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100 Notable Original Versions
of Popular Songs

Criteria: These songs are ranked based on how surprising, how obscure and how good (or notably bad) each original version is and how interesting the story behind the song is, combined with how famous the subsequent versions of the song later became.

Edited By:
Dick Rosemont is recognized as one of the foremost experts on original versions of popular songs. For more information on original versions please visit his web site
- The Originals Project www.originalsproject.us
originals project Dick Rosemont
Dick Rosemont
List Begun: 2011-10-25
Legend: (under "Notes")
A - Good and/or interesting version
B - Notably bad version
C - Odd version
D - A surprise and/or obscure version
E - Interesting story behind it
F - A great/classic song
Notable Original Versions of Popular Songs
Song
Original Artist
Remade By
Notes
  1. Bigger They Come The Harder They Fall
  2. I Put A Spell On You
  3. Misirlou
  4. Magic Bus
  5. I'm All Shook Up (aka All Shook Up)
  6. Louie Louie
  7. Evil Ways
  8. Walk Don't Run
  9. Caravan
10. Ring Of Fire
Jimmy Cliff (1971)
Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1955)
Tetos Demetriades
Pudding
David Hill
Richard Berry
Willie Bobo
Johnny Smith
Barney Bigard & Jazzopators
Anita Carter
Jimmy Cliff (1972)
Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1956)
Dick Dale
The Who
Elvis Presley
Kingsmen
Santana
Ventures
Duke Ellington and others
Johnny Cash
C,D
C,D,F
A,F
C,D
B,D,E,F
A,F
A
A,F
A,F
D,E,F
11. Wild Thing
12. Hound Dog
13. Baby Please Don't Go
14. Good Lovin'
15. This Diamond Ring
16. Walking After Midnight
17. Back When My Hair Was Short
18. Devil With The Blue Dress
19. In The Mood
20. Dazed And Confused
Wild Ones
Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton
Joe Williams' Washboard Blues Singers
Lemme B. Good
Sammy Ambrose
Lynn Howard
Gunhill Road (1972)
Shorty Long
Edgar Hayes
Jake Holmes
Troggs
Elvis Presley
Them
Young Rascals
Gary Lewis & the Playboys
Patsy Cline
Gunhill Road (1973)
Mitch Ryder
Glenn Miller
Led Zeppelin
B,D,F
A
F
B,C,D,E
A,D
D
C,D,E
A
A,D,F
D,E
21. Mr. Tambourine Man
22. Rock Around The Clock
23. I Fought The Law
24. Jock-A-Mo (aka Iko Iko)
25. Train Kept A-Rollin'
26. Lover Please
27. Tobacco Road
28. Sunny
29. Just Dropped In
30. Apache
Brothers Four
Sonny Dae & Knights
Crickets
Sugar Boy Crawford
Tiny Bradshaw
Rhythm Steppers
John D. Loudermilk
Mieko Hirota
Jerry Lee Lewis
Bert Weedon
Byrds / Bob Dylan
Bill Haley & his Comets
Bobby Fuller Four
Dixie Cups
Yardbirds / Aerosmith
Clyde McPhatter
Nashville Teens
Bobby Hebb
First Edition
Jorgen Ingmann
B,D,E
C,D,E
A,F
A,F
A,F
C,D,E
A,F
D
C,D
D,F
31. Sixteen Tons
32. That'll Be The Day
33. Oye Como Va
34. Twist And Shout
35. Wild World
36. You Need Love (aka Whole Lotta Love)
37. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
38. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
39. Chelsea Morning
40. Last Kiss
Merle Travis
Buddy Holly (1956)
Tito Puente
Top Notes
Jimmy Cliff
Muddy Waters
Louise Cordet
Big Maybelle
Fairport Convention
Wayne Cochran
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Crickets (1957)
Santana
Isley Brothers / Beatles
Cat Stevens
Led Zeppelin
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Jerry Lee Lewis
Joni Mitchell
J Frank Wilson
A,F
D,E,F
A,F
B,D,E
A,D,E
D,E
B,D
A,D,F
D,F
D,E,F
41. Lady Marmalade
42. Shakin' All Over
43. Sitting On Top Of The World
44. Drift Away
45. Route 66
46. Mbube (aka Lion Sleeps Tonight)
47. Time Is On My Side
48. Can't Sit Down
49. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
50. Different Drum
Eleventh Hour
Johnny Kidd & the Pirates
Mississippi Sheiks
John Kurtz
King Cole Trio
Solomon Linda
Kai Winding
Bim Bam Boos
Rex Griffin
Greenbriar Boys
Labelle
Guess Who / The Who
Howlin' Wolf / Cream
Dobie Gray
Rolling Stones
Tokens
Rolling Stones
Dovells
Carl Perkins
Stone Poneys
C,D
F
D,F
A,D
A,F
A,D,E
C,D
D
D
A,D,E
51. Hey Joe
52. I've Got My Mind Set On You
53. Stranded In The Jungle
54. Keep Growing Strong (aka Betcha By Golly Wow)
55. Just Like Me
56. Me And Bobby McGee
57. Here Comes The Night
58. Burning Love
59. It's All Over Now
60. Can't You Hear My Heartbeat
Leaves (1965)
James Ray
Jayhawks
Connie Stevens
Wilde Knights
Roger Miller
Lulu
Arthur Alexander
Valentinos
Goldie & the Gingerbreads
Leaves (1966)
George Harrison
Cadets
Stylistics 
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Janis Joplin
Them
Elvis Presley
Rolling Stones
Herman's Hermits
E,F
C,D
F
D
C,D
D,E
D
A,D
C,F
D,E
61. Sing, Sing, Sing
62. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
63. Crazy Arms
64. Comin' Home Baby
65. Mustang Sally
66. That's How Strong My Love Is
67. Young Love
68. Who Do You Love
69. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
70. After Midnight
Louis Prima
Joan Baez
Kenny Brown & Marilyn Kaye
Dave Bailey
Sir Mack Rice
O.V. Wright
Ric Cartey
Bo Diddley
Nina Simone
J.J. Cale
Benny Goodman
Led Zeppelin
Ray Price
Herbie Mann
Wilson Pickett
Otis Redding
Sonny James / Tab Hunter
Woolies / George Thorogood
Animals
Eric Clapton
A,F
C,E
D
D,F
A,F
F
D,E
A,F
A,F
A,F
71. Moritat (aka Mack The Knife)
72. Riders In The Sky
73. Harlem Nocturne
74. Girl Of My Best Friend
75. Black Magic Woman
76. Morning Dew
77. Tainted Love
78. The Tide Is High
79. Little Bit O' Soul
80. You Got What It Takes
Harald Paulsen
Burl Ives
Ray Noble
Charlie Blackwell
Fleetwood Mac
Bonnie Dobson
Gloria Jones
Paragons
Little Darlings
Bobby Parker
Bobby Darin
Vaughn Monroe / Ramrods
Johnny Otis / Viscounts
Ral Donner
Santana
Tim Rose / Jeff Beck
Soft Cell
Blondie
Music Explosion
Marv Johnson / Dave Clark 5
C,D,F
A,F
D,F
B,D
A,F
D,F
A,F
A,D
D
D,E
81. On Broadway
82. That's All Right
83. Rave On!
84. Pale Faced Indian (aka Indian Reservation)
85. Scarborough Fair
86. Pass The Kouchie (aka Pass The Doutchie)
87. Willin'
88. Homeward Bound
89. Call It Stormy Monday
90. Rich Woman
Crystals
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
Sonny West
Marvin Rainwater
Gordon Heath & Lee Payant
Mighty Diamonds
Johnny Darrell
Chad & Jeremy
T-Bone Walker
Li'l Milet & His Creoles
Drifters
Elvis Presley
Buddy Holly
Don Fardon/Raiders
Simon & Garfunkel
Musical Youth
Little Feat / Linda Rondstadt
Simon & Garfunkel
Bobby Bland and others
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
C,D,E
A,F
D
D
C,D,E
A,D,E
D,F
D,E
A,F
A,D,F
91. Get It While You Can
92. Mystery Train
93. Let's Get Together (aka Get Together)
94. Angel Of The Morning
95. Down Under
96. Goin' Down
97. I'm Henry The VIII
98. Night Train
99. She Cried
100. Is That All There Is
Howard Tate
Junior Parker
Kingston Trio
Evie Sands
Men At Work (1979)
Moloch
Harry Champion
Jimmy Forrest
Teddy Daryll
Dan Daniels
Janis Joplin
Elvis Presley
Youngbloods
Merilee Rush / Juice Newton
Men At Work (1982)
Freddie King / Jeff Beck
Herman's Hermits
Buddy Morrow / Viscounts
Jay & the Americans
Peggy Lee
A
A,F
C,D
D
C,D
C,D,F
C,D
E,F
D
C,D,E



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