Classics you heard the original of later...

quarryman · 17-11-2012 3:10am #1

So nowadays in the absense of creativity, so many songs (and films) are being re-released in the belief that the audience is young enough to have missed the original creator.

Two that have sprung to mind for me:

1. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin.
I knew when I heard Puff Daddy "perform" it on the radio that I'd heard it before. Went to see Godzilla or whatever that poxy film was that used it. Then I heard the original from LZ and i was blown away. Perfection.

2. Dreams - Fleetwood Mac.
I knew it wasn't original when Andrea Corr sang it, but it was catchy. Then I heard Stevie Nicks sing as it was supposed to be performed and it clicked.

There's my two.

What song did you hear and then discover the original?

Rothko · 17-11-2012 3:48pm

Slip Inside This House - 13th Floor Elevators
I first heard the cover that Primal Scream did on Screamadelica

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwSA0Tckwbk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW0d6mFqrpM

Irish Guitarist · 17-11-2012 8:43pm

I first heard LA Woman on Billy Idols 1990 album Charmed Life. The credits on the album said it was written by Densmore, Krieger, Manzarek and Morrison. I didn't know who they were at the time but later discovered they were The Doors.

I used to like I Don't Want To Talk About It by Rod Stewart. Then I heard the original by Crazy Horse and loved it so much I never wanted to hear Rod Stewarts version again.

There aren't many songs that have been released in the last few years that I haven't heard the original of.

Rothko · 18-11-2012 4:29pm

Another one I just thought of:
Gloria - Them. I first heard the Patti Smith version and still prefer that one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLvBpnaVHE8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxygqSTO1lQ

SubBusted · 18-11-2012 5:43pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTsvs-pAGDc

SilverScreen · 18-11-2012 6:43pm

I remember hearing this song being played a lot on the radio and music channels years back. I just thought it was a fairly generic late-90s pop song at the time and didn't even know it was a cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMSdVhWnoNU

But then I heard The Sundays' original not so long ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n35C0j3LLB0

I certainly know which one I prefer. The Sundays are a great band.

SubBusted · 18-11-2012 7:56pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lm0N4YCkgk

Declan A Walsh · 19-11-2012 9:54pm

Here are a few exanples of songs I heard covers of before I heard the original.

Song: Got to Get You Into My Life, Cover Artist: Earth Wind & Fire, Original Artist: The Beatles. Verdict - both just alright, preferred the cover (yes!).

Song: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Cover Artist: Elton John, Original Aritst: The Beatles. Verdict - liked both, original is better but only just.

Song: Pinball Wizzard, Cover Artist: Elton John, Original Artist: The Who. Verdict - liked both, but preferred original.

Song: I shot the Sheriff, Cover Artist - Eric Clapton, Original Artist - Bob Marley and the Wailers. Verdict: Liked both and about the same.

Song :Let's Stay Together, Cover Artist - Tina Turner, Original Artist - Al Green. Verdict : both good, but original is better.

Song: Take Me to The River, Cover Aritist - Talking Heads, Original Artist - Al Green. Verdict: both good, but cover is better.

Song: Dizzy, Cover Artist: Viv Reeves & The Wonderstuff, Original Artist - Tommy Roe. Verdict: both okay, preferred cover.

Song: I Fought The Law and The Law Won, Cover Artist: The Clash, Original Artist - The Bobby Fuller Four. Verdict: both good, the original shades it.

Song: Blinded by the Light, Cover Artist: Mannfred Mann's Earth Band, Original Artist: Bruce Springsteen. Verdict: original is good, but cover is very good.

Song: Fire, Cover Artist: The Pointer Sisters, Original Artist: Bruce Springsteen. Verdict: both are okay, with the cover shading it.

Song: Hallelujah, Cover Artist: Jeff Buckley, Original Artist - Leonard Cohen. Verdict: Of those two versions, I liked the Buckley version (it grew on me) and I wasn't that pushed on the original (sorry!). However, I heard various other covers of this song and at least two of them I heard before the original - versions by Alexandria Burke and Rufus Wainwright. I also heard a version by John Cale (possibly after hearing Cohen's version). I thought the Alexandria version was just okay,the Cale version is not bad, but I loved the Wainwright version - by far my favourite version of the song.

cml387 · 19-11-2012 10:04pm

UB40 decided to cover Tony Tribe's song Red Red Wine.

They never coppped that Tony Tribe had covered a Neil Diamond song (nor did we until we read the story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvCGbwnvoDo

karaokeman · 20-11-2012 2:21pm

+1 on the Jeff Buckley-Leonard Cohen confusion, I heard so many dire covers of Hallelujah, but then I heard Cohen's (which is indescribably perfect) and I never wanted to hear another version again.

I also lost count of how many times I heard the UB40 version of Can't Help Falling in Love on the radio, and I assumed it was the original.

But then what did I find out, that the song was originally recorded not by UB40, but by the king and Presley's delivery far outshines the later, as well as the A Teens version.

sbsquarepants · 20-11-2012 2:29pm

One of my favourite counting crows songs is "friend of the devil" - i only recently found out it's a cover of a greatful dead song, still haven't gotten round to checking out the original yet though so can't compare.
I always prefered aslans version of "Angie" to the stones original, and practically every song by Dylan sounds better as a cover!:D

cml387 · 20-11-2012 9:04pm

I thought "Tainted Love" was an original until years later I read that Marc Almond was preceded by Gloria Jones.

But I think the Soft Cell version is boss, and the lyrics seem more suitable to Marc Almond;)

Declan A Walsh · 21-11-2012 12:30am

cml387 wrote: »

I thought "Tainted Love" was an original until years later I read that Marc Almond was preceded by Gloria Jones.

But I think the Soft Cell version is boss, and the lyrics seem more suitable to Marc Almond;)[/QUOTE

I too first heard the Soft Cell version and I would prefer their version to the original.

Another example is Mr. Tambourine Man - heard The Byrds' version before I heard Bob Dylan's version - I suspect that would apply to many. Again, I prefer the cover version.

bodhrandude · 21-11-2012 1:16pm

Lets Stick Together by Wilbert Harrison, having not heard Harrisons version the one I always remember is Roxy Musics or Bryan Ferrys version which is brilliant, but I also like Canned Heats version of this track.

rcaz · 21-11-2012 1:33pm

The Hives' version of Find Another Girl, heard it years before Jerry Butler's version... I prefer the Hives' one, the little bits of electronics they put in are great, and Howlin' Pelle could sing anything and I'd love it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHHoqBYgOIQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TUWsBWyOZA

SubBusted · 21-11-2012 9:29pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ehT1Opj_s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w1Qo1awwI4

Rothko · 21-11-2012 10:01pm

Just Like Heaven. First saw the video of Dinosaur Jr.'s version years ago on TV and still prefer it to the original. I could never really get into the Cure anyway.