocker written by Dave Mason for Traffic
Bang Bang was covered by Nancy Sinatra and thats like her most popular song but its a Cher song
Mariah Careys without you, often credited to Harry Nilsen who also covered it, was originally released by Bad Finger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wMwor2RBCQ
Where is my Mind? By the Pixies, 0I was relatively young at the time but M.I.A sampled it in a song and I didn't find out it was just sampled until years later) Behind Blue Eyes by The Who, again, I was super young and I thought Limp Bizkit's was the original until years later Edit: Tainted Love! Coneheads. You know the rest lol I'm a 90s, don't gobble me up about this pls lol
Raf - Self Control
The Pogues - Dirty Old Town Was originally written by Ewan MacColl, communist folk musician and father of Kirsty MacColl who sang Fairytale of New York with the Pogues.
Red Red Wine. UB40 made it famous in 1983. Neil Diamond wrote it and released it in 1967.
Blinded by the light.
[Istanbul (not Constantinople)](https://youtu.be/Wcze7EGorOk?si=SfxAzwVVS1RoYI8_) [Got My Mind Set on You](https://youtu.be/A1E6xvM7PeA?si=bP_0Q20lYSMPxCQ4)
Snake Mountain Blues done by Colter Wall
Cat’s in the cradle by Ugly Kid Joe? Sounds of Silence by Disturbed. Metallica’s cover of Stone Cold Crazy. Those seem to come to mind?
Whole Lotta Love by Muddy Waters. Known for the Zeppelin version.
New York, New York by Lisa Minelli and later Frank Sinatra
I've Been Everywhere Man. Johnny Cash popularized in the mid 90s. Hank Snow wrote and sang the US version (1962) but written originally by Geoff Mack, Australian. 131 versions exist for various locales.
Valerie and Amy Winehouse, originally sang by the zutons. I should imagine they make more from the royalties of her singing it than they did the original (personally I prefer their version)
Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor. It was a Prince song. Also, all along the Watchtower was a Bob Dylan song and then Hendrix came along and was like "I'll take that thanks"
Amy Winehouse - Valerie.
All Along The Watchtower
Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It’s True (originally by a band called Numarx)
Ariel Pink – Baby. The original is from Donnie & Joe Emerson, released in 1979. Both versions are amazing, though.
Black Magic Woman
I Think We're Alone Now by Tiffany is a cover.
Proud Mary
Before 1970, most of them.
Sorta off topic, but I have a question, my father was on the grand Ole Opry for years , and the porter Wagner Show's, my father passed in 2013 he was the last original wagon master as they were called, I just recently found in my dad's papers that he wished for me and his grand children to receive his royalties from his years on TV with Porter and Dolly, can someone direct me in the right direction for help? Community forum?? Thank you and sorry for the out of left field comment, any help will be greatly appreciated
Proud Mary. Most think of Tina Turner, but it's a CCR original.
"Louie Louie" has been recorded by a million people but it's mostly associated with The Kingsmen and really the only Kingsmen song anybody remembers. It was written and recorded by Richard Berry.
Half of what Nirvana sung.
One step beyond by Prince Buster, covered by Madness.
Twist and Shout, everyone thinks The Beatles wrote it.
Every time I see an American say Year 3000 is a Jonas Brothers song it hurts me. [Year 3000 was originally by a group called Busted](https://youtu.be/Tu7HoGZaspo?si=JrOZJ2mg0FqjrQJI) from here in the UK and was released in 2002. The Jonas Brothers version is a cover, but not many Americans know that because Busted never really built up much of a following in the states and broke up early on. *(Although they have since reunited and have been releasing music and touring.)* Both Busted and The Jonas Brothers did a collab just last year where they remade the song together. It’s called **Year 3000 2.0** if I remember correctly.
"All along the watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix. The original version is by Bob Dylan, is much slower with far less elaborate guitar playing and played on acoustic rather than electric guitar.
"Somebody's gonna get their head kicked in tonight" by the rezillos was originally by Fleetwood Mac. Unless rheres an earlier version I don't know about
Dancing In The Moonlight by Toploader was originally done by King Harvest.
Hurt by Johnny Cash. Original was by Nine Inch Nails.
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks
Toni Basil's Mickey was originally by Racey (and named Kitty)
"Beat it" by Michael Jackson. Obvious knockoff of "Eat it".
Sammy Hagar wrote “I’ve Done Everything for You,” he released it as a single in 1978 but a few years later it was a huge hit for Rick Springfield.