“Jolene” (13) is a song written and performed by American country music artist Dolly Parton. It was produced by Bob Ferguson and recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee in May 1973. It was released in October 1973, by RCA Victor, as the first single and title track from her album of the same […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (14)
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (14) is a song recorded by the English band the Rolling Stones. A product of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ songwriting partnership, it features a guitar riff by Richards that opens and drives the song. The riff by Richards is widely considered one of the greatest hooks of all time. […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (15)
“Time After Time” (15) is a 1983 song by American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper, co-written with Rob Hyman. It was the second single released from her debut studio album, She’s So Unusual, with Hyman contributing backing vocals. The track was produced by Rick Chertoff and released as a single in January 1984. The song became Lauper’s […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (16)
“Hotel California” is the title track from the Eagles’ album of the same name and was released as a single in February 1977. Writing credits for the song are shared by Don Felder (music), Don Henley, and Glenn Frey (lyrics). Joe Walsh came up with the dual-guitar descending arpeggio part that ends the song: he […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (17)
“Let’s Stick Together” (17) is a rhythm and blues song written by Wilbert Harrison. In 1962, Fury Records released it as a single. Harrison further developed the song and in 1969, Sue Records issued it as a two-part single titled “Let’s Work Together“. The two songs use the same melody line and structure, but the […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (18)
“Cross Road Blues” (also known as “Crossroads“) is a blues song written and recorded by American blues artist Robert Johnson in 1936. Johnson performed it as a solo piece with his vocal and acoustic slide guitar in the Delta Blues-style. The song has become part of the Robert Johnson mythology as referring to the place […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (19)
“I Fought the Law” (19) was written in 1958 by Sonny Curtis, and recorded in 1959 when he joined the Crickets, taking the place of the late Buddy Holly on guitar. Joe B. Maudlin and Jerry Allison continued their positions on the stand-up bass and drums, respectively, while Earl Sinks filled the role for vocals. […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (20)
“Stand by Me” (20) is a song originally performed in 1961 by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King and written by him, along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who together used the pseudonym Elmo Glick. According to King, the title is derived from, and was inspired by, a spiritual written by Sam Cooke and J. […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (21)
“Summertime” (21) is an aria composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin. Gershwin began composing the song in December 1933, attempting to create his own […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (22)
“Season of the Witch” (22) is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan released in August 1966 on his third studio album, Sunshine Superman. The song is credited to Donovan, although sometime collaborator Shawn Phillips has also claimed authorship. Because of a dispute with Donovan’s record company, a UK edition with the song was not released […]