# Songs you totally thought were by somebody else **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 22, 2024, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612 "2024-07-22T15:19:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/41 "2024-07-25T01:49:15Z")
I used to think “Life is a Highway” was by INXS and had never heard of Rascal Flatts. Similarly, I thought “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider was an '80s Pink Floyd song. In my defense, the guitar on that song is very Gilmour-ish. “All The Young Dudes” was definitely David Bowie and not Mott the Hoople. I found out much later that Bowie wrote it, which explains my mistake in that one. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/42 "2024-07-25T01:52:08Z")
> [@saucywench](#): > > Russ Ballard of Argent also wrote “New York Groove.” For someone you may not have heard of, Russ is a pretty sucessful songwriter. He has quite an impressive [catalog of songs performed by other artists.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Ballard#Ballard_songs_recorded_by_other_acts) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/43 "2024-07-25T01:55:19Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I used to think “Life is a Highway” was by INXS and had never heard of Rascal Flatts. I’m not sure if you’re saying that’s by Rascal Flatts, but it’s Tom Cochrane, IIRC. ETA: Oh, I guess there was a cover for the Cars movie by Rascal Flatts. I had no idea. (Though I think the Tom Cochrane version is more likely the one that sounds like INXS, and it would be in the right era.) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/44 "2024-07-25T01:57:57Z")
I know. 😁 > **[Russ Ballard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Ballard)** > > Russell Glyn Ballard (born 31 October 1945) is an English musician. > Originally rising to prominence as the lead singer and guitarist of the band Argent, Ballard became a prolific songwriter and producer by the late 1970s. His compositions "New York Groove", "You Can Do Magic", "Since You Been Gone", "I Surrender", "Liar", "Winning", "I Know There's Something Going On", "Can't Shake Loose", "So You Win Again" and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" became hits for other artists during the 1970s an... ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/45 "2024-07-25T01:58:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > ETA: Oh, I guess there was a cover for the Cars movie by Rascal Flatts. I had no idea. (Though I think the Tom Cochrane version is more likely the one that sounds like INXS, and it would be in the right era.) Well, now I’m not even sure whose version I thought was INXS. I’ll have to check when I get home from work. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/46 "2024-07-25T02:09:02Z")
If you’re suggesting it sounds like a classic Lennon/McCartney harmony, I couldn’t agree more. It’s spot on! ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/47 "2024-07-25T03:23:39Z")
Rag Doll, I really like the song, and hated myself for it, 'cause for some reason I thought it was David Lee Roth. I hate DLR _ **a whole lot** _. I was so happy when I found out it was Aerosmith 'cause I love Aerosmith. And self hate is a terrible thing. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/48 "2024-07-25T03:41:29Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Similarly, I thought “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider was an '80s Pink Floyd song. In my defense, the guitar on that song is very Gilmour-ish. Funny, I never had that misapprehension, but I definitely hear that same guitar sound now that I think of it. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/49 "2024-07-25T03:49:49Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I don’t even have to say who they sound like. Just listen: Mind blown! That explains why I’ve never heard it on one of their albums. For 58 years… ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/50 "2024-07-25T04:03:29Z")
Don’t You (Forget About Me) is by Simple Minds, not David Bowie, **burpo**. Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/51 "2024-07-25T04:27:19Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > That explains why I’ve never heard it on one of their albums. For 58 years… I remember this song, and always “knew” who did it, but…I was wrong! ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/52 "2024-07-25T05:26:44Z")
Me too. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/53 "2024-07-25T05:44:44Z")
“Love Is Like Oxygen” definitely didn’t sound like anything else Sweet did, that’s for sure. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/54 "2024-07-25T05:52:05Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > For a long time I thought this was… Urge Overkill. We were both wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/55 "2024-07-25T07:08:42Z")
Upon further review, the Rascal Flatts version is the one I thought was INXS, and I’m not sure I’ve heard the Tom Cochrane version before, but you’re right - this one does sound more like INXS. Even funnier, I wasn’t sure who Tom Cochrane was, and upon looking him up it turns out he was the singer in Red Rider, whose “Lunatic Fringe” I was also confused about the provenance of. This guy has a knack for sounding like other '80s acts, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/56 "2024-07-25T13:29:20Z")
I don’t know him beyond that song, but that song was everywhere here in Chicago back in the early 90s. I still hear it occasionally on the “classic hits” stations. I’ve somehow never heard the Rascall Flatts one, or never noticed if I did. Well, I did see Cars, so I must have heard it. The Cochrane version slightly outcharted the Rascall Flatts version, peaking at 6, versus 7 for the cover. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/57 "2024-07-25T15:12:28Z")
He has a podcast: > **[Podcast - russballardmusic.com](https://russballardmusic.com/podcast)** > > The Voices Of Russ Ballard Podcast, the official podcast with well known guests like John Verity, Chris White and many more. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/58 "2024-07-25T16:35:47Z")
Pretty common, but I thought “I’m winning” was a Steve Winwood song. It’s a Santana song with lead vocals by Alex Ligertwood. > **[Steve Winwood Im winning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BiqSwWIAxUt=1)** > > I claim no rights to this music or the videos content. For inspiration and fun only. Enjoy. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/59 "2024-07-25T17:03:59Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Pretty common, but I thought “I’m winning” was a Steve Winwood song. Wow, maybe I should start a thread called ‘misread thread _ **posts** _’ because on first scan, I thought your post said ‘I thought “I’m winning” was a _Stevie Wonder_ song’. And thought “whaa?? No way does it sound like Stevie Wonder!” It does, however, sound very much like a Steve Winwood song. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2024, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/60 "2024-07-25T17:13:29Z")
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