Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Category: 1970s

1970s, Rock

Sure As I’m Sittin’ Here

Written and first recorded by John Hiatt (1974).
Hit version by Three Dog Night (US #16/CAN #18 1974).

From the wiki: “John Hiatt was working as a songwriter for Tree International, a record label in Nashville, when his song ‘Sure As I’m Sittin’ Here’ was covered in 1974 by Three Dog Night. The song became a Top 40 hit, earning Hiatt a recording contract with Epic Records. Since then Hiatt has released twenty-one studio albums, two compilation albums and one live album, and his songs have been covered by a variety of artists in multiple genres, including Joe Cocker (‘Have a Little Faith in Me‘), Bonnie Raitt (‘Thing Called Love’), The Jeff Healy Band (‘Angel Eyes’), Bob Dylan, The Searchers, Willy DeVille, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Joe Bonamassa, Willie Nelson, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Buffett, Nick Lowe, Chaka Khan, and many others.

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1970s, Country

Top of the World

First recorded by The Carpenters (JPN #21 1972).
First hit version by Lynn Anderson (C&W #2 1973).
Other hit version by The Carpenters (US #1/UK #5/CAN #1/IRE #3 1973).

From the wiki: “‘Top of the World’ is a 1972 song by The Carpenter originally recorded for and released on the duo’s 1972 studio album A Song for You. Co-written by Richard Carpenter with lyricist John Bettis (‘Human Nature’, ‘Slow Hand’), ‘Top of the World’ was intended to be only an album cut for the Carpenters. The original album recording was released as a single in Japan in 1972, where it peaked at #21 on the Orion music chart. Soon after its album release, Country singer Lynn Anderson covered the song and was the first to release it as a US single.

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1970s, Rock

Money Changes Everything

Written (by Tom Gray) and first recorded by The Brains (1978).
Re-recorded by The Brains (1980).
Hit version by Cyndi Lauper (US #27 1984).

From the wiki: “‘Money Changes Everything’ was written by Tom Gray, frontman of The Brains, and was the band’s only underground hit – released in 1978 as a 45 RPM single on Gray Matter Records. The initial underground success of the song led to The Brains being signed by Mercury Records. The group rerecorded the song under the guidance of producer Steve Lillywhite for their 1980 debut album, The Brains.

“Critic Greil Marcus, listing ‘Money Changes Everything’ at #10 of his Real-Life Rock Top Ten 1979, wrote: ‘Singer Tom Gray told his story in a strangled voice, as if he were trying to explain, but instead he laid a curse. This damned single ranks higher than I’ve placed it, but if it were anywhere else I couldn’t end with it, and there’s no other way the decade could end.’ Marcus would later write of the song, ‘It was hard, it hurt, and Cyndi Lauper’s version makes the original sound compromised. She makes you wonder if Brains composer and singer Tom Gray even knew what he was talking about.'”

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1970s, Pop

Mickey

First recorded (as “Kitty”) by Racey (1979).
Hit version by Toni Basil (US #1/UK #2/AUS #1 1981), Lolly (UK #4/IRE #14 1999).
Also recorded (as “Ricky”) by “Weird Al” Yankovic (1983).

From the wiki: “‘Mickey’ was written by Mike Chapman (‘Better Be Good to Me’, ‘Love Is a Battlefield’, ‘Kiss You All Over’) and Nicky Chinn as ‘Kitty’, and was first recorded by UK group Racey in 1979 for their debut album Smash and Grab. When she recorded the song in 1981, Toni Basil changed the name from ‘Kitty’ to ‘Mickey’ to make the song about a man.

“For years, it had been rumored that the name was changed to ‘Mickey’ because Basil was fond of The Monkees’ drummer and lead vocalist Mickey Dolenz after meeting him as a choreographer on the set of The Monkees’ movie Head. The accompanying music video for the song, featuring costuming and choreography inspired by cheerleader dance routines, was later played heavily on MTV. It is considered to be the very first choreographed dance video ever produced.

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1970s, Pop

She’s Out of My Life

First recorded (as a demo) by Tom Bahler (c. 1979)
First recorded (as a demo) by Michael Jackson (1979).
Hit versions by Michael Jackson (US #10/R&B #43/UK #3 1979), Johnny Duncan & Janie Fricke (C&W #17 1980).

From the wiki: “She’s Out of My Life’ was written by Tom Bahler. Although it has been claimed that Bahler wrote the song about his relationship with the late Karen Carpenter, Bahler has stated ‘The fact is, I had already written that song by the time Karen and I became romantic. That song was written more about [my then-girlfriend] Rhonda Rivera … it was after we broke up that I started dating Karen.’ The song became famous when recorded by Michael Jackson and released as the fourth single from his album, Off the Wall, in 1979. Producer Quincy Jones’ first idea was to record ‘She’s Out of My Life’ with Frank Sinatra. Michael’s demo (only him and an acoustic guitar) convinced Jones otherwise. (Demo was released as part of the This Is It bonus disc.)”

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1970s, Country

Voila, An American Dream

Written and first recorded by Rodney Crowell (1978).
Hit version by The Dirt Band (US #13/C&W #58/CAN #3/AUS #35 1980).

From the wiki: “‘An American Dream’ is a song written by Rodney Crowell. He recorded it under the title ‘Voilá, An American Dream’ on his 1978 album Ain’t Living Long Like This with a backing vocal by Emmylou Harris, and released it as the B-side to that album’s single ‘(Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such as I’.

“‘An American Dream’ was later recorded by The Dirt Band (née Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). It was released in November 1979 as the only single and title track from the album An American Dream. The Dirt Band’s version features a backing vocal from Linda Ronstadt. The single charted Top-20 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the group’s last appearance at that level on the Billboard chart.”

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1970s, Pop

Sing

First performed by The Kids of Sesame Street (1970).
Hit versions by Barbra Streisand (MOR #28 1972), The Carpenters (US #3/UK #53/JPN #1 1973).

(Above is from a 1971 broadcast of Sesame Street.)

From the wiki: “”Sing” is a popular song created for Sesame Street, written by staff songwriter Joe Raposo for the popular children’s TV show. In its initial appearance, the song was sung by adult human cast members of the show (the most frequent lead singer was Bob McGrath), and Muppets, including Big Bird.

“Although Barbra Streisand had an Easy Listening hit with ‘Sing’ (in medley with ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’) in 1972 with ‘Sing’, Karen and Richard Carpenter first heard the song as guests on ABC television special Robert Young with the Young in 1973. They loved the song and felt it could be a big hit. ‘Sing’ became the debut single off The Carpenters album Now & Then, released in 1973.”

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1970s, Pop

Emotion

First recorded (as a demo) by The Bee Gees (1978).
Hit versions by Samantha Sang (US #3/R&B #42/UK #11 1978), Destiny’s Child (US#10/R&B #28/UK #3 2001).

From the wiki: “‘Emotion’ was written by Barry and Robin Gibb and was originally intended for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. During the planning for Australian singer Samantha Sang’s recording session another Bee Gees’ song, ‘Don’t Throw It All Away’, had been planned for Sang to sing but upon arriving in Miami, Barry instead offered her a new song: ‘Emotion’. Sang recorded it in a breathy, Barry-like sound. Gibb himself provided harmony and background vocals, using his falsetto on this track.

“In 2001, ‘Emotion’ was covered by the American R&B girl group Destiny’s Child. Issued as the fourth single from their third studio album, Survivor, the song continued the group’s streak of top-ten hits in the United States, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 20 November 2001. The song was heavily on radio station playlists during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and eventually became a tribute song to the family of the victims.”

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1970s, Rock

Can We Still Be Friends

Written and first recorded by Todd Rundgren (US #29 1978).
Other hit version by Robert Palmer (US #52/NETH #32 1979).

From the wiki: “‘Can We Still Be Friends’ was written and originally performed by Todd Rundgren, and released on his 1978 album Hermit of Mink Hollow. The lyrics describe a relationship to which Rundgren and the woman to whom he is singing have given great effort, but simply cannot work. Rundgren explains this, but wishes to part amicably, asking several times if he and his partner can ‘still be friends.’ The song is generally assumed to be about Rundgren’s breakup with long-time companion Bebe Buell in 1977. In 1979, ‘Can We Still Be Friends’ became a hit again when Robert Palmer recorded a version for his album Secrets, from where it became a popular Rock album radio hit.”

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1970s, Reggae/Ska

Only the Good Die Young

First recorded (as a demo) by Billy Joel (1977).
Hit version by Billy Joel (US #24/CAN #18 1977).

From the wiki: “‘Only the Good Die Young’ was written by Billy Joel for his landmark 1977 album, The Stranger. The original demo recording featured a slower, reggae arrangement (the demo is included in the box set, My Life).

“‘I wrote it as a reggae song,’ Joel recalled. ‘And Liberty [DeVitto], my drummer, is so sick of reggae that he literally throws his drumsticks at me and says, ‘Ugh, I frigging hate reggae! The closest you’ve ever been to Jamaica is when you changed trains in Queens.” It was Joel’s producer, Phil Ramone, who recommended to Joel ‘Don’t play any different than you play on the road — be the rock ‘n’ roll animal that you are.’ The third take of the song in the studio is what appears on the album, The Stranger.

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1970s, Rock

Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo

First recorded by Johnny Winter (1970).
Hit version by Rick Derringer, writer (US #23 1974).

From the wiki: “‘Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo’ is a rock song written by Rick Derringer. It was first recorded by Johnny Winter, with Derringer and other former members of The McCoys (‘Hang On Sloopy‘), in 1970.

“In 1973, Derringer recorded a solo version for his solo debut album All American Boy, and it became his only Top 40 chart hit. According to Derringer, ‘The first song I wrote for Johnny was ‘Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo’. ‘Rock and Roll’ to satisfy the rock ‘n’ roll that I was supposed to be bringing into the picture, and ‘Hoochie Koo’ to satisfy the king of blues sensibility that Johnny was supposed to maintain. And it worked out great.’

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1970s, Rock

Sentimental Lady

First recorded by Fleetwood Mac (1972).
Hit version by Bob Welch, writer (US #8 1977).

From the wiki: “Bob Welch joined Fleetwood Mac in 1971, and the group first recorded the Welch-penned ‘Sentimental Lady’ for their 1972 album Bare Trees. The song became a hit when Welch re-recorded it for his 1977 solo album, French Kiss. Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac sang backup on Welch’s solo version. Many Fleetwood Mac aficionados cite the Fleetwood Mac’s original version as the first song to explicitly reference the softer, more commercial West Coast sound that the group would later make their own.

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1970s, Rock

Pieces of April

Written and first recorded by Dave Loggins (1971).
Hit versions by Three Dog Night (US #19/MOR #6/CAN #13 1972), Dave Loggins (MOR #22 1979).

From the wiki: “‘Pieces of April’ was written by Dave Loggins (‘Please Come to Boston’, 1974) and was first recorded by him in 1971 for the album Personal Belongings, released in February 1972. The song was recorded later in 1972 by Three Dog Night and released as a promotional single in November 1972 for the album Seven Separate Fools, peaking at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Loggins would later re-record ‘Pieces of April’ in 1979, with a more lush arrangement, for the album David Loggins, with his single charting near the Top-20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary music chart.”

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1970s, Pop

Second Avenue

Written and first recorded by Tim Moore (US #58 1974).
Other hit version by Art Garfunkel (US #34 1974).

From the wiki: “‘Second Avenue’ was written by multi-instrumentalist Tim Moore and first appeared on his 1973 solo album, Tim Moore. As the album’s third single, ‘Second Avenue’, was climbing the Billboard Hot 100, the album distributor, Paramount, abruptly ceased operations. The sudden release from contract spurred a Tim Moore bidding war between Clive Davis and David Geffen. By the time the deal went to Geffen, Art Garfunkel had released his competing version of ‘Second Avenue’. This ‘cover battle’ between the two versions effectively doomed both records’ chances of becoming sizable, individual hits.

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1970s, Pop

Gloria (Branigan)

First recorded by Umberto Tozzi (ITA #2/SUI #1/SPA #1/FRA #3 1979).
Other hit versions by Jonathan King (UK #65 1979), Laura Branigan (US #2/UK #6/CAN #1/AUS #1 1982).

NOTE: Not to be confused with ‘Gloria‘, by Them.

From the wiki: “‘Gloria’ was originally composed and written in Italian by Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi (‘Self Control‘). Tozzi himself made the first recording of ‘Gloria’ in 1979. The original version of ‘Gloria’ was a love song as was the first English-language rendering of the song recorded by its English lyricist Jonathan King (‘Everyone’s Gone to the Moon’) to reach #65 UK in November 1979.

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1970s, Country

The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)

First recorded and released (as a B-side) by Juice Newton (1975).
Hit versions by Dottsy (C&W #86 1976), Juice Newton (re-recording US #7/C&W #1 1982).

From the wiki: “‘The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)’ was originally recorded and released in 1975 on Juice Newton’s debut album, Juice Newton and Silver Spur. The 1975 version was not, however, issued as a single, although it was the B-side of two other Newton singles. In the meantime, Dottsy (Dottsy Brodt Dwyer) recorded her version ‘The Sweetest Thing’ in 1976 and took it to #86 on the Country music charts, and used it as the title track to her album The Sweetest Thing. Newton re-recorded the song on her 1981 album, the career-launching Juice.

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1970s, Country

Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)

Written and first recorded by Jim Weatherly (1972).
Hit versions by Bob Luman (C&W #7 1973), Gladys Knight & The Pips (US #2/R&B #1/UK #31 1973), David Sanborn (R&B #56 1983).

From the wiki: “‘Neither One of Us’ was written and first recorded by Jim Weatherly, found on his 1972 album Weatherly. Weatherly was an All-American quarterback at the University of Mississippi before choosing songwriting over a football career. Bob Luman charted first with ‘Neither One of Us’, making it into the Top 10 Country in 1973.

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1970s, Pop

Saving All My Love for You

First recorded by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. (1978).
Hit version by Whitney Houston (US #1/R&B #1/UK #1 1985).

From the wiki: “‘Saving All My Love for You’ is a song written by Michael Masser (‘The Greatest Love of All‘) and Gerry Goffin (‘Take Good Care of My Baby‘, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman‘, ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You‘) with arrangement by Gene Page (Love Unlimited Orchestra). It was originally recorded by former 5th Dimension-aires Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 1978 for their album Marilyn & Billy.

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1970s, Pop

To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before

Co-written and first recorded by Albert Hammond (1975).
Also recorded by Bobby Vinton (1980).
Hit version by Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson (US #5/C&W #1/UK #17/CAN #4/AUS #1/NZ #2/SPN #2 1984).

From the wiki: “‘To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before’ is a song written by Hal David (former lyricist for Burt Bacharach; ‘Do You Know the Way to San Jose’, ‘Alfie‘, ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head’, ‘One Less Bell to Answer‘) and Albert Hammond (‘The Air That I Breathe‘,’When I Need You‘). It was originally recorded in 1975 by Albert Hammond for his album 99 Miles From L.A., but his song became most famous nearly a decade later with the 1984 recording by Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson, which appeared on Iglesias’s album 1100 Bel Air Place.

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1970s, Rock

The Road

Written and first recorded by Danny O’Keefe (1972).
Hit album version by Jackson Browne (1978).

From the wiki: “‘The Road’ was written by Danny O’Keefe, who recorded the song for the album O’Keefe. The song foreshadowed O’Keefe’s fate, as he found himself living the song when he toured to promote his 1972 hit ‘Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues‘. O’Keefe recalled: ‘For me the road was basically go out for six weeks and after six weeks you were usually sick of the road and sort of beat to death and poor, because unless you stay out there for a long period of time it’s very hard to recoup those expenses that you have when you’re carrying a band.'”

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1970s, Reggae/Ska

You Can Get It If You Really Want

First released by Desmond Dekker (US #103/UK #2 1970).
Hit album version by Jimmy Cliff (1970, released 1972).

http://youtu.be/iWrIJnWiIDo

From the wiki: “‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’, written by Jimmy Cliff, was recorded in 1970 by both Cliff and Desmond Dekker using the same backing track. Dekker’s version was the first to be commercially released, in 1970; Cliff’s original 1970 recording was later added in 1972 to the movie soundtrack of The Harder They Come.”

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1970s, Rock

What a Fool Believes

Co-written and first recorded by Kenny Loggins (1978).
Hit version by The Doobie Brothers (US #1/MOR #22/CAN #1/UK #31/AUS #12/NZ #5/NETH #10 1978).

From the wiki: “‘What a Fool Believes’ was written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. The best-known version was recorded by The Doobie Brothers (for the album Minute by Minute), with McDonald on lead vocal, but the song was first recorded and released five months prior by Loggins on his album Nightwatch.

“McDonald’s original idea for the song was that of a man who is reunited with an old love interest and attempts to rekindle a romantic relationship with her before discovering that a relationship had never really existed. It was Loggins, right before meeting McDonald for the first time, who devised the bridge of the song.

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1970s, Reggae/Ska

The Harder They Come

Written and first recorded (as “The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall”) by Jimmy Cliff (1971).
Hit versions by Jimmy Cliff (1972), Joe Jackson (NETH #35/SWE #18 1980).

From the wiki: “‘The Harder They Come’ is a Reggae song by the Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff, first recorded and released as the B-side to the original release of ‘Sitting In Limbo’ in 1971. Cliff re-recorded (and retitled) the song in 1972 for inclusion in the movie soundtrack for The Harder They Come. ‘The Harder They Come’ has been ranked #341 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

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1970s, Pop

They Don’t Know

Written and first recorded by Kristy MacColl (1979).
Hit version by Tracey Ullman (UK #2 1983 |US #8/MOR #11 1984).
Also recorded by Anja Niskanen (1984), Ben Gibbard (2010).

From the wiki: “‘They Don’t Know’ was written by Kristy MacColl, who recorded it in 1979. It became popular on radio in the United Kingdom, reaching #2 on the Music Week airplay chart. However, complications involving a strike at her record distributor prevented the single from being shipped and promoted properly. MacColl’s version of ‘They Don’t Know’ thus failed to appear on the official UK Singles chart, which is entirely sales-based.

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