Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

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Teenager in Love

Written and first recorded (as a demo titled “It’s Great to Be Young and in Love”) by Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus (1958).
Hit versions by Dion & The Belmonts (US #5 1958 |UK #28 1959), Marty Wilde & The Wildcats (UK #2 1959), Craig Douglas (UK #13 1959).
Also recorded by The Wailers (1965).

From the wiki: “‘Teenager In Love’ was the first big hit co-written by Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus (‘Save The Last Dance For Me’, ‘This Magic Moment‘, ‘(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame‘), and had as its genesis an earlier Pomus-Shuman collaboration titled ‘It’s Great to Be Young and in Love’ heard, in the above recording, as it was being written.

“Dion & the Belmonts’ recording of ‘Teenager in Love’ is considered one of the greatest songs in rock and roll history. It is on the list of Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 500 Most Influential Rock Songs. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992; Shuman was inducted in 2010.

“In May 1959, the song held three positions in the British Top 30: The Belmonts’ version, peaking at #28, and two other higher-charting cover versions by Marty Wilde (#2) and Craig Douglas (#13). ‘Teenager in Love’ was also covered by The Wailers (with Bob Marley) in 1965.”

Dion & The Belmonts, “Teenager in Love” (1958):

Marty Wilde, “Teenager in Love” (1959):

Craig Douglas, “Teenager in Love” (1959):

The Wailers, “Teenager in Love” (1965):

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