Covers no one knows are covers

Super Star by The Carpenters was originally titled Groupie Song and done by Delaney, Bonnie & Friends. The Carpenters also changed the lyrics from 'I can hardly wait to sleep with you again.' to 'I can hardly wait to be with you again.'

Mr. Bojangles was covered by a ton of people but made famous by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It was originally written and recorded by John Denver.

Some people don't know that Solitary Man by HIM is Neil Diamond's.

These might be obvious to most people here, but I haven't seen them listed:

"Only Women Bleed" covered by Lita Ford, Tori Amos, and Etta James (original by Alice Cooper)
"Jolene" covered by the White Stripes (original by Dolly Parton)
"Long Way Home" covered by Norah Jones (original by Tom Waits)

Okkervil River's "Black Sheep Boy" was written by Tim Hardin, who also wrote "If I were a Carpenter", which was covered by tons of people.

Both originals are ace.

Well, I still think of "Take me to the River" as a Talking Heads song, although it was originally performed by Al Green.

Naw, sorry, Mr. Bojangles was written and recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker.

I wonder how many of David Hasselhof's songs are covers.

Beat me to it, ya did. Ya sure did.

David Bromberg tells a funny little story about Jerry Jeff meeting Bojangles in a drunk tank in New Orleans in his version.

However, 'Leaving On A Jet Plane' by Peter, Paul & Mounds Mary is John Denver cover.

*fixed*

Some Davide Bowie ones that have not yet been mentioned:

Criminal World - Metro
Kindgom Come - Tom Verlaine


Hootie and the Blowfish's "I Go Blind" was originally by 54-40.

Funboy 3 originally recorded "Our Lips Our Sealed", later popularized by the Go-Gos.

I couldn't be bothered to read the whole 12 pages, so sorry if it's already been mentioned:

Venus by Bananarama (The Shocking Blue)

It's mentioned on the 1st page but the one that always comes to mind is "All along the watchtower"

For what it's worth.

The Hoff's biggest hit "Looking for Freedom", which went to No. 1 on the german charts ( ), was a cover of a german Schlager from the 70s, "Auf der Straße nach Süden" by a guy called Tony Marshall.

Here are the two of them together. Little girls added for extra creepiness.

I'm too lazy to read all of these. So I don't know if it's been mentioned. The first one I thought of was The Ramones "I Don't Want to Grow Up" (Tom Waits).

Wikipedia says he recorded it in 72. Then Emmylou Harris did it, then Merle and Willy.

Santogold - Guns of Brooklyn

Clash's Guns of Brixton.

Sisters of Mercy did it in the 80s as well, but Dolly still has the best version.

Queen Adreena did a good job of it, too:



(Waaay better than the White Stripes' version, if you ask me!)

It's a traditional Irish folk song, believed, but never proved, that it was written by Patrick Flem....ming? I believe. 1700 old school like.

you are incorrect, sir.

jane wiedlin from the go-go's co-wrote it with terry hall from fun boy 3. it was a go-go's hit prior to fun boy 3 recording it.

John Hiatt wrote "Have a Little Faith in Me" for his daughter. It's a much prettier song if you think about it in that light.

Odd, I had no idea The Ramones did a cover of that song.

10,000 Maniacs "Because The Night" was actually written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith for one of her albums, and is still a staple of his live shows.
Springsteen also wrote "Fire" for Robert Gordon and later The Pointer Sisters.

One of Tesla's first hits was "Little Suzi" which was a cover of Ph.D's "Little Suzie's On The Up".

As for Metallica, they've always been at there best covering other artists, notably Diamondhead, Budgie and Blitzkrieg. See the $5.98 EP and later Garage Inc.

And who can forget the Isley Brothers covering themselves, as most folks only know the '70s version of "Who's That Lady?" which they had recorded once before a decade earlier.