“All Along the Watchtower” (3) is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The final version of “All Along the Watchtower” resulted from two different takes during the second of three John Wesley Harding sessions. The session opened with five takes of the song, the third and fifth of which were spliced […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (4)
“I Will Always Love You“ (4) is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton’s decision to pursue a solo career, the country single was released in 1974. The song was a commercial success for Parton, […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (5)
“The First Cut Is the Deepest” (5) is a 1967 song written by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens. Stevens made a demo recording of “The First Cut Is the Deepest” in 1965, while hoping to become a songwriter. He wrote the song earlier to promote his songs to other artists, but did not record it as […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (6)
“I Will Survive” (6) is a song by American singer Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978 as the second single from her sixth album, Love Tracks (1978). It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. A top-selling song, it is a popular disco anthem, as well as being certified Platinum by the RIAA. The […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (7)
“Killing Me Softly with His Song“ (7) is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The lyrics were written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman. In November 1971, Lieberman, went out with her friend Michele Willens to see Don McLean perform at the Troubadour nightclub in Los Angeles. McLean’s hit song “American […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (8)
“Landslide” (8) is a song written by Stevie Nicks and performed by British-American band Fleetwood Mac. The song was first featured on the band’s self-titled 1975 album. The original recording also appears on the compilation album The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac (2002), while a live version was released as a single 23 years after […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (9)
“The Man Who Sold the World” (9) is a song by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The title track of Bowie’s third studio album, it was released in November 1970 in the US and in April 1971 in the UK by Mercury Records. Produced by Tony Visconti, it was recorded at Trident and Advision Studios in […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (10)
“Tainted Love” (10) American artist Gloria Jones recorded the original version in 1964; the song was written and produced by Ed Cobb and arranged by LIncoln Mayorga. It was the B-side of her 1965 single “My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home”, which was a commercial flop, failing to chart in either the US or the UK. […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (11)
“Valerie” (11) is a song by English indie rock band the Zutons from their second studio album, Tired of Hanging Around (2006). In an interview with The Scotsman in May 2008, lead singer Dave McCabe described the writing process of the song: “I could tell you I was inspired by gazing out across the Mersey […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (12)
“Take Me to the River” is a 1974 song written by singer Al Green and guitarist Mabon “Teenie” Hodges. Al Green originally recorded the song for his 1974 album, Al Green Explores Your Mind. Writing in The Independent in 1994, Tim de Lisle wrote: “Musically, it was much like any other track sung by Green […]