Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Category: Pop

1970s, Pop

I Honestly Love You

Written and first recorded by Peter Allen (1974).
Hit version by Olivia Newton-John (US #1/MOR #1/C&W #6/UK #22/CAN #1/AUS #1 1974).

From the wiki: “‘I Honestly Love You’ was written by Jeff Barry (‘Chapel of Love‘) and Peter Allen (‘Don’t Cry Out Loud‘); the latter recorded it around the same time as its composition for his album Continental American. It would later appear in the juke-box musical about Allen’s life, The Boy from Oz.”

From Songfacts.com: “Olivia Newton-John recorded ‘I Honestly Love You’ in London. She remembers [being] ‘in a little tiny rickety studio, it was so small. The control room was upstairs and John Farrar was up there with the engineer and I was underneath and they had to sit still because it would creak, and you’d hear it in the microphone.’ Her recording 1974 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance. It was Olivia Newton-John’s first ever #1 in the US and Canada, and it also topped the charts in Australia.

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1960s, Pop

Sweet Blindness

Written and first recorded by Laura Nyro (1968).
Hit version by The 5th Dimension (US #13/R&B #45/CAN #15 1968).

From the wiki: “‘Sweet Blindness’ was written by Laura Nyro (‘Stoney End‘, ‘Eli’s Comin’‘, ‘And When I Die‘) and first recorded by her for the 1968 album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. (At Nyro’s insistence, the album’s lyric sheet – which itself was a rarity for records in 1968 – was perfumed, and fans have reported that it still has a pleasant aroma.) When she’d sing ‘Sweet Blindness’ in concert, Nyro would introduce the song as ‘A little drinking song I wrote.’

“‘Sweet Blindness’ was another one of several Nyro songs that The 5th Dimension covered and took into the Top 40, also including ‘Wedding Bell Blues‘, ‘Stoned Soul Picnic‘, and ‘Save the Country‘.”

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1930s, Pop

(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow

First released by The Larry Clinton Orchestra feat. Bea Wain (US #10 1939).
Other hit versions by The Glenn Miller Orchestra (US #1 1939), Judy Garland (US #5 1939), Bob Crosby & His Orchestra (US #2 1939), The Demensions (US #16 1960), Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells (R&B #20 1966), Eva Cassidy (UK #42 2001), Cliff Richard (UK #11 2001), Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (1993; released US #22 2002 |UK #68 2007 |GER #1 2010).

From the wiki: “‘Over the Rainbow’ (often referred to as ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’) is a classic Academy Award-winning ballad, with music by Harold Arlen (‘Stormy Weather‘, ‘Blues in the Night‘) and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. Arlen came up with the melody while sitting in his car in front of the original Schwab’s Drug Store in Hollywood. Harburg hated it at first because he thought the tempo was too slow. After Arlen consulted with his friend, Ira Gershwin, he sped up the tempo and Harburg came up with the lyrics. A lot of effort went into the first line. Ideas that didn’t make the cut included ‘I’ll go over the rainbow’ and ‘Someday over the rainbow’.

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1970s, Pop

Fernando

First recorded (in Swedish) Anni-Frid Lyngstad (SWE #1 1975).
Other hit version by ABBA (US #13/MOR #1/CAN #1/UK #1/AUS #1/IRE #1/GER #1/MEX #1/SWE #3 1976).

From the wiki: From the wiki: “‘Fernando’ was not first released as an ABBA song but by band member Anni-Frid Lyngstad, solo, in 1975, featured on her #1 Swedish solo album Frida ensam. The song was composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and carried the working title of ‘Tango’. Preparations for recording began in August 1975. The writers made last-minute changes to the title before recording, with the suggestion of the name ‘Fernando’ given to the songwriters by their limousine driver, Peter Forbes.

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1980s, Pop

I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)

First recorded by Lulu (1979).
First single release (as “I Could Never Miss You More”) by Melba Moore (1980).
Also recorded (as “I Could Never Miss You”) by Bobbi Walker (1980).
Hit version by Lulu (US #18/UK #62 1981).

From the wiki: “‘I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)’ was written by Neil Harrison and first appeared on Don’t Take Love For Granted, Lulu’s 1979 album released on Elton John’s The Rocket Record Company label, produced by Mark London. London had been the co-writer of Lulu’s major hit, ‘To Sir, With Love’, and was also the husband of Lulu’s longtime manager, Marion Massey.

“Although ‘I Could Never Miss You’ was not issued as a single in 1979, the track garnered some attention after being covered in 1980 by both Melba Moore (as ‘I Could Never Miss You More’) and Bobbi Walker (as “I Could Never Miss You”). In the summer of 1981, after acquiring rights to the original recording, Alfa Records released the Lulu original as a single that charted in the US Top 20.”

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1960s, Pop

Without Her

Written and first recorded by Harry Nilsson (1967).
Hit album version by Blood, Sweat & Tears (1968).
Also recorded by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (1969), Harry Nilsson (remix 1971).

From the wiki: “‘Without Her’ was written by Harry Nilsson (‘Everybody’s Talkin’‘, ‘Without You‘) and appeared on his second album (his first for RCA Victor), Pandemonium Shadow Show, in 1967. The album proved to be the watershed of his career, attracting the attention of publicist Derek Taylor, who ordered a case of albums, sending them out to various industry people he believed would be interested, and The Beatles who invited Nilsson to London. (Nilsson covered ‘You Can’t Do That’ in an arrangement that quoted lyrics from more than 10 other Beatles songs. It became a Top 10 hit in Canada.)

“‘Without Her’ would be revamped for Nilsson’s 1971 ‘best-of’ album Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, one of the first ‘remix’ albums ever produced.

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1970s, Pop

Joy to the World

Written and first recorded by Hoyt Axton (1971).
Hit version by Three Dog Night (US #1 1971).

From the wiki: “‘Joy to the World’ was originally intended for use in The Happy Song, an animated film for children. The film never materialized. The story is told that while recording material for his first album with Capitol Records, the song’s writer, Hoyt Axton, had to convince the label to let him record ‘Joy to the World’. He had the tune, he said, but not all of the lyrics. Axton was encouraged by the engineers to sing nonsensical lyrics so that an arrangement could be built around the tune and he could later record ‘real’ lyrics.

“Axton recalls ”Jeremiah’ was an expedient of the time. I’d had the chorus for three months [but nothing else]. I took a drink of wine, leaned on the speaker, and said ‘Jeremiah was a bullfrog.’ It was meaningless. It was a temporary lyric.’ (A member of Three Dog Night said he’d heard that the original lyric to the song was ‘Jeremiah was a prophet’ but ‘no one liked that.’)

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1970s, Pop

Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You

First recorded by George Benson (BEL #29/NETH #43 1985).
Hit version by Glenn Medeiros (US #12/UK #1/CAN #1/IRE #1/FRA #1 1987).

From the wiki: “‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You’ was written by Gerry Goffin (‘(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman‘, ‘Saving All My Love for You‘) and Michael Masser (‘The Greatest Love of All‘), and was first recorded by George Benson for his 1985 album 20/20. Released as a single only in Europe, Benson’s arrangement charted in Belgium and the Netherlands.

“In 1987, the song achieved worldwide success with a cover version by Hawaiian singer Glenn Medeiros. Medeiros had originally released his cover version on a small independent label at the age of 16, after winning a local radio talent contest in Hawaii. A visiting radio executive from KZZP in Phoenix, Arizona, heard the song and took the record back to Phoenix, where, through word of mouth, it grew to become an international hit.”

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1960s, Pop

Needles and Pins

First recorded by Jackie DeShannon (US #84/CAN #1 1963).
Other hit version by The Searchers (US #13/UK #1 1964).

From the wiki: “‘Needles and Pins’ was written by Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono. Jackie DeShannon (‘What the World Needs Now’, ‘Bette Davis Eyes‘) recorded the original in 1963 on Liberty Records, but her version stalled at #84 on the Hot 100.

“DeShannon explained (via Songfacts.com) why her recording didn’t hit:

‘There were a lot of issues with the record company, a lot of marketing things I wasn’t happy with. For instance, ‘Needles And Pins’ was Top 5 in Detroit, Top 5 in Chicago, and Top 5 in every city it was played in. However, unless you’re coordinated across the country and the song hits the charts at the same time, you can’t get the big leaps. My record didn’t have [momentum], because it would be going down in Chicago while it was going up in some other city. So that was a problem.’

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1970s, Pop

The Stranger

First recorded (as a demo) by Billy Joel (1977).
Hit version by Billy Joel (JPN #2 1977).

From the wiki: “‘The Stranger’ was written by Billy Joel as the title track (and second song) of his popular 1977 album. According to Joel, the song relates to how we don’t always know ourselves or others. ‘The Stranger’ is the collective for the unknown things. ‘Although we share so many secrets, there are some we never tell,’ he said.

“Joel’s halfhearted suicide attempt at age 21 (he tried to end his life by drinking furniture polish) was an inspiration for the song, as it revealed a dark side of his personality that wasn’t readily apparent. Joel originally wanted the introducing theme to be played by some kind of instrument but after he demonstrated the melody to his producer, Phil Ramone, by whistling it, Ramone convinced Joel to scrap the idea of an instrument and to whistle it instead:

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1970s, Pop

She’s a Lady

Written and first recorded by Paul Anka (1970).
Hit version by Tom Jones (US #2/R&B #42/UK #13 1971).
Also recorded by Paul Anka & Tom Jones (2013).

From the wiki: “‘She’s a Lady’ was written by Paul Anka, and was first on his album Paul Anka ’70s.

“‘She’s a Lady’ was most-famously performed by Tom Jones, becoming his highest-charting single to date in the US. The song was re-released in 2013 on Paul Anka’s Duets CD with a new recording featuring both Anka and Tom Jones.”

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1980s, Pop

The Old Songs

Written and first recorded by David Pomeranz (1980).
Hit version by Barry Manilow (US #15/MOR #1/UK #48 1981).

From the wiki: “David Pomeranz (‘Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again‘) wrote ‘The Old Songs’ in 1977 with Buddy Kaye, a Tin Pan Alley songwriter of great note in the ’40s and ’50s (‘The Alphabet Song’, ‘Speedy Gonzales‘), ‘timeless songs, big hits for him,’ according to Pomeranza. ‘He and I got together, we wrote 6 songs together at that time, and ‘The Old Songs’ was one of them. We had written it for Jennifer Warnes – she must have passed on it. I had recorded it on my Atlantic album, and Barry had heard my album, heard the song, and then decided that he would record it, too.'”

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1950s, Pop

Teach Me Tonight

First recorded by Janet Brace (US #23 1953).
Other hit versions by Dinah Washington (R&B #4 1954), The DeCastro Sisters (US#2/UK #20 1954), Jo Stafford (US #15 1955), George Maharis (US #25 1962), Al Jarreau (US #70/R&B #51 1982).
Also recorded by Amy Winehouse (2003).

From the wiki: “‘Teach Me Tonight’ was written by Gene De Paul, the lyrics by Sammy Cahn, and first recorded in 1953 by Janet Brace. Dinah Washington recorded the first cover in 1954, charting into the R&B Top 5.

“The DeCastro Sisters, a Cuban trio, recorded it with Skip Martin’s orchestra and had the biggest hit with the song, peaking at #2 on the Hit Parade.

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1960s, Pop

If I Fell

First recorded (as a demo) by John Lennon (1964).
Hit version by The Beatles (US #53 1964).

From the wiki: “John Lennon got a head start on writing new material for the yet untitled first Beatles movie, in early January 1964, when he wrote and recorded the initial home demos for ‘If I Fell’ in his London flat. He later recalled ‘That’s my first attempt to write a ballad proper. That was the precursor to ‘In My Life’. It has the same chord sequence as ‘In My Life’: D and B minor and E minor, those kinds of things. And it’s semi-autobiographical, but not consciously. It shows that I wrote sentimental love ballads, silly love songs, way back when.’

“Brought into the studio for the group to record, ‘If I Fell’ was recorded in 15 takes on 27 February 1964. The song’s acoustic introduction – which is not repeated elsewhere in the song, musically or lyrically – made its first appearance on take 11. However, the home demo recorded by Lennon also contained the passage.

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1980s, Pop

Baby Can I Hold You?

Written and first recorded by Tracy Chapman (US #48/MOR #19/CAN #27 1988).
Also recorded by Neil Diamond (1989), Sanchez (1989).
Other hit versions by Boyzone (UK #2/IRE #2/NZ #11/DAN #2 1997), Tracy Chapman & Luciano Pavarotti (UK #3 2001), Ronan Keating (GER #42 2005).

From the wiki: “‘Baby Can I Hold You?’ was written by Tracy Chapman, and first recorded for release in 1988. The song reached the Top 50 in the US but peaked at only #48, failing to become Chapman’s second Top 40 hit. Chapman subsequently re-recorded the song as a duet with Luciano Pavarotti for the CD Pavarotti and Friends for Cambodia and Tibet. ‘Baby Can I Hold You?’ was also re-released as a single in promotion of Chapman’s hits package Collection in 2001 and, this time, reached #3 in the UK. Neil Diamond recorded the song for his 1989 album, The Best Years of Our Lives and became the first of many artists to cover the song.

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1970s, Pop

Dancin’ Shoes

Written (by Carl Storie) and first recorded by Faith Band (1978).
Hit version by Nigel Olsson (US #18 1979).

From the wiki: “Faith Band was a Rock band from Indianapolis, Indiana, who, between 1973 to 1979, released five albums: Faith in 1973, Excuse Me, I Just Cut an Album in 1977, Rock’n Romance in 1978, and Face to Face and Vital Signs in 1979. The group gained notable popularity regionally in the Indianapolis area in 1978 with Rock’n Romance, which contained the original recording of ‘Dancin’ Shoes’.

“Nigel Olsson, on a solo break from being Elton John’s drummer, recorded a cover the next year of ‘Dancin’ Shoes’ that would become his first (and only) US Top-20 hit.”

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1950s, Pop

Teenager in Love

Written and first recorded (as a demo titled “It’s Great to Be Young and in Love”) by Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus (1958).
Hit versions by Dion & The Belmonts (US #5 1958 |UK #28 1959), Marty Wilde & The Wildcats (UK #2 1959), Craig Douglas (UK #13 1959).
Also recorded by The Wailers (1965).

From the wiki: “‘Teenager In Love’ was the first big hit co-written by Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus (‘Save The Last Dance For Me’, ‘This Magic Moment‘, ‘(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame‘), and had as its genesis an earlier Pomus-Shuman collaboration titled ‘It’s Great to Be Young and in Love’ heard, in the above recording, as it was being written.

“Dion & the Belmonts’ recording of ‘Teenager in Love’ is considered one of the greatest songs in rock and roll history. It is on the list of Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 500 Most Influential Rock Songs. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992; Shuman was inducted in 2010.

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1980s, Pop

Till I Loved You

First performed by Placido Domingo, Dionne Warwick & Gloria Estefan (1988).
Hit versions by Barbra Streisand & Don Johnson (US #25/UK #15 1988), Placido Domingo & Jennifer Rush (UK #24 1989).
Also recorded by Placido Domingo & Gloria Estefan (Spanish, 1989), Placido Domingo & Simone Bittencourt de Oliverira (Portuguese, 1989)

From the wiki: “‘Till I Loved You’ was composed for the never-staged musical Goya: A Life in Song, based on the life of the Spanish artist Francisco Goya. The original recording was sung by tenor Plácido Domingo with American singers Dionne Warwick and Gloria Estefan. The song was covered (although released first in the US) as a duet by Don Johnson and Barbra Streisand, and appeared on Streisand’s 1988 album of the same name and, later, on her 2002 compilation, Duets. As a single, the Streisand/Johnson recording reached #16 in the UK and #25 in the US.

“‘Till I Loved You’ was subsequently released, in 1989, also as a single by Domingo with another collaborator to the album, Jennifer Rush (‘The Power of Love‘), charting only in the UK.

“Domingo also recorded a Spanish-language single of the song with Gloria Estefan titled ‘Hasta amarte’, and a Portuguese version, ‘Apaixonou’, with Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira.”

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1970s, Pop

She’s Gone

Written and first recorded by Hall & Oates (US #60/UK #51 1972 |US #7/UK #42 1976).
Other hit version by Tavares (US #50/R&B #1 1974), Matthew Marsden (UK #24 1998).

From the wiki: “‘She’s Gone’ was written and originally performed by Pop music duo Daryl Hall and John Oates. It was included on their 1973 album, Abandoned Luncheonette, and first released as a single in 1974. The song was a major hit in Hall & Oates’ hometown of Philadelphia but was only moderately successful nationally. It peaked initially at #60 on the Billboard Hot 100. When Tavares released their cover as a single in 1974, it topped the R&B chart. Two years later in 1976, after Hall & Oates had moved to RCA Records and had scored with the hit ‘Sara Smile’, Atlantic Records re-released the original single. This time around, the Hall & Oates original became a Top 10 hit, peaking at #7.

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1970s, Pop

Dream On (Oak Ridge Boys)

Co-written and first recorded by Dennis Lambert (1972).
Hit versions by The Righteous Brothers (US #32 1974), The Oak Ridge Boys (C&W #1 1980).

http://youtu.be/Vv2YN45b2TY

From the wiki: “‘Dream On’ was written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, and is best-known for the cover recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys in 1980. Lambert first recorded the song in 1972; The Righteous Brothers covered the song two years later for their final Top 40 appearance in the Billboard Hot 100 (except for the 1990 re-issues of ‘Unchained Melody’ and ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’). ‘Dream On’ is the only Oak Ridge Boys single to feature bass singer Richard Sterban on lead vocals.”

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1980s, Pop

Solitaire (Branigan)

First recorded by Martine Clemenceau (FRA #50 1981).
Also recorded (as “Immer Mehr”) by Milva (1982).
Hit version by Laura Branigan (US #7 1983).

From the wiki: “‘Solitaire’ originated as a 1981 recording in French by Martine Clemenceau for whom ‘Solitaire’ was a modest hit in France, peaking at #50 on the French Pop chart. Written by Clemenceau herself, the French version of ‘Solitaire’ concerned a recluse who shuts himself away from a world moving toward nuclear war. In 1982 ‘Solitaire’ was also rendered in German as ‘Immer Mehr’ and recorded by Milva.

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1960s, Pop

Softly Whispering I Love You

First recorded by David & Jonathan (1967).
Hit version by English Congregation (US #29/UK #4/NZ #1/SA #1 1971), Paul Young (UK #21 1990).

http://youtu.be/n7qyG6uRCbQ

From the wiki: “During their period as David & Jonathan, writers Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway (‘You Got Your Troubles’, ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing‘) recorded early versions of many of their songs that became hits for others including ‘Softly Whispering I Love You’, first recorded by the duo in 1967 but covered more popularly in 1971 by a group of their own creation, English Congregation, whose recording charted in the UK Top 5 and US Billboard Hot 100. The Congregation recording topped the New Zealand and South Africa music charts, too, that year. Paul Young’s 1990 cover barely missed the UK Top 20 in 1990.”

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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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