I recently did a covers playlist and learned a lot. The one that blew me away is that Cyndi Lauper's most famous tune, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," is a cover. Ray Charles' signature song "Georgia on My Mind," "Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love" (written by Grace Slick's brother in law for his band), Pretender's "Stop Your Sobbing" (taken from The Kinks when Chrissie Hynde and Ray Davies were fooling around), Elvis Costello's "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," Simon & Garfunkel's "El Condor Pasa," Blondie's "The Tide Is High," and The Youngbloods' quintessential '60s tune "Get Together" were all covers I did not know about.
For this article, I did not know "Shadows of the Night" was a cover, even though it's my favorite Pat Benatar song. It was one of the earliest "tells an unrelated story" MTV videos and cost a ton to make. Heck, actors Bill Paxton and Judge Reinhold make an appearance as characters, not to mention the aircraft scenes.
Even crazier that "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" is by a boy--Philly-born Robert Hazard. Actually, Cyndi has a ton of Philly connections. Most of her biggest tunes are collabs with the guys from the Hooters!
Wow! I didn't know most of these songs were covers! "Bette Davis Eyes" I knew was a cover but I'd never listened to the original. Sounds more like a show tune than the darker edge of Kim Carnes's version. It's clear that Tina's version of "The Best" is pretty similar to Bonnie Tyler's but Tina gives it much more heart and soul. What?! An Exile version of "Heart and Soul?!" It actually is pretty similar to Huey's version which surprises me. I always really liked what he did with the song. I guess Exile did it first! The Bus Boys's version is also similar but more playful than Exile's. I've always loved the sweet and sorrowful tone of Cyndi Lauper's "All Through the Night." The previous version is almost unlistenable! Thanks for sharing this!
For sure! Tons of surprises in here. I don't hate the Jules Shear original. But it sounds more like a throwaway song on a forgotten Wings record. Lauper absolutely takes ownership of this one.
Right you are! Recorded at Muscle Shoals, no less. But pretty much the only other chart entry for Sam Cooke's nephew (best known as the one-hit-winder behind "Take a Letter to Maria".
I recently did a covers playlist and learned a lot. The one that blew me away is that Cyndi Lauper's most famous tune, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," is a cover. Ray Charles' signature song "Georgia on My Mind," "Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love" (written by Grace Slick's brother in law for his band), Pretender's "Stop Your Sobbing" (taken from The Kinks when Chrissie Hynde and Ray Davies were fooling around), Elvis Costello's "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," Simon & Garfunkel's "El Condor Pasa," Blondie's "The Tide Is High," and The Youngbloods' quintessential '60s tune "Get Together" were all covers I did not know about.
For this article, I did not know "Shadows of the Night" was a cover, even though it's my favorite Pat Benatar song. It was one of the earliest "tells an unrelated story" MTV videos and cost a ton to make. Heck, actors Bill Paxton and Judge Reinhold make an appearance as characters, not to mention the aircraft scenes.
Even crazier that "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" is by a boy--Philly-born Robert Hazard. Actually, Cyndi has a ton of Philly connections. Most of her biggest tunes are collabs with the guys from the Hooters!
Ditto. One of my favorite Benatar songs and I had no idea it was a cover. Funny, cause she recorded a lot of covers and I thought I knew them all!
Wow! I didn't know most of these songs were covers! "Bette Davis Eyes" I knew was a cover but I'd never listened to the original. Sounds more like a show tune than the darker edge of Kim Carnes's version. It's clear that Tina's version of "The Best" is pretty similar to Bonnie Tyler's but Tina gives it much more heart and soul. What?! An Exile version of "Heart and Soul?!" It actually is pretty similar to Huey's version which surprises me. I always really liked what he did with the song. I guess Exile did it first! The Bus Boys's version is also similar but more playful than Exile's. I've always loved the sweet and sorrowful tone of Cyndi Lauper's "All Through the Night." The previous version is almost unlistenable! Thanks for sharing this!
For sure! Tons of surprises in here. I don't hate the Jules Shear original. But it sounds more like a throwaway song on a forgotten Wings record. Lauper absolutely takes ownership of this one.
"Always Something There..." was also a top 40 hit for soul singer R.B. Greaves in the late 1960s.
Right you are! Recorded at Muscle Shoals, no less. But pretty much the only other chart entry for Sam Cooke's nephew (best known as the one-hit-winder behind "Take a Letter to Maria".
Thanks for the reminder, David! (no pun intended)
I definitely didn't know Hey Mickey was a cover, damn.
Yes but...Toni Basil is entirely responsible for writing the cheer-leading refrain. And really, the tune is nothing without it;-).
Great list and a few surprises. The Kim Carnes song I hadn't heard before. Neither the original of Toni Basil.
Thank you sir!