# Songs you didn't know were remakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2014, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244 "2014-05-25T21:20:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [May 26, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/21 "2014-05-26T00:28:25Z")
Many may think “Without You” as done by Mariah Carey was a cover of Nilsson, but Nilsson was covering Badfinger. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/22 "2014-05-26T00:37:26Z")
> [@CheshireKat](#): > > It crushed me when I found out Kermit didn’t write Rainbow Connection (Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher did). :eek: > > While looking it up, I was astonished to find this cover of Kermit’s signature song: > > [**Bein’ Green**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLg9k3yFC40) Have you heard the [Van Morrison version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnCQTNriVlE)? That was the first version I knew. I didn’t find out that it was a cover of Kermit until much later. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/23 "2014-05-26T01:28:44Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Many may think “Without You” as done by Mariah Carey was a cover of Nilsson, but Nilsson was covering Badfinger. Second this; I just learned that recently, after doing a cover gig of the album _Nilsson Schmilsson_. Mainly because he seems like the sort of guy who would be the original writer of other people’s hits, I never thought to look that carefully to see whether or not he had written it. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/24 "2014-05-26T02:27:36Z")
I never bothered to read the liner notes… Back when the _Toys in The Attic_ album was released I just assumed it was an Aerosmith original but it had already been a big hit on the R&B charts for Bull Moose Jackson back in 1952. Aerosmith version: [Aerosmith - Big Ten Inch Record - YouTube](http://youtu.be/gweUVWUYYQ8) Bull Moose Jackson version: [Bull Moose Jackson - Big Ten Inch - YouTube](http://youtu.be/Rws_7mLTqj8) > **[Big Ten Inch Record by Aerosmith - Songfacts](https://www.songfacts.com/facts/aerosmith/big-ten-inch-record)** > > Big Ten Inch Record by Aerosmith song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/25 "2014-05-26T02:39:57Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Have you heard the [Van Morrison version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnCQTNriVlE)? That was the first version I knew. I didn’t find out that it was a cover of Kermit until much later. I had no idea Bein’ Green was such a go-to cover song. Love the Van Morrison one. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/26 "2014-05-26T03:03:07Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > I never bothered to read the liner notes… Back when the _Toys in The Attic_ album was released I just assumed it was an Aerosmith original but it had already been a big hit on the R&B charts for Bull Moose Jackson back in 1952. Speaking of risque records, Chuck Berry’s big 1972 hit “My Ding-A-Ling” is actually [a cover of this song from 1952(!)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn3nASV-HIs). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/27 "2014-05-26T03:10:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I never liked Martha and the Vandellas. They were one of Phil Spector’s many cookie cutter girl groups. No. No, no, no, no, no. NO. Nothing to do with Spector. They were Motown all the way. “Heatwave” is one of the greatest make-the-dead-rise-up-and-dance songs of the century. And Spector produced the Crystals and the Ronettes, who I’ll put up against any Motown group head to head. But I goofed, too. It was Gladys Knight and the Pips who had the hit version of “I Head It Through the Grapevine” before Marvin Gaye. Anyway, one of my favorite lost songs of the 60’s is “I Love You” by People! Originally from a Zombies album. Quicksilver Messenger Service rose to fame with “Pride of Man,” which I found out came off a folk album by Hamilton Camp. Manfred Mann’s first hits were also covers: “Diddy Wah Diddy” covered the Exciters and “Sha La La” was first done by the Shirelles. The Ventures’ superhit “Walk, Don’t Run” was written by Johnny Smith in 1954. Brian Wilson didn’t need any help to churn out the catchiest tunes, but “Sloop John B” has a long history starting with poet Carl Sandburg as “The John B Sails” and the Kingston Trio’s “The Wreck of the John B.” “Barbara Ann” covers The Regents. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/28 "2014-05-26T03:17:52Z")
I first heard “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” by Cake in the last 90’s and eventually found out it was recorded several times back in the 60s. I didn’t find out until tonight that it was written in Spanish and re-written (not translated) in English until later. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/29 "2014-05-26T03:23:39Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Second this; I just learned that recently, after doing a cover gig of the album _Nilsson Schmilsson_. Mainly because he seems like the sort of guy who would be the original writer of other people’s hits, I never thought to look that carefully to see whether or not he had written it. Indeed, yet Nilsson’s two biggest hit singles were covers: the other being “Everybody’s Talkin’,” originally by Fred Neil. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/30 "2014-05-26T03:33:36Z")
I didn’t initially know that Hootie & The Blowfish’s “I Go Blind” was originally recorded by a Canadian band called 54-40. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/31 "2014-05-26T03:34:11Z")
> [@CheshireKat](#): > > It crushed me when I found out Kermit didn’t write Rainbow Connection (Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher did). :eek: > > While looking it up, I was astonished to find this cover of Kermit’s signature song: > > [**Bein’ Green**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLg9k3yFC40) > [@standingwave](#): > > I never bothered to read the liner notes… Back when the _Toys in The Attic_ album was released I just assumed it was an Aerosmith original but it had already been a big hit on the R&B charts for Bull Moose Jackson back in 1952. > > Aerosmith version: [http://youtu.be/gweUVWUYYQ8](http://youtu.be/gweUVWUYYQ8) > Bull Moose Jackson version: [http://youtu.be/Rws\_7mLTqj8](http://youtu.be/Rws_7mLTqj8) > > [Big Ten Inch Record by Aerosmith - Songfacts](http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=7208) Wow! I’m amazed! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/32 "2014-05-26T03:35:35Z")
Another one that’s commonly thought to be an original is “God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You” by either KISS or the Christian band Petra, depending on who you talk to. This song was originally written and recorded by Argent; when Petra wanted to record it, they wanted to change some of the lyrics, and got permission from Argent to do so. The KISS song is a remake of the original Argent version. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/33 "2014-05-26T03:36:54Z")
“Midnight Train to Georgia” was Gladys Knight and the Pips’ biggest hit, but it was originally recorded by Jim Weatherly as “Midnight Plane to Houston”. Weatherly’s inspiration was a conversation he had with Farrah Fawcett, who had just started dating Weatherly’s friend, actor Lee Majors. Fawcett explained she was leaving to visit her family and had to catch the midnight plane to Houston. Weatherly’s version was about a man following his girlfriend to be with her. It was then reworked to make it about a woman following her boyfriend and given to Cissy Houston to record as “Midnite Train to Georgia.” From Cissy Houston the song made its way to Gladys Knight and the Pips. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/34 "2014-05-26T03:44:22Z")
An ex-girlfriend’s brother thought “Big Yellow Taxi” was a Counting Crowes original. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/35 "2014-05-26T04:28:29Z")
I was too young to know anything about _Hair_ when the musical was originally popular and wasn’t really familiar with the songs from the soundtrack. I thought “Frank Mills” was a Lemonheads song for a long time. My wife thought “Landslide” was a Dixie Chicks song. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/36 "2014-05-26T04:31:55Z")
[House of the Rising Sun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgTSfJEf_jM) by the Animals is a cover of [a traditional song](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_the_Rising_Sun). [Girls Just Wanna Have Fun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIb6AZdTr-A) by Cyndi Lauper was actually [originally written and sung by a guy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aLNwOxPsjg). ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/37 "2014-05-26T04:54:44Z")
This song was before my time so maybe I have an excuse but for years I associated “There! I Said It Again” exclusively with [Bobby Vinton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJBMp18TT9g). Then I found out Sam[Cooke recorded it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if7Fk9q6GsU) in three years before Vinton. And\* then \*I found out even Cooke wasn’t the first since[the song had been a hit for Vaughn Monroe in 1945](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8w87BcVURc). ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/38 "2014-05-26T07:18:58Z")
I didn’t know until recently that Inez and Charlie Foxx recorded [Mockingbird](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g47_NI1CWNQ) long before Carly Simon and James Taylor did. I was surprised to learn years ago that [Louis Armstrong](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U1EzehwLiA) recorded _Blueberry Hill_ in 1949, seven years before Fats Domino’s version. I guess it’s common knowledge that some of Elvis’s early hits were remakes. Here are [Big Mama Thornton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrieOEPJCos) singing _Hound Dog_, [Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxHQUvCkV20) singing _That’s All Right_ and [Carl Perkins](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_znXjz8K99U) singing _Blue Suede Shoes_. I don’t remember when I learned they didn’t originate with Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/39 "2014-05-26T08:54:31Z")
Here’s another one I attribute to my relative youth. I did not know “Needles and Pins” had been recorded by [Jackie De Shannon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSbM_Zmx9kA) before the version by [The Searchers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypv1lZlW1WY). ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244/40 "2014-05-26T11:44:10Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Here’s another one I attribute to my relative youth. I did not know “Needles and Pins” had been recorded by [Jackie De Shannon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSbM_Zmx9kA) before the version by [The Searchers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypv1lZlW1WY). … written by Sonny Bono 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-know-were-remakes/689244.md?page=3)