A Couple Songs You Didn't Know Were Actually Covers

Image result for cover songs
A brief disclaimer: These songs are not all neccessarily rock. They are, however, an important part of our pop culture.

It's easy to think that some songs are by the original artist given their popularity, but truth be told, what you may not understand is that some of these songs are actually COVERS of original songs! Let's take a look at some of these, shall we?

I Love Rock'n'Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

 Yes, Ms. Jett DID make this song famous (sorry Britney), but even before that, there was a British band, called Arrows with a young Alan Merrill on vocals who covered the song in 1975. In January of 1976, Jett saw Arrows perform in England and was thrilled. She recorded a 1979 demo version with Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols, but two years later made it big with

Here it is.

#2 Tainted Love Soft Cell

 OK, I know. I say "Trainted Love," you say Soft Cell. What you don't know is that the British synthpop duo that made the song famous (remade it famous?) actually did it fifteen years after an American, Los Angeles born Gloria Jones made it her own. Her version was released in 1965 before Soft Cell covered it in 1981. Soft Cell's version is awesome if I say so myself especially when thrown together with Where Did Our Love Go, which Almond really sings with much more emotion than Diana Ross in my opinion (only thing missing are the backing vocals).

I personally discovered this playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and boy was I surprised! I seem to really like songs after being forced to listen to them (in a video game, etc).

Now before someone reads this and comments that Rihanna covered it as well. Rihanna DID NOT cover it, she only sampled it.

#3 I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton

 Yes, Mr. Slowhand made the song popular on his 1973 record 461 Ocean Drive, but no it was reggae's finest Bob Marley that made the original some months prior. Clapton liked the song so much that he talked to Marley about giving him the rights to it. As you can see here, Clapton's is SLIGHTLY better.

#4 Blinded by the Light and Spirit in The Night - Manfred Mann's Earth Band

 This has got to be the FEWEST times in modern pop where covers beat originals. Mr. Mann greatly reword the jazz driven Spirit and the heartland-ey acoustic Blinded from the Boss's 1973 debut. Only difference, "cut loose" is replaced with "reved up." Do I need to post the original.

#5 Always on my Mind - Elvis Presley

 Stop right there! The King of Rock'n"Roll DID NOT, and I repeat DID NOT make the original. The song originally goes to...GWEN MCCRAE. The song was written in 1967 by B.J. THomas (who would've really sang well on this), and was also covered by Brenda Lee around the same time (1972).

#5 "I Swear", & "I Can Love You LIke That" All 4 One

 I know, I'm bursting you bubble again, but these two songs...are not originals (boo-hoo-hoo). In fact, it was country star John Michael Montgomery that made 'em both popular. Regarding the former, All 4 One replaced "wringlets in your hair," with "just the two of us are there."

#6 "I Put a Spell on You" - Screaming Jay Hawkins

 One of THE most covered. Nina Simone and Creedence may have had success with it, but bragging rights go to the legendary Screaming Jay Hawkins, who in the original, really is true to his name :-). Apart from the aforementioned Nina and CCR, Marilyn Manson and Sonique have made (remade?) the song famous.

#7 "Don't Let me be Misunderstood" - The Animals

 While the song is another most-covered, as you will see above, the band that made HOTRS famous did not make this one famous :-) (nice try)! The original goes to...Nina Simone. She recorded this with a deep messsage - about the then ongoing inequaility problems among the colored - namely in the Southern US.

#8 Red Red Wine - UB40

 Yes, UB40 made (remade?) this, and many other, songs famous, but the man you should be thanking for this song is...NEIL DIAMOND. If the Campbell brothers, or other UB40 members, are reading this, I'm sorry :-).

As you've seen in the eight aforementioned examples, just because a song was made popular by a particular artist does not mean that the artist is known for the ORIGINAL version. Need I say that there are many more?

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