Blog Archives
FlinterFile: Earth, Wind & Fire- Got To Get You Into My Life
There have been quite some covers of songs by the Beatles. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Al Wilson- Show And Tell
Sometimes a song needs a cover to be a hit. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: David Cassidy- How Can I Be Sure
David Cassidy brought an ‘old’ song back in the charts in 1972. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Manfred Mann’s Earth Band- California
In 1978, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band released the album Watch. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Four Tops- So Deep Within You
The Moody Blues released their single Never Comes the Day in 1969. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Kate Bush- Rocket Man
In 1991, a tribute to Elton John and Bernie Taupin was released. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Freddie Mercury- The Great Pretender
This song dates back to 1956, when the Platters took it to the charts. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Marbles- I Can’t See Nobody
The song I Can’t See Nobody is a cover of a song by the Bee Gees. They released it as the B-Side to New York Mining Disaster 1941. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Love Affair- Everlasting Love
In 1968, the band The Love Affair recorded the song Everlasting Love. Read the rest of this entry
Wait a moment… that’s not from Elvis?
With a discography from over 800 songs, Elvis Presley has recorded lots of songs. Many of those songs became hits, but there are quite some hit versions which originally were not sung by Elvis… Read the rest of this entry
Song of the day: Don Fardon- I’m Alive
In 1969, Don Fardon released his new song I’m Alive. Well, his… actually this was a cover of a song by Tommy James & the Shondells. Most of his songs were covers, since he also recorded Lola (the Kinks), but his biggest hit was a cover of Indian Reservation. Nice detail: he was first a draughtsman… Enjoy
Don Fardon- I’m Alive
Song of the day: Zen- Hair
In 1968, a Dutch group covered the title song of the musical Hair. The original, by the Cowsills, was in the first minutes of the musical. The version of the Cowsills was a big hit in the US, but in the Netherlands, teh Dutch band Zen covered the song and had a number 1 hit with it. Enjoy
Zen- Hair
Song of the day: Grand Funk Railroad- Some Kind Of Wonderful
In 1974, Grand Funk Railroad covered a song which was written by John Ellison. He recorded the original with his band, Soul Brothers Six, and had a small hit with it in 1967. The drummer of Grand Funk Railroad, however, heard the song a lot on a local radio station, and used to sing it in the back of the car when they were travelling. The whole group would sing along, and the manager then came up with the idea to record it. Eventually, Grand Funk Railroad brought it to number 3 in the US, making the biggest hit version of the song. Enjoy
Grand Funk Railroad- Some Kind Of Wonderful
Song of the day: Madcon- Beggin’
In 2007, Madcon took an old song and covered it. The original of Beggin’ was made by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons in 1967. It marked the return of Bob Gaudio writing songs, something he had not done for two years. The Norwegian duo Madcon took the song in the same year that it was remixed, and brought it back to the charts: It was number 79 in the US, number 5 in the UK and even number 1 in the Netherlands. Enjoy
Madcon- Beggin’
Song of the day: Peggy Lee- Fever
In 1958, Peggy Lee covered a song by Little Willie John. Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell wrote the song in 1956 for Little Willie John. He made it to number 1 in the R&B charts. Two years later, Peggy Lee took the first and fourth verse and recorded them together with some other verses, which include Romeo & Juliet. She reached number 5 in the UK and number 8 in the US. Enjoy
Peggy Lee- Fever
Song of the day: Fats Domino- Ain’t That A Shame
This song originally was released in 1955 by Fats Domino, who scored a big hit with it. He sold millions of copies, and reached number 10 in the pop chart. Pat Boone re-recorded the song, and brought it to the white audience. After that, his version was forgotten about, since the version by Fats Domino also reached the white audience. However, I knew this version before the one of Fats, and still think this is also a great song. Enjoy
Pat Boone- Ain’t That A Shame
Song of the day: Linda Ronstadt- It’s So Easy
Back in 1958, the song It’s So Easy was sung by the Crickets. One of their members was Buddy Holly, who recorded some hits solo later. They would not reach the charts with this song. In the seventies, the song was picked up by Linda Ronstadt. She recorded in 1977, and did reach the charts: number 5 in the US and number 11 in the UK. Another artist that had a go on the song several times was Paul McCartney. First with the Beatles, later solo, but he did not manage to chart with the song. Enjoy
Linda Ronstadt- It’s So Easy
Song of the day: Amii Stewart- Knock On Wood
A disco song which wasn’t a disco song when it was written. Not that it is strange, because quite some disco songs were no disco songs in their origin. Knock on Wood was written by Eddie Floyd in 1966, and recorded by its writer. It peaked at number 28 in the US. David Bowie then recorded the song, on a live album, in 1974, and made a single out of it. This would do number 10 in the UK. The biggest hit, however, would come in 1979, when Amii Stewart changed the music into disco, making it a number one hit in the US. Her version would be succeeded by several other covers, none of which were successful. Enjoy
Amii Stewart- Knock On Wood
Song of the day: Billy Stewart- Summertime
Some sixties to end the summer for this year. And this is a great song, though you have to get through the intro, which is not exactly great… The song was composed in 1935 by George Gershwin for an opera. The lyrics are made by the man who wrote the book on which the opera was based, DuBose Heyward. The song became a jazz standard and that can be noticed when looking at the number of covers: over 33000 versions were recorded! The song was taken to the charts by Billie Holiday in 1936 (he reached no. 12). The most successful version was made by Billy Stewart in 1966, who reached no. 10 in the US and no. 39 in the UK. For me, this also is the best version. Enjoy
Billy Stewart- Summertime
Song of the day: Boney M.- Sunny
This song has made a long journey before ending up with Boney M. It was written in 1966 by Bobby Hebb, when his brother was stabbed to death and president Kennedy was murdered, both happening in 1963 in 48 hours. He then wrote the song. It took some time to release it, but 3 years later it was released and it made him go on tour with the Beatles. In 1976 he updated the song to a disco version. In that same year Boney M. came with a cover of the original version, which was on their debute album. It followed the hit Daddy Cool, and this song became a hit, too. The song has been recorded by many other artists, like Frank Sinatra, Cher, Ella Fitzgerald, The Four Seasons, The Four Tops and many others. Enjoy the Boney M version:
Boney M.- Sunny
Song of the day: Shaft- (Mucho Mambo) Sway
Today we have to go back a long time to find the roots of the song of the day. We end up in 1953, when a Mexican instrumental song is released. It’s a mambo song, so that makes it sound like the summer. Dean Martin took this song in 1954, which was translated in English for him and it was given the title Sway, which was the translation of the Mexican title. Then the song went on, was covered and remixed, for example by the Pussycat Dolls, Michael Bublé, Cliff Richard and Jennifer Lopez. And that are only a few of them. One version, a remix, became a big hit for Shaft. It would be their biggest hit. And therefore, I would say: enjoy
Shaft- (Mucho Mambo) Sway
Song of the day: Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66- Mas Que Nada
In 1963, a man called Jorge Ben wrote the song Mas Que Nada. His story probably ends with the song being voted as the fifth best Brazilian song by the Brazilian version of Rolling Stone. For the song, the story only begins there. It is covered several times, before Sergio Mendes gets the song. He records it in 1966 with Brasil ’66 and has a minor hit with it, charting on number 47 in the Billboard chart. He later records it again with the Black Eyed Peas, having a big hit all over the world in 2006. For today, it’s fun to listen to the original cover from 1966:
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66- Mas Que Nada
Song of the day: Tony Esposito- Kalimba De Luna
The man of Papa Chico had another hit. Probably that’s not new, but this song is a bit forgotten, which is a shame, since I think it’s better than his biggest hit. Though it did not chart very high and only in some charts, it did make it to my ears. The way was a bit different: after Tony Esposito made the song, Boney M came with a cover, which was a big success, bigger than the original. The original is only heard on some radio stations, if they feel like playing it. Enjoy
Tony Esposito- Kalimba de Luna
Song of the day: Santa Esmeralda- Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
Back to the seventies today! The original of the song dates back to 1964, when Nina Simone recorded it. Then it was taken by the Animals, who recorded their version in 1965. Santa Esmeralda took the arrangement of the Animals and added a disco flavour to it, including some flamenco, salsa and other Latin sounds. It first did very well in the club circuit, where it was taken in a very long version, and the shortened version became a hit in the “normal” charts, like the Billboard Hot 100 (number 15). And today we enjoy these exotic sounds:
Santa Esmeralda- Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
Song of the day: Therapy?- Diane
I actually am very touched by this song. The violins in the beginning, which keep playing, together with the rest of the song, it is just beautiful. However, when I started searching for other work, I soon stopped it. Originally it’s a hardrock/metal band, which made a touching song: Diane. It’s a cover, the original was made by an artist called Hüsker Dü, although he did not have a hit with it. The text is about the murder on a waitress, called Diane Edwards. For Therapy?, it became a hit in 1995. Listen to
Therapy?- Diane
Song of the day: Nazareth- Love Hurts
These guys know where they are talking about. Or at least, you think they do, since the tone they sing it in is really like a broken hearted person. The original, however, is not theirs. The song dates back to 1960, when the Everly Brothers recorded the song. Roy Orbison had the first hit version of the song, and via a person called Jim Capaldi, who added a sort of pain to it, it came to Nazareth in 1974. They made a rock ballad out of it and changed a line in their version. The song became a big hit, reaching number 15 in the UK and number 8 in the US. Enjoy
Nazareth- Love Hurts
Song of the day: Musical Youth- Pass The Dutchie
An song from the early eighties today, 1982 to be precise. It was a number one hit back then and I think it’s good as a preparation for the summer, because it’s a reggae song! Actually it’s a cover version, putting two songs together. The text has been changed a great deal, since the references to cannabis and drugs have been changed… what they created is a nice song which can be played on the radio without a warning. Enjoy
Musical Youth- Pass The Dutchie
Song of the day: Viola Wills- Gonna Get Along Without You Now
Some disco classics are just awesome. And of some, you can sing along with every word. This record has both of them. I just heard it again on the radio, and since it hasn’t been featured yet, I thought: let’s do so now. Actually, there’s not a lot to tell about this record. It’s a big classic, you can dance perfectly on it (I just did, why not?) and the text is not too difficult. Enjoy and dance to
Viola Wills- Gonna Get Along Without You Now
Song of the day: Milow- Ayo Technology
The last hit for the zeroes, but what do we call the period of time after 2009? No idea. It was a hit in 2009, and actually it’s a cover of a song by 50cent. This is one of the points where a cover actually is better than the original. Yes, they do exist! Enjoy
Milow- Ayo Technology
Song of the day: Alvin Stardust- Pretend
A week ago, I had my driving lesson, and whilst driving home, I heard this song through the car. I always liked the song and it put me in a good mood! Therefore, and since it’s a big hit coming from 1981, it is featured in the History Of Music! So I was looking up some information, and I discovered the song was not from 1981! Or at least the original song isn’t. The cover is, but okay, the original was made in 1952. A cover was made in 1959 by Carl Mann, which largely was the base for this song. I never heard the original, but I will search for it, since it could be interesting to compare! Enjoy
Alvin Stardust- Pretend
Song of the day: The Hues Corporation- Rock The Boat
Some weeks ago, an artist who had a few hits in the Netherlands passed away. His name was Forrest. Now you probably will be thinking: what does that have to do with the song of the day and why didn’t you tell this earlier? Firstly, he made a cover of Rock The Boat, and secondly: it’s not bad, but the original is a bit better. So therefore, enjoy the original!
The Hues Corporation- Rock The Boat
Song of the day: Communards- Never Can Say Goodbye
For the ones who read my blog over a longer time, it may not be a surprise that this eighties dance classic is here. For the ones who don’t know a lot about my music taste: I like a lot, but dance and disco music are two big favourites! The Communards are one of those bands which I like a lot, because they make such good disco music! I was quite surprised when I was reading that it was a cover of a Jackson 5 song. They made quite nice music, too, but maybe that’s for later. Today we enjoy
The Communards- Never Can Say Goodbye
Song of the day: Robert Palmer- Addicted To Love
Yes, this is the original! I heard Tina Turner’s version lately, and thought: it sounds nice, but that’s about it. The original is better. Which ment to find Robert Palmer and feature him as song of the day. Why? Because it’s a very good song! The music, the text and of course Robert Palmer: that’s what makes a good song! And okay, in the clip the girls are nice to see, but if I’m right (don’t blame me if I’m wrong) they don’t play for real, but are only there to make it look nice. So enjoy today:
Robert Palmer- Addicted To Love
Song of the day: The Stars On 45 Proudly Presents The Star Sisters
Oh yes! The Stars On 45. They had some wonderful medleys to make the old music popular again. And what nationality did they have? Exactly, Dutch!
One of the big hits they had was with the Star Sisters, who performed a medley with songs of the Andrews Sisters. Of course the original is always better, but they did a pretty good job. I will feature the Andrews Sisters sometime later this year, for now enjoy:
Song of the day: No Mercy- Where Do You Go
Well, I must confess: this is another cover from a song originally made by La Bouche. It only appeared on one of their albums, but was never released as a single. Well, and then No Mercy must have thought: well, sounds good enough to record ourselves. Actually I have no idea what they have thought, but I know that they recorded the song and released it on single. And what didn’t happen to La Bouche with the song, happened with No Mercy: they scored a big hit. Yes, that was quite a good idea: they ended high in the hit charts, but in the Netherlands they stuck to the seventh place. No problem for me, since I can feature it as a song of the day. So let’s enjoy today:
No Mercy- Where Do You Go?
Song of the day: Joe Cocker- Summer In The City
After the original version of yesterday, I am making it easy for myself today. I’m going to talk about the cover version by Joe Cocker. And this is one of the covers which are not worse than the original, those which you could easily have lived without. This cover version is good because it’s different than the original: if you listened to the original yesterday, you can say that it’s a bit rock ‘n roll, and it has something of most music of the sixties: it’s quick.
This version is some slower and it’s excellent that Joe Cocker made this version: he has just the right voice to sing it. His voice sounds a bit rough, the perfect voice for the song.
So today, enjoy
Joe Cocker- Summer In The City
Song of the day: Gipsy Kings- Bamboleo
A classic song in the summer. There will never be a summer when this song is not played, just like Vamos A La Playa by Righeira. It was recorded in 1987, and it was one of the biggest hits for the Gipsy Kings. They made it very popular, and that was shown by the great number of artists covering as well. Not only was this song their first big hit, it provided them success and they became famous in quite a part of the world, and that’s probably the reason they are still around. Today their first hit is the song of the day! Enjoy:
Gipsy Kings- Bamboléo
Song of the day: Shaggy- Oh Carolina!
This song was and still is on my MP3-player. It was one of the first songs to enter my first MP3-player, which I still have, and when playing my music, I kept making the mistake that it was a song of a rock ‘n roll cd. Now I know better.
Oh Carolina was the first single of the debute album by Shaggy. This song was a big hit in 1993, so long after the rock ‘n roll time. But it is a logical mistake. Why?
It’s a cover! The original was recorded and released in 1960, and was made by the Folkes Brothers. And that is in the rock ‘n roll time. But that doesn’t matter, since it was the first hit single, and some others would follow. Do you still remember Boombastic? It Wasn’t Me? or Angel?
(One thing between us (and maybe Shaggy is reading this, too), but I always have the feeling that he is a bit drunk. I know it probably is his voice, but I can’t stop thinking that he drunk some glasses of vodka before recording Boombastic. Totally my interpretation.)
The song of today:
Shaggy- Oh Carolina
Summer Song of the Day #4: Vengaboys- We’re Going To Ibiza
If something is sounding like summer, it must be the Vengaboys. The name is right, but the music certainly is! They had their biggest success in the nineties with songs like the song of the day and other songs like Up And Down and We Like To Party. And this song, We’re Going To Ibiza, was one of the biggest hits. The nice thing about the song is that they did not make it themselves, or at least, they used another song from the seventies: Barbados by Typically Tropical. They changed the scene from Barbados to Ibiza and made a nice dance version of it. All very clever, because it was not only a big hit, but they have got place 4 in the Summer Song of the Day Top 20 with this song!
Number 4: Vengaboys- We’re Going To Ibiza
Summer Song of the Day #7: Ritchie Valens- La Bamba
Yes, I know. Yesterday a song which was song of the day before, and today again. But this time I want to focus a bit more on the cover by Los Lobos.
In 1987 a movie with the same name, La Bamba, appeared in the cinemas. Los Lobos made a song for the soundtrack, and this was a cover of Ritchie Valens’ song.
However, Ritchie Valens wasn’t the first artist to sing the song. Although he wasn’t the first to sing it, he was the first to put it on a record. Originally, it was a folk song, so only sung by the ‘normal’ people.
Number 7: Ritchie Valens- La Bamba
Summer Song of the Day #8: UB40- Red Red Wine
A band which is one of my favourites is UB40. Their music is relaxed, reggae, and happy. Since summer is here, they can’t miss in the Summer Song of the Day Top 20!
Unfortunately, the song which you have voted for and which is on number 8, Red Red Wine, has been song of the day once before.
So I want to focus on another good song of them. The song which is not in the Summer Song of the Day Top 20 is a single by them from 1990. It was a cover of an older song, but they had a hit with the song.
The song was a big hit all over the world. Of course I’m talking about Kingston Town, the (unofficial) song of the day.
Number 8: UB40- Red Red Wine
Song of the day: Soft Cell- Tainted Love
Today we go back to the beginning of the eighties. That was the time Tainted Love by Soft Cell was released. It actually was a cover of a sixties song by Gloria Jones, but I think it was a bigger hit than the original…
At least it was a good dance track, and it still is. It sounds sunny, and therefore it’s song of the day!
Enjoy Tainted Love, tomorrow another song!
And vote for the Summer Song of the Day Top 20, you have one week left! >>>>
Song of the day: Arrow- Hot Hot Hot
Pfff… you want summer, but now it turns to the other side: very hot! Maybe we will reach the 38 decrees C, and with that temperatures I don’t function very good.
However, there is a song which could be the soundtrack of today. In 1983 this song was released, and it was (not surprisingly) a big disco hit!
It was song which popped up last night, and today I saw that the Vengaboys (We Like To Party, We’re Going To Ibiza, etc) have made a cover of the song.
That’s maybe for later, now it’s Arrow’s turn with Hot-Hot-Hot.
And don’t forget to vote for the Summer Song of the Day Top 20! >>>>
Song of the day: Nicki French- Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Some more dance today, and it sounds sunny, too.
It is a cover, made in the nineties (1995) by Nicki French. It is a cover of the woman who went to the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK this year, Bonnie Tyler.
The summer song of the day is Total Eclipse Of The Heart!
Please vote for the Summer Song of the Day Top 20 >>>>
Song of the day: Ritchie Valens- La Bamba
More summer, sunny rock ‘n roll on its way. What a record!
Later this record was covered by Los Lobos, but I prefer this record, since it’s the original.
Really rock ‘n roll, it sounds summer, it’s Ritchie Valens with La Bamba!
Later he died in the big plane crash, which was later known as “the day the music died”. This phrase of course comes from American Pie by Don McLean, who saw the people in the plane as the basement for the music.
Mmm… summer is coming now! And some inspiration for a new list, too…
Maybe tomorrow more about that.
Song of the day: Mika- Relax (Take It Easy)
This is maybe one of the most beautiful covers in my album collection. Colourful and with a good eye for detail.
And if you look into the booklet, you will see that the drawings inside the booklet (which are beautiful, too) come back on the cover too.
As an example: Under the title at the right, you see a little girl. This girl has to do with the song Lollipop.
And there were some big hits on this album: Not only Lollipop, also Grace Kelly, Big Girl (You Are Beautiful), and the song of the day.
Which song might that be?
It’s one of my favourites, although the whole cd is good: Relax (Take It Easy)
Song of the day: Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes- Up Where We Belong
Hi there,
The new song of the day is here!
Although I have not seen the movie where the song of the day comes from, I do know the song, and I think it’s a very good song.
It’s sung by a woman who made a song for Dirty Dancing, too, and the man had a hit with a cover of the Loving Spoonful.
It are Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes with Up Where We Belong.
The song comes from the movie An Officer And A Gentleman, Jennifer Warnes sung the song I’ve Had The Time Of My Life in Dirty Dancing, and Joe Cocker made a cover of the song Summer In The City.
More information?
Tomorrow another song!
Song of the day: The Marcels- Blue Moon
Hi there,
Today the last rock ‘n roll song in this row. Tomorrow two new songs, and then something else…
But firstly, the rock ‘n roll song. It’s a cover of an older song, but personally I like this version more.
It’s the Marcels with Blue Moon!
It’s a cover of the song Blue Moon by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart, made in 1934!
Song of the day: Dannii Minogue- I Begin To Wonder
Hi there,
When I was walking down the streets I called your name… or at least, that line is in the song of today.
The song of the day is performed by someone who doesn’t only sing, but she is also acting!
I’m talking about a “cover” from a dance song. The result?
Dannii Minogue with I Begin To Wonder!
Tommorrow another song!
The FlinterFiles 