Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Tagged: Mac Davis

1970s, Country

Stop and Smell the Roses

First recorded by Henson Cargill (recorded 1973, C&W #29 1974).
Other hit version by co-writer Mac Davis (US #9/MOR #1/C&W #40/CAN #3 1974).

From the wiki: “‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ was written by songwriter Mac Davis (he wrote ‘In the Ghetto’ for Elvis Presley) and the noted bandleader-trumpeter Doc Severinsen. It was first recorded by Henson Cargill (best known for the socially controversial 1968 Country #1 hit ‘Skip a Rope’) in late 1973 on his album This Is Henson Cargill Country, and then released in May 1974 as something of a come-back single for the performer, peaking at #29 on the Country singles chart.

“Co-writer Davis released his arrangement in March 1974 as the title track for the album Stop and Smell the Roses. Promoted as a single beginning in August 1974, ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ peaked at #40 on the Country singles chart but went Top-10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian RPM music charts and topped the MOR chart in the US.”

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1960s, Rock 'n Roll

A Little Less Conversation

First recorded by Elvis Presley (US #95 1968).
Other hit version by Elvis Presley vs. JXL (US #50/UK #1/IRE #1/AUS #1/NZ #1/SWE #1 2002).
Also recorded by Mac Davis, co-writer (1973).

From the wiki: “‘A Little Less Conversation’ was written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange, and first performed by Elvis Presley in the 1968 film Live a Little, Love a Little. Davis has stated he’d written the song for Aretha Franklin to record, but that came to naught. ‘Conversation’ became a minor 1968 hit in the US for Presley when released as a single. Presley re-recorded the song in June 1968 for the soundtrack of his ’68 Comeback Special, with the intent of performing it during the program. Ultimately, it was decided not to use the recording and the song was dropped from the planned special. A 2002 remix by Junkie XL of the later re-recording of the song by Presley became a worldwide hit, topping the singles charts in nine countries and was awarded certifications in ten countries by 2003.”

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1970s, Country

I Believe in Music

Written and first recorded by Mac Davis (US #117/MOR #25 1971).
Other hit versions by Helen Reddy (AUS #2 1971), Gallery (US #22/MOR #12 1972).
Also recorded by Donny Hathaway (1971).

From the wiki: “‘I Believe in Music’ was written and first recorded, in 1971, by Mac Davis. His recording made a minor dent in the pop charts, ‘bubbling under’ the Billboard Hot 100 but peaking at #25 on the MOR song chart. Helen Reddy and Donny Hathaway also recorded versions of ‘I Believe in Music’ in 1971. Reddy’s recording peaked at #2 on the Australian music chart; Hathaway’s production was not released as a single but appeared on his 1971 self-titled album, Donny Hathaway.

“Gallery’s 1972 recording of ‘I Believe in Music’ was the second of three singles released from their Nice to Be with You album, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.”

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