# Songs recorded by two artists in (relatively) short succession **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 25, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010 "2021-06-25T17:57:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [June 29, 2021, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/41 "2021-06-29T12:36:00Z")
“Sh-Boom” was a hit for the Chords in March 1954; the Crew Cuts did a version that came out in July and went to number 1. It was very common in the 50s for white artist to cover songs by Black artists, often while the originals were still on the R&B charts. Pat Boone made a career out of it. ---
**Author:** ![LateComer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5ac83/32.png) [@LateComer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LateComer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/42 "2021-06-29T14:32:38Z")
The Beatles released “Let it Be” 2 months after Aretha Franklin released her version. > **[Beatles: Did Paul McCartney Write 'Let It Be' for Aretha Franklin?](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/beatles-did-paul-mccartney-write-let-it-be-for-aretha-franklin.html/)** > > "Let It Be" is one of the most famous Beatles songs. But did Paul McCartney write it for the Fab Four or for Aretha Franklin? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/43 "2021-06-29T14:54:36Z")
Chaz Jankel and Kenny Young wrote “Ai No Corrida” for Jankel’s 1980 debut album as a solo artist. “Ai No Corrida” was selected as the first single and was released in August 1980. Somewhere, Quincy Jones heard Jankel’s single and thought it could be a big hit in the U.S. Jankel’s single didn’t chart in his native UK, but it was a hit in Belgium. Accordingly, my pet theory has always been that one of Jones’ long-time collaborators, Belgian multi-instrumentalist Toots Thielemans, introduced Jones to “Ai No Corrida”. Thielemans was one of the session player on Jones’ upcoming album _The Dude_ at around this time. Anyway, Jones released “Ai No Corrida” as a single in the US in April 1981. It hit #28 on the US Hot 100, and was Top Ten on both the US R&B chart and the US Dance Hits chart. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DfEYKBdSQ8k/maxresdefault.jpg "Chas Jankel - Ai No Corrida (1980)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfEYKBdSQ8k) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fXmmWBzS-_o/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHeA4AC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgVihEMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCFptusuWuWRAdlOZP8lde28pNhTw "Ai No Corrida - QUINCY JONES '1981") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXmmWBzS-_o) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/44 "2021-06-29T15:07:47Z")
I thought it all happened more closely in time, but Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” for his side project band The Family in 1985. Then Sinéad O’Connor made the song a huge hit when it was released as a single in 1990. Finally Prince released his own recorded version on " The Hits/The B-Sides\* in 1993. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/45 "2021-06-29T17:45:53Z")
I was expecting a half dozen or so. I’m not sure I count the Monkees though. Or Three Dog Night had they been mentioned. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/46 "2021-06-29T17:55:31Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Where do you guys come up with this shit??? Memories of Casey Kasem on “American Top 40.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/47 "2021-06-29T19:16:45Z")
Little Steven is great at spinning tales like this, too. I once heard a full set of the different versions of "Hey Joe’ from 1966 on his show. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/48 "2021-06-29T19:47:50Z")
“Torn” by Ednaswap was released in 1995 but I only remember it getting airplay once Natalie Imbruglia’s 1997 cover became huge. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/49 "2021-06-29T21:39:29Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Dylan released “Mr. Tambourine Man” in March of 1965; the Byrds released their version in April. Dylan had written (in early 1964) and recorded the song (one of his masterpieces, btw.) in June 1964, and knew that it was an important song, but wasn’t contented with the first recorded version and re-recorded it for “Bringing It All Back Home”. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/50 "2021-06-29T23:57:44Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Dylan released “Mr. Tambourine Man” in March of 1965; the Byrds released their version in April. [Tangent] A question I’ve had for years is “how many songs can one play on a tambourine if that’s the only instrument around?” I mean, there are thousands of songs that are easily recognized by the guitar riffs or the piano or bass. But I’m imagining trying to play _Name That Tune_ using just the tambourine, and I got nuthin’. [/Tangent] ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/51 "2021-06-30T00:11:24Z")
Petula Clark and Andy Williams both had a hit with _ **Happy Heart** _ in 1969. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/52 "2021-06-30T00:51:57Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > [Tangent] > > A question I’ve had for years is “how many songs can one play on a tambourine if that’s the only instrument around?” > > I mean, there are thousands of songs that are easily recognized by the guitar riffs or the piano or bass. But I’m imagining trying to play _Name That Tune_ using just the tambourine, and I got nuthin’. > > [/Tangent] Of course the tambourine mostly is the instrument you put into the singer’s hands so the they have something to do with their hands, but it can be a VERY effective instrument. The Motown sound is unthinkable without the use of the tambourine. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/53 "2021-06-30T01:27:51Z")
But how many songs can you name just by hearing the tambourine? Even in Motown, it’s not a solo instrument. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/54 "2021-06-30T01:37:28Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > But how many songs can you name just by hearing the tambourine? Even in Motown, it’s not a solo instrument. Green Tambourine ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/55 "2021-06-30T02:46:16Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > But how many songs can you name just by hearing the tambourine? Even in Motown, it’s not a solo instrument. Percussive instruments generally aren’t lead instruments. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/56 "2021-06-30T05:58:14Z")
> [@veryfrank](#): > > “Torn” by Ednaswap And somebody else did it before then. Ednaswap’s version is the best, by far. I’ve posted this a hundred times on this board. Well, maybe 4 times. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/57 "2021-06-30T11:34:35Z")
The one that comes to mind is the song ‘Tomorrow Wendy’ written by Andy Prieboy, ex-_Wall of Voodoo_. His version features Johnette Napolitano on vocals, and her band _Concrete Blonde_ released their own cover, which came out before his album or single were released. Privileged to see both renditions live. Hard call but Andy Prieboy’s live version was better. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/58 "2021-06-30T12:40:52Z")
An interesting case is the great New Wave/Punk classic “Ca Plane Pour Moi”. It was first released by Plastic Bertrand in 1977, and a short time later Elton Motello released it with different (English) lyrics, using exactly the same backing track: > **[Ça plane pour moi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%87a_plane_pour_moi)** > > "Ça plane pour moi" (French pronunciation: ​\[sa plan puʁ mwa\]) is a 1978 song by Belgian musician Plastic Bertrand, though its vocals were actually performed by Lou Deprijck, the record's producer and composer. "Jet Boy, Jet Girl", a song by Elton Motello, has the same backing track that was later used in "Ça plane pour moi". > The song has been covered by many artists, though Plastic Bertrand's original recording was the most successful, reaching No. 8 on the UK charts in the summer of 1978. W... > **[Jet Boy, Jet Girl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Boy,_Jet_Girl)** > > "Jet Boy, Jet Girl" is a song by Elton Motello about a 15-year-old boy's sexual relationship with an older man, who then rejects him for a girl. > Alan Ward had toured Belgium with Bastard. Through his connections there, he had his new moniker, Elton Motello, debut on the Belgian label Pinball with the single "Jet Boy, Jet Girl" in 1977. The song was backed by session musicians Mike Butcher (guitar), John Valcke (bass), and Bob Dartsch (drums), instead of Elton Motello's regular musicians. That ex... [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RDHjeiys3a0/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAChgKKAgwIABABGH8gNigTMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDQP0h4u-Bgm7vsN8miWIq8hKX3Ew "Plastic Bertrand - Ça Plane Pour Moi") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDHjeiys3a0) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KgbtLJyLDu8/hqdefault.jpg "Elton Motello Jet Boy Jet Girl") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgbtLJyLDu8) The Damned also did it around that time, but recorded the backing track themselves: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OQKyMZ8gsPI/hqdefault.jpg "The Damned - Jet Boy Jet Girl") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQKyMZ8gsPI) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/59 "2021-06-30T17:31:30Z")
I’m kind of surprised no one mentioned “Blue Suede Shoes” yet. Carl Perkins recorded the song in 1955 and earned a gold record with it, and then Elvis Presley recorded the more well known version of it in 1956. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010/60 "2021-06-30T18:55:23Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > “Sh-Boom” was a hit for the Chords in March 1954; the Crew Cuts did a version that came out in July and went to number 1. Would Stan Freberg be a third artist? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-recorded-by-two-artists-in-relatively-short-succession/945010.md?page=4)