As I sift through the great wax museum searching for oldies for my radio shows I am blown away to discover that many of our favorite songs were not the original recordings.
“Yeah, yeah” you say; “everybody covered Bob Dylan’s songs. The man could not sing.” First of all I disagree with that premise. Take “Lay Lady Lay” for example. It has been covered by the Byrds, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, the Everly Brothers, Melanie, the Isley Brothers, Bob Andy, Duran Duran, Magnet, Hoyt Axton, Angélique Kidjo, Ministry, Malaria! and Lorrie Morgan. But in my humble opinion, Dylan’s version has a soul that no others can imitate.
But take the Tremolos “Silence is Golden” which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was one of the top 100 songs of 1967. The song sold one million copies worldwide, earning gold disc status. But “Silence is Golden” was co-written Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio for the Four Seasons. Philips Records released it in 1964 as the B-side of the U.S. #1 single "Rag Doll". The two versions of the sons used the same book, but the tempos of the songs were different. I truly loved the version done by Brian Poole and the boys but the Four Seasons’ version rocks.
California Dreamin’ was written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips but was first recorded by Barry McGuire who brought the Mamas & the Papas to the California music scene. There are two interesting things about the version by Barry McGuire that bear mentioning; First the Mamas & the Papas sang backup on the original version. Second, the flute solo in the Mamas & the Papas version was performed on a harmonica. In fact, the Mamas & the Papas version was created by removing Barry and the harmonica from the original recording and replacing them with the M&Ps and the flute solo by Bud Shank. P. F. Sloan performed the guitar introduction. McGuire's original vocal can be briefly heard on the left channel at the beginning of the record, having not been completely erased. Shank and Sloan were members of the iconic recording session group “The Wrecking Crew” used in the recordings.
Everybody remembers “Rockin’ Robin” my Michael Jackson. But this is a cover! The original was done by Bobby Day in 1958. It was Day's biggest hit single, becoming a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent one week at the top of the charts (number one hit) in R&B sales. Jackson’s version also made number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles in 1972. I guess you have to be of a certain age to remember Bobby Day’s version.
But let’s not stop there! Many of the early Beatles songs were covers. Take, for example, their 1963 album “With the Beatles”. Four of the fourteen songs on the album were written and performed by American artists; "Roll Over Beethoven" (Chuck Berry), "You Really Got a Hold on Me" (Smokey Robinson), "Money (That's What I Want)" (Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy (originally recorded by Barrett Strong). Their 1965 album “Twist And Shout” is laden with covers. "Anna (Go to Him)" (Arthur Alexander), "Chains" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King), "Boys" (Luther Dixon, Wes Farrell), "Baby It's You" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Barney Williams), "A Taste of Honey" (Ric Marlow, Bobby Scott), "Twist and Shout" (Phil Medley, Bert Russell). Good old covers!!
Andy Kim’s hit, “Baby I Love You” was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, and released by the Ronettes on their debut album “Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes” in 1964. It reached number 24 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox Top 100 charts, and peaked at number 11 on the UK Pop Chart. Kim’s version reached number nine in 1969. Wolfman Jack’s favorite version of “Funky Broadway” was originally recorded by Dyke & the Blazers, in 1967, and was made into a hit by Wilson Pickett that same year.
Going back to “California Dreamin’”; no discussion of covers would be complete without mentioning the Beach Boy’s version, They recorded a cover version of "California Dreamin'" in 1986 for their greatest hits compilation “Made in U.S.A”. It was produced by Terry Melcher and featured Roger McGuinn from The Byrds on 12-string guitar. The Mamas & the Papas’ Denny Doherty was on the East coast and declined to come out west and record. Cass Elliot had died in 1974. The song only charted at a modest number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was supported by a music video that featured the Beach Boys along with John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Roger McGuinn.
Finally here’s a South Carolina example. Maurice Williams from Lancaster, SC wrote “Little Darlin’” for his group, the Gladiolas. It was first recorded by Excello Records in January 1957 and quickly released as a rhythm-and-blues / doo-wop song. The Diamonds a Canadian pop group had a successful cover a month later. Their version reached number two in sales for eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked this version as the No. 3 song for 1957. I once asked Maurice how he felt about that. He smiled with a twinkle in his eye and responded; “Ka-ching! Baby!” “Stay”, Maurice’s hit song with the Zodiacs was recorded here in Columbia in 1959. It was covered by The Hollies, The Four Seasons and Jackson Browne. Again! “Ka Ching!”
It all goes to show you that a well written song can live on the charts more than once. Great music often gets performed by numerous artists. Some of these covers are almost as good as the original. And, I dare day, some are better than the original. Oh MY!
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