Co-written and first recorded by Paul Williams (1974).
Hit version by Helen Reddy (US #9 1974).
From the wiki: “‘You and Me Against the World’ was the first song written together by Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams and began as a gag song: Williams and Ascher, a member of Williams’s band, had a discussion about their favorite songwriters which led to the spontaneous composition of a song on the subject whose tune, Ascher then realized, had real hit potential. Williams himself debuted ‘You and Me Against the World’ on his 1974 album Here Comes Inspiration, singing it as a traditional love ballad.
First recorded by The Doobie Brothers (1977).
Hit version by Carly Simon (US #6 1978), The Doobie Brothers (US #79 1983).
From the wiki: “‘You Belong to Me’ is a song written by singer-songwriters Carly Simon and Michael McDonald. Originally recorded by McDonald’s rock group The Doobie Brothers for their seventh studio album, Livin’ on the Fault Line, the song was made famous by Simon herself when recorded for her seventh studio album, Boys in the Trees.
Written and first recorded by Warren Zevon (1976).
Hit album version by Linda Ronstadt (1976).
From the wiki: “‘Hasten Down the Wind’ was song written and first recorded by Warren Zevon, featured on his eponymous major-label 1976 debut album. The track was produced by Jackson Browne, who had met Zevon in the mid-seventies. Their relationship played a significant role in Zevon’s career thereafter. It was with Browne’s assistance that Zevon got a major record contract. Zevon’s version of the song features Phil Everly singing harmony vocals, and also David Lindley playing slide guitar.
“During the early 1970s, Zevon toured regularly with The Everly Brothers as keyboard player, band leader, and musical coordinator. Later, he toured and recorded with Don Everly and Phil Everly separately, as they each attempted to launch solo careers after the breakup of their duo. Zevon’s own dissatisfaction with his career (and a lack of funds) led him to move to Spain in the summer of 1975, where he lived and played in the Dubliner Bar, a small tavern in Sitges, near Barcelona, owned by David Lindell, a former mercenary. (Together they composed ‘Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner’.)
“By September 1975, Zevon had returned to Los Angeles where he roomed with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, who had by now gained fame as members of Fleetwood Mac. There Zevon met and collaborated with Jackson Browne, who produced and promoted Zevon’s major-label debut album, Warren Zevon, in 1976. Contributors to the album included Nicks, Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, members of the Eagles, Carl Wilson, Linda Ronstadt, and Bonnie Raitt.
First recorded by Boffalongo (1969).
Also recorded by High Broom (1970).
Hit versions by King Harvest (first released 1970 |US #13 1972), Toploader (UK #7 2000).
From the wiki: “‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ was written in 1968 by Sherman Kelly, whose brother, Wells Kelly – King Harvest’s drummer in the early 1970s – introduced the song to the band. It was first recorded in 1969 by the American band, Boffalongo, which included Sherman Kelly (who sang lead on this original recording of his own composition) and future King Harvest frontman, Doc Robinson. The song was also recorded in 1970 in the UK by High Broom and released as a single by Island Records without any apparent chart impact.
Written and first recorded by Loggins & Messina (1973).
Hit version by Anne Murray (US #12/C&W #5/CAN #1 1974).
From the wiki: “‘A Love Song’ was first recorded and released by Loggins & Messina on their 1973 album Full Sail but had been written by Kenny Loggins and Donna Lyn George specifically for Anne Murray who, a year earlier, had had great chart success with another Loggins composition, ‘Danny’s Song‘. ‘A Love Song’ was later recorded and released in late 1973 by Murray as the second single from her album Love Song. Her version would go on to win a Grammy award in 1974 for Best Country Vocal Performance.”
Written and first recorded by Robert Hazard (1979).
Hit version by Cyndi Lauper (US #2/UK #2/CAN #1/AUS #1/NZ #1/IRE #1/JPN #1 1983).
From the wiki: “The song was written by Robert Hazard, who first recorded it in 1979, writing it from a male point of view. Hazard was the son of an opera singer. He was profiled in a 1981 Rolling Stone magazine article by Kurt Loder. In the piece, Loder describes Hazard’s musical history as a musician ‘… who started out as a Dylan-era folkie, then spent eight years singing country & western. ‘I just love country music,’ he explains — which of course explains nothing, least of all the two years he subsequently spent with a reggae band … or his current electro-pop approach, which owes little to any of the above.’ Hazard also composed the 1980s New Wave and MTV hits ‘Escalator of Life’ and ‘Change Reaction’ which he performed with his band, Robert Hazard and the Heroes, popular in the Philadelphia club scene during the 1980s.
Co-written and first recorded by Bruce Springsteen (1978, released 2010).
Hit version by Patti Smith Group (US #13/UK #5 1978).
From the wiki: “Written by Bruce Springsteen, ‘Because the Night’ song was first recorded by Springsteen during sessions for the Darkness on the Edge of Town album. He was not satisfied with it; the Patti Smith Group was working on Easter in the studio next door, with engineer/producer Jimmy Iovine working on both albums. Iovine gave Smith a tape of the song; she recast it, including ‘Because the Night’ on Easter, becoming the first single released from that album.
First recorded by Vicki Sue Robinson (US #10 1976).
Also recorded by Laura Branigan (1990).
Other hit version by Gloria Estefan (US #13/UK #21 1994).
https://youtu.be/devNnEA0AdU
From the wiki: “”Turn the Beat Around” was written by brothers Gerald and Peter Jackson of the R&B outfit Touch of Class. Vicki Sue Robinson recorded her version on September 26, 1975 cutting her lead vocal in a single take after recording her own multi-tracked chorale vocals.
“Like the other cuts on Robinsons’s debut album Never Gonna Let You Go, ‘Turn the Beat Around’ was recorded at RCA Studios with producer Warren Schatz who recalls the basic master of the song was recorded ‘on a Friday after a very depressing week of rain [and] I hated [the track]! I listened to it in my office and I just couldn’t get it. It had been such a bad week that I just couldn’t hear anything with an open mind. Then David Todd, the head of disco promotion at RCA, came into my office and he went crazy over the track! He convinced me to finish it as soon as possible.’
First released by The Flying Burrito Brothers (1970).
Hit version by The Rolling Stones (recorded 1969 |released US #28 1971).
From the wiki: “‘Wild Horses’ was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for the Rolling Stones’ 1971 album Sticky Fingers. Originally recorded over a three-day period at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama during 2–4 December 1969, the public would not hear the results until almost 18 months later due to legal wranglings with the band’s former label, Atco, and manager, Allen Klein.
Written and originally recorded by Hot Chocolate (UK #7 1973).
Other hit version by Stories (US #1 1973).
Also recorded by Roy Ayers (1973).
From the wiki: “‘Brother Louie’ is a song about an interracial love affair, written and sung by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson of the group Hot Chocolate (‘You Sexy Thing’). It was a Top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart for the band in 1973, produced by Mickie Most (The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, The Jeff Beck Group), and featured Alexis Korner with a spoken-word lyric.
“‘Brother Louie’ was covered by the American band Stories (featuring singer Ian Lloyd) about six months after Hot Chocolate’s UK hit. Another cover – an instrumental arrangement – was also released in 1973 by Roy Ayers on his album Virgo Red, playing vibes in place of vocals.”
Written and first recorded by Ian Hunter (1979).
Hit version by Barry Manilow (US #9/MOR #4/CAN #29 1979).
From the wiki: “Ian Hunter (‘Once Bitten Twice Shy‘) began writing ‘Ships’ when he was with Mott The Hoople (1969-1974) but didn’t record it until 1979, for his solo album You’re Never Alone With A Schizophrenic. The song has been described as a hymn-like ballad about Hunter’s relationship with his father.
“‘Ships’ was soon after recorded by singer Barry Manilow for his sixth studio album, One Voice. Hunter recalled to Mojo magazine: ‘That whole Manilow thing was quite amusing. That guy’s no slouch when it comes to arranging. His dad had died and the song struck him that way, too.'”
Written and first recorded by Russ Ballard (1976).
Hit versions by Clout (1978), Head East (US #46 1978), Rainbow (US #57/UK #6 1979), Cherie & Marie Currie (US #95 1980).
From the wiki: “‘Since You Been Gone’ is the title of a rock song written and recorded by the former Argent guitarist, Russ Ballard (‘Winning‘), and first released on his 1976 album, Winning. Rainbow’s 1979 cover version with the lead singer, Graham Bonnet, was a Top 10 single in the United Kingdom, and was named the 82nd best hard rock song of all time by VH1.
“Other, earlier cover versions include those by Head East (1978) and by Clout (1978), originally a five-piece, South African million-selling all-girl rock group formed in 1977 and best known for their song, ‘Substitute’. Cherie Currie (The Runaways) also recorded ‘Since You Been Gone’ as a duet with her twin, Marie Currie, on their Messin’ with the Boys album in 1980.
First recorded (as “House at Pooh Corner”) by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (US #53 1970).
Also recorded (as “House at Pooh Corner”) by Loggins & Messina (1971).
Hit version by Kenny Loggins & Amy Grant (US #25 1994).
From the wiki: “‘House at Pooh Corner’ was written by Kenny Loggins, while still in high school, based on the popular children’s book of the same name. “Pooh Corner” would be first recorded in 1970 by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for the album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy.
“Loggins would then, in 1971, cover his own song with his producer and duo partner, Jim Messina, for their debut album Sittin’ In (on which also appeared the his ‘Danny’s Song’). In 1994, after the birth of his third child, Loggins (with Amy Grant) re-recorded the song, adding an additional verse, as ‘Return to Pooh Corner’.”
Written and first recorded by Steve Gibb (1978).
Hit version by Kenny Rogers (US #5/C&W #1/UK #42/CAN #8 1979).
From the wiki: “‘She Believes in Me’ was written by Steve Gibb (not the Steve Gibb, son of Barry Gibb) and is the tale of a songwriter who has a beloved, that while she supports him, he sometimes wonders why. The song first appeared on Gibb’s 1978 album Let Me Sing. Recorded by Kenny Rogers in 1979, it became one of his biggest crossover hits in the late spring of 1979, reaching #1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and crossing over to the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.”
Written and first recorded by Neil Young (1978).
Hit version by Nicolette Larson (US #8/MOR #1/AUS #11/NZ #22 1978).
http://youtu.be/GhQr0kndwBE
From the wiki: “‘Lotta Love’ is a Neil Young composition written c. 1976 and performed in-concert before being recorded by Young for his 1978 album Comes a Time. ‘Lotta Love’ served as the lead single for Larson’s Ted Templeman-produced Nicolette album. Due to a delay in release, Comes a Time was released on the same day in September 1978 as was Nicolette. The release of any single off the Nicolette album was held off until November when it was clear Young’s version would not have be released as an A-side (although Young’s ‘Lotta Love’ would be released as the B-side of a non-charting ‘Comes a Time’ single).
First recorded by Gator Creek (1970).
Also recorded by Loggins & Messina (1971).
Hit version Anne Murray (US #7/C&W #10/MOR #1/CAN #1 1973).
From the wiki: “‘Danny’s Song’ was written by singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins as a gift for his brother Danny and the birth of his son, Colin. ‘Danny’s Song’ was first recorded for an album by Loggins’ first group, Gator Creek, in 1970 and, a year later, on the album Sittin’ In, the debut album by Loggins and Messina.
Written and first single release by Paul Williams (1973).
Hit versions by Maureen McGovern (US #84/MOR #19 1973), Diana Ross (B-side US #1 1973), The Carpenters (1972 |US #11/MOR #1/UK #9/CAN #7/JPN #40 1974).
Also recorded by Mel Tormé & Buddy Rich (1978).
From the wiki: “‘I Won’t Last a Day Without You’ was co-written by Paul Williams (‘We’ve Only Just Begun’) and Roger Nichols. He released his version as a single in 1973, but generated no chart success.
“Maureen McGovern covered the song and also released it as a single in 1973 (and included on her album The Morning After), with her arrangement peaking at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100. Diana Ross also covered the song for her 1973 album Touch Me in the Morning, and it was released as the B-side of the title track single release, ‘Touch Me in the Morning’, which became a #1 hit.
“It was in 1972 when Richard Carpenter first learned of the new song from Williams and Nichols, who had already contributed ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ and ‘Rainy Days and Mondays’ to the Carpenters. Carpenter produced the recording that was included it on the Carpenters’ 1972 album A Song for You, but it would not be released as a single until 1974 when it would go US Top-20 and Top-10 in the UK and Canada.
Inspired by “You Never Can Tell”, Chuck Berry (1964).
Hit versions by Dave Edmunds (UK #26/AUS #32 1977), Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit (US #77 1985).
Also recorded by Nick Lowe’s Last Chicken in the Shop (1978).
From the wiki: “Nick Lowe has indicated Chuck Berry’s ‘You Never Can Tell’ was the source of inspiration for his own song ‘I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock’n’Roll)’, first recorded and made popular in 1977 by Dave Edmunds. Lowe, the song’s writer, also recorded it as part of the 1978 Live Stiffs Live concert compilation (as ‘Nick Lowe’s Last Chicken in the Shop’) and, again, in the studio in 1985 with Huey Lewis & the News. This version was released as a single, peaking at #77 on the Billboard Hot 100.
First recorded (as “We Don’t Cry Out Loud”) by The Moments (R&B #79 1976).
Also recorded by Peter Allen (1977).
Hit versions by Elkie Brooks (UK #12 1978), Melissa Manchester (US #10 1978), Rita Coolidge (JPN 1979).
From the wiki: “‘Don’t Cry Out Loud’ is a song written in 1976 by Peter Allen (‘I’d Rather Leave While I’m in Love‘) with lyricist Carole Bayer Sager (‘Arthur’s Theme’, ‘That’s What Friends Are For‘). Bernadette Peters, who toured with Allen in 1989, has stated that Allen told her that ‘his mother taught him to always put your best face on’ in response to Allen’s father committing suicide when Allen was 14 years old. The references to ‘baby’ in the song refer to Allen’s younger sister.
Co-written by Nick Lowe and first recorded by Brinsley Schwarz (1974).
Hit version by Nick Lowe (US #12/UK #12 1979).
Also recorded by Enjoh Santyuutei (as “Koi No Howan Howan”) (1982), co-writer Ian Gomm (1997), Stavros Michalakakos (as “Vres to Nisi”) (2010).
From the wiki: “Nick Lowe co-wrote the song with his Brinsley Schwarz band mate, Ian Gomm, for the Brinsley Schwarz album, It’s All Over Now, though said album was never officially released. In 1979, Lowe re-recorded the song for his second solo album, Labour of Lust. Released as a single, ‘Cruel to be Kind’ peaked at #12 in both the US and the UK.”
“In 1982, Enjoh Santyuutei released a Japanese-language cover of the song. Lowe’s former Brinsley Schwarz band-mate. and ‘Cruel to be Kind’ co-writer, Ian Gomm recorded his version of ‘Cruel to be Kind’ in 1997 for the album Crazy for You (which would also be included on the 2005 Nick Lowe tribute album Lowe Profile). In 2010, Greek pop singer Stavros Michalakakos, second-season winner of the Greek version of the The X Factor, recorded ‘Cruel to be Kind’ as his debut single release.”
First recorded by The Marmalade (1977).
Hit version by Crystal Gayle (US #18/MOR #3/C&W #1 1978).
From the wiki: “The first recorded version of ‘Talking in Your Sleep’ was by the band The Marmalade (‘Reflections of My Life’, ‘Lovin’ Things‘, ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da‘), produced by Roger Greenaway (‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing‘), released as single in 1977 but without any chart success. It was subsequently recorded in late 1977 by Country music artist Crystal Gayle and released in January 1978 as the first single from her album When I Dream. Gayle’s version became a hit on both the US Country and Pop charts in 1978, reaching #1 on the US Country chart and peaking at #18 Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.”
Written and first recorded by John Fogerty (US #27 1975).
Other hit version by Status Quo (UK #3/IRE #1/AUS #22/SWE #3/GER #7 1977).
From the wiki: “‘Rockin’ All Over the World’ made its debut on Fogerty’s second solo album, John Fogerty, in 1975. Released as a promotional single, ‘Rockin’ All Over the World’ peaked at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two years later, English boogie rock band Status Quo recorded their own, heavier arrangement of the song for their 1977 album Rockin’ All Over the World. This release became an international hit, and the song has since become largely identified more with Status Quo than Fogerty.
Originally recorded by The Temptations (1971).
Hit version by The Undisputed Truth (US #3/R&B #2/MOR #34 1971)
Also recorded by Bobbi Humphrey (1972), Rare Earth (1973).
From the wiki: “‘Smiling Faces Sometimes’ was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, and was originally recorded by the Temptations in 1971. Producer Whitfield had the song re-recorded by the Undisputed Truth the same year, resulting in a Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit for the group – their only one.
Written and first recorded by Paul Williams (1971).
Hit version by Three Dog Night (US #4/MOR #1/CAN #2 1971).
From the wiki: “‘An Old Fashioned Love Song’ was written by the noted songwriter Paul Williams, who originally intended the song for The Carpenters, and it was first recorded by Williams for his album Just an Old Fashioned Love Song.
“This was the first song Williams had written specifically for the Carpenters. But, Richard Carpenter rejected it and so Williams then offered the song to Three Dog Night. The Carpenters never recorded the song, but did perform it live on television with Carol Burnett a few months later on The Carol Burnett Show.”
