# I didn't know that song was a cover **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163 "2010-03-20T19:33:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LunarPlexus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LunarPlexus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LunarPlexus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/41 "2010-03-22T14:01:25Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Lots of people my age (teenager in the '80s) seem surprised to learn “Pictures of Matchstick Men” was done by The Status Quo 20 years before Camper Van Beethoven’s cover. This is so funny! My daughter’s band is covering “Pictures of Matchstick Men” and I have already “corrected” about half a dozen people on this score (near pun intended). ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/42 "2010-03-22T14:22:00Z")
I remember when this came out [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hUKBuAkr4Lg/hqdefault.jpg "EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY . PAUL YOUNG") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUKBuAkr4Lg) and was annoyed that the original artists didn’t seem to get credit for it: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PAnZ_mTUP1c/hqdefault.jpg "Daryl Hall & John Oates - Everytime You Go Away") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAnZ_mTUP1c) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/43 "2010-03-22T14:32:55Z")
Tom Paxton practically owns this catagory. John Denver–Whose Garden was This & Forest Lawn Chad Mitchell Trio–The Marvelous Toy Irish Rovers–Wasn’t That A Party? Firebirds–Bottle of Wine A slew of peopk have recorded “Rambling Boy”" and “The Last Thing on my Mind” both wriiten by Paxton and thought by many to be “Traditional Flok Songs.” Paxton himself calls this “a folk song writter’s greatest honor.” ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/44 "2010-03-22T14:49:24Z")
Along with Dolly’s _I will always love you_,others I had arguments about… John Denver’s _Leaving on a jet plane_ originally recorded by The Chad Mitchell Trio,which Denver was a part of, Queen’s _Stone Cold Crazy_(tho Mercurys group Wreckage also performed it before Queen was formed) was released in 1974,sixteen years before Metallica covered it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/45 "2010-03-22T14:55:23Z")
Until recently I thought that Willie Nelson was covering Patsy Cline’s _Crazy_. Turns out it was the other way around. I never even thought of the two as contemporaries. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/46 "2010-03-22T15:12:59Z")
[I know that it’s been mentioned before on the boards](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=313138), but not many people are aware that Britney Spears’ “Oops! I Did It Again” was a cover of [an obscure 1932 Louis Armstrong track](http://www.supermasterpiece.com/music/oops.html). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/47 "2010-03-22T15:29:15Z")
Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” (1987) was first done by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1967. Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling” (i.e. the “ooga-chaka” version) was a 1974 cover of B.J. Thomas’ 1969 version. Taco’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” (1983) was written by Irving Berlin in 1929, and first sung by Harry Richman in the 1930 film _Puttin’ on the Ritz_. Since then, it’s been covered by many. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/48 "2010-03-22T15:41:40Z")
_The Air That I Breathe_ by the Hollies is a cover of Phil Everly’s original, which is stunningly beautiful until the chorus, when in comes the most godawful la-la-la screeching you ever heard. Totally wrecks the whole thing, and believe it or not, thanks to producer Warren Zevon, who was going through a real bad patch. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/49 "2010-03-22T16:22:27Z")
Love Spit Love’s cover of _How Soon Is Now_ is certainly more famous than the original by The Smiths. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/50 "2010-03-22T16:27:09Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > [I know that it’s been mentioned before on the boards](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=313138), but not many people are aware that Britney Spears’ “Oops! I Did It Again” was a cover of [an obscure 1932 Louis Armstrong track](http://www.supermasterpiece.com/music/oops.html). Wow. I didn’t know this and am surprised she even knows who Louis Armstrong IS ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/51 "2010-03-22T16:31:47Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > [I know that it’s been mentioned before on the boards](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=313138), but not many people are aware that Britney Spears’ “Oops! I Did It Again” was a cover of [an obscure 1932 Louis Armstrong track](http://www.supermasterpiece.com/music/oops.html). Um…no it’s not. What you linked to is a parody, and fake. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/52 "2010-03-22T17:10:49Z")
> [@Electric\_Warrior](#): > > Um…no it’s not. What you linked to is a parody, and fake. As the first link notes pretty clearly. Almost as if it was planned that way, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/53 "2010-03-22T17:37:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Taco’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” (1983) was written by Irving Berlin in 1929, and first sung by Harry Richman in the 1930 film _Puttin’ on the Ritz_. Since then, it’s been covered by many. The Gene Wilder/Peter Boyle version is the definitive one. ---
**Author:** ![cstamets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cstamets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cstamets)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/54 "2010-03-22T17:38:21Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > I was equally impressed when Angel City covered Great White’s “Face the Day”, six years earlier.]. Great White ticked me off with that and [Ian Hunter’s Once Bitten, Twice Shy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMQVHblnBPo). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/55 "2010-03-22T18:00:59Z")
It was a long while before I learned that Joe Cocker’s live version of “Feelin’ Alright” was a cover of a Traffic song. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/56 "2010-03-22T18:27:18Z")
Kim Carnes’ “Betty Davis Eyes” is a cover of a song originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon. I can’t seem to find the original on the Web, but it was markedly different. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/57 "2010-03-22T19:04:44Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > Love Spit Love’s cover of _How Soon Is Now_ is certainly more famous than the original by The Smiths. You gotta be kidding - who the hell is “Love Spit Love”? The Smiths turned down some absurd amount of money to reform - they still have juice. ---
**Author:** ![bourbonstew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@bourbonstew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bourbonstew)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/58 "2010-03-22T19:13:58Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > You gotta be kidding - who the hell is “Love Spit Love”? . More famous by dint of being the version used as the theme song for _ **Charmed** _. Love Spit Love’s music should be instantly recognizable vocally by anyone into alternative music (like the Smiths) in the '80’s - lead singer from the Psychedelic Furs. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/59 "2010-03-22T19:39:10Z")
[Natalie Imbruglia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYAhku6gKQA) covered Torn. [EDNASWAP](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1SH1YdITDI) wrote and performed a MUCH superior version about ten years earlier. And what the heck… the mimed version [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2yNzw00mpA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2yNzw00mpA) ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163/60 "2010-03-22T19:49:37Z")
Two of **Quiet Riot’s** 3 hits, _Cum On Feel The Noize_ and _Mama Weer All Crazee Now_, were covers of **Slade** songs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-know-that-song-was-a-cover/533163.md?page=4)