Lynn Anderson | Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

First recorded by Billy Joe Royal (1967).
Also recorded by Dobie Gray (US #119 1969), Joe South, writer (1969), The Three Degrees (1970), .
Hit versions by Lynn Anderson (US #3/C&W #1/UK #3 1970), Sandi Shaw (UK #57 1971).

https://youtu.be/scMVzd-wj7c

From the wiki: “‘Rose Garden’ was written by Joe South (‘Down in the Boondocks’) and first recorded by Billy Joe Royal (‘Down in the Boondocks’, ‘Hush‘) in 1967 for the album Billy Joe Royal Featuring Hush.

“Several cover versions were recorded soon thereafter (sometimes titled ‘(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden’), including productions by the writer, Joe South, Dobie Gray and The Three Degrees, before Lynn Anderson took ‘Rose Garden’ to the top of the US Country Singles chart. Anderson had wanted to record the song but her producer (and husband) Glenn Sutton felt it was a ‘man’s song’, in part because of the line ‘I could promise you things like big diamond rings’.

First recorded by The Carpenters (JPN #21 1972).
First hit version by Lynn Anderson (C&W #2 1973).
Other hit version by The Carpenters (US #1/UK #5/CAN #1/IRE #3 1973).

From the wiki: “‘Top of the World’ is a 1972 song by The Carpenter originally recorded for and released on the duo’s 1972 studio album A Song for You. Co-written by Richard Carpenter with lyricist John Bettis (‘Human Nature’, ‘Slow Hand’), ‘Top of the World’ was intended to be only an album cut for the Carpenters. The original album recording was released as a single in Japan in 1972, where it peaked at #21 on the Orion music chart. Soon after its album release, Country singer Lynn Anderson covered the song and was the first to release it as a US single.

Tagged: Lynn Anderson

1960s, Country

Rose Garden

April 2, 2015

1970s, Country

Top of the World

September 22, 2014