While most of the recordings below pre-dated the famous hit versions,
from eleased later. For instance, “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” comes
from Jimmy Webb’s reflective and critically-acclaimed 1996 album
“Ten Easy Pieces” and this collection opens with “Both Sides Now”
as interpreted by Joni Mitchell on her 1969 LP “Clouds”,
her second studio album.
BOTH SIDES NOW
(Joni Mitchell)
by Joni Mitchell
Pro: Joni Mitchell
(Reprise: 1969)
A #8 Pop hit in ’68 by Judy Collins.'
BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX
(Jimmy Webb)
by Jimmy Webb
Pro: Fred Mollin
(Guardian: 1996)
A #26 Pop hit by Glen Campbell in ’67 which became
a #2 Country hit in early ’68.
EVERYBODY’S TALKIN’
(Fred Neil)
by Fred Neil
Pro: Nick Venet
(Capitol: 1966)
Harry Nilsson’s version was memorably featured on the soundtrack
of “Midnight Cowboy” and it became a #6 Pop hit in ’69.
MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME
(Randy Newman)
by Randy Newman
Pro: Lenny Waronker
(Reprise: 1970)
A #1 Pop hit in 1970 by Three Dog Night.
ME AND BOBBY McGEE
(Kris Kristofferson/Fred Foster)
By Kris Kristofferson
Pro: Fred Foster
(Monument: 1970)
A #1 Pop hit in ’71 by Janis Joplin.
NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN
(Hoyt Axton)
by Hoyt Axton
Pro: Hoyt Axton
(Capitol: 1971)
A #5 Pop hit by Three Dog Night in ’72.
They’d earlier topped Billboard’s Hot 100
with another of Hoyt’s songs “Joy To The World”.
ONE (Harry Nilsson)
by Nilsson
Pro: Rick Jarrard
(RCA Victor: 1968)
A Top 5 hit in ’69 by Three Dog Night.
REASON TO BELIEVE
(Tim Hardin)
By Tim Hardin
Pro: Eric Jacobsen
(Verve Forecast: 1966)
Rod Stewart’s first cover version appeared on the charts briefly in ’71
as the flipside of “Maggie May” but “Reason To Believe” became a
Top 20 hit herein ’93 when Rod’s live performance with Ronnie Wood
was lifted from MTV’s ‘Unplugged’ special
SUZANNE
(Leonard Cohen)
By Leonard Cohen
Pro: John Simon
(Columbia: 1967)
Recorded by many artists including Noel Harrison
whose version charted at #56 in late ’67.
THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE
(Phil Ochs)
By Phil Ochs
Pro: Mark Abramson & Jac Holzman
(Elektra: 1966)
A #50 Pop hit by Joan Baez in 1965.
WEDDING BELL BLUES
(Laura Nyro)
By Laura Nyro
Pro: Milt Okun
(Verve Folkways: 1966)
A #1 Pop hit in ’69 by The 5th Dimension who also successfully covered
other Laura Nyro songs including “Stoned Soul Picnic” and Sweet Blindness”.
WEEKEND IN NEW ENGLAND
(Randy Edelman)
by Randy Edelman
Pro: Bill Schnee
(20th Century: 1975)
A #10 Pop hit in ’77 by Barry Manilow.
YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND
(Carole King)
by Carole King
Pro: Lou Adler
(Ode: 1971)
A #1 Pop hit in ’71 by James Taylor.
As in all my postings, the recordings listed and referenced
above are in no way intended as definitive collections.
Please send any comments or suggestions to
Rock on.
Alan Warner
© Alan Warner, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material
without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner
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