Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Tagged: Paul Young

Come Back and Stay (Paul Young)

Written and first recorded by Jack Lee (1981).
Hit version by Paul Young (US #22/UK #4/GERM #1/IRE #3/BEL #1 1983).

From the wiki: “‘Come Back and Stay’ was written and first recorded in 1981 by Jack Lee (‘Hanging on the Telephone‘), who had earlier formed the seminal, yet short-lived Los Angeles power pop trio The Nerves.

“In 1983, singer Paul Young released his cover as a single from his album, No Parlez, and it became an international hit, including Young’s first US Top 40, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.”

Softly Whispering I Love You

First recorded by David & Jonathan (1967).
Hit version by English Congregation (US #29/UK #4/NZ #1/SA #1 1971), Paul Young (UK #21 1990).

http://youtu.be/n7qyG6uRCbQ

From the wiki: “During their period as David & Jonathan, writers Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway (‘You Got Your Troubles’, ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing‘) recorded early versions of many of their songs that became hits for others including ‘Softly Whispering I Love You’, first recorded by the duo in 1967 but covered more popularly in 1971 by a group of their own creation, English Congregation, whose recording charted in the UK Top 5 and US Billboard Hot 100. The Congregation recording topped the New Zealand and South Africa music charts, too, that year. Paul Young’s 1990 cover barely missed the UK Top 20 in 1990.”

Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)

Originally recorded by Marvin Gaye (1963).
Hit version by Paul Young (US #70/UK #1 1983).

From the wiki: “‘Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)’ is a song written by Marvin Gaye, Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield, and first recorded by Gaye in 1962 as an album track on That Stubborn Kinda Fellow. Years later, Paul Young’s version of the song was a UK #1 single for three weeks in July 1983. The song fared less well on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at #70, but was later used in the 1986 film Ruthless People and its accompanying soundtrack album.”

Love of the Common People

First released by The Four Preps (1967).
Also recorded by The Everly Brothers (1967), Waylon Jennings (1967), John Denver (1969), John Hurley, co-writer (1970), Stiff Little Fingers (1982).
Hit versions by The Winstons (US #54 1969), Nicky Thomas (UK #9 1970), Paul Young (US #45/UK #2/IRE #1/NETH #1 1983).

From the wiki: “‘Love of the Common People’ is a Folk ballad composed by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins (‘Son of a Preacher Man’, 1968), eventually released by the songwriter himself in 1970 on Hurley’s album John Hurley Sings about People. But, the first recorded and distributed arrangement was released in January 1967 as a promotional single by The Four Preps, in a session arranged and conducted by Leon Russell, with no apparent chart impact.

“The song was quickly covered by both the Everly Brothers and country singer Waylon Jennings in 1967, followed by covers by the soul group The Winstons (1969), John Denver (on his 1969 Rhymes & Reason album), reggae artist Nicky Thomas (1970), punk rockers Stiff Little Fingers in 1982, and English pop singer Paul Young in 1982 (re-released in 1983).

Everytime You Go Away

Written and first recorded by Hall & Oates (1980).
Hit version (as “Every Time You Go Away”) by Paul Young (US #1/UK #4/IRE #2 1985).

From the wiki: “Written and composed by Daryl Hall, the original recording of ‘Everytime You Go Away’ appeared on Hall & Oates’s 1980 album, Voices, but was not released as a single.

“Young’s single, from the album The Secret of Association, hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 27, 1985. It remains his only #1 hit and one of only two Top 10 hits he had on the U.S. pop singles chart. The song peaked at #4 in the UK, Young’s home country. The song won Best British Video at the 1986 Brit Awards.”