Before They Were Hits ...

As you know, many "hits" were actually songs that had been recorded before. You're probably familiar with some of these "original versions" - I know many of these and have some of them, including Louie, Louie, Little Darlin', The Twist, Baby Talk and I'm Into Something Good (Earl-Jean's version is far superior to Herman's Hermits' IMO). Nonetheless, there were a few surprises here for me and you'll probably find a few yourself.

Following is the track list for two recently-released CD's entitled:
BEFORE THEY WERE HITS - OR WE DID IT FIRST!!

This Diamond Ring - Sammy Ambrose
Louie, Louie - Richard Berry
Hang on Sloopy - Vibrations
My Boy Lollipop - Barbie Gaye
The Twist - Hank Ballard
Just To Be With You - Paul Simon
Doo Wah Diddy - Exciters
Twist & Shout - Top Notes
Baby Talk - Laurels
Little Darlin' - Gladiolas
Johnny Angel - Georgia Lee
Worst That Could Happen - 5th Dimension
Good Lovin' - Olympics
The Shoop Shoop Song - Merry Clayton
Hound Dog - Willie Mae Thorton
Only In America - Drifters
I Can Hear Music - Ronettes
Piece of My Heart - Erma Franklin
Gloria - Mills Bros
I'm Into Something Good - Earl-Jean
Time Is On My Side - Irma Thomas
A Rockin' Good Way - Pricilla Brown & Spanials
Land of 1000 Dances - Chris Kenner
Hanky Panky - Raindrops
Handy Man - Sparks of Rhythm
He's A Rebel - Vicki Carr
Dedicated To The One I Love - Five Royals
Pied Piper - Changin' Times
Higher & Higher - Dells
Shoop Shoop Song - Ramona King
Suspicious Minds - Mark James
You've Made Me So Very Happy - Brenda Holloway
I've Been Hurt - Tams
The Greatest Love - George Benson
Lollipop - Ronald & Ruby
Mustang Sally - Sir Mac Rice
Chapel of Love - Darlene Love
The River Is Wide - Forum
Tall Paul - Judy Harriet
Nobody But Me - Isley Bros
Don't Know Much - Bill Medley
Bossa Nova Baby - Tippy & Clovers
His Latest Flame - Del Shannon
Message to Martha - Lou Johnson
Save Your Heart For Me - Michelle Scotti
Half Heaven, Half Heartache - Ral Donner
Can't You Hear My Heartbeat - Goldie & Gingerbreads
You're No Good - Betty Everett
You're The One - Petula Clark
That's What Friends Are For - Rod Stewart

 

Laura Nyro had recorded a lot of the songs she wrote that the 5th Dimension, Three Dog Night, etc. had hits with, but that's essentially a "Best of Laura Nyro" compilation. Great comp it appears to be.

Joe South also recorded the songs that others had hits with, etc.

 

The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face was first recorded by Elvis, but was made a hit by Roberta Flack.

Also,Over And Over was first recorded by Bobby Day, but made a hit by The Dave Clark Five.

 

I remember hearing this in the movie "Night Shift" in the late 70s, but I thought I heard a female singer on it.

 

Well, the song doesn't actually qualify as a "Before They Were Hits" item, since both versions were hits. Anyway, I lean towards Bobby's version (which did chart nationally for 11 weeks), but like them both. Bobby's is catchy and breezy, while Dave's is more driving.

Interesting, though, about Elvis. Wasn't sure who recorded "The First Time" first. Probably wasn't often EP jumped on a song only to have someone else take it to the top...

 

It was written by Ewon McCall. Gordon Lightfoot also recorded the song as well.

 

George Benson's version of "The Greatest Love of All" was a hit as well. It came from the movie "The Greatest."

 

True, Bradley. Some of the originals on those CD's were totally obscure, but others, like Louie Louie, Little Darlin' and I'm into Something Good were known to many, if not smash hits. Most of what they chose for the CD's, however, were true "non-hits."

Hmmm - Go Now and Mr. Moonlight would have qualified...

 

Re: Re: Before They Were Hits ...

I did not know that -- AMG credits Rod with the "Night Shift" version.

The search brought up the "Before They Were Hits or We Did It First", volumes 1 & 2 CD. Anybody have these?? Any good, soundwise? They were released in 2000-01 by Triple Crown, who I've never heard of.

 

Big Mama Thornton's version of "Hound Dog" was a #1 R&B hit before Elvis recorded it. And George Benson's version of "The Greatest Love Of All" was a top 10 R&B hit in 1977.


Another song that was recorded a few times before it became a hit was "Wind Beneath My Wings", which was recorded by Lou Rawls, Lee Greenwood, B.J. Thomas, Sheena Easton, Roger Whittaker, and Gary Morris, before Bette Midler had a #1 with it.

 

Re: Re: Re: Before They Were Hits ...

Some of these "anthology comps" on such obscure labels are fairly decent (I own a lot of them, though not on Triple Crown). Others are not-so-good. Usually, they're no-noised from 45 rpm's, so I wouldn't bank on them as being the utmost in fidelity. Still, they can be interesting... Ya takes yer chances.

 

Before the Kingston Trio's version?