Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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1291 total songs ... and counting!

1960s, Pop

Make It Easy On Yourself

First commercial release (as “Are You Lonely By Yourself”) by The Isley Brothers (1962).
Hit versions by Jerry Butler (US #20/R&B #18 1962), Walker Brothers (US #16/UK #1 1965), Dionne Warwick (US #37/MOR #2/R&B #26 1970).

From the wiki: “‘Make It Easy On Yourself’, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, was first recorded for commercial release by the Isley Brothers. Much to Bacharach’s chagrin, the Brothers messed with the lyrics (turning it into ‘Are You Lonely By Yourself’) and he objected to the release of their version. (The Isley recording remained unreleased until 2001.) Instead, to fill out the time remaining of their studio session, the Isley Brothers recorded ‘Twist and Shout‘.

“It was Jerry Butler (‘He Don’t Love You‘, ‘Moon River‘, ‘Gypsy Woman‘) who first made ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’ a chart hit – his third Top 20 hit since departing The Impressions for a solo career.

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1960s, Latin

Love Me With All of Your Heart

First recorded (as “Cuando calienta el sol”) by Los Hermanos Rigual (1961).
Hit versions by Steve Allen & His Orchestra (US #85 1963), The Ray Charles Singers (US #3 1964), Karl Denver (UK #35 1964), The Bachelors (US #38 1966), Johnny Rodriguez (C&W #7 1978).

From the wiki: “‘Love Me with All Your Heart’ was based on the Spanish-language song “Cuando calienta el sol”, written by Nicaraguan songwriter and bandleader Rafael Gaston Perez, and made famous first with Spanish lyrics written by the Rigual Brothers (Carlos Rigual and Mario Rigual). The English-language lyrics are sometimes credited to Michael Vaughn (or Maurice Vaughn) and sometimes to Sunny Skylar. Although both the Spanish and the English versions are love songs, the lyrics are not direct translations of each other. The Spanish title translates as ‘When the sun heats (or warms) up’.

“Steve Allen & His Orchestra covered the original version in 1963, peaking at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following year, the Ray Charles Singers hit the US Top-5 with their English-language cover. A UK cover version, by Karl Denver, peaked at #35.”

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1970s, Rock

Pieces of April

Written and first recorded by Dave Loggins (1971).
Hit versions by Three Dog Night (US #19/MOR #6/CAN #13 1972), Dave Loggins (MOR #22 1979).

From the wiki: “‘Pieces of April’ was written by Dave Loggins (‘Please Come to Boston’, 1974) and was first recorded by him in 1971 for the album Personal Belongings, released in February 1972. The song was recorded later in 1972 by Three Dog Night and released as a promotional single in November 1972 for the album Seven Separate Fools, peaking at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Loggins would later re-record ‘Pieces of April’ in 1979, with a more lush arrangement, for the album David Loggins, with his single charting near the Top-20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary music chart.”

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1960s, Pop

Crying in the Rain

First recorded (as a demo) by Carole King (1962).
Hit versions by The Everly Brothers (US #6/UK #6 1962), The Sweet Inspirations (US #112/R&B #42 1969), Tammy Wynette (C&W #18 1981), a-ha (US #26/UK #13 1990).

From the wiki: “‘Crying in the Rain’ was written by Howard Greenfield and Carole King, the only collaboration between the successful songwriters. Both worked for Aldon Music at the time of the song’s composition. On a whim, two Aldon songwriting partnerships decided to switch partners for a day – Gerry Goffin (who normally worked with King) partnered with Greenfield’s frequent writing partner Jack Keller, leaving King and Greenfield to pair up for the day. Despite the commercial success of this collaboration, King and Greenfield never wrote another song together.

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1930s, Pop

Try a Little Tenderness

First recorded by Ray Noble Orchestra (1932).
Hit versions by Ruth Etting (US #16 1933), Ted Lewis & His Band (US #6 1933), Aretha Franklin (US #100 1962), Otis Redding (US #25/R&B #4/UK #26 1966), Three Dog Night (US #29 1969).
Also recorded by Little Miss Cornshucks (1951), Sam Cooke (1964), Tom Jones (1969).
Also performed by The Commitments (1991), Paul Giamatti & Andre Braugher (2000).

From the wiki: “‘Try a Little Tenderness’ is a song written by Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly, a British songwriting team who often collaborated with a third composer – in this case the American, Harry Woods. The song was first recorded on December 8, 1932 by the Ray Noble Orchestra (with vocals by Val Rosing) followed in early 1933 by Ruth Etting’s first charting version. The song quickly became a standard. Subsequent productions were recorded by Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Frankie Laine, Earl Grant, Nina Simone, Etta James and others – including a discovery by Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun: Little Miss Cornshucks.

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1980s, Rock

There She Goes

First recorded by The La’s (1988).
Remixed by The La’s (US #49/UK #57 1990).
Also recorded by The Boo Radleys (1992).
Other hit version by Sixpence None the Richer (US #32/UK #14 1999).

From the wiki: “‘There She Goes’ was written by British singer/guitarist Lee Mavers and recorded first by Mavers’ band, The La’s. The first version of the song, produced by Bob Andrews, was released by The La’s in 1988, and again in January 1989, but failed to chart. A remixed version was issued as a single on 22 October 1990 and hit #13 in the UK charts (and later hit #49 in the U.S.). It was the biggest success The La’s were ever to enjoy and remains the song for which the band is chiefly remembered. In May 2007, the NME magazine placed the song at #45 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever.

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1960s, Country

Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart)

First recorded by Johnny Duncan (1960).
Hit version by Rick Nelson (US #9/UK #2 1961).

From the wiki: “‘Hello Mary Lou’ was written by Gene Pitney (‘Pretty Flamingo‘) and Father Cayet Mangiaracina, first performed and recorded by Johnny Duncan in 1960, and later recorded by Rick Nelson in 1961. Duncan’s recording took place at Norman Petty Studio, in Clovis, NM – where Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Buddy Knox, Waylon Jennings and others had also recorded – with Petty producing.

“Nelson’s recording features an influential guitar solo by James Burton (who is often cited as an influence by later guitarists such as Queen’s Brian May), and appeared on the Rick is 21 album (1961) – the first album to credit his first name as ‘Rick’; previous albums were credited to ‘Ricky Nelson’ … as was the promotional single.”

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1970s, Pop

Second Avenue

Written and first recorded by Tim Moore (US #58 1974).
Other hit version by Art Garfunkel (US #34 1974).

From the wiki: “‘Second Avenue’ was written by multi-instrumentalist Tim Moore and first appeared on his 1973 solo album, Tim Moore. As the album’s third single, ‘Second Avenue’, was climbing the Billboard Hot 100, the album distributor, Paramount, abruptly ceased operations. The sudden release from contract spurred a Tim Moore bidding war between Clive Davis and David Geffen. By the time the deal went to Geffen, Art Garfunkel had released his competing version of ‘Second Avenue’. This ‘cover battle’ between the two versions effectively doomed both records’ chances of becoming sizable, individual hits.

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1970s, Pop

Gloria (Branigan)

First recorded by Umberto Tozzi (ITA #2/SUI #1/SPA #1/FRA #3 1979).
Other hit versions by Jonathan King (UK #65 1979), Laura Branigan (US #2/UK #6/CAN #1/AUS #1 1982).

NOTE: Not to be confused with ‘Gloria‘, by Them.

From the wiki: “‘Gloria’ was originally composed and written in Italian by Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi (‘Self Control‘). Tozzi himself made the first recording of ‘Gloria’ in 1979. The original version of ‘Gloria’ was a love song as was the first English-language rendering of the song recorded by its English lyricist Jonathan King (‘Everyone’s Gone to the Moon’) to reach #65 UK in November 1979.

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1970s, Country

The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)

First recorded and released (as a B-side) by Juice Newton (1975).
Hit versions by Dottsy (C&W #86 1976), Juice Newton (re-recording US #7/C&W #1 1982).

From the wiki: “‘The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)’ was originally recorded and released in 1975 on Juice Newton’s debut album, Juice Newton and Silver Spur. The 1975 version was not, however, issued as a single, although it was the B-side of two other Newton singles. In the meantime, Dottsy (Dottsy Brodt Dwyer) recorded her version ‘The Sweetest Thing’ in 1976 and took it to #86 on the Country music charts, and used it as the title track to her album The Sweetest Thing. Newton re-recorded the song on her 1981 album, the career-launching Juice.

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1960s, R&B

Sweet Soul Music

Inspired by “Yeah Man” by Sam Cooke (1964).
Hit version by Arthur Conley, co-writer (US #2/R&B #2/UK #7 1967).

From the wiki: “‘Sweet Soul Music’ was written by Arthur Conley and Otis Redding, and was based on the Sam Cooke song ‘Yeah Man’ from his posthumous album Shake.

“J. W. Alexander, Sam Cooke’s business partner, sued both Redding and Conley for plagiarizing the melody. A settlement was reached in which Cooke’s name was added to the writer credits, and Otis Redding agreed to record some songs in the future from Kags Music, the Cooke–Alexander publishing enterprise. ‘Sweet Soul Music’ is an homage to soul music, with these songs mentioned in the lyrics: ‘Going to a Go-Go’, ‘Love is a Hurtin’ Thing’, ‘Hold On, I’m Comin”, ‘Mustang Sally’, and ‘Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa’.”

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1960s, Folk

Sunday Will Never Be the Same

Written (by Terry Cashman) and first recorded (as a demo) by Cashman, Pistilli & West (1967).
Hit version by Spanky and Our Gang (US #9/CAN #7 1967).

From the wiki: “‘Sunday Will Never Be the Same’ was written by Terry Cashman and Gene Pistilli, who, with Tommy West, recorded it for their debut album, Bound to Happen, in 1967. Hedging his bets, Cashman also sent a copy of the song to Lou Adler at Dunhill Records, with the hope that The Mamas & The Papas would record the song.

“Cashman recalls: ‘Adler saying ‘Hey, this is a great song.’ But John Philips was doing mostly his own songs [for the group] right now. So, okay, fine. The Left Banke sounded to me also like a group that could do this song, but they also passed on it. And then with nobody else in mind I went to a producer named Jerry Ross, who was [at that time] a very hot producer (‘Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie‘, ‘98.6’).

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1980s, Soul

I Believe in You and Me

First recorded by The Four Tops (R&B #40 1982).
Also recorded by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. (1983), David Peaston (1991).
Hit version by Whitney Houston (US #4/R&B #4/UK #16 1996).

From the wiki: “‘I Believe in You and Me’ is a ballad written in 1982 by Sandy Linzer and David Wolfert, and first recorded and released by The Four Tops in 1982. In 1983, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. (formerly of The 5th Dimension) recorded the first cover of the song for their album Solid Gold. David Peaston would win the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist in 1991 for his recording.

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1960s, Blues

Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)

First recorded by Lorraine Ellison (1968).
Hit album version by Janis Joplin (US #103 1969).

From the wiki: “‘Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)’ was written by Jerry Ragnovoy (‘Piece of My Heart‘, ‘Time Is on My Side‘) and Chip Taylor (‘Wild Thing‘, ‘Angel of the Morning‘) and first recorded by Gospel-Soul singer Lorraine Ellison in 1968. The song was covered by Janis Joplin in 1969.”

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1950s, Rock 'n Roll

Rockin’ Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu

Written and first recorded (as “Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues”) by Huey “Piano” Smith (1957).
Hit versions by Huey “Piano” Smith & The Clowns (US #52/R&B #5 1957), Johnny Rivers (US #6/AUS #27/NZ #11 1972).
Also recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis (1965), Chris Farlowe (1966), David Lindley (1981).

From the wiki: “In 1955, Huey ‘Piano’ Smith turned 21, and became the piano player with Little Richard’s first band for Specialty Records. The same year Smith also played piano on several studio sessions for other artists such as Lloyd Price; one of the sessions resulted in the Smiley Lewis hit, ‘I Hear You Knocking‘.

“In 1957, Smith formed ‘Huey ‘Piano’ Smith and His Clowns’ and signed a long-term contract with Ace Records. The group hit the Billboard charts with several singles in succession, including ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu’, first recorded as ‘Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas and the Sinus Blues’ in 1957 and released as the B-side to ‘Dearest Darling’.

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1950s, Pop

It’s All in the Game

First recorded (as “Dawes Melody in A Major”) by Fritz Kreisler & Charles Lamson (1921).
Also recorded (as “Melody”) by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (1942).
First recorded (as “It’s All in the Game”) by Tommy Edwards (US #18/R&B #1 1951).
Also recorded by Louis Armstrong (1953), Nat “King” Cole (1956).
Other hit versions by Tommy Edwards (re-recording US #1/UK #1 1958), Cliff Richard (US #25/UK #2 1963), The Four Tops (US #24/R&B #6/UK #5 1970).

From the wiki: “‘It’s All in the Game’ is the only #1 hit ever written by a future US Vice-President. The melody, titled ‘Dawes Melody in A Major’, was first composed in 1911 by then-banker Charles Gates Dawes, who would become VP in 1925 under Calvin Coolidge. The song garnered some popularity in the 1920s when concert violinist Jascha Heifetz used it for a time as a ‘light concert’ encore.

“Lyrics were added in 1951 by the Brill Building songwriter Carl Sigman, who also changed the song’s name to ‘It’s All in the Game’ from its original. Sadly, Dawes would not live to hear lyrics put to his song. He passed away the same day Sigman completed his assignment.

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1960s, Pop

Herod’s Song (from “Jesus Christ Superstar”)

First recorded (as “Try It and See”) by Rita Pavone (1969).
Hit album version by Mike D’Abo (from Jesus Christ Superstar) (1970).

From the wiki: “‘Try It and See’ was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice as their entry to represent England in the 1969 Eurovision Song contest. Instead, the original song ended up as the only English-spoken track on Rita Pavone’s Italian album, Rita. Lloyd Webber and Rice would rework the song and include it in their magna opus recording production Jesus Christ Superstar.

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1970s, Country

Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)

Written and first recorded by Jim Weatherly (1972).
Hit versions by Bob Luman (C&W #7 1973), Gladys Knight & The Pips (US #2/R&B #1/UK #31 1973), David Sanborn (R&B #56 1983).

From the wiki: “‘Neither One of Us’ was written and first recorded by Jim Weatherly, found on his 1972 album Weatherly. Weatherly was an All-American quarterback at the University of Mississippi before choosing songwriting over a football career. Bob Luman charted first with ‘Neither One of Us’, making it into the Top 10 Country in 1973.

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1970s, Pop

Saving All My Love for You

First recorded by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. (1978).
Hit version by Whitney Houston (US #1/R&B #1/UK #1 1985).

From the wiki: “‘Saving All My Love for You’ is a song written by Michael Masser (‘The Greatest Love of All‘) and Gerry Goffin (‘Take Good Care of My Baby‘, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman‘, ‘Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You‘) with arrangement by Gene Page (Love Unlimited Orchestra). It was originally recorded by former 5th Dimension-aires Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 1978 for their album Marilyn & Billy.

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1960s, Folk

Mr. Tambourine Man

Recorded (as a demo) by The Jet Set (1964).
First album release by Bob Dylan (March 1965).
Hit version by The Byrds (US #1/UK #1/CAN #2/IRE #1 April 1965).
Also recorded by The Brothers Four (recorded 1964, released May 1965).

From the wiki: “In 1964, The Byrds – then known as The Jet Set – first recorded ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ as an audition demo prior to being signed to Columbia Records. Two other songs from the session (but not ‘Tambourine Man’) were released by Elektra Records in a one-off deal and had no chart impact. For the Columbia Records recording session leading to their first hit record, The Byrds did the vocals and lead guitar on the recording but session musicians (the infamous ‘Wrecking Crew‘) were brought in to play the other instruments. Hal Blaine, Larry Knechtel and Glen Campbell were among the assorted session players used for The Byrds’ first recordings.

“The very first recording ever of ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ was a 6+-minute demo completed by Bob Dylan (along with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott) during a marathon session for the Another Side Of Bob Dylan album (on June 9th, 1964). The song had been written by Dylan while driving cross-country from New York to San Francisco via New Orleans. He wrote the song and recorded the demo with Elliot that eventually found its way to The Jet Set née The Bryds. (Dylan’s demo would later resurface on the soundtrack to the Dylan bio-doc No Direction Home.)

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1960s, Pop

Bus Stop

First recorded by Herman’s Hermits (1966).
Hit version by The Hollies (US #5/UK #5/CAN #1/AUS #2 1966).
Also recorded by Graham Gouldman, songwriter (1968).

From the wiki: “‘Bus Stop’ was written by UK songwriter and future 10cc member Graham Gouldman, who also penned major hits for The Yardbirds (‘For Your Love‘) and Herman’s Hermits (‘No Milk Today’). In a 1976 interview Gouldman said the idea for the song had come while he was riding home from work on a bus. The opening lines were written by his father, playwright Hyme Gouldman. Graham continued with the rest of the song while riding to work – at a men’s outfitters – on the bus the next day.

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1970s, Pop

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.

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1970s, Rock

The Road

Written and first recorded by Danny O’Keefe (1972).
Hit album version by Jackson Browne (1978).

From the wiki: “‘The Road’ was written by Danny O’Keefe, who recorded the song for the album O’Keefe. The song foreshadowed O’Keefe’s fate, as he found himself living the song when he toured to promote his 1972 hit ‘Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues‘. O’Keefe recalled: ‘For me the road was basically go out for six weeks and after six weeks you were usually sick of the road and sort of beat to death and poor, because unless you stay out there for a long period of time it’s very hard to recoup those expenses that you have when you’re carrying a band.'”

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1980s, Pop

Wind Beneath My Wings

First released by Roger Whittaker (1982).
Also recorded by Sheena Easton (1982)
Hit versions by Colleen Hewett (AUS #52 1982), Lou Rawls (US #65/MOR #10/R&B #60 1983), Gladys Knight & The Pips (as “Hero (Wind Beneath My Wings)” US #104/MOR #23/R&B #64 1983), Gary Morris (C&W #4/CAN #10 1983), Bette Midler (US #1/UK #5/AUS #1/NZ #4 1989).

From the wiki: “Wind Beneath My Wings’ (sometimes titled ‘The Wind Beneath My Wings’ and ‘Hero’) was written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. They recorded a demo of the song, which they gave to publisher and songwriter (and one-time Buddy Holly cohort) Bob Montgomery (‘Heartbeat‘, ‘Love’s Made a Fool of You‘, ‘Misty Blue‘).

“Silbar recalls, ‘It was on a Friday that we gave a tape of our demos to Bob Montgomery. Then when we saw Bob on Monday, he immediately told us he loved ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’ Then he had a surprise for us. He played us a beautiful, ballad version of the song that he had recorded over the weekend. We couldn’t believe how fantastic it sounded. We both had tears in our eyes. Bob had taken our rough, midtempo demo and produced a new version which truly showed the potential of the song.” who, then, recorded his own demo version of the song – changing it from the mid-tempo version he was given to a ballad.’

“Silbar and Henley then shopped the song to many artists, eventually resulting in Roger Whittaker becoming the first to release the song commercially. It appeared on his 1982 studio album, also titled The Wind Beneath My Wings. It was also recorded by Australian artist Colleen Hewett in 1982, becoming a minor local hit in 1983.

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