“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 […]
Top 40 Cover Songs (13)
“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. […]