# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![opiewan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/opiewan/32/3566_2.png) [@opiewan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/opiewan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/101 "2024-09-06T06:56:32Z")
When I was younger and first getting into what used to be called ‘classic rock’, I thought “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” by ELO was actually a John Lennon solo song. In fairness, Lennon referred to ELO as “son of the Beatles”, so it’s an easy mistake to make. > [@Smapti](#): > > 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. I love “Lunatic Fringe” and “Life Is A Highway” was a hit the summer I graduated from high school, but I only recently (unrelated to this thread) learned Tom Cochrane was the singer of Red Rider and thus both songs. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/102 "2024-09-06T16:35:01Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I thought “Sultans of Swing” was an Eric Clapton. High praise for Knopfler, though he left out a lot of notes that Clapton wouldn’t have… > [@Chefguy](#): > > I thought “Won’t Back Down” was Dylan. Tom Petty sounded more like Dylan after they worked together. In fact, I think the Traveling Wilburys all rubbed off on each other. Knopfler started sounding more Dylanesque after their collaboration. I honestly thought that Bob had done another song with Mark Knopfler (who’d just produced and played tasty guitar on Dylan’s “Slow Train Coming” album) when I first heard [“Romeo and Juliet”…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyI9flHHT2Q) (live version… love when Mark switches to electric guitar at 7:25) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/103 "2024-09-06T17:18:12Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Badfinger’s _Come and Get It_ was by the Beatles Written and produced by Paul McCartney, so that’s understandable. Badfinger was the only other band on Apple Records, I believe. ETA: Hey, RitterSport, why don’t you finish reading the thread? ---
**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:** [September 6, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/104 "2024-09-06T17:19:11Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I honestly thought that Bob had done another song with Mark Knopfler (who’d just produced and played tasty guitar on Dylan’s “Slow Train Coming” album) when I first heard [“Romeo and Juliet”…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyI9flHHT2Q) Small nitpick (I can’t help myself as a hobby Dylanologist): Mark Knopfler played guitar on “Slow Train Coming” (especially well on “I Believe In You”, but the producer was Jerry Wexler. Knopfler though did produce Dylan’s “Infidels” and played guitar, in a dream band with Mick Taylor and Sly & Robbie. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/105 "2024-09-06T17:23:17Z")
> [@digs](#): > > High praise for Knopfler, though he left out a lot of notes that Clapton wouldn’t have… To his credit, IMO. That song’s musicality has been praised by many. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/106 "2024-09-06T18:02:16Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > [@digs](#): > > > > I honestly thought that Bob had done another song with Mark Knopfler (who’d just produced and played tasty guitar on Dylan’s “Slow Train Coming” album)… > > Small nitpick (I can’t help myself as a hobby Dylanologist): Mark Knopfler played guitar on “Slow Train Coming” (especially well on “I Believe In You”, but the producer was Jerry Wexler. Perhaps digs meant that Knopfler produced his guitar, in the 'Whiskey in the Jar" lyric sense: _I first produced my pistol_ _I then produced my rapier_ 😏 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/107 "2024-09-07T19:17:31Z")
Orrrr, I just made a mistake… Was thinking of Knopfler producing _Infidels_. He did play on some great albums, was just listening to The Shouting Stage by Joan Armatrading. Ahhh… Joan and Mark… the last minute and a half is just instrumental, with his compelling, haunting guitar. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/On_G5CxHr7A/hqdefault.jpg "Joan Armatrading The Shouting Stage") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On_G5CxHr7A) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/108 "2024-09-07T19:35:59Z")
When I first saw Born on the Fourth of July, and within it first heard “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” sung with a strong female lead, I assumed it was the Indigo Girls singing it. Turned out to be Edie Brickell, a performer of whom I hadn’t previously heard. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2024, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/109 "2024-09-09T18:28:11Z")
“Walk of Life” by Dire Straits I thought was Bruce Springsteen. Yeah the vocals aren’t quite right but it sounds like a rockabilly Springsteen song like “Working on the Highway.” “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider I thought was a Fleetwood Mac song, the tempo, vocal style, and guitar melody. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2024, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/110 "2024-09-09T19:09:46Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > _Brown Eyed Girl_ was Mick Jagger on loan from the Stones. I can understand that. Both Van and Jagger started out trying to sound like Howlin’ Wolf. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/111 "2024-09-09T19:14:38Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > And all kinds of Gilbert O’Sullivan tunes. My seven-year-old ears also could not distinguish between Paul McCartney and Gilbert O’Sullivan. In 1973 it seemed the latter was all over the radio. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/112 "2024-09-09T19:22:51Z")
The first time I heard the song, I thought [“Your Saving Grace”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGFTBNy3Hdk) was by Traffic rather than Steve Miller. (Also, why can’t I embed a YouTube video on this site? **EinsteinsHund** and **digs** did it without any problems.) ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/113 "2024-09-09T19:29:43Z")
**Lunatic Fringe** by **Red Rider.** For years, **YEARS I tell you,** I thought that was Pink Floyd and was quite surprised to find out a few months ago that it wasn’t. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2024, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/114 "2024-09-09T19:33:33Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > why can’t I embed a YouTube video on this site? 1. Make sure any text in your post is perfect, since once you successfully post an embedded video, you can’t edit your post. 2. Right-click on the video in YouTube and choose ‘copy video URL’. 3. Paste the video URL in your post and add a forward slash / at the end of the URL. 4. Quickly click ‘Reply’ before the video shows up in the right-side preview of your post. If you’re not fast enough, you’ll be out of luck. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/115 "2024-09-09T19:42:02Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > **Lunatic Fringe** by **Red Rider.** Today I learned that Lunatic Fringe wasn’t Pink Floyd. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2024, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/116 "2024-09-09T19:42:07Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > > > _Brown Eyed Girl_ was Mick Jagger on loan from the Stones. > > I can understand that. Both Van and Jagger started out trying to sound like Howlin’ Wolf. Though I don’t think either of both quite achieved that goal (a futile attempt anyway, both Van and Mick are small guys and don’t have the sheer bodily volume to resonate like the Wolf), the early Van Morrison still with Them sounded even more like Mick Jagger. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/117 "2024-09-09T19:44:59Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > _Stuck in the Middle With You_ by Stealer’s Wheel, thought it was Dylan Remember Napster? Back in circa 2000 somebody on Napster was attributing that song to Dylan. “Clown” and “joker” being frequent words in Dylan’s vocabulary. Recently when “Tin Machine” by Tin Machine came up on rotation, I exclaimed\* “My God, they sound exactly like David Bowie!” \*in jest ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/118 "2024-09-09T19:58:26Z")
Yeah, I have a version of Brick House attributed to George Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/119 "2024-09-09T20:02:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > At first I thought “An Old Fashioned Love Song” by Three Dog Night was done by The Partridge Family. I could have sworn it was the Carpenters. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612/120 "2024-09-09T20:26:15Z")
If I’d heard Starcastle without first knowing it was Starcastle, I would have thought it was Yes. Starcastle’s whole raison d’être was to sound exactly like Yes, and they did it so well, they deserve credit for being excellent imitators. I’m serious, I love Starcastle’s music. It’s Yes music for Yes fans who just couldn’t get enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612.md?page=7)