“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. While a hit in the UK, it never reached the top 100 in the US and was pretty much forgotten until it was used in Good Morning, Vietnam, when it suddenly became a standard in the US.
Absolutely. And as a side note (or a hijack), I saw the Proclaimers once, years (decades) ago.
It might be the highest-energy show I’ve ever seen. Those guys were amazing. And one of their encores was the old Roger Miller hit, “King of the Road,” and their version of it was just astonishing.
I’d say Gene McDaniels’ “Compared To What” qualifies, too…covered over 270 times, from Roberta Flack to Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit. Also contains some of the most interesting lyrics of all time - an excerpt:
The President, he’s got his war
Folks don’t know just what it’s for
Nobody gives us rhyme or reason
Half of one doubt, they call it treason
We’re chicken-feathers, all without one gut. God damn it!
Tryin’ to make it real — compared to what?
I still remember seeing the Proclaimers on Letterman, back in what, '88 or '89? A woman I worked with at the time was also a Letterman fan and we’d start the workday discussing the previous night’s show. We came in the next morning and were both like “OMG did you see that band on Letterman last night? Those guys were awesome!” Great song, fun to see it pop up again from time to time.
“Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane. It’s not pretentious or overproduced, just straight forward pop with a very catchy hook and a lighthearted message.