# Songs more well-known by their covers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 8, 2006, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996 "2006-01-08T07:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/41 "2006-01-09T01:12:33Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > “Joy to the Word” by \*\*Three Dog Night \*\* is much better known than Hoyt Axton’s original. Axton was also overlooked for “The Pusher,” which most people connect with Steppenwolf. “The Pusher” doesn’t count as a cover, as Axton himself didn’t record a version until years after Steppenwolf’s. (He did record “Snowblind Friend” before Steppenwolf.) I _think_ Three Dog Night likewise released “Joy to the World” before Axton did, although both versions came out the same year. ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/42 "2006-01-09T01:15:01Z")
“MacArthur Park”. Can’t remember who originally recorded it, but it wasn’t Donna Summer. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/43 "2006-01-09T01:16:48Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Blood Sweat and Tears are associated with Laura Nyro’s “And When I Die.” Oh, and I don’t think many people realize that BST’s first big hit, “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” was a cover, originally by Brenda Holloway. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/44 "2006-01-09T01:17:39Z")
> [@ryobserver](#): > > “MacArthur Park”. Can’t remember who originally recorded it, but it wasn’t Donna Summer. The actor Richard Harris, if memory serves. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/45 "2006-01-09T01:18:08Z")
> [@ryobserver](#): > > “MacArthur Park”. Can’t remember who originally recorded it, but it wasn’t Donna Summer. Richard Harris ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/46 "2006-01-09T01:22:33Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > The actor Richard Harris, if memory serves. Correct. And if you think _that_ version is pretentious, consider that it was only the last movement of a rejected 22-minute “cantata” that composer Jimmy Webb originally wrote for the Association. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/47 "2006-01-09T01:25:59Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > Correct. And if you think _that_ version is pretentious, consider that it was only the last movement of a rejected 22-minute “cantata” that composer Jimmy Webb originally wrote for the Association. :eek: Please tell me you’re kidding! ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/48 "2006-01-09T02:30:12Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I don’t find this song listed under Huey Lewis anywhere. Nick Lowe’s version went to #77, though. You’re right. The version I remember so vividly–with Huey Lewis in the video–was indeed Nick Lowe’s version, produced by Lewis. There is a [bootleg](http://myweb.cableone.net/richardbrown/hueylewissantacruz89.htm) recording kicking around of Huey Lewis and the News performing the song, but it’s not on any of the label CDs. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/49 "2006-01-09T02:31:34Z")
_ **Cum On Feel The Noize** _ wasn’t originally recorded by Oasis in the last few years, nor by Quiet Riot in 1984, but by Slade in the early 70’s, as was _ **Mama Weer All Crazee Now** _. _ **Babe I’m Gonna Leave You** _ was originally recorded by Joan Baez, not Led Zeppelin. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/50 "2006-01-09T02:44:17Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > **"I Love Rock And Roll"** was originally by The Arrows, not Joan Jett And The Blackhearts. And the Stones signature song, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was another Otis Redding cover. The Blues, Jazz, and R&B guys and gals used to cover each other so much and without legal protections it was sometimes hard to tell who originated a song. If John Lee Hooker got half the credit for songs lifted wholesale, or nearly so, from his body of work he’d have never spent years in fiscal destitution. Eric Clapton pretty much owes his post-_Layla_ career to J.J. Cale, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Bob Marley, among many others. It seems like anyone worth their strings has covered “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” at some point, and most better than Dylan. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/51 "2006-01-09T02:50:04Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > And the Stones signature song, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was another Otis Redding cover. The Stones’ version came out in 1965 (#1). Redding’s in 1966 (#31). ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/52 "2006-01-09T03:28:22Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > On his greatest hits collection, there’s a version of the song with Prince singing it. It’s on disc one. IIRC though, at the time it came out it was said that he wrote it specifically for Sinead O’Conner to perform. She was asked about who wrote it in an interveiw on MTV and said Prince had contacted her agent saying he had a song for her, and that at first she was dubious but she took a look and liked it. Missy Elliot’s cover titled “The Rain” (with samples of the original?) of Tina Turner’s 'I Can’t Stand the Rain" and Ike and Tina Turner’s cover of CCR’s Proud Mary. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/53 "2006-01-09T03:54:24Z")
I should have added the caveat that, while I was aware of his version, I have no information as to whether he actually he released it as a single. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/54 "2006-01-09T03:54:46Z")
**Stranger on a Train:** > [@](#): > > And the Stones signature song, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was another Otis Redding cover. I’ve always thought that Devo’s version was the original. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/55 "2006-01-09T03:57:23Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I should have added the caveat that, while I was aware of his version, I have no information as to whether he actually he released it as a single. Not that I can find. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/56 "2006-01-09T04:13:22Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > Tina Turner’s 'I Can’t Stand the Rain" Originally by Ann Peebles. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/57 "2006-01-09T04:20:18Z")
Heh 😉 ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/58 "2006-01-09T04:34:11Z")
“Torn”, originally performed by Ednaswap, made well-known by Natalie Imbruglia’s cover. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/59 "2006-01-09T12:44:54Z")
The song _Different Drum_, popularized by Linda Ronstadt, was originally written and performed by former Monkee Michael Nesmith. I like his version better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996/60 "2006-01-09T13:11:11Z")
Just about everyone associates \*\*Unchained Melody \*\* with the Righteous Brothers who recorded it in the mid-'60s. However, it was originally released in the mid-'50s (for the movie “Unchained,” natch) and released by several performers before the Righteous Brothers made it their own. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-more-well-known-by-their-covers/338996.md?page=4)