# Where the well known version of a song is a cover **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895 "2013-03-03T05:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/141 "2013-03-06T22:41:54Z")
I don’t think this ones been mentioned, Status Quo’s cover of _Rocking All Over The World_ is probably better know that John Fogerty’s original. ---
**Author:** ![Renifer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Renifer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renifer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/142 "2013-03-07T02:43:41Z")
“Turn the Page” by Bob Seger and “Turn the Page” by Metallica are about equal in fame. (Bob Seger’s the original). ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/143 "2013-03-07T03:17:30Z")
“Live and Let Die”, The GNR cover eclipsed the Wings version IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/144 "2013-03-07T06:36:31Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Other way round. _Deja Vu_ appeared before _Ladies of the Canyon_ in 1970, but Mitchell performed it at least once in concert in 1969. I don’t when CSNY first performed it, though. “Woodstock” was also covered in Britain by _Mathews’ Southern Comfort_, and was a #1 hit for them (in 1970, I think). Their version may not be the best remembered now, but at that time, in Britain, it was certainly the best known. > [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > I don’t recall ever hearing Bowie’s original version of “The Man Who Sold The World” on the radio until after the Nirvana cover became a hit. Ha! The hit version I remember was by Lulu, long before _Nirvana_. (David played the sax on Lulu’s version I believe.) ---
**Author:** ![JerseySwamps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9a140/32.png) [@JerseySwamps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseySwamps)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/145 "2013-03-07T07:01:47Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > _Blinded by the Light_ was written and originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen, but all you ever hear on the radio is that awful Manfred Mann version. That’s because Manfred Mann turned it into a song about a feminine hygiene product. 🙂 This was Bruce’s only number one hit as a writer; he has zero as a singer. As for my contribution to the thread, I nominate “Theme from New York, New York” by Kander and Ebb. Originally performed by Liza, well known because of the Chairman of the Board. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/146 "2013-03-07T07:02:46Z")
Little Wing by [Stevie Ray Vaughan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zy0lqpOyc) got a lot more air play than [Jimi Hendrix’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLvND_uavLs) original in later years. Both superbly done by both of them in the studio and also live. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/147 "2013-03-07T11:45:29Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > II damn near fell off my chair when I googled “Child in a Manager,” and found out “Morning is Broken” (which uses the same tune) is _not_ a Cat Stevens original, having first been published in 1961. Your typo (manager v manger) cracked me up. I was similarly surprised when it was included in our hymnal until I saw that Cat Stevens didn’t write it. I’d never heard “Child in a Manger” so I just assumed “Morning Has Broken” was his creation. Fleetwood Mac recorded “Landslide” first, but I think the Dixie Chick’s version was more famous. Also, Elvis’ “Hound Dog” and “Suspicious Minds” (among many others) were covers. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/148 "2013-03-07T14:26:05Z")
The Beatles also covered _Til There Was You_, which was written in 1957 for the Broadway production of The Music Man. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/149 "2013-03-07T15:43:53Z")
How about “Blue Moon” first big recording was by Connie Boswell (one of the Boswell Sisters.) But now associated more with the doowop version recorded by the Marcels. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/150 "2013-03-07T16:31:59Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Fleetwood Mac recorded “Landslide” first, but I think the Dixie Chick’s version was more famous. Hmmm, maybe among country music fans. My wife thought it was a Dixie Chicks song. Smashing Pumpkins covered it several years earlier. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/151 "2013-03-07T16:37:57Z")
[quote=“Annie-Xmas, post:138, topic:651895”] I once had a very interesting talk with Rudy Isley about how he introduced “Twist and Shout” to John Lennon. The Isley Brothers did a British tour with the Beatles in 1962. I damn near fell off my chair when I googled “Child in a Manager,” and found out “Morning is Broken” (which uses the same tune) is _not_ a Cat Stevens original, having first been published in 1961. QUOTE] I wouldn’t be. We used to sing this back in Catholic School. I was surprised to hear Cat Stevens singing it later. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Otto_Sweet_Heart)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/152 "2013-03-07T16:40:22Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Hmmm, maybe among country music fans. My wife thought it was a Dixie Chicks song. Smashing Pumpkins covered it several years earlier. I’ve been a country music fan for over 30 years now and the Chicks are the reason why I hate the song. God bless you always!!! Holly ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/153 "2013-03-07T16:47:14Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Little Wing by [Stevie Ray Vaughan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0zy0lqpOyc) got a lot more air play than [Jimi Hendrix’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLvND_uavLs) original in later years. Both superbly done by both of them in the studio and also live. Eric Clapton covered it on _Layla_, which is one of the most famous albums in rock history and probably has been played, at least by individuals, more by itself than Vaughan’s entire output. Same with the Dixie Chicks and “Landslide.” Comparing a single with an album cut is tough, but Fleetwood Mac gets played to death on rock stations and there are many more of those than the country stations the Dixie Chicks get played on. Everybody covered Dylan in the 60’s, and made him their breakthrough to the charts. The Turtles first charting single was “It Ain’t Me, Babe.” The Byrds broke through with “Mr. Tambourine Man.” They planned for “All I Really Want to Do” to be their second single, but Cher did it at the same time and got her first solo hit out it. (Hers went to 15, the Byrds only to 40.) Hendrix’s only Top 40 song was “All Along the Watchtower.” [This site](http://www.whosampled.com/covered/Bob%20Dylan/) lists dozens of pages of Dylan covers, some of them really odd. Which reminds me that in 1969 the Hollies did a whole album of Dylan covers, _Hollies Sing Dylan_ (US title: _Words and Music by Bob Dylan_). It was awful, in the extreme, but a lot of people (like me) bought because the concept sounded great. There were earlier examples of some orchestra doing instrumental covers of The Beatles, but that’s the first one of a rock artist doing a whole album of another rock artist. I think. If I’m wrong, I’d like to know. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/154 "2013-03-07T16:57:02Z")
> [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](#): > > I’ve been a country music fan for over 30 years now and the Chicks are the reason why I hate the song. > God bless you always!!! > Holly I know I’ll regret this, but…why? ---
**Author:** ![James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Otto_Sweet_Heart)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/155 "2013-03-07T17:27:39Z")
^^^ Because the Chicks are one of my least favorite acts. God bless you always!!! Holly ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/156 "2013-03-07T18:08:57Z")
Why the Dixie Chicks hate from someone we all know loves country music? ---
**Author:** ![James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Otto_Sweet_Heart)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/157 "2013-03-07T18:32:26Z")
^^^ I don’t hate anyone and to me, they aren’t country because if they were, they wouldn’t have made such a spectacle of themselves ten years ago after everyone else gave their two cents just like they did. God bless you always!!! Holly P.S. I already didn’t go for them because of their song named “Sin Wagon”, but then when they acted as if they were the only people who had the right to speak their minds, that pretty much made it has clear as glass to me that they aren’t even worth two cents. I don’t believe that I have to cheer for every act that is labeled country anyways. That is what is so great about America. We have the freedom to change the radio station when an act that isn’t our favorite is getting played. 🙂 🙂 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/158 "2013-03-07T20:11:48Z")
Not sure folk singers should really count, but the MTA song is an actual election song covered by the Kingston Trio (with the name changed so they weren’t singing in celebration of a gasp Socialist politician). ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/159 "2013-03-07T23:49:13Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I wouldn’t be. We used to sing this back in Catholic School. I was surprised to hear Cat Stevens singing it later. And I always wondered why we sang it in mass. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895/160 "2013-03-07T23:56:26Z")
God bless the Dixie Chicks always!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-the-well-known-version-of-a-song-is-a-cover/651895.md?page=9)