Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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She’s Got a Way

Written and first recorded by Billy Joel (1971).
Also recorded (as “He’s Got a Way”) by Merrilee Rush (unreleased 1971).
Hit version by Billy Joel (US #23/MOR #4 1982).

From the wiki: “‘She’s Got a Way’ was written by Billy Joel and originally released on his first solo album, Cold Spring Harbor (1971). In a 1981 interview, Joel expressed mixed feelings about the song: ‘ … I thought it was cornball for years. I had trouble singing it at first. Then I got into it and decided everybody has a corny side, I suppose.’ A re-recording, performed live, was a featured single from Joel’s 1981 album Songs in the Attic.

“In 1971, Merrilee Rush (‘Angel of the Morning‘) signed with Scepter Records and released one single, a cover of the Carole King song ‘Child Of Mine’. While that was Rush’s lone release on Scepter, she did cut several tracks for the label including a femme version of ‘She’s Got a Way’ (‘He’s Got A Way’) that was shelved.”

Merilee Rush, “He’s Got a Way” (1971):

(unavailable)

Billy Joel, “She’s Got a Way” (1981):

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