# Wait, that's a cover song?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575 "2012-01-06T01:19:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/81 "2012-01-11T05:00:18Z")
Hendrix covered Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” and IMO Hendrix blew Dylan’s away. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/82 "2012-01-11T05:44:55Z")
A few cover hits by people who often wrote their own songs: 1. Peter, Paul & Mary’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” (written and first performed by John Denver) 2. Rick Springfield’s “I’ve Done Everything for You” (written and first performed by Sammy Hagar) 3. Deep Purple’s “Hush” (written and first performed by Joe South) ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/83 "2012-01-11T06:06:08Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > Hendrix covered Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” and IMO Hendrix blew Dylan’s away. But really, are there many people who don’t know Hendrix’s version is a cover? > [@Ají de Gallina](#): > > “California Dreamin’” by the Beach Boys from the original Mamas and the Papas. It seems the song was originally recorded by Barry McGuire with the Mamas and the Papas doing backing vox but the same studio tapes were used, with some changes including removing the lead vox, on the Mamas and Papas version. There’s more about it here: [Barry McGuire](http://www.barrymcguire.com/?page=bio5) ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/84 "2012-01-11T19:03:12Z")
The original version with Barry McGuire singing lead is on YouTube: [Barry McGuire with The Mamas and The Papas 1965](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfgu3_c9IOE) ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/85 "2012-01-11T20:21:10Z")
I think most everyone knows this, but when I first heard that Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” was a cover, and that the original was done by Trent Reznor, of all people, my first thought was “surely you jest.” Same with Rufus Wainwright’s version of “Hallelujah.” ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/86 "2012-01-12T00:09:37Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > It seems the song was originally recorded by Barry McGuire with the Mamas and the Papas doing backing vox but the same studio tapes were used, with some changes including removing the lead vox, on the Mamas and Papas version. > There’s more about it here: [Barry McGuire](http://www.barrymcguire.com/?page=bio5) > [@Turble](#): > > The original version with Barry McGuire singing lead is on YouTube: > [Barry McGuire with The Mamas and The Papas 1965](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfgu3_c9IOE) Man, what a crazy voice. I can’t imagine liking the song with that voice. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/87 "2012-01-12T02:07:07Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Having never seen **Hair** , I thought _Frank Mills_ was a song by The Lemonheads. So I’ve been singing this to myself today, and realized it was slightly more charming when I thought Evan Dando made up a bunch of characters and squeezed them into a little song. Don’t get me wrong, I still like it. But it’s not precisely the same. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/88 "2012-01-12T02:24:09Z")
The [Pussycat Dolls’ Don’t Cha](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNSxNsr4wmA&ob=av2e) was originally recorded by Tori Alamaze. Since the original version contained a few dirty words, I’m putting it in a spoiler box: [Tori Alamaze - Don’t Cha (NSFW)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySE3s-JibUI) The PCD version is a real let down after you hear the original. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/89 "2012-01-12T02:37:16Z")
When I first heard The Killers’ version of “Romeo and Juliet”, I thought it was so cool that Mark Knopfler had written a song for them. :o I’m tremendously ashamed now. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/90 "2012-01-12T03:25:09Z")
Being primarily a hard rock fan I was amazed at how much I enjoyed the Coen brother’s O Brother, Where Art Thou? film’s soundtrack. Particularly **Man of Constant Sorrow** , which it turns out is a freakin’ Dylan song?! ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/91 "2012-01-12T03:49:41Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Particularly **Man of Constant Sorrow** , which it turns out is a freakin’ Dylan song?! The song had been around for a half century or more before Dylan recorded it. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/92 "2012-01-12T04:36:16Z")
Yeah, it’s an old folk song. Dylan probably heard it either by [Roscoe Holcomb](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cJRRc8FToQ) or by [Ralph Stanley](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLKltv26-00). Note that the singing styles of both Dylan and Stanley were heavily influenced by Holcomb. Many of the 1960s folk singers and rock/bluesy guitar players went to Kentucky to hear Holcomb play and sing. Bob Dylan stated, “Roscoe Holcomb has a certain untamed sense of control, which makes him one of the best.” ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/93 "2012-01-12T07:24:11Z")
> [@Trick\_Rider](#): > > When I first heard The Killers’ version of “Romeo and Juliet”, I thought it was so cool that Mark Knopfler had written a song for them. :o I’m tremendously ashamed now. I’m sure some people also think _Romeo and Juliet_ is an Indigo Girls song. Also, my wife thought _Landslide_ was by The Dixie Chicks. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/94 "2012-01-12T07:39:21Z")
Another in the “opposite direction.”…when I worked as an orthodontist’s assistant I was working on one of the teenage patients when the song [“Ghetto Superstar”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtIGCGu9L90) came on the radio. (Strangely enough I couldn’t find the original Fugees version?) Anyway I told the kid “I bet you didn’t know the chorus of this in a ripoff of “Islands in the Stream” sung by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and was written by the Bee Gees?” Man, did I rain on her parade. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/95 "2012-01-12T07:40:06Z")
_Tomorrow Wendy_ by Concrete Blonde was written and recorded by Andy Prieboy but the Concrete Blonde version was actually released first. I didn’t know this until I heard the live version and Johnette Napolitano says, “This is a song by Andy Prieboy.” ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/96 "2012-01-12T07:51:34Z")
I think most people associate “Faded Love” with Patsy Cline, but it was originally written by Bob Wills and performed by the Texas Playboys. [I love that bluegrass-style high harmony on their version.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9brMlXX-3Q) ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/97 "2012-01-12T14:14:43Z")
I was surprised to find that “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was not written by Willie Nelson & had already been covered by Sons of the Pioneers & Hank Williams. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/98 "2012-01-12T16:06:59Z")
> [@wedgehed](#): > > I was surprised to find that “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was not written by Willie Nelson & had already been covered by Sons of the Pioneers & Hank Williams. Willie has both written a lot of songs that are associated with other people (like Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”) AND recorded very popular versions of songs written by other people- like “Always on My Mind.” A lot of people don’t know that “Always On My Mind” was recorded by many artists, including Elvis, years before Willie Nelson made it a huge hit. It was co-written by Wayne Carson (best known for writing “The Letter” for the Box Tops) and Mark James, who wrote “Suspicious Minds” for Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/99 "2012-01-12T17:22:43Z")
Russ Ballard from Argent wrote a few songs that were covered by several artists. “God Gave Rock and Roll to You” (Ballard)originally recorded Argent covered by various times but most notably a revised version by KISS for the Bill and Ted’s soundtrack. “Since You Been Gone” (Ballard) originally recorded by Argent was a huge hit for Rainbow and recorded by others such as Cherie Currie and Brian May Band. “Hide Your Heart” written by Holly Knight (Animotion) was recorded and originally released by Bonnie Tyler before KISS released a version, then Ace Frehley. Ace Frehley’s solo hit “New York Groove” (Ballard)was originally recorded by Hello. Ian Hunter (Patterson) known mostly for Mott the Hoople’s “All the Young Dudes” also wrote and released “Once Bitten Twice Shy” (covered by Great White) and “Cleveland Rocks” (covered by Presidents of the United States) also the Drew Carey show theme. Heart had a few wildly successful covers “What About Love” originally by Toronto, “Alone” previously released by by I-Ten and …err… John Stamos and “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You” originally by recorded by Dobie Gray “It’s a Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler was also released by Juice Newton and Ronnie Spector. Tina Turner’s “Better Be Good to Me” originally released by Spider, a NY band which featured Holly Knight and Anton Fig. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575/100 "2012-01-12T17:29:34Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Another surprising and wonderful cover started with the lyrics “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine,” but you probably already know what that is. 😉 Did Patti Smith \*cover \* that? I always think of it as [hers.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO9eUDOlyeU) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wait-thats-a-cover-song/608575.md?page=6)