Cover songs you thought were Originals

[Quake17]

"Without You" written by Badfinger, though Harry Nilsson made it the big hit. Recorded by many others since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wMwor2RBCQ

[Acousticado]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I had no idea Jackson Browne co-wrote Take it Easy. I didn't know who you meant by JB but he co-wrote it with Glenn Frey. Did JB also record it?

My understanding is that Browne wrote the song but was having trouble with the lyric of second verse, not knowing where to take it. So, he asked Frey to help him which resulted in Frey’s contribution of...

“Well, I’m a standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
I’m such a fine sight to see
It’s a girl, my Lord in a flatbed Ford
Slowin’ down to take a look at me

I prefer The Eagles version, but imo, JB gets the credit.

I’m kinda surprised that some JJ Cale-penned Clapton cover songs haven’t been mentioned...Cocaine, After Midnight, etc.

[Silurian]

Little Red Rooster - Rolling Stones.

I first heard this when I bought a Stones compilation tape when I was about 12. I was mesmerised by it and played it over and over.

I had no idea it was a blues "standard". I hadn't heard of Howlin' Wolf or Willie Dixon. I had no idea what blues music was.

[dkstott]

Ol' 55 made famous by The Eagles. Actually written by Tom Waits.

[M19]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I had no idea Jackson Browne co-wrote Take it Easy. I didn't know who you meant by JB but he co-wrote it with Glenn Frey. Did JB also record it?

For Everyman (a very good album IMO):





From what I recall, the only words Glenn contributed was the line "It's a girl my Lord in a Flatbed Ford slowin' down to take a look at me."

[ChrisE]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

'Black Magic Woman' by Santana is a cover, the song was originally by Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green era)

I was going to say that one. I only recently learned that.

[ChrisE]

I went to an open mic once and played “Dead Flowers” by the Stones.

When I got off the stage, a well known local/regional country artist came up to me and said, “That was great! I love Townes Van Zandt!”

The song was written by Mick and Keith.

[Slothead56]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

My understanding is that Browne wrote the song but was having trouble with the lyric of second verse, not knowing where to take it. So, he asked Frey to help him which resulted in Frey’s contribution of...

“Well, I’m a standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona
I’m such a fine sight to see
It’s a girl, my Lord in a flatbed Ford
Slowin’ down to take a look at me

I think Jackson had the first two lines and was stuck. Glenn came up with the “It’s a girl...” part.
Also, I was always under the impression that help wasn’t asked for but the two lines in question were volunteered, accepted and acknowledged with co-writer credit.

Either way, it’s a monster song and always a crowd pleaser. Listen to JB’s live intro to the song on Solo Acoustic, V1....

[Acousticado]

Originally Posted by Slothead56

I think Jackson had the first two lines and was stuck. Glenn came up with the “It’s a girl...” part.
Also, I was always under the impression that help wasn’t asked for but the two lines in question were volunteered, accepted and acknowledged with co-writer credit.

Either way, it’s a monster song and always a crowd pleaser. Listen to JB’s live intro to the song on Solo Acoustic, V1....

You’ve further jogged my memory and I think you’re correct.

[TeleBluesMan]

Steve Goodman wrote "City of New Orleans." Arlo Guthrie had the hit.
Nick Lowe wrote "(What's so funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding." Elvis Costello recorded the better known version.

[Pitar]

The Byrds - Not sure if they ever put out original stuff. That said, Pete Seeger's Turn, Turn, Turn (For Every Thing), which The Byrds turned out in spectacular fashion, was a poem Seeger appropriated for the song to which he added only the words Turn, Turn, Turn.

Wiki quote -

"The lyrics are taken almost verbatim from the book of Ecclesiastes, as found in the King James Version (1611) of the Bible[2] (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), though the sequence of the words was rearranged for the song. Ecclesiastes is traditionally ascribed to King Solomon who would have written it in the 10th century BC, but believed by a significant group of biblical scholars to date much later, up to the third century BC.[3]."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!
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Also, the melody for Greensleeves was appropriated note-for-note for various Christmas songs. What Child Is This forever distanced the melody from its original lyrics, which some say were the work of Henry VIII as an attempt to woo himself a new bride.

Wiki quote -

"Christmas and New Year texts were associated with the tune from as early as 1686, and by the 19th century almost every printed collection of Christmas carols included some version of words and music together, most of them ending with the refrain "On Christmas Day in the morning".[10] One of the most popular of these is "What Child Is This?", written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix.[11]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensleeves

[MikeBmusic]

Mentioned earlier - 3 Dog Night - most of their hits were cover songs.
Eli's Coming - Laura Nyro
Try a Little Tenderness - written in the 30s. My father hated to hear the 3DN version when it came on the radio. Otis Redding did a fantastic version.
One (Is the Loneliest Number) - another Harry Nilsson song
Mama told Me Not to Come - Randy Newman

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by M19

I always new it was a cover, but Yes' version of America is stratospheric compared to S&G's earthbound original.

I didn't know the Eagles' Take it Easy was a cover of JB for quite a while. I like both versions.

Take it easy was co-written by Jackson Browne and Glen Frey.

Oops, I see this was already established.

Ok then we’ll did you know J.D. Sourther co-wrote “New Kid in Town” with Henley and Frey?
Did you know that Bob Seger also co-wrote “Heartache Tonight “ with them as well? Huh, huh...bet you didn’t know that.

[rokdog49]

Garth Brooks’ huge hit “Make You Feel My Love” was written by..............

.........................Bob...........wait for it.................Dylan.

Who knew Bob had that in him? Not me, that’s for sure.

It has been covered by Billy Joel, Adele and others.

[godfreydaniel]

For some reason this one popped into my head, so I’ll mention it. Muskrat Love by the Captain and Tennille was originally by Willis Alan Ramsey under the title Muskrat Candlelight:

https://youtu.be/7HEao5-DIYI