Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Category: R&B

1950s, R&B

Sincerely

First recorded by The Moonglows (US#20/R&B #1 1955).
Other hit versions by The McGuire Sisters (US #1/UK #14 1955), The Forrester Sisters (C&W #8 1989).

https://youtu.be/lZv3atM2arc

From the wiki: “Among the most seminal R&B and doo-wop groups of all time, The Moonglows’ lineup featured some of the genre’s greatest pure singers. The group were originally called ‘The Crazy Sounds’, but were renamed by radio disc-jockey Alan Freed as ‘The Moonglows’. (The group also cut some recordings as The Moonlighters.) Their first major hit was the #1 R&B gem ‘Sincerely’, for Chess Records, penned by group member Harvey Fuqua and recorded by them in late 1954.

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1950s, R&B

Seventh Son

First recorded by Willie Mabon (1955).
Hit versions by Johnny Rivers (US #7/CAN #1 1965), Georgie Fame (UK #25 1969).
Also recorded by Mose Allison (1959), Willie Dixon, writer (1969).

From the wiki: “‘The Seventh Son’, also recorded as ‘Seventh Son’, was written by Willie Dixon and first released as a single by Willie Mabon on Chess Records in 1955 (with Dixon on bass). Dixon recalled (via Songfacts.com), ‘The seventh son is part of the scriptures of the Bible. ‘The seventh son of the seventh son born on the seventh hour of the seventh day of the seventh month.’ I was born in the seventh month and I was the seventh child of my family.’ In the same interview, Mose Allison, who covered the song in 1959, remembered, ‘I thought that was a great song of that type. One of the common things is to feel that you are supernatural sometimes. And most people have felt that at one time or another.’

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1960s, R&B

Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley

First recorded by Lee Dorsey (1970).
Hit album versions by Robert Palmer (1974), Ringo Starr (1977).

From the wiki: “‘Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley’ was written by Allen Toussaint (‘Java‘, ‘Working in a Coal Mine’, ‘Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette)‘) and was first recorded by Lee Dorsey (‘Yes We Can Can‘) in 1970 for his album Yes, We Can.

“The song would later be covered by Robert Palmer (as the title track to his 1974 album Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley), and by Ringo Starr on his 1977 album Ringo the 4th.”

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1950s, R&B

Surfin’ USA

Inspired by “Route 90” by Clarence Garlow (as a B-side 1952) and “Sweet Little Sixteen” by Chuck Berry (US #2/R&B #1/UK #16 1958).
Hit version by The Beach Boys (US #3/R&B #20/UK #34 1962).

From the wiki: “‘Route 90’, co-written and first recorded in 1952 by Louisiana stomper Clarence Garlow, served as the basis for two hit songs: Chuck Berry’s ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’ (1958) and ‘Surfin’ Safari’ (1962) by The Beach Boys. Somewhat ironically, it would be Berry – not Garlow (who passed away in 1986) – who would sue The Beach Boys for copyright infringement. Garlow’s only hit song recording was ‘Bon Ton Roula’, which peaked at #7 on the R&B chart in 1950.

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1960s, R&B

634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)

Co-written and first recorded by Eddie Floyd (1966).
Hit versions by Wilson Pickett (US #13/R&B #1/UK #36 1966), Tina Turner & Robert Cray (NETH #14/BEL #23 1986).
Also recorded by Ry Cooder (1980), Tower of Power & Huey Lewis (2009), Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (2012).

From the wiki: “‘634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)’ was written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper (of Booker T. & the MGs), in the spirit of ‘Beechwood 4-5789’ by The Marvelettes (US #17/R&B #7 1962).

“First recorded by Floyd, ‘634-5789’ was later covered in 1966 by Wilson Pickett whose recording went US Top-15 hit and #1 R&B that year.

“The song has since been covered by many performers including Otis Redding, Ry Cooder, and Tower of Power (feat. Huey Lewis). Bruce Springsteen also performs the song live on many occasions. Tina Turner and Robert Cray covered ‘634-5789’ in 1986 as a duet, recorded live as part of her Break Every Rule TV special in the UK, and a subsequent single release saw some European chart success in the Netherlands and Belgium.”

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1950s, R&B

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me

First recorded by Noble & King (1951).
Hit versions by Karen Chandler (US #5 1952), Muriel Smith (UK #3 1953), Mel Carter (US #8/MOR #1 1965), Johnny & Jonie Mosby (C&W #38 1969), Gloria Estefan (UK #11/IRE #22 1994).
Also recorded by The Orioles (1953), Connie Francis (1959).

Noble & King (1951) [No video available]

From the wiki: “‘Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me’ was written by Harry Noble in 1952. It became a hit in three different decades and is considered a classic of the early Rock/Pop era. The Karen Chandler recording became a US Top 10 hit in 1952; as was often the case with songs of that era, a version was also separately recorded for the UK market – by British singer Muriel Smith – and it became a Top 5 hit in Britain in 1953.

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1950s, R&B

Blue Monday

First recorded by Smiley Lewis (1954).
Hit version by Fats Domino (US #5/R&B #1 1957).

From the wiki: “‘Blue Monday’ was originally written by Dave Bartholomew (‘I Hear You Knocking‘, ‘My Ding-a-Ling‘), and first recorded by Smiley Lewis in 1954. ‘Blue Monday’ was later popularized in a recording by Fats Domino in 1956, and it became one of the earliest Rhythm & Blues songs to make the Billboard magazine Pop music charts. The song was also featured in the 1956 film The Girl Can’t Help It.”

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1960s, R&B

Sweet Soul Music

Inspired by “Yeah Man” by Sam Cooke (1964).
Hit version by Arthur Conley, co-writer (US #2/R&B #2/UK #7 1967).

From the wiki: “‘Sweet Soul Music’ was written by Arthur Conley and Otis Redding, and was based on the Sam Cooke song ‘Yeah Man’ from his posthumous album Shake.

“J. W. Alexander, Sam Cooke’s business partner, sued both Redding and Conley for plagiarizing the melody. A settlement was reached in which Cooke’s name was added to the writer credits, and Otis Redding agreed to record some songs in the future from Kags Music, the Cooke–Alexander publishing enterprise. ‘Sweet Soul Music’ is an homage to soul music, with these songs mentioned in the lyrics: ‘Going to a Go-Go’, ‘Love is a Hurtin’ Thing’, ‘Hold On, I’m Comin”, ‘Mustang Sally’, and ‘Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa’.”

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1960s, R&B

Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette)

First recorded by Benny Spellman (R&B #28 1962).
Other hit versions by The O’Jays (US #48/R&B #28/CAN #19 1965), The Amazing Rhythm Aces (US #104/C&W #88 1979).
Also recorded by Ringo Starr (1978).

From the wiki: “‘Lipstick Traces (on a Cigarette)’ was first recorded by New Orleans singer Benny Spellman in 1962 (with backing vocals done by Imperial Records label mates Irma Thomas (‘Time Is On My Side‘) and Willie Harper). The song was written by Allen Toussaint under the pseudonym ‘Naomi Neville’.”

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1960s, R&B

Woman, Woman

Co-written and first recorded by Jimmy Payne (1967).
Hit versions by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (US #4/UK #48/CAN #1/AUS #7 1967), Jim Glaser (C&W #43 1975).

From the wiki: “‘Woman, Woman’ was written by Jim Glaser and Jimmy Payne, and first recorded by Payne in 1967. When recorded by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, in August 1967 for their album Woman, Woman, the song went to #4 on The Billboard Hot 100. The song’s other co-writer, Jim Glaser, recorded and released ‘Woman, Woman’ as a single in 1975, taking it to #43 on the Hot Country Songs charts.”

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1970s, R&B

Thin Line Between Love and Hate

First recorded by The Persuaders (US #15/R&B #1 1971).
Also recorded by B.B. Seaton (1972).
Other hit versions by The Pretenders (US #83/UK #49 1984), H-Town (US #37/R&B #6 1996).

From the wiki: “‘Thin Line Between Love and Hate’ was first recorded by The Persuaders (‘(‘You’re the) Best Thing That Ever Happened‘, ‘Some Guys Have All the Luck‘), written and produced by the Poindexter brothers (‘Backfield in Motion’), Robert and Richard, and also co-written by Persuaders producer Jackie Members. It proved to be the group’s biggest hit song, spending two weeks atop the Billboard R&B chart in late 1971.”

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1960s, R&B

(Who’s) That Lady

First recorded (as “Who’s That Lady?”) by The Isley Brothers (1964).
Hit version by The Isley Brothers (US #6/R&B #2/UK #14 1973).

From the wiki: “‘That Lady’ was a 1973 R&B and Soul hit song for The Isley Brothers (‘Twist and Shout‘), originally performed by the group, inspired by the Impressions, nearly a decade before in 1964. Jimi Hendrix toured as a guitarist with the Isley Brothers in 1964 (and the band also employed Elton John on piano for their 1964 UK tour). Hendrix’s influence was demonstrated on the 1973 re-recording of ‘That Lady’ with Ernie Isley’s guitar playing.

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1960s, R&B

Shake

Originally recorded by Sam Cooke (US #7/R&B #2 1965).
Other hit version by Otis Redding (US #47/R&B #16/UK #28 1967).
Also recorded by The British Walkers (US #108 1967).

From the wiki: “‘Shake’ was a song written and recorded by Sam Cooke at the last session Cooke had before he meet his untimely death in December 1964. Posthumously released in 1965, ‘Shake’ reached the US Top 10, his last song to do so. Otis Redding would record his first cover of ‘Shake’ in 1965. A live version, from the 1967 album Live in Europe, would be released as a single in May 1967. Redding’s 1965 recording would later be elected to the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

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1960s, R&B

Gypsy Woman

First recorded by The Impressions (US #20/R&B #1 1961).
Other hit versions by Brian Hyland (US #3/UK #42 1970), Santana (US #31 1990).

From the wiki: “‘Gypsy Woman’ was written by Curtis Mayfield and was first recorded by his group The Impressions, the group’s first single following the departure of lead singer Jerry Butler. The recording reached #2 on the R&B chart and #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.

“In 1970, Brian Hyland recorded a successful Del Shannon-produced cover version which peaked at #3 on the Hot 100. Santana also covered ‘Gypsy Woman’, in 1990 when its promotional single peaked at #31 on the Hot 100.”

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1960s, R&B

I Like It Like That

First recorded by Chris Kenner (US #2/R&B #2 1961).
Also recorded by The Nashville Teens (B-side 1964).
Other hit version by The Dave Clark Five (US #7/CAN #3/AUS #12 1965).

From the wiki: “‘I Like It Like That’ was written by Chris Kenner (‘Land of 1000 Dances‘) and Allen Toussaint (‘Java‘, ‘Yes We Can Can‘), and was first recorded by Kenner in 1961.

“In 1964, The Nashville Teens recorded the song as a B-side to their hit single ‘Tobacco Road‘. ‘I Like It Like That’ was later covered by The Dave Clark Five in 1965, who scored a US Top-10 hit and their seventh gold single.

“The Bobbettes (‘Mr. Lee’) recorded an answer-song in 1961 to Kenner’s recording, titling it ‘I Don’t Like It Like That’.”

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1960s, R&B

Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love)

First recorded by Dick Holler & The Holidays (1963).
Hit version by The Swingin’ Medallions (US #17 1966).

From the wiki: “‘Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love)’ is a popular song written by Don Smith and Cyril Vetter and first recorded by Dick Holler & the Holidays. It was later recorded by The Swingin’ Medallions.

“Holler, while attending LSU, began playing piano, organizing bands and writing songs with his college friends. In 1956, he formed the band Dick Holler and the Carousel Rockets which, at times, included Mac ‘Dr. John’ Rebennack, Grady Caldwell, Jimmy Clanton , and another Baton Rouge guitarist/vocalist/songwriter, Johnny Ramistella, later known as ‘Johnny Rivers’ (‘Swayin’ to the Music (Slow Dancing)‘).

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1960s, R&B

Just One Look

First released (as a B-side) by Andy & The Marglows (1963).
Hit versions by co-writer Doris Troy (US #10/R&B #3/CAN #1/NZ #8 1963), The Hollies (US #98/UK #2 1964 |US #44 1967), Faith Hope & Charity (UK #38 1976), Linda Ronstadt (US #44/MOR #5 1979).

From the wiki: “‘Just One Look’ was written by Doris Troy and Gregory Carroll. Troy, then going by her pen name Doris Payne, recorded a studio demo of the song and began to shop the song around to studios, first to Sue Records. But their lack of response led Troy to instead offer the song to Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records. Unbeknownst to Troy, Atlantic would later release her demo, unchanged, as a single.

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1960s, R&B

Girls! Girls! Girls!

First recorded by The Coasters (US #96 1961).
Hit versions by Elvis Presley (1962), The Fourmost (UK #33 1968).

From the wiki: “Changing popular tastes and a couple of line-up changes contributed to a lack of hits in the 1960s for The Coasters (‘Yakety Yak’, ‘Poison Ivy’). In 1961, the group barely made it into the Billboard Hot 100 with the Lieber-Stoller-composed ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’ (not be confused with the Motley Crue hit).

“The song found wider popular when repurposed as the lead song and title for the 1962 Elvis Presley movie Girls! Girls! Girls!, but was not issued as a single. In 1968, the group The Fourmost released the song and their version did chart on the UK Singles Chart.”

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1950s, R&B

Junco Partner

Written and first recorded by James “Wee Willie” Wayne (1951).
Also recorded by Professor Longhair (1951), Louis Jordan (1952), Holy Modal Rounders (1964).
Popular versions by Richard Hayes (US #15 1952), Dr. John (1972), The Clash (1980).

From The Originals: “It’s almost a miracle we actually know this is a James Wayne song, for he was locked away in a madhouse for arson. All the while his royalties went in someone else’s pockets, not to mention the shrewd and obscure label boss Bob Shad, who signed for as many of Wayne’s compositions he could lay hands on. Here’s poor James in his mental institution claiming authorship to anyone he bumps in to.

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1950s, R&B, Reggae/Ska

My Boy Lollipop

First recorded (as “My Boy Lollypop”) by Barbie Gaye (1956).
Hit version by Millie Small (US #2/UK #2/IRE #1 1964).

From the wiki: “‘My Boy Lollipop’ (originally written as ‘My Girl Lollypop’) was written in the mid-1950s by Robert Spencer of the doo-wop group The Cadillacs, and is usually credited to Spencer, Morris Levy, and Johnny Roberts. It was first recorded in New York in 1956 by Barbie Gaye. A cover version, recorded eight years later by Jamaican teenager Millie Small, with very similar rhythm, became one of the top-selling ska songs of all time.

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1940s, R&B

Twilight Time

First recorded by The Three Suns (1944).
Also recorded by Les Brown & His Band of Renown (1944).
First vocal version recorded by Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra f. Teddy Walters (1945).
Hit version by The Platters (US #1/R&B #1/UK #3 1958).

From the wiki: “‘Twilight Time’ is a popular song with lyrics by Buck Ram and the music by The Three Suns, and first recorded as an instrumental by The Three Suns in 1944. Les Brown’s instrumental recording was released in early 1945 as the B-side of ‘Sentimental Journey’ (Doris Day).

“The first vocal version of the song on record was also released in 1945, by bandleader Jimmy Dorsey with Teddy Walters on vocals.

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1960s, R&B

This Magic Moment

First recorded by The Drifters (US #16 1960).
Other hit version by Jay & The Americans (US #6 1968).

From the wiki: “‘This Magic Moment’ was composed by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman, one of their best-known songs, and was first recorded in 1960 by Ben E. King and The Drifters. In 1969, ‘This Magic Moment’ was covered by Jay and the Americans and reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.”

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1950s, R&B

Every Beat of My Heart

First recorded by The Royals (1952).
Hit version by The Pips (US #6/R&B #1 1961).

From the wiki: “‘Every Beat of My Heart’ is a rhythm and blues song by legendary band leader and disc-jockey Johnny Otis (‘Willie and the Hand Jive‘). It was first recorded in 1952 by a group Otis had discovered and groomed, the Royals (later to be known as Hank Ballard & the Midnighters).

“The Royals were first formed as the Four Falcons by guitarist and songwriter Alonzo Tucker in Detroit in 1952. In the group’s early years, various Four Falcons’ members included Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John, Freddie Pride, and Levi Stubbs, who all went on to become stars in their rights solo or with other groups after leaving the Royals.

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1960s, R&B

Baby It’s You

First recorded by The Shirelles (US #8/R&B #3 1961).
Other hit versions by Smith (US #5 1969), The Beatles (album 1963 |US #67/UK #7 1995).
Also recorded by The Carpenters (1970), Elvis Costello & Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit (1984, released 1995).

From the wiki: “‘Baby It’s You’ was written by Burt Bacharach, Luther Dixon (credited as Barney Williams), and Mack David (elder brother of lyricist Hal David). The song was originally titled ‘I’ll Cherish You’, but was re-written at the request of Dixon who produced the track that the Shirelles released as a single in 1961. The group’s vocals were added directly to Bacharach’s demo recording.

“Dixon’s vocal arrangements for the Shirelles’ recording proved influential in subsequent versions, including that of The Beatles who performed ‘Baby It’s You’ as part of their stage act from 1961 until 1963 before recording it on February 11, 1963 for their first album, Please Please Me. Not released as a single in 1963, ‘Baby It’s You’ was re-released as both a CD single and a vinyl single in 1995 in the UK and the US, peaking at #7 in the UK and #67 in the US.

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