# Singer-songwriters who popularized a song written by another singer-songwriter: **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465 "2010-09-29T13:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/1 "2010-09-29T13:41:46Z")
I originally posted this over in the Game Room’s “Baker’s Dozen” thread, but realized there are about a gazillion more songs that could be added to this list: 1. Bruce Springsteen - “Jersey Girl” by Tom Waits 2. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - “Blinded by the Light” by Bruce Springsteen 3. Pointer Sisters - “Fire” by Bruce Springsteen 4. Nancy Griffith - “From a Distance” by Julie Gold 5. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton–Islands in the Stream by the Bee Gees 6. Peter, Paul and Mary - “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver 7. Elvis Costello - “(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding” by Nick Lowe 8. James Taylor - “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King 9. Jimi Hendrx - “All Along The Watchtower” by some Dylan guy. 10. Cyndi Lauper - “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Robert Hazard 11. Merle Haggard & Willie Nelson - “Pancho and Lefty” by Townes Van Zandt 12. Sinead O’Connor - “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Prince 13. Stevie Ray Vaughn - “All Along The Watchtower” also by that same Dylan guy For starters: 1. John Denver - Whose Garden Was This? by Tom Paxton 2. John Denver - Forest Lawn by Tom Paxton 3. Jeff Buckley–Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/2 "2010-09-29T13:47:59Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > 1. Bruce Springsteen - “Jersey Girl” by Tom Waits 1. Rod Stewart - “Downtown Train” by Tom Waits ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/3 "2010-09-29T13:49:13Z")
1. Eric Clapton - “Cocaine” by JJ Cale ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/4 "2010-09-29T14:18:27Z")
Feist - “Brandy Alexander” by Ron Sexsmith ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/5 "2010-09-29T14:33:33Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > > > 1. Bruce Springsteen - “Jersey Girl” by Tom Waits > > 1. Rod Stewart - “Downtown Train” by Tom Waits The Eagles - "Ol’ 55 " by Tom Waits ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/6 "2010-09-29T14:35:50Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > > > 1. Rod Stewart - “Downtown Train” by Tom Waits > > The Eagles - "Ol’ 55 " by Tom Waits Rod Stewart - “Tom Traubert’s Blues”(aka Waltzing Mathilda) by Tom Waits ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/7 "2010-09-29T14:51:47Z")
Springsteen - _Because the Night_ (Patti Smiith) ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/8 "2010-09-29T15:05:19Z")
Tom Waits - “Phantom 309” by Red Sovine ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/9 "2010-09-29T15:12:02Z")
“Woodstock” - made famous by Crosby, Stills & Nash “Both Sides Now” - made famous by Judy Collins - Both songs were written by Joni Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/10 "2010-09-29T15:28:28Z")
The Monkees - “I’m a Believer” by Neil Diamond ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/11 "2010-09-29T15:33:22Z")
“I Shot the Sheriff” by Bob Marley, popularized by Eric Clapton “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” by Robbie Robertson of the Band, turned into a hit by Joan Baez (a terrible version of the song). “Summertime Blues” by Eddie Cochrane – a big hit for the Who “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” by Klaatu, popularized by The Carpenters “Hey Joe,” first credited to Billy Roberts (but sometimes listed as "traditional), linked to Jimi Hendrix, though many others have done it. James Taylor got a big hit from Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” but we could do an entire thread of people who have covered King’s songs. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/12 "2010-09-29T16:28:40Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Springsteen - _Because the Night_ (Patti Smiith) Isn’t this the wrong way around? I thought Springsteen wrote it and she did some lyrical noodling. Didn’t he write this and Fire for Darkness at the Edge of Town but they didn’t fit the tone of the album? MiM ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/13 "2010-09-29T16:47:58Z")
Johnny Cash - **Sunday Morning Coming Down** (Kris Kristofferson) Janis Joplin - **Me and Bobbie McGee** (Kris Kristofferson) ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/14 "2010-09-29T17:06:38Z")
> [@Made\_in\_Macau](#): > > > [@BlankSlate](#): > > > > Springsteen - _Because the Night_ (Patti Smiith) > > Isn’t this the wrong way around? I thought Springsteen wrote it and she did some lyrical noodling. > Didn’t he write this and Fire for Darkness at the Edge of Town but they didn’t fit the tone of the album? > > MiM Right. Springsteen gave it to Smith. Judy Collins–Send in the Clowns by Stephen Sondheim ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/15 "2010-09-29T17:09:30Z")
“They Don’t Know” - [Tracey Ullman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Lh7P54bN8) had a major hit with [Kirsty MacColl’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHnYJgjDQiw) song. Tracey took a fairly serious, straightforward song and made it humorous through her wonderful video, but both versions work. Tracy’s version of [the song](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Don%27t_Know_%28Kirsty_MacColl_song%29) appeared on her album [You Broke My Heart In 17 Places](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Broke_My_Heart_In_17_Places), which includes the [song of the same name](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fvmjhav9OE&feature=related), also by [Kirsty MacColl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirsty_MacColl). ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/16 "2010-09-29T17:14:03Z")
Another twofer: Carly Simon & James Taylor stunning cover of Inez and Charlie Foxx’s Mockingbird. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/17 "2010-09-29T17:30:22Z")
The Byrds - Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man”. The Bangles - Paul Simon’s “Hazy Shade of Winter”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/18 "2010-09-29T17:32:28Z")
Peter, Paul and Mary-_Leavin’ On A Jet Plane_ by John Denver ---
**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:** [September 29, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/19 "2010-09-29T17:35:07Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Peter, Paul and Mary-_Leavin’ On A Jet Plane_ by John Denver Pssst…#6 in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465/20 "2010-09-29T17:38:08Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > > [@runner pat](#): > > > > Peter, Paul and Mary-_Leavin’ On A Jet Plane_ by John Denver > > Pssst…#6 in the OP. :smack::smack: 🆒(Not cool, blind) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singer-songwriters-who-popularized-a-song-written-by-another-singer-songwriter/555465.md?page=2)