As Heard Here First (again): More Original Versions of Hit Songs

Here's the sequel to our previous post of the first releases of songs that later became hits for other artists.  The last set of four CD-length comps covered the 1960's.  Today we pick up where we left off (in 1971, to be exact) for four more sets, ending in 1999.  Plus there's a bonus set of ballads (MOR or "yacht rock", if you like), which starts with "Send In The Clowns" (1963) and ends three decades later with "The Wind Beneath My Wings" (1993).  

Didja know that Barry Manilow didn't write "I Write The Songs"?  Or that "Midnight Train To Georgia" was originally called "Midnight Plane To Houston"?  

A tip of the hat to One Buck Guy, whose post about The Curtis Brothers explained the origins of CSN's "Southern Cross" as a Curtis Brothers' composition called "Seven League Boots" -- with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham on harmonies.  Stephen Stills did a drastic rewrite, but you can definitely hear what appealed to him about "Seven League Boots".

Another original song that probably hasn't appeared in other collections of this type is "Old Time Rock And Roll", which was released on the self-titled album by North Carolina band Sexy in 1977, a year before Bob Seger made his version a hit.  And check out Hackensack's "Moving On", which was covered by their tourmates Bad Company on BadCo's debut.

"Looking Good Diving" by Morgan/McVey is another interesting origin story.  Jamie Morgan was a founding member of Buffalo, a multimedia group of creative types in late 80's London.  His songwriting partner Cameron McVey married Neneh Cherry (who had appeared on "Looking Good Diving" along with The Wild Bunch (which begat Massive Attack).  McVey and Neneh Cherry reworked the song into her 1988 hit "Buffalo Stance".

"Battleship Chains" was written by Terry Anderson and recorded by his band The Woods.  It appeared on a 1986 compilation LP of North Carolina artists called Welcome To Comboland, shortly before the song became a hit for The Georgia Satellites.  

ELSEWHERE ON THE BLOG: Stinky's Homemade Live Georgia Satellites albums!