Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Tagged: Albert Hammond

Arizona

First recorded by The Family Dogg (B-side 1969).
Hit version by Mark Lindsay (US #10 1969).

From the wiki: “‘Arizona’ was written by Kenny Young (‘Under the Boardwalk’, Drifters, 1964; ‘Just a Little Bit Better’, Herman’s Hermits, 1964) and popularly recorded by former Paul Revere & the Raiders member Mark Lindsay (‘Indian Reservation‘) in 1969. The song was, however, first recorded April-May 1969 by the UK folk-rock group The Family Dogg and was first released as the B-side to the single ‘A Way of Life’.

“Albert Hammond (‘To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before‘) and Steve Rowland met for the first time at a concert in Madrid in 1964. In 1966, The Family Dogg was formed by the duo along with the participation of the singers Mike Hazlewood and Pam Zooey Quinn. The debut album, A Way of Life, was released in 1969; the title track became a #6 hit in the UK Singles Chart. Jimmy Page, John Bonham and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin were guest musicians on this album, along with Elton John. Hammond and Hazlewood would go on to co-write ‘Gimme Dat Ding’ (The Pipkins) and ‘The Air That I Breathe‘ (The Hollies).

“After leaving Paul Revere & the Raiders in 1969, Lindsay began to record solo records and to produce records before retiring from performing to serve as head of A&R for United Artists records. Lindsay contributed to the recordings of artists such as Gerry Rafferty (on ‘Baker Street’), Kenny Rogers, and others. His later accomplishments also included composing jingles for commercials (including Baskin-Robbins, Datsun, Kodak, Pontiac and Levi’s among others) and scores for motion pictures.”

To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before

Co-written and first recorded by Albert Hammond (1975).
Also recorded by Bobby Vinton (1980).
Hit version by Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson (US #5/C&W #1/UK #17/CAN #4/AUS #1/NZ #2/SPN #2 1984).

From the wiki: “‘To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before’ is a song written by Hal David (former lyricist for Burt Bacharach; ‘Do You Know the Way to San Jose’, ‘Alfie‘, ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head’, ‘One Less Bell to Answer‘) and Albert Hammond (‘The Air That I Breathe‘,’When I Need You‘). It was originally recorded in 1975 by Albert Hammond for his album 99 Miles From L.A., but his song became most famous nearly a decade later with the 1984 recording by Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson, which appeared on Iglesias’s album 1100 Bel Air Place.

When I Need You

Co-written and first recorded by Albert Hammond (1976).
Hit version by Leo Sayer (US #1/UK #1 1977).

From the wiki: “‘When I Need You’ is a popular song written by Albert Hammond (‘It Never Rains in Southern California’, ‘The Air That I Breathe‘) and Carole Bayer Sager (‘A Groovy Kind of Love‘, ‘That’s What Friends Are For’, ‘Theme to Arthur‘). Its first appearance was as the title track of Hammond’s 1976 album When I Need You. Leo Sayer’s version, produced by Richard Perry, was a massive hit worldwide, reaching #1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in February 1977 after three of his earlier singles had stalled at #2. It also reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 for a single week in May 1977 and the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.”

The Air That I Breathe

Co-written and first recorded by Albert Hammond (1972).
Also recorded by Phil Everly (1973).
Hit versions by The Hollies (US #6/MOR #3/UK #2/CAN #5/AUS #2/NZ #1 1974), Simply Red (UK #6 1998), The Mavericks (C&W #59).