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Peter B

Peter B

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In response to the thread on favourite cover versions, I thought I'd start one on original versions of songs which were made famous when others sang them. First up for me would be "The first tiime ever I saw your face" which was written by Ewan McColl for his wife Peggy Seeger and later made famous by Roberta Flack and covered by many others.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg6hLunBOsw[/YOUTUBE]

Next up would be Dolly Parton's version of her song "I will always love you" made a massive hit by Whitney Houston

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_utP1mGoutQ[/YOUTUBE]

I'm sure there must be plenty more? :wave:
 
Some French fella I believe, wrote the tune to My Way, and Neil Sedaka (IIRC) wrote the words for Frank Sinatra's Classic.
 
"Nothing Compares 2 U" - written by Prince, sung by him on 'Sign O The Times' but made more famous by Sinead O'Connor
 
On the Huh said:
Some French fella I believe, wrote the tune to My Way, and Neil Sedaka (IIRC) wrote the words for Frank Sinatra's Classic.
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It was either Paul Anka or Sid Vicious. Can't quite recall which.....
 
Ricardodaforce said:
It was either Paul Anka or Sid Vicious. Can't quite recall which.....
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Oh yeah, Paul Anka, not Sedaka.
Sid did a fine version, I had it on a 12" vinyl single when I was a little git.
:)
 
Because the Night written by Bruce Springsteen but made famous by Patti Smith. And on the subject of The Boss, his earlier song Blinded By the Light was covered by Manfred Mann
 
Peter B said:
In response to the thread on favourite cover versions, I thought I'd start one on original versions of songs which were made famous when others sang them. First up for me would be "The first tiime ever I saw your face" which was written by Ewan McColl for his wife Peggy Seeger and later made famous by Roberta Flack and covered by many others.
Click to expand...

I wonder how much is generational. If someone mentions Walk on by (a Bacharach and David song), I think of Dionne Warwick's orignal recording which was made before I was born, but I know people younger than me will think of Gabrielle, or possibly The Stranglers. The Stranglers' version is excellent :D


Similarly, in 1965 Gloria Jones sung Tainted Love, a song by Ed Cobb. Almost no-one noticed until Soft Cell recorded a cover 15 or so years later (which in turn is often called the "original version" by people that had only heard Marilyn Manson sing it).


Also, Popcorn by Hot Butter, composed and originally recorded by Gershon Kingsley, but that's an instrumental for the Moog modular and not a "song" as such.
 
Ermm...Wasn't Gloria Jones' Tainted Love a Northen Soul anthem in the llate 70's? (Mod Revival)

Almost no-one noticed until Soft Cell recorded a cover 15 or so years later (
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gm43uk said:
Because the Night written by Bruce Springsteen but made famous by Patti Smith. And on the subject of The Boss, his earlier song Blinded By the Light was covered by Manfred Mann
Click to expand...

That's amazing, I love both songs and the Boss, but would never have put them together.
 
onomatopoeia said:
I wonder how much is generational. If someone mentions Walk on by (a Bacharach and David song), I think of Dionne Warwick's orignal recording which was made before I was born, but I know people younger than me will think of Gabrielle, or possibly The Stranglers. The Stranglers' version is excellent :D.
Click to expand...

I love the stranglers version of Walk on by also like the Fugees version of Killing me softly. Two classic love song improved with a cover

Steve
 
Hey Joe was originally recorded by Tim Rose but made famous by Hendrix.
 
What makes me chuckle is the fact that when Dolly wrote I Will Always Love You....it was a song about leaving someone, yet when Whitney did it, it became the most popular wedding song for a good few years. Irony...you have to love it.
 
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