Hit songs often credited to the wrong artist

When first released, "Fresh As A Daisy" was often thought on first listen to be Macca's

 

Some great examples here.

Someone once told me, years ago, that “One Toke Over The Line” (Brewer and Shipley) was sung by Paul McCartney. I sort of hear that. I hear a very superficial similarity. I suppose, taking into account his 1980 bust in Japan, he truly was One Toke Over The Line...sittin’ downtown in a Tokyo jail cell, one toke over the line.

 

Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You often thought to be Hall and Oates

 

Wait...the Carpenters didn’t write that?!

 

No, they built it.

 

I admit when I first heard this I thought it was Neil Young or CSNY (especially the last part, "Live In The Country"--I think this was all I heard as the song ended, on my first listen)...my excuse is my 1971 Toyota Corolla's tinny little AM radio.

Anyone else?

 

I thought this brilliant song was by The Righteous Brothers! So did a ton of other Americans who never heard of The great Walker Brothers...at least at first.

 

Sure, but the hit is credited to Nilsson, so that song doesn't fit this thread...

 

This WAS The Beatles! Not.

 

He totally should've covered it in concert! It seems suited for him. I don't blame you for thinking it was Elvis singing it.

 

Ahhhh. Fair enough. But neither does what you are saying it seems

I'm confused!

So...after re-reading the OP's opener...
it's about a song we thought was one artist, but was actually another.

 

Badfinger - Sister Golden Hair (America)



this came up at a record shop i would frequent, the person didn't recognize the vocalists are different entirely Gerry Beckley vs Pete Ham, still thought it was a Badfinger song because distinctive Slide guitar or Producer for America's album [George Martin/ past Beatle work]

 

Exactly! I guess you thought it was about hit songs that had already been released/written by someone else in non-hit form?

 

I think a lot of people believed "SGH" was a George Harrison song - it wouldn't have sounded out of place on an early 70s GH album!

 

Early Beatles solo hits are often attributed to the Beatles by many non-fans. I think in particular Another Day, Imagine and My Sweet Lord.

Summer in the City, Three Dog Night

Cat's in the Cradle, Cat Stevens. Because cat. Arf arf.

 

I actually thought this was a new Beatles classic in the making in 1970 on my tinny AM radio... I heard just the ending with that Lennon sounding ending. Well it has that Beatles vibe...after 30 seconds I knew...NOT.

.

 

Shoulda thrown 'em out!

 

Ride Captain Ride mistaken for Steely Dan

 

• Madness' "Our House" mis-credited to Talking Heads

Eh?? Sounds nothing like Talking Heads!

 

'Emotion' by Samantha Sang (not the Bee Gees although they do butt in a little too much to create the confusion).

 

"Burning Down Our House?"

 

I once had a conversation with someone who was sure that The Beatles did a version of it!

 

The guy, Kennedy William Gordy ('Rockwell'), is actually the son of Berry Gordy, figurehead of Motown. He was signed to his dad's label.

 

Everyone thought David & David's Welcome to the Boomtown was performed by Art in America.

 

I personally credited this song to Richard and Linda Thompson but it's actually an Aussie band. Uncanny resemblance IMHO.