Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Tagged: Anne Murray

Put Your Hand in the Hand

First recorded by Anne Murray (1970).
Hit version by Ocean (US #2/MOR #4/CAN #10 1971).

From the wiki: “‘Put Your Hand in the Hand’ is a gospel-Pop song composed by Gene MacLellan (‘Snowbird’) and first recorded by Anne Murray for her third studio album, Honey, Wheat and Laughter. It was later covered by Canadian band Ocean and released as the title track to their debut album. Their version is arguably the most popular one of the song, peaking at #2 in 1971 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and kept from #1 by ‘Joy to the World‘ by Three Dog Night.”

Broken Hearted Me

First recorded by England Dan & John Ford Coley (1978).
Hit version by Anne Murray (US #12/C&W #1/CAN #15 1979).

From the wiki: “‘Broken Hearted Me’ was written by Randy Goodrum (‘You Needed Me’, ‘It’s Sad to Belong’), and was first recorded in 1978 by England Dan & John Ford Coley for their album Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive. It was later covered by Anne Murray. ‘Broken Hearted Me’ was Murray’s fourth #1 single on the US Country chart, and her seventh overall appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.”

A Love Song

Written and first recorded by Loggins & Messina (1973).
Hit version by Anne Murray (US #12/C&W #5/CAN #1 1974).

From the wiki: “‘A Love Song’ was first recorded and released by Loggins & Messina on their 1973 album Full Sail but had been written by Kenny Loggins and Donna Lyn George specifically for Anne Murray who, a year earlier, had had great chart success with another Loggins composition, ‘Danny’s Song‘. ‘A Love Song’ was later recorded and released in late 1973 by Murray as the second single from her album Love Song. Her version would go on to win a Grammy award in 1974 for Best Country Vocal Performance.”

Danny’s Song

First recorded by Gator Creek (1970).
Also recorded by Loggins & Messina (1971).
Hit version Anne Murray (US #7/C&W #10/MOR #1/CAN #1 1973).

From the wiki: “‘Danny’s Song’ was written by singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins as a gift for his brother Danny and the birth of his son, Colin. ‘Danny’s Song’ was first recorded for an album by Loggins’ first group, Gator Creek, in 1970 and, a year later, on the album Sittin’ In, the debut album by Loggins and Messina.

I Just Fall in Love Again

First recorded by The Carpenters (1977).
Also recorded by Dusty Springfield (1978).
Hit version by Anne Murray (US #12/C&W #1/UK #58/CAN #1 1979).

From the wiki: “‘I Just Fall in Love Again’ was written by Larry Herbstritt, with co-writers Steve Dorff, Harry Lloyd, and Gloria Sklerov. It was first recorded by The Carpenters and later covered by Dusty Springfield, whose version inspired Anne Murray to record her own cover.

“The Carpenters’ arrangement was included on the duo’s 1977 album Passage. On the Carpenters’ official web site, Richard Carpenter notes that he felt the song was perfect for his sister Karen’s voice and felt their version had hit-single potential. However, A&M Records decided not to release it as a promotional single because it was considered too long for Top 40 radio stations to play at the time and could not be abridged.