Songs That People Don't Know Are Covers

[lazyhour]

Must have been already, right? Probably loads of times. Anyway...

Most people know that Costello's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" is a cover - written by Nick Lowe and originally performed by Brinsley Schwartz.

But did you know that "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" is also a cover? I didn't until recently!

Here's Sam and Dave doing it in 1967:

https://youtu.be/kINmgmDpHqs

What other songs do lots of people not realise are actually covers? "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by They Might Be Giants is probably one too.

[Icehaven]

This might have come full circle by now and not be such a thing anymore but when Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt by NIN first became popular in the early 2000s, a lot of people didn't seem to know it was a cover.

[Marner and Me]

Happy Mondays - Step On

Recorded originally be a Saffa called John Kongos, Mondays recorded it as a contract obligation by the record company, when they realised how good it was, they quickly recorded another song by Kongos - Tokoloshe Man. A Tokoloshe is a South African water spirit that supposedly causes trouble to other people.

So anyway The Mondays made a fortune off a song from an artist that no one has heard of.

[Spiteface]

Most people probably think "Valerie" is an Amy Winehouse song.

[Marner and Me]

I have probably told this before, I remember being in a Subway shop ordering my usual (chicken and bacon, on herbs and cheese, tomatoes, peppers, onion, gerkhins) when the local radio were playing Depeche Modes Just Can't Get Enough. Some gimp of a teenage girl said loudly these lot are just ripping off The Saturdays.

[Pancake]

The Tide is High by the Paragons, everyone thinks it's an Atomic Kitten song!

[Pancake]

Natalie Imbruglia's Torn was a cover... from earlier that same year!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO5syjCX0xs

[Pancake]

I didn't realise Toni Basils Hey Mickey was a cover until she was on some BBC thing, originally called Kitty by Racey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQv7IgGPXLY

[Pancake]

Natalie Imbruglia's Torn was a cover... from earlier that same year!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO5syjCX0xs

Heh, apparently she's the 4th person to release it! Here's another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OoEdfB7l18

Got to say I do like this song, and another one of hers called Wrong Impression, 90s radio pop like this and Right Beside You remind me of listening to Atlantic 252 in sixth form back when life was simple, before The Scouring began

[Jockice]

One from my youth. A Righteous Brothers cover apparently. And like every other youth of that time I thought it was hilarious to change the chorus to 'don't you know I'll be a prostitute?'  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fgA_yNCeq4

And in the 80s, Aswad's Don't Turn Around. A Tina Turner b-side of all things.

[Dr Rock]

One from my youth. A Righteous Brothers cover apparently. And like every other youth of that time I thought it was hilarious to change the chorus to 'don't you know I'll be a prostitute?'  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fgA_yNCeq4

First one I didn't know was a cover, and a super favourite of mine too. Los Bros:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lrvuAs-EJE

As the comment here says 'If clout was played on 33 instead of 45!!'

[Captain Crunch]

I used to think 'Light My Fire' was a cover because my parents had this version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RtTWDv-yWM

and it does make it sound like an old song. 

[Jockice]

The Tide is High by the Paragons, everyone thinks it's an Atomic Kitten song!

It's a Blondie song I'll have you know. Kids today know nowt.

[pigamus]

And in the 80s, Aswad's Don't Turn Around. A Tina Turner b-side of all things.

And speaking of Tina Turner, What's Love Got To Do With It was first recorded by Bucks Fizz!

[Dr Rock]

^Mind blown.

Beaver Patrol

PWEI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U4D4pErQ_E

The Wilde Knights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENXaPuGJBc0

[Icehaven]

Natalie Imbruglia's Torn was a cover... from earlier that same year!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO5syjCX0xs

Heh, apparently she's the 4th person to release it! Here's another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OoEdfB7l18

Got to say I do like this song, and another one of hers called Wrong Impression, 90s radio pop like this and Right Beside You remind me of listening to Atlantic 252 in sixth form back when life was simple, before The Scouring began

I just remember a few music snob friends who would never usually have stooped to something so poppy claiming it was just about indie enough for them as it had a guitar on it, because they fancied her.

And the madwoman at my uni who did a ridiculously OTT performance of it at a karaoke competition, crying and stamping and everything, clearly thinking she was doing an incredibly emotional performance that everyone would love, then throwing an absolute wobbler and storming out when she didn't win.

[Gulftastic]

And in the 80s, Aswad's Don't Turn Around. A Tina Turner b-side of all things.

I knew it was a cover because Saturday morning ITV kids' show 'No.73' did a feature on trying to make a hit record by one of their presenters, Kim Goody. That was the song she sang. Didn't know it was a Tina Turner b-side though.

[famethrowa]

Definitely Red Red Wine, the UB40 version owns it completely, despite the live original being on one of the biggest selling albums of the 70's.

Also Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, originally sung by a fella! But to be fair, he never really released it. Cyndi made it better anyway.

Probably plenty of Linda Ronstadt hits too, most of hers were covers.

[famethrowa]

I just remember a few music snob friends who would never usually have stooped to something so poppy claiming it was just about indie enough for them as it had a guitar on it, because they fancied her.

It's probably happened plenty before, but I'm always amazed how this song instantly made her a major music star forever, just a pleasant little pop cover and a series of not-as-good followups.

[studpuppet]

Definitely Red Red Wine, the UB40 version owns it completely, despite the live original being on one of the biggest selling albums of the 70's.

So much so that when Neil Diamond does it these days he covers the UB40 version in a reggae-style.

Another thread on here recently (Musical F*ck My Hat?) had the original of 'The Only Way Is Up': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zf0rMfTeaI

[Lisa Jesusandmarychain]

I knew it was a cover because Saturday morning ITV kids' show 'No.73' did a feature on trying to make a hit record by one of their presenters, Kim Goody. That was the song she sang. Didn't know it was a Tina Turner b-side though.

I bought that very single as a student, the same day I bought the Fall's " Hit The North" and The Pastels'" Comin' Through . Very ironic purchase  it was, I always was ahead of the curve.

[here4glinner]

All Along the Watchtower - originally by Bob Dylan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT7Hj-ea0VE but obv Jimmy Hendrix made it his own.

All those Basshunter songs were originally released in Swedish and had lyrics about nerdy things:

Now You're Gone- originally Boten Ana, about a chatbot called Ana that can ban you so hard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vzw1NdSZmc

All I Ever Wanted - originally about playing Dawn of the Ages while using VoIP programme Ventrillo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbGe0x6W8wI

[pigamus]

All Along the Watchtower - originally by Bob Dylan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT7Hj-ea0VE but obv Jimmy Hendrix made it his own.

I wonder if Adele fans know that Make You Feel My Love is a Dylan song.

[Puce Moment]

Byron Lee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obJe6TpCzVE

[Puce Moment]

Sort of doesn't count as it an old folk standard, but Cave has admitted that he drew upon Dalton's version.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds ' When I First Came To Town'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv0Fy3eS81g

Karen Dalton 'Katie Cruel'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwFIPDiMI30

[Pearly-Dewdrops Drops]

These aren't that obscure but "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley and "Respect" by Aretha Franklin are sort of the signature songs of each artist that many probably couldn't think of anyone else writing.

[kngen]

It's a Blondie song I'll have you know. Kids today know nowt.

Speaking of Blondie, Hangin' on the Telephone was originally recorded by The Nerves. Not as obscure a fact as it used to be, given that Jack Lee is finally getting his due as a power pop genius. (He also wrote Will Anything Happen? on Parallel Lines.)

[Small Potatoes]

One from my youth. A Righteous Brothers cover apparently. And like every other youth of that time I thought it was hilarious to change the chorus to 'don't you know I'll be a prostitute?'  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fgA_yNCeq4

Hat totally fucked by this one. Have loved the Clout version all my life.

[phantom_power]

Money's Too Tight To Mention is one that I only realise a few years ago

[pigamus]

Bette Davis Eyes