# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/81 "2020-08-22T06:19:56Z")
there’s “good girls go to heaven” that was done in the 80s by pandora’s box and then meat loaf covered it originally it was written for loaf but he had a years long falling out with jim steinman so when steinman put together a girls group in the 80s he had them record it … However there’s a japanese cover that might have been done before either of those 2 versions … ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/82 "2020-08-22T08:35:16Z")
The original **Barrett Strong** R&B version of **Money** was never a hit in the UK [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yeVx1C73o8k/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLB-ATOuQ3Cm1Dcxw_U0xrROhjCx1g "Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeVx1C73o8k) But early in their career the **Beatles** covered it sounding (as you would expect) very ‘Early Beatles’ and although popular it was never released as a single by them [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CeWjEYhk7Xo/maxresdefault.jpg "Money (That's What I Want)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeWjEYhk7Xo) However in 1979, in the UK, **The Flying Lizards** had a big hit with a very ‘New Wave’ version featuring deliberately flat spoken female vocals. If you watch the whole **Flying Lizards** video which is mainly very mundane there’s an incongruous moment when the singer suddenly ‘flies’ across the room during an instrumental break… Oh the late 1970s… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/E-P2qL3qkzk/maxresdefault.jpg "The Flying Lizards - Money") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-P2qL3qkzk) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/83 "2020-08-22T08:50:43Z")
Here’s a case of big and then bigger. **Vince Clarke** left **Depeche Mode** after they first became successful and as **Yazoo** (a duo of Clarke and bluesy female vocalist **Alison Moyet** ) they had a big hit in 1982 with the electro-pop **Only You** reaching Number 2 in the UK charts and a minor hit in the US [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a4g5MeonGYM/hqdefault.jpg "Yazoo - Only You (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4g5MeonGYM) Just a year later **The Flying Pickets** took their version to Number 1 for five weeks over Christmas. Their version was A Capella and has male vocals. **The Flying Pickets** version never saw any action in the US charts. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qgDKtLPp46s/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBBesEVIFxcr1-SmeGOFvbTbhxafQ "Flying Pickets - Only You") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgDKtLPp46s) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/84 "2020-08-22T10:12:03Z")
OK. The **Flying Pickets Only You** was the first ever A Capella Number 1 in the UK. The second was… **The Caravan of Love** was a smooth R&B number by **Isley-Jasper-Isley** (who spun off from the **Isley Brothers** ) and a hit in the US in 1985 but did nothing in the UK [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4wibyuGQlyo/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGHIgSyhBMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDVFl50eR34_tQAobNPzXQy2eQcLg "Isley Jasper Isley--- Caravan Of Love") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wibyuGQlyo) Until the **Housemartins** did their UK Chart topping version in 1986 [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ehfiQd7lcPY/maxresdefault.jpg "THE HOUSEMARTINS - CARAVAN OF LOVE") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehfiQd7lcPY) I don’t know how well known **The Housemartins** are in the US but members went on to form **The Beautiful South** and **Fatboy Slim**. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/85 "2020-08-22T11:44:28Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > How about **China Girl** written by **David Bowie** and **Iggy Pop**. **Bowie** released his version 6 years after **Iggy** and had a massive hit with it. Wow, I had no idea Iggy was co-writer, nor that he ever recorded the song. Fascinating! Thanks… ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/86 "2020-08-22T12:30:03Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > That Bert Jansch version reminds me of this: > > Roy Harper, [Another Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqgWW2jEOIo) > > And two radically different covers: > [Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvt5YnocRp8) > and > [This Mortal Coil](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcNOaxrOYN0) > > I don’t know how to judge “success” here, though, because none of them were released as singles. But the TMC version is very widely known in my music subculture. So This Mortal Coil is part of the @MrDibble music subculture? Well how about **Tim Buckley** had little chart success in his own lifetime. But did get some critical acclaim for his 1967 album track **Song To The Siren** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b49YfsjXw5E/hqdefault.jpg "Tim Buckley - Song to the Siren") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b49YfsjXw5E) The **This Mortal Coil** version (featuring **The Cocteau Twins** ) version in 1983 was a modest success reaching Number 66 in the UK but it is credited with creating a renewed interest in Buckley’s music. (And it’s absolutely superb in my opinion. Absolutely ethereal.) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HFWKJ2FUiAQ/maxresdefault.jpg "This Mortal Coil - Song To The Siren (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWKJ2FUiAQ) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/87 "2020-08-22T13:23:53Z")
Cliff Richard sang “From a distance”? Never heard it. The version I heard was faintly C&W and by an American guy I had never heard of. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/88 "2020-08-22T14:12:11Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > So This Mortal Coil is part of the @MrDibble music subculture? Goth/Indie subculture, in case that wasn’t clear. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/89 "2020-08-22T14:58:21Z")
Yeah, then that wasn’t the original you heard. The original release was this one: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KCzORgC1NpM/maxresdefault.jpg "Nanci Griffith - From A Distance") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCzORgC1NpM) And this is the songwriter (Julie Gold) performing her song: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F4q9JUMF0oc/hqdefault.jpg "From a Distance, Julie Gold") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4q9JUMF0oc) ---
**Author:** ![Fortyfold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7c8e57/32.png) [@Fortyfold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fortyfold)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/90 "2020-08-22T16:43:15Z")
Hoagy Carmichael is famous for Stardust, but it was the Isham Jones arrangement that was the most influential. Hoagy Carmichael, 1927 original [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/P82SS7VyqBY/maxresdefault.jpg "Hoagy Carmichael And His Pals - Stardust - 1927.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P82SS7VyqBY) Isham Jones, 1930 [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0DI7Pvsls20/hqdefault.jpg "1931 HITS ARCHIVE: Stardust - Isham Jones (instrumental)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DI7Pvsls20) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/91 "2020-08-22T17:39:06Z")
Joni Mitchell wrote and performed [Woodstock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_(song)). I’m a huge Mitchell fan, but the song is very dreary sounding, and her performance is subpar IMO. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young took that song and radically changed it for the better. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/92 "2020-08-22T18:40:46Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Joni Mitchell wrote and performed [Woodstock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_(song)). I’m a huge Mitchell fan, but the song is very dreary sounding, and her performance is subpar IMO. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young took that song and radically changed it for the better. I’ve always liked Mattthews Southern Comfort’s version the best. Born too late (1968) to catch the song when all those versions got released, that’s also the first version I heard, and for me its atmosphere and arrangement captures the hippie feeling best. And that’s a feat, to be more hippie than Joni and CSNY! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qIHfuihoz70/hqdefault.jpg "Matthews Southern Comfort - Woodstock (1970)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIHfuihoz70) ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/93 "2020-08-22T19:05:46Z")
The original version of Piece of my Heart did nothing much for Erma Franklin on first release in 1967 (although a re-issue in 1992 after it was used in an advert made it a top ten UK hit) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/L5zAZjmcWyA/maxresdefault.jpg "Piece of My Heart") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5zAZjmcWyA) I would suggest the iconic version (and many have covered it including Sammy Hagar) comes from Janis Joplin [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3SL0oRcD7t0/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAJOjEq17QM5_dZV22JjhcsKlXdSw "Janis Joplin Piece Of My Heart HQ") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SL0oRcD7t0) TCMF-2L ---
**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:** [August 22, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/94 "2020-08-22T19:14:26Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > The original version of Piece of my Heart did nothing much for Erma Franklin on first release in 1967 (although a re-issue in 1992 after it was used in an advert made it a top ten UK hit) > [@TCMF-2L](#): > > I would suggest the iconic version (and many have covered it including Sammy Hagar) comes from Janis Joplin My favorite version is Dusty Springfield’s. Arranged by John Paul Jones, who also plays the exceptional bass guitar. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OhV3Ual2HGA/hqdefault.jpg "DUSTY SPRINGFIELD take another little piece of my heart") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhV3Ual2HGA) ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/95 "2020-08-22T19:16:55Z")
If I was being honest the Sammy Hagar version is probably my favourite but I would be too embarrassed to link to a version because I don’t think anyone else would agree. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/96 "2020-08-22T19:26:41Z")
In 1986 **Kate Bush** released **Hounds of Love** as a single to acclaim and it reached Number 18 in the UK charts. She also directed the video [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VerK4zwMRQw/hqdefault.jpg "Kate Bush - Hounds of Love - Official Music Video") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VerK4zwMRQw) Since they managed to reach Number 8 in 2005 with their rather different version they were more successful. Here are **The Futureheads** [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/awjE92YZeEQ/hqdefault.jpg "The Futureheads - Hounds of Love (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awjE92YZeEQ) TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/97 "2020-08-22T20:59:40Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > If I was being honest the Sammy Hagar version is probably my favourite but I would be too embarrassed to link to a version because I don’t think anyone else would agree. > > TCMF-2L You’d be mistaken: I love Sammy’s version. I like Janis’ too ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/98 "2020-08-23T06:00:44Z")
“I’ve Been Everywhere”, original Australian version: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-UAh7ogwAYQ/hqdefault.jpg "I've Been Everywhere (Australian version) - Lucky Starr") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UAh7ogwAYQ) The American version, which was covered by lots of singers but I’d guess the Johnny Cash version is best known: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ov4epAJRPMw/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZChFMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAWyWfF193QLNhrraDjrm37xdnV1Q "J-O-H-N-N-Y C-A-S-H - I've Been Everywhere - With Lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov4epAJRPMw) They’re not too terribly different, except of course the towns were all replaced with American ones. And the Aussie version starts slow and then switches to a fast tempo when he’s singing the town names, while Johnny Cash sings at a more steady pace. And Johnny Cash sounds more intelligible to me, although that could just be my unfamiliarity with the towns in the Aussie version. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/99 "2020-08-23T11:52:20Z")
The Rednex made a big splash into pop culture with this: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/mOYZaiDZ7BM/maxresdefault.jpg "Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe (Official Music Video) [HD] - RednexMusic com") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOYZaiDZ7BM) in 1994, but it’s actually an old traditional song. It’s a real trip to hear earlier versions, like Nina Simone: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gv9717YTmsQ/hqdefault.jpg "Nina Simone - "Cotton Eyed Joe"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9717YTmsQ) Less different is the old Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ttEMYvpoR-k/maxresdefault.jpg "Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttEMYvpoR-k) which bobbled along under the radar for a number of years until Jeff Buckley got hold of it: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/y8AWFf7EAc4/maxresdefault.jpg "Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4) Although I still don’t know you’d call it a hit in the traditional sense ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-was-good-but-it-was-the-radically-different-cover-version-that-was-the-hit/918591/100 "2020-08-23T12:34:48Z")
I can’t listen to the Johnny Cash version anymore because he means it.It’s a great song, but it makes me cry too much. Trent Reznor just sang it, but Cash _lived_ it. My contribution: Blue Monday The original version by New Order was a New Wave hit in 1983. It charted all over the world and spawned several remixes. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FYH8DsU2WCk/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGCcgVChyMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAB0LdInV5YzmgJLGQsl-w_rCUwRQ "New Order - Blue Monday") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYH8DsU2WCk) In 1998 Orgy made an industrial version of the song. It also charted all over the world and (as I recall) got lots of airplay. These days, I would wager this is the version most people think of when you mention “Blue Monday.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aJZTfl3DmCU/maxresdefault.jpg "Orgy - ''Blue Monday'' (Music Video) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJZTfl3DmCU) (Personally I think the Orgy version made the New Order original sound like a demo tape. I like New Wave, but that song needed more anger than that genre allowed for.) [Previous 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=4) [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=6)