With only so many words used in everyday language,
it’s not surprising that many song titles become interchangeable.
Understandably, the current hit “Cry Baby” by Megan Thee Stallion
is a totally different song to the classic 1963 Garnet Mimms R&B
record of the same name.
Similarly, Led Zeppelin’s 1971 eternal rock anthem bore no relation to
Neil Sedaka’s own “Stairway To Heaven” from eleven years earlier.
There are countless examples of different hit songs with the same title
and the following are just a few of them which caught my eye...
BLUE MONDAY
(Dave Bartholomew)
by Fats Domino
Pro: Dave Bartholomew
(Imperial: 1956)
Originally recorded by Smiley Lewis in ’53,
this BLUE MONDAY was recut by Fats whose version
reached #9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in February ’57.
BLUE MONDAY
(Bernard Sumner/Gilliam Gilbert/Peter Hook/Stephen Morris)
by New Order
Pro: New Order
(Factory: 1983)
Written and produced by this British techno-dance group,
BLUE MONDAY was a disco hit here in ’83 and then a
remixed version co-produced by Quincy Jones charted on the
Hot 100 in ’88.
CRY ME A RIVER
(Arthur Hamilton)
by Julie London
Pro: Bobby Troup feat. Barney Kessel & Ray Leatherwood
(Liberty: 1955)
A #9 hit here in late ’55, its success was aided by Julie singing
the song onscreen in the 1956 hit rock ‘n’ roll movie “The Girl Can’t Help It”.
Originally, there were two Julie London versions on Liberty:
a single of Julie with orchestra conducted by Felix Slatkin
but this is the more famous recording with Julie accompanied
by guitarist Barney Kessel andbass player Ray Leatherwood.
It was the opening track on her debut LP “Julie Is Her Name”
produced by Bobby Troup whom she married in ’59.
CRY ME A RIVER
(Justin Timberlake/Scott Spencer/Tim Mosley)
by Justin Timberlake
Pro: Timbaland
(Jive: 2002)
This marked Justin’s second hit on the Hot 100
when it peaked at #3 in February 2003.
FAMILY AFFAIR
(Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone)
by Sly & The Family Stone
Pro: Sly Stone
(Epic: 1971)
A massive dance floor favorite, it was the third
Sly & The Family Stone single to reach #1 on the Hot 100.
FAMILY AFFAIR
(Mary J. Blige/Andre Young aka Dr. Dre)
Bruce Miller/Camara Kambon/Melvin Bradford/
Mike Elizondo/Luchana Lodge/Louis Pierre)
by Mary J. Blige
Pro: Dr. Dre
(MCA: 2001)
This was hip-hop soul queen Mary J’s first #1 smash hit.
FEEL LIKE MAKIN’ LOVE
(Eugene McDaniels)
by Roberta Flack
Pro: Roberta Flack
Co-Pro: L. Leon Pendarvis, Eugene McDaniels & Louise Fleming
Exec. Pro: Joel Dorn
(Atlantic: 1974)
Roberta’s single topped Billboard’s R&B chart and also
the Hot 100 in ’74. Song was later revived by George Benson
whose version charted in the UK in ’83.
As singer Gene McDaniels, Eugene had major 1960’s hits
with other writers’ songs including “A Hundred Pounds Of Clay”,
“Tower Of Strength” and “Chip Chip”.
FEEL LIKE MAKIN’ LOVE
(Paul Rodgers/Mick Ralphs)
by Bad Company
Pro: Bad Company
(Swan Song: 1975)
Song also recorded by Millie Jackson
whose version became a minor R&B seller in ’76.
HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
(Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb/Maurice Gibb)
by The Bee Gees
Pro: The Bee Gees, Karl Richardson & Albhy Galuten
(RSO: 1977)
This was the first of the Bee Gees’ three #1 hits from
the box-office hit film “Saturday Night Fever”
starring John Travolta. The two singles which
followed were “Stayin’ Alive” and “Night Fever”.
HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE
(Warryn Campbell/Mark Andrews/
Tamir Ruffin/Rick Cousin/Reggie Noble)
by Dru Hill Featuring Redman
Pro: Warryn Campbell, Dutch & Nokio
(Island: 1998)
This was the third single by R&B group Dru Hill
to top Billboard’s R&B chart. The Dru Hill track
was featured prominently in the 1998 Jackie Chan
movie “Rush Hour”.
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
(Sam Theard/Fleecie Moore)
by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
(Decca: 1946)
Saxman Louis Jordan ushered in this unforgettable jump blues
which was successful on the race record charts in ’47.
It was co-written by Louis using his wife’s name Fleecie Moore
as a pseudonym. Recorded by such other artists as Ray Charles,
Muddy Waters, Rufus Thomas, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis
and also Koko Taylor.
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
(Leonard Lee/Shirley Goodman)
by Shirley & Lee
(Aladdin: 1956)
R&B duet by the twosome who were tagged the “Sweethearts Of The Blues”.
Other artists who recorded the song range from The Animals & Taj Mahal
to Barbra Streisand plus the duo Caesar & Cleo who were later known as
Sonny & Cher.
OVER AND OVER
(Robert Byrd aka Bobby Day)
by Bobby Day
(Class: 1958)
Written and recorded by Bobby Day of The Hollywood Flames,
it was issued on the flipside of Bobby’s version of Leon Rene’s
song “Rockin’ Robin” which hit #2 on the Hot 100 in October ’58.
A competing version by Thurston Harris also briefly charted but
the song’s biggest success was by the Dave Clark Five whose
revival topped the Hot 100 in Christmas week ’65.
OVER AND OVER
(Jayson Bridges/Cornell Haynes aka Nelly/James Hargrove)
by Nelly with Tim McGraw
Exec Pro: Nelly
A&R: Kevin Law
(Derrty: 2004)
Rapper Nelly joined forces with country star
Tim McGraw for this #3 hit single featured on Nelly’s album “Suit”.
STAY WITH ME
(Jerry Ragovoy/George David Weiss)
by Lorraine Ellison
Pro: Jerry Ragovoy
(Warner Bros: 1966)
A glorious example of a gospel-trained singer delivering an impassioned
deep soul ballad. Sometimes referred to as STAY WITH ME BABY as in UK chart
versions by The Walker Brothers, David Essex and Rebecca Wheatley, the song was
performed by Bette Midler in the 1979 film “The Rose”.
STAY WITH ME
(Ron Wood/Rod Stewart)
by The Faces
Pro: Glyn Johns & The Faces
(Warner Bros: 1971)
Formed in 1969, The Faces comprised former members of the Small Faces
and the Jeff Beck Group. Their lead singer was Rod Stewart and STAY WITH ME
was the band’s initial success hitting #6 in the UK in January ’72 and #17 here
that March.
WALK ON BY
(Kendall Hayes)
by Leroy Van Dyke
Pro: Shelby Singleton
(Mercury: 1961)
A major #1 country hit in ’61 which crossed over to become
a #5 smash in December that year; it also reached that same
#5 position in the UK in February ‘62.
WALK ON BY
(Burt Bacharach/Hal David)
by Dionne Warwick
Pro: Bacharach & David
Arr & Cond: Burt Bacharach
(Scepter: 1964)
This was the fifth of a momentous string of chart hits written
by Burt & Hal specially for Dionne. The first was “Don’t Make Me Over”
and the one that preceded WALK ON BY was “Anyone Who Had A Heart”.
WALK ON BY was later notably revived by such as Isaac Hayes, AWB,
The Stranglers, Sybil and also British singer Gabrielle.
SUPERSTAR
(Leon Russell/Bonnie Bramlett)
by The Carpenters
Pro: Jack Daugherty
Arr: Richard Carpenter
(A&M: 1971)
This Carpenters single reached #2 on the Hot 100 in October ’72.
The original version of this song was titled “Groupie (Superstar)”
and was released as the B-side to “Comin’ Home” by Delaney & Bonnie
& Friends Featuring Eric Clapton on Atco in ’69.
SUPERSTAR
(Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber)
by Murray Head with The Trinidad Singers
Pro: Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber
Exec Pro: Mike Leander
(Decca: 1969)
The title song from the worldwide hit rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar”
performed by actor/singer Murray Head who portrayed Judas Iscariot in
Tim & Andrew’s original LP concept version of the show. Murray’s single
charted here at #14 in May ’71.
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, 2021.
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