# Songs you didn't realize were covers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 7, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496 "2020-12-07T18:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/101 "2021-07-17T19:26:03Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > Possibly the BBC’s refusal to play songs with commercial product names in them led to the change in title in the 1961 version? “spearmint” isn’t a commercial product name ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/102 "2021-07-18T11:20:57Z")
True - but I think the average person at the time would relate “spearmint” to the gum’s brand name rather than to the flavoring product of nature. The BBC could be picky at times. ---
**Author:** ![ralfy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ralfy/32/600_2.png) [@ralfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralfy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/103 "2021-07-19T08:20:49Z")
“Black Hole Sun” performed by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/do6FSD0gFz8/hqdefault.jpg "BLACK HOLE SUN") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do6FSD0gFz8) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/104 "2021-07-19T19:33:37Z")
So you weren’t familiar with the original Soundgarden huge hit written by lead singer Chris Cornell? ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/105 "2021-07-19T20:11:24Z")
Until a few years ago I had no idea that “Step On” by the Happy Mondays was a cover of an oldie called “He’s Gonna Step on You Again” by (the unknown to me) John Kongos. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4N2Ul7ll-FM/hqdefault.jpg "John Kongos He's gonna step on you again") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N2Ul7ll-FM) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mFBQ0PH5rM4/maxresdefault.jpg "Happy Mondays - Step On (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFBQ0PH5rM4) ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/106 "2021-08-01T21:39:16Z")
I did not know The Doobie Brothers was a cover. What A Fool Believes. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aczBRE2S6h4/maxresdefault.jpg "What a Fool Believes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aczBRE2S6h4) ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/107 "2021-08-01T21:58:13Z")
I didn’t know this one either. Heart and Soul not Huey Lewis but Exile. Hopefully, I’m not repeating someone else. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pBCrrniVZZE/maxresdefault.jpg "Exile – “Heart And Soul” (LP Version) (WB) 1981") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBCrrniVZZE) ---
**Author:** ![BigDfromLA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@BigDfromLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDfromLA)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/108 "2021-08-02T04:20:27Z")
The Bus Boys have the best version of Heart and Soul of them all. Much better than Lewis’ ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/109 "2021-08-02T04:21:46Z")
link? please Never mind found it. Good, But I must still go with Huey. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/110 "2021-08-02T11:47:39Z")
> [@Galactus](#): > > I did not know The Doobie Brothers was a cover. What A Fool Believes. Sez wikipedia: > " **What a Fool Believes**" is a song written by [Michael McDonald](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_McDonald_(musician)) and [Kenny Loggins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Loggins). The best-known version was recorded by [The Doobie Brothers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doobie_Brothers) (with McDonald singing lead vocals) for their [1978](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_in_music) album _[Minute by Minute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minute_by_Minute)_ . Debuting at number 73 on January 20, 1979, the single reached number one on the [_Billboard_ Hot 100](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100) on April 14, 1979 for one week.[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Fool_Believes#cite_note-6) The song received [Grammy Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Awards_of_1980) in 1980 for both [Song of the Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Song_of_the_Year) and [Record of the Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Record_of_the_Year). Not exactly a cover…co-written, both recorded it. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/111 "2021-08-02T21:49:14Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Not exactly a cover…co-written, both recorded it. Huh…interesting. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/112 "2021-08-06T18:34:43Z")
The 1963 original _It’s All Right_ by Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y1LLwC7N1h8/maxresdefault.jpg "The Impressions "It's All Right"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1LLwC7N1h8) The one I knew. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LI7qhV36FQ0/hqdefault.jpg "its alright huey lewis and the news") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI7qhV36FQ0) ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/113 "2021-08-07T14:11:01Z")
We watched _Once Upon a Time in Hollywood_ and heard the familiar strains of _Hush_, but it was by Deep Purple. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mMgiu_dYXxQ/hqdefault.jpg "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood • Hush • Deep Purple") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMgiu_dYXxQ) We thought it was originally by Gotthard. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FxwWAJEempQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Gotthard - Hush (Live)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxwWAJEempQ) And even Deep Purple’s version is a cover. > **[Hush (Billy Joe Royal song)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush_(Billy_Joe_Royal_song))** > > "Hush" is a song written by American composer and musician Joe South, for recording artist Billy Joe Royal. The song was later covered by Somebody's Image (an Australian band fronted by Russell Morris) in 1967. It reached #15. It was also covered by Deep Purple in 1968 and by Kula Shaker in 1997. Each artist had a Top 5 hit with their version. > Billy Joe Royal recorded "Hush" on 12 July 1967 in Nashville with Barry Bailey, future lead guitarist for the Atlanta Rhythm Section, on guitar. Joe Sou... ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/114 "2021-08-07T16:35:26Z")
Most know the Dave Edmunds version, and some think Fats Domino was the original, but it was actually Smiley Lewis [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DIeY7J9kjg0/hqdefault.jpg "Smiley Lewis - I Hear You Knockin'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIeY7J9kjg0) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/115 "2021-08-07T19:18:13Z")
Thank you for fighting my ignorance! (And what a great original.) j ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/116 "2021-10-07T06:47:43Z")
I never realized the Terry Jacks version of _Seasons In The Sun_ wasn’t an original. Jacques Brel’s 1961 original _Le Moribund_. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/53gRBIRAwM4/maxresdefault.jpg "Le Moribond - Jacques Brel - The original song of (Seasons in the sun)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53gRBIRAwM4) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/117 "2021-10-07T11:12:55Z")
Likewise - Terry Jack’s other hit - “If You Go Away”, and the Jacques Brel original “Ne Me Quitte Pas” - also from 1961. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jJ2TJcHO5QI/hqdefault.jpg "If you go away- Terry Jacks") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ2TJcHO5QI) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i2wmKcBm4Ik/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgVCgrMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAZ3lzDw4PTv9H4XVQgj1NScDmibw "Jacques Brel - Ne Me Quitte Pas") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2wmKcBm4Ik) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/118 "2021-10-07T11:18:53Z")
Terry Jacks’ version was not even the first English version. The Kingston Trio recorded one in 1964. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3Tyhv_rh6Ko/maxresdefault.jpg "Seasons In The Sun (Remastered)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tyhv_rh6Ko) ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/119 "2021-10-08T22:31:19Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > And even Deep Purple’s version is a cover. A real genre-bender: the lyric “Hush, I though I heard her calling my name” appears to have been lifted from [“Death Letter”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCr3j_TwQwI&t=231s), a song by legendary Delta blues singer Son House. I’m not saying that such a short phrase would consitutute infringement. I just think it’s bizarre that those two songs have _anything_ in common. FWIW I always thought the opening melody of “Hush” was a duple-meter version of the melody in the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” (at the end of Paul’s middle part, after the words “Somebody spoke and I went into a dream”). Same lyrics too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496/120 "2021-10-09T17:30:22Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > FWIW I always thought the opening melody of “Hush” was a duple-meter version of the melody in the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” (at the end of Paul’s middle part, after the words “Somebody spoke and I went into a dream”). Same lyrics too I pointed this out in a thread about five years ago, and was surprised few others had noticed it— especially since Deep Purple plays it at half-tempo near the end of the song (i.e., similar speed to the Beatles song). I asked Dopers which was composed first — the consensus was they were composed independently, circa Christmas 1966, so it’s a coincidence. “Lyrics” - ha! They’re both singing about sodium. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-didnt-realize-were-covers/927496.md?page=7)