# The original was good, but it was the RADICALLY different cover version that was the hit **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591 "2020-08-20T14:40:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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 20, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/1 "2020-08-20T14:40:37Z")
Inspired by [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-thats-a-great-cover-of-that-song/851596/277), of course. There must be quite a few examples of these around. The one that started me thinking was This Flight Tonight. There’s nothing wrong at all with the original – but it was the wildly different cover that was the hit. [Original version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxs8wz4Vb9w) – Joni Mitchell [Hit version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylW6sC6NNhY) – Nazareth (UK #11, Germany #1, apparently) So: this might be a bit of fun. And I’d like to see just how different from the original we can get. It would be good if you can post both the original and the cover version. And remember, we’re looking for covers that were _hits_. What have you got? j BTW – the follow up single by Nazareth was the Boudleaux Bryant classic, Love Hurts – but a version surprisingly faithful to the Everly Brothers original – [and really rather good](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxs8wz4Vb9w). ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/2 "2020-08-20T14:43:56Z")
“Blinded by the Light” is the first song that comes to mind (#1 hit for Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, not a hit for Mumbly Bruce). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/3 "2020-08-20T14:49:19Z")
The first song that comes to mind is “Queen of Hearts”. The original recording by Dave Edmunds in 1979 was excellent (slightly country-tinged rock n’ roll), reaching #11 on the charts in the U.K. but never having much impact in the U.S. The version that became a U.S. hit was the straight country version by Juice Newton, of which my opinion is bleah. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/4 "2020-08-20T14:50:55Z")
First thing that came to mind was “[heartbeats](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPD8Ja64mRU)” by The Knife. A great song but [Jose Gonzalez](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOsRkcV8pCk) put out a very different version that I believe was the much bigger hit. Very nicely done. I prefer the original but YMMV. ---
**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 20, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/5 "2020-08-20T14:51:07Z")
[mumbly Bruce](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjxbOe7p8C0) [Manfred Mann](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdHtCtRABWs) j ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/6 "2020-08-20T15:12:17Z")
[Richard Berry’s Louie Louie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-2CKsaq5r8) was not a hit single but [the one by the Kingsmen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZJ4ESU52U) hit #2. [Neil Diamond’s Red Red Wine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeJ55sUacPM) hit #62 but [UB40’s cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXt56MB-3vc) hit #1. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/7 "2020-08-20T15:17:12Z")
Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” was catchy, but no comparison to Jimi Hendrix’s take on the song. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/8 "2020-08-20T15:19:55Z")
A good portion of early Van Halen hits were covers, but not all were radically different just rocked up a bunch ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/9 "2020-08-20T15:20:37Z")
Valerie by the Zutons [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/L3xpmfJp0Xc/maxresdefault.jpg "The Zutons - Valerie (Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3xpmfJp0Xc) Versus Amy Winehouse/Mark Ronson cover (I actually had no idea it was Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse rather than just an Amy Winehouse song until I googled the video just now) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bixuI_GV5I0/maxresdefault.jpg "Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse - Valerie (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bixuI_GV5I0) ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/10 "2020-08-20T15:21:01Z")
[Pete Seeger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbPl91kTFro). [The Byrds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4). ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/11 "2020-08-20T15:22:43Z")
Gary Jules’ cover of Mad World. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/12 "2020-08-20T15:29:18Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > [Pete Seeger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbPl91kTFro). > > [The Byrds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4). Please include the name of the song. In this case, it’s Turn Turn Turn. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/13 "2020-08-20T15:49:25Z")
Joe Cocker’s versions of “Cry Me a River,” “With a Little Help from my Friends,” and “The Letter” were radically different from the originals. ---
**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 20, 2020, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/14 "2020-08-20T16:01:52Z")
FWIW - UB40 thought they were covering a [Tony Tribe song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNgzk0TvJJI). In which case their cover is little different from what they thought was the original. Therefore, props to Tony Tribe. j ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/15 "2020-08-20T16:17:19Z")
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack was very different from the folk versions by Peggy Seeger, Kingston Trio et. al. ---
**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 20, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/16 "2020-08-20T16:19:01Z")
Cry me a river - [Julie London](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXg6UB9Qk0o) - [Joe Cocker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFedErr2EqY) The letter - [The Box Tops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWY8UyW9bw) - [Joe Cocker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMtQQ1EfcPQ) Mad World - [Tears for Fears](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ZvPSpLxCg) - [Gary Jules](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Nq086QB1Q) j ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/17 "2020-08-20T16:32:13Z")
“The Tide Is High” was [originally recorded](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQXqkiKXiHc) by the Paragons in 1967. But it was the [1980 version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQU2SY_D31M) by Blondie and the [2002 version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOKodg9uA4o) by Atomic Kitten that hit Number One. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/18 "2020-08-20T16:41:49Z")
Louie, Louie. Originally by [Richard Berry and the Pharaohs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-2CKsaq5r8) Most famously covered by [the Kingsmen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCY0bAPLZ1w) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/19 "2020-08-20T16:52:34Z")
When [Jackie DeShannon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at8oBdQs-jA) recorded a little ditty she wrote called **Bette Davis Eyes** she couldn’t have possibly imagined that [Kim Carnes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJj0e3thbkU) would come up with this different arrangement. But the most extreme version I can think of is the Motown classic, **You Keep Me Hangin’ On**. [Diana Ross and the Supremes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3bjMtqpGBw) has a decidedly different take than [Vanilla Fudge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ChToIvLRM). ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/20 "2020-08-20T16:53:10Z")
Torn. Written by Ednaswap. Performed live, but they never released a recording. Translated into Danish, and covered by [Lis Sorensen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyuGaU4rXjA) in 1993. Released by [Ednaswap](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OoEdfB7l18) in English in 1995. Covered by [Natalie Imbruglia](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV1XWJN3nJo) in 1997. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591.md?page=2)