La Bamba (26) has its origin in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The oldest recorded version known is that of Alvaro Hernández Ortiz, who recorded the song with the name of “El Jarocho”. His recording was released on the Victor label in Mexico in 1938 or 1939, and was reissued on a 1997 compilation by […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (27)
“I Only Want to Be with You” (27) is a song written by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymonde. According to Jean Ryder, the ex-wife of songwriter Mike Hawker, “I Only Want to Be With You” was written soon after she and Hawker married in December 1961, being inspired by Hawker’s intense romantic feelings for his […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (28)
“I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll“ (28) is a song written by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker and was originally recorded and released by Arrows in 1975 on Rak Records, with Merrill on lead vocals and guitar and Mickie Most producing. Merrill wrote both the music and lyrics but gave a co-writer credit to Hooker as […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (29)
“I Shot the Sheriff” (29) is a song written by Bob Marley. It was first released in 1973 on The Wailers’ album Burnin’. Marley explained his intention as follows: “I want to say ‘I shot the police’ but the government would have made a fuss so I said ‘I shot the sheriff’ instead… but it’s […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (30)
“Torn” (30) was written in 1993 by Scott Cutler and Anne Preven with producer Phil Thornalley as a solo song for Preven. Cutler and Preven’s band Ednaswap performed it live, but did not initially release a recording. Ednaswap released a recorded version in 1995. The song followed the single “Glow” from their self-titled debut album. […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (31)
“Always on My Mind” (31) is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee, Gwen McCrae, and Elvis Presley, and first released by McCrae (as “You Were Always on My Mind”) in 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (32)
“Dedicated To The One I Love” (32) is a song written by Lowman Pauling and Ralph Bass which was a hit for the ‘5’ Royales, Pauling was the guitarist of the “5” Royales, the group that recorded the original version of the song, produced by Bass, in 1957. Their version was re-released in 1961 and […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (33)
“Stop Your Sobbing“ (33) is a song written by Ray Davies. The Kinks recorded “Stop Your Sobbing” on their first album, which was rushed out in order to capitalize on the success of “You Really Got Me.” Kinks biographer Rob Jovanovic writes that “Stop Your Sobbing” was supposedly written by Ray about a former girlfriend […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (34)
“Kiss” is a song composed, written, and produced by American musician Prince. Released by the Paisley Park label as the lead single from Prince and the Revolution’s eighth studio album Parade (1986) in February 1986, it was a No. 1 hit worldwide, holding the top spot of the U.S. Billboard chart for two weeks. The […]
The Top 40 Cover Songs (35)
“Whiskey in the Jar” (35) is an Irish traditional song set in the southern mountains of Ireland, often with specific mention of counties Cork and Kerry. The song, about a rapparee (highwayman) who is betrayed by his wife or lover, is one of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs and has been recorded by […]