Category 1960s

“You’re No Good” (Betty Everett/The Swinging Blue Jeans/Linda Ronstadt)

You're No Good, Linda Ronstadt

Today’s classic song where the cover was a bigger hit than the original of the day is “You’re No Good.” This tune was a moderate hit for Betty Everett in the U.S. in 1963, a slightly bigger hit for the Swinging Blue Jeans the next year in England, and a much bigger hit for Linda Ronstadt worldwide a decade later.…

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“Me and Bobby McGee” (Kris Kristofferson/Roger Miller/Gordon Lightfoot/Janis Joplin)

Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin

Today’s classic song where the cover was much bigger than the original is “Me and Bobby McGee.” The song was written and recorded by Kris Kristofferson, was a country hit for Roger Miller, was a Canadian hit for Gordon Lightfoot, but became a mainstream monster chart topper for Janis Joplin. As noted, Kris Kristofferson wrote “Me and Bobby McGee, although…

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“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (Gladys Knight & the Pips/Marvin Gaye)

I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye

This week we’re looking at songs that were popular enough in their first go round but really blew up when covered by other artists. With that in mind, today’s classic song and cover of the day is “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” a hit originally for Gladys Knight & the Pips and later for Marvin Gaye. “I Heard It…

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“A Whiter Shade of Pale” (Procol Harum)

A Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum

Today’s classic song of the day is “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum. Released in May of 1967, this classical-sounding track peaked at #5 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100, but topped the charts in Australia, Belgium Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, West Germany,…

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