On Second Thought: 20 Hit Songs Originally Written for Other Artists -- Part 2
- Posted on Nov 2nd 2012 2:00PM by Pat Pemberton
- Comments
"Run to You," Bryan Adams
After Blue Oyster Cult producer Bruce Fairbairn asked Adams and writing partner Jim Vallance to pen a song for the band, the two studied the guitar intro from "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" -- Blue Oyster Cult's biggest hit. With that signature guitar intro as inspiration, they came up with "Run to You." But after giving it to the band, Fairbairn reported, "They don't like the song." It was also rejected by .38 Special before Adams recorded it himself. In 1984, it became his first top ten single.
Watch Bryan Adams' "Run to You" Video
A decade after the Beatles split, Harrison wrote this for ex-bandmate Ringo Starr. But the song didn't work with Ringo's vocals, so he kept it for himself. Around that time, John Lennon was murdered, so Harrision rewrote the lyrics to make it a tribute to Lennon. With Ringo and Paul McCartney backing him on the song, it was released six months after Lennon's death.
Watch George Harrison's "All Those Years Ago" Video
After meeting the Ramones in Asbury Park, N.J., Joey Ramone asked Springsteen -- an early champion of punk music -- to write them a song. "I went home and that night I wrote this," Springsteen wrote in his "Greatest Hits" liner notes. But after he played it for manager Jon Landau, Landau advised him to keep it.
Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart"
Responding to a request from his U.S. label, Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody wrote this song for Gwen Stefani, who wasn't impressed. Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls was interested in recording it for a solo album, but it got shelved. So Lightbody had the band record it -- with an electronic-infused, synth-pop sound that was a change of direction for the band. "It was originally a ballad," Lightbody told the Denver Post in 2009. "But now it's far from that."
Watch Snow Patrol's "Just Say Yes" Video
The psychedelic folkie wrote this song for a folk trio named Hurdy Gurdy. A member of that group, Mac MacLeod, had been a mentor who taught Donovan guitar techniques.
"But we disagreed on how to do it," Donovan told Melody Maker back in 1968. "I was going to produce it, but it didn't work out so I decided to do it myself as I needed another single."
Bowie, who shared a birthday with Elvis Presley, performed his first gig doing an Elvis impersonation -- when Bowie was 11. Years later, according to the London Observer, Bowie offered "Golden Years" to Presley. While Elvis -- who wouldn't make it to his golden years -- turned the song down, it was a Top 10 hit for Bowie in 1975.
Springsteen -- who had once scaled the gate at Graceland in an effort to meet Elvis -- wrote this with The King in mind. According to author Rob Kirkpatrick, he even mailed a demo to Memphis, but Presley died shortly afterward. Springsteen recorded "Fire" during the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions, but he didn't think it fit the album so he eventually gave it to the Pointer Sisters, whose version became a hit in 1979. More than two decades later, Springsteen would release his studio version as a part of the compilation album The Promise.
In their pre-disco days, the Bee Gees wrote this longing-for-home song (even if they'd never been to Massachusetts) for Australian band the Seekers. But the Seekers never recorded the song, which written on a boat near the Statue of Liberty, and it became one of the Bee Gees' early hits in 1967. In 2003, the Seekers recorded it as a tribute to Maurice Gibb, who'd recently passed away.
Hartman wrote this soulful song with friends Hall and Oates in mind, but the Philly duo had just wrapped up an album. A few months later, Hartman's version appeared in the movie "Streets of Fire," which helped the song reach the Top 10 in 1984. Years later, Hall and Oates recorded a version of the song for a covers album.
Watch Dan Hartman's "I Can Dream About You" Video
After Blue Oyster Cult producer Bruce Fairbairn asked Adams and writing partner Jim Vallance to pen a song for the band, the two studied the guitar intro from "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" -- Blue Oyster Cult's biggest hit. With that signature guitar intro as inspiration, they came up with "Run to You." But after giving it to the band, Fairbairn reported, "They don't like the song." It was also rejected by .38 Special before Adams recorded it himself. In 1984, it became his first top ten single.
"All Those Years Ago," George Harrison
A decade after the Beatles split, Harrison wrote this for ex-bandmate Ringo Starr. But the song didn't work with Ringo's vocals, so he kept it for himself. Around that time, John Lennon was murdered, so Harrision rewrote the lyrics to make it a tribute to Lennon. With Ringo and Paul McCartney backing him on the song, it was released six months after Lennon's death.
"Hungry Heart," Bruce Springsteen
After meeting the Ramones in Asbury Park, N.J., Joey Ramone asked Springsteen -- an early champion of punk music -- to write them a song. "I went home and that night I wrote this," Springsteen wrote in his "Greatest Hits" liner notes. But after he played it for manager Jon Landau, Landau advised him to keep it.
"Just Say Yes," Snow Patrol
Responding to a request from his U.S. label, Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody wrote this song for Gwen Stefani, who wasn't impressed. Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls was interested in recording it for a solo album, but it got shelved. So Lightbody had the band record it -- with an electronic-infused, synth-pop sound that was a change of direction for the band. "It was originally a ballad," Lightbody told the Denver Post in 2009. "But now it's far from that."
"Hurdy Gurdy Man," Donovan
The psychedelic folkie wrote this song for a folk trio named Hurdy Gurdy. A member of that group, Mac MacLeod, had been a mentor who taught Donovan guitar techniques.
"But we disagreed on how to do it," Donovan told Melody Maker back in 1968. "I was going to produce it, but it didn't work out so I decided to do it myself as I needed another single."
Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man"
"The First Time," U2
During the early '90s, Bono was inspired by Al Green's vocals, as demonstrated by his emerging falsettos. This quasi-religious song was initially intended for Green, but the band included on the Zooropa album.
Watch U2's "The First Time" Video
"Golden Years," David Bowie
Bowie, who shared a birthday with Elvis Presley, performed his first gig doing an Elvis impersonation -- when Bowie was 11. Years later, according to the London Observer, Bowie offered "Golden Years" to Presley. While Elvis -- who wouldn't make it to his golden years -- turned the song down, it was a Top 10 hit for Bowie in 1975.
David Bowie's "Golden Years"
"Fire," Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen -- who had once scaled the gate at Graceland in an effort to meet Elvis -- wrote this with The King in mind. According to author Rob Kirkpatrick, he even mailed a demo to Memphis, but Presley died shortly afterward. Springsteen recorded "Fire" during the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions, but he didn't think it fit the album so he eventually gave it to the Pointer Sisters, whose version became a hit in 1979. More than two decades later, Springsteen would release his studio version as a part of the compilation album The Promise.
Bruce Springsteen's "Fire"
"Massachusetts," The Bee Gees
In their pre-disco days, the Bee Gees wrote this longing-for-home song (even if they'd never been to Massachusetts) for Australian band the Seekers. But the Seekers never recorded the song, which written on a boat near the Statue of Liberty, and it became one of the Bee Gees' early hits in 1967. In 2003, the Seekers recorded it as a tribute to Maurice Gibb, who'd recently passed away.
Bee Gees' "Massachusetts"
"I Can Dream About You," Dan Hartman
Hartman wrote this soulful song with friends Hall and Oates in mind, but the Philly duo had just wrapped up an album. A few months later, Hartman's version appeared in the movie "Streets of Fire," which helped the song reach the Top 10 in 1984. Years later, Hall and Oates recorded a version of the song for a covers album.
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