Recent discussion on here about cover versions prompted me to hook
this selection of 50 of my personal favorite on-topic covers out of my
files (all are very good IMO and mostly--but not always--better than
the original)

Adorable - The Drifters - 1955 (The Colts)
Ain't That Love - Brenda Lee - 1957 (Ray Charles)
All Around The World - Little Willie John - 1955 (Titus Turner)
All Shook Up - Elvis Presley - 1957 (David Hill)
Answer Me My Love - Nat "King" Cole - 1953 (Frankie Laine)
Apache - The Shadows - 1960 (Bert Weedon)
Birmingham Bounce - Amos Milburn - 1950 (Hardrock Gunter)
Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley - 1956 (Carl Perkins)]
Come Back My Love - The Cardinals - 1955 (The Wrens)
Count Every Star - The Ravens - 1950 (Ray Anthony)
Cry - Johnnie Ray - 1951 (Ruth Casey)
Crying In The Chapel - The Orioles - 1953 (Darrell Glenn)
Don't You Just Know It - The Titans - 1958 (Huey "Piano" Smith & The
Clowns)
Good Morning Judge - Wynonie Harris - 1950 (Louis Innis)
Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters - 1957 (Ann Cole)
Half As Much - Hank Williams - 1952 (Curley Williams)
Hearts Of Stone - The Charms - 1954 (The Jewels)
His Latest Flame - Elvis Presley (1961) Del Shannon)
I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know - The Davis Sisters - 1953 (Sonny
James)
I Promise To Remember - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - 1956 (Jimmy
Castor & The Juniors as "I Promise")
I Smell A Rat - Young Jessie - 1954 (Willie Mae Thornton)
If You Need Me - Solomon Burke - 1963 (Wilson Pickett)
It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels - Kitty Wells - 1952 (Al
Montgomery as "Did God Make Honky Tonk Angels?")
It's Gonna Work Out Fine - Ike & Tina Turner - 1961 (Mickey & Sylvia)
Little Bitty Pretty One - Thurston Harris - 1957 (Bobby Day & The
Satellites)
Little Darlin' - The Diamonds - 1957 (The Gladiolas)
Make The World Go Away - Timi Yuro - 1963 (Ray Price)
Mean Woman Blues - Jerry Lee Lewis - 1957 (Elvis Presley)
Memories Are Made Of This - Dean Martin - 1955 (Mindy Carson)
Mona Lisa - Nat "King" Cole - 1950 (Charlie Spivak)
Pony Time - Chubby Checker - 1961 (The Goodtimers)
Pretend - Nat "King" Cole - 1953 (Ralph Marterie)
Rave On - Buddy Holly - 1958 (Sonny West)
Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & Comets - 1954 (Sonny Dae & The
Knights)
See You Later Alligator - Bill Haley & Comets - 1955 (Bobby Charles as
"Later Alligator")
Shake Rattle And Roll - Bill Haley & Comets - 1954 (Joe Turner)
She's Dynamite - B.B. King - 1951 (Tampa Red)
Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell - 1956 (Marty Robbins)
Slippin' And Slidin' - Little Richard (Eddie Bo as "I'm Wise")
Stranded In The Jungle - The Cadets - 1956 (The Jayhawks)
Tell Me Why - The Swallows - 1951 (The Four Aces)
The Wild Side Of Life - Hank Thompson - 1952 (Jimmy Heap)
To The Aisle - The Five Satins - 1957 (Roy Hamilton as "The Aisle")
Too Young - Nat "King" Cole - 1951 (Victor Young)
Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
Why Don't You Write Me - The Jacks - 1955 (The Feathers)
Woman Love - Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps - 1956 (Jimmy Johnson)
You Cheated - The Shields - 1958 (The Slades)
You're No Good - Betty Everett - 1963 (Dee Dee Warwick)
Young Love - Sonny James - 1956 (Ric Cartey)

ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (mariabus@bblueyonder.co.uk) Please
delete same before responding.Thank you!

To my surprise, the Mills Brothers did a pretty good version of "Get a Job."

On Tue, 27 Sep 2022 15:08:38 -0700 (PDT), "Dean F."
<soulexpress@gmail.com> wrote:

>To my surprise, the Mills Brothers did a pretty good version of "Get a Job."

Yes its not bad vocally but I really miss Rollee's wild sax solo

ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (mariabus@bblueyonder.co.uk) Please
delete same before responding.Thank you!

On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:

> Too Young - Nat "King" Cole - 1951 (Victor Young)

Rosemont did not have this one on his site, but he does now thanks to you and me.

http://www.originalsproject.us/graphics/thumbnails/TooYoung.jpg

On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:

> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)

Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?

On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:23:44 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <SavoyBG@aol.com>
wrote:

>On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>
>> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
>
>Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?

Yes but Todd Duncan was only ever in the movie. There was no record.
Les Baxter had the first record out
>

ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (mariabus@bblueyonder.co.uk) Please
delete same before responding.Thank you!

On Sep 28, 2022 at 10:23:44 AM CDT, "Bruce" <SavoyBG@aol.com> wrote:

> On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>
>> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
>
> Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?

Is it really a cover if someone sings the lyrics to an instrumental version?
In any case, Hibbler's transcendent version is probably my favorite pop record
of the 50s.

--md

remove "xx" for email

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:42:02 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:23:44 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
> wrote:
> >On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> >
> >> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
> >
> >Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?
> Yes but Todd Duncan was only ever in the movie. There was no record.
> Les Baxter had the first record out

So?

Why can't you cover something that you can hear from another source than a record?

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 12:00:56 PM UTC-4, Mark D. wrote:
> On Sep 28, 2022 at 10:23:44 AM CDT, "Bruce" <Sav...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> >
> >> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
> >
> > Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?
> Is it really a cover if someone sings the lyrics to an instrumental version?

The Baxter has a chorus singing.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 12:20:18 PM UTC-4, Bruce wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:42:02 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> > On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:23:44 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
> > wrote:
> > >On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> > >
> > >> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
> > >
> > >Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?
> > Yes but Todd Duncan was only ever in the movie. There was no record.
> > Les Baxter had the first record out
> So?
>
> Why can't you cover something that you can hear from another source than a record?

When Baxter and the others were "covering" the movie version, they didn't know that there was not gonna be a record release on the Todd Duncan version.. They may even have thought that there already was a record release on it. And whoever owned it should have put it out on a single once the other versions showed up.

Was Little Queenie by Jerry Lee Lewis soon enough after the original to count as a true cover?

--
BR

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 1:02:22 PM UTC-4, robert...@gmail.com wrote:

> Was Little Queenie by Jerry Lee Lewis soon enough after the original to count as a true cover?

No. Chuck had two more singles out by the time Jerry's record came out.

On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:20:17 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <SavoyBG@aol.com>
wrote:

>On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:42:02 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:23:44 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
>> wrote:
>> >On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>> >
>> >> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
>> >
>> >Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?
>> Yes but Todd Duncan was only ever in the movie. There was no record.
>> Les Baxter had the first record out
>
>So?
>
>Why can't you cover something that you can hear from another source than a record?

You're going against the basic concept of "cover records" no?

Cover records were surely created to easily cash in on an existing
current recording that was beginning (or about to begin they hoped) to
become very popular and so siphon off sales from the original

Since Todd Duncan's version was only featured in the movie "Unchained"
and was never on record at the time it doesn't fit that criteria and
so doesn't count.

As far as I know the definition outlined above has been the one used
by grouo members here as long as I've been here

With "Unchained Melody" strictly speaking the original version---the
first recordiing released----was that of Liberace, But since its
totally instrumental for the purposes of my list I used the Les Baxter
version which has some vocal parts on it

ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (mariabus@bblueyonder.co.uk) Please
delete same before responding.Thank you!

On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:00:51 +0000, Mark D. <mdintenfass@xxnew.rr.com>
wrote:

>On Sep 28, 2022 at 10:23:44 AM CDT, "Bruce" <SavoyBG@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>>
>>> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
>>
>> Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?
>
>Is it really a cover if someone sings the lyrics to an instrumental version?
>In any case, Hibbler's transcendent version is probably my favorite pop record
>of the 50s.
>
See my response to Bruce

ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (mariabus@bblueyonder.co.uk) Please
delete same before responding.Thank you!

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 2:22:43 PM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:20:17 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
> >On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:42:02 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> >> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:23:44 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> >On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
> >> >
> >> >Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?
> >> Yes but Todd Duncan was only ever in the movie. There was no record.
> >> Les Baxter had the first record out
> >
> >So?
> >
> >Why can't you cover something that you can hear from another source than a record?
> You're going against the basic concept of "cover records" no?
>
> Cover records were surely created to easily cash in on an existing
> current recording that was beginning (or about to begin they hoped) to
> become very popular and so siphon off sales from the original
>
> Since Todd Duncan's version was only featured in the movie "Unchained"
> and was never on record at the time it doesn't fit that criteria and
> so doesn't count.
>
> As far as I know the definition outlined above has been the one used
> by grouo members here as long as I've been here
>
> With "Unchained Melody" strictly speaking the original version---the
> first recordiing released----was that of Liberace,

The original version is the first one recorded, not necessarily the first one released. Otherwise you must believe that the Mercury "Only You" was the original version rather than the earlier Federal recording that came out after the Mercury version was released. Same thing for "That'll Be The Day." The original Decca recording was released 2 months after the Crickets version. There are plenty of other examples of this, and I say that the first recording is the original version, which is the same standard that Rosemont uses.

Whether or not it as released is a business decision that has nothing to do with which was the first version IMO.

There are other examples of covers being released before the original. like Muddy hearing Ann Cole do "Got My Mojo Working" while they were touring together and recording a cover that got released a week before her version, which had been recorded earlier. Once Rabinowitz saw the Waters release of the song he put out Cole's version.

I can't go alone with business decisions determining which version is the original.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 2:22:43 PM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:20:17 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
> wrote:
>
> >On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:42:02 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> >> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:23:44 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> >On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
> >> >
> >> >Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?
> >> Yes but Todd Duncan was only ever in the movie. There was no record.
> >> Les Baxter had the first record out
> >
> >So?
> >
> >Why can't you cover something that you can hear from another source than a record?
> You're going against the basic concept of "cover records" no?
>
> Cover records were surely created to easily cash in on an existing
> current recording that was beginning (or about to begin they hoped) to
> become very popular and so siphon off sales from the original
>
> Since Todd Duncan's version was only featured in the movie "Unchained"
> and was never on record at the time it doesn't fit that criteria and
> so doesn't count.

On the contrary. Nobody says the song being covered has to already be on a record. The cover is done because they believe there is hit potential of an already existing performance or recording. No one says that it has to be a record.

What about covers of a recording that is only available on an album so far? Was Nella Dodds "Come See About Me" not a cover because it came out on a single before the Supremes version was out on a single.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 3:41:41 PM UTC-4, Bruce wrote:

"Let It Be" was first released by Aretha Franklin, before the Beatles version. I guess that makes her version the original according to Roger's methods. Same thing with "Mr. Tambourine Man" which was released by the Brothers Four before Dylan's version.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 3:41:41 PM UTC-4, Bruce wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 2:22:43 PM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> > You're going against the basic concept of "cover records" no?
> >
> > Cover records were surely created to easily cash in on an existing
> > current recording that was beginning (or about to begin they hoped) to
> > become very popular and so siphon off sales from the original
> >
> On the contrary. Nobody says the song being covered has to already be
> on a record. The cover is done because they believe there is hit potential
> of an already existing performance or recording. No one says that it has to
> be a record.

Roger's right.
"Cover" in '50s usage (and, equally important, in rec.50s usage) has always implied competition.
No one chose to buy a record instead of a ticket to a movie.

--
BR

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 8:05:17 PM UTC-4, robert...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 3:41:41 PM UTC-4, Bruce wrote:
> > On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 2:22:43 PM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> > > You're going against the basic concept of "cover records" no?
> > >
> > > Cover records were surely created to easily cash in on an existing
> > > current recording that was beginning (or about to begin they hoped) to
> > > become very popular and so siphon off sales from the original
> > >
> > On the contrary. Nobody says the song being covered has to already be
> > on a record. The cover is done because they believe there is hit potential
> > of an already existing performance or recording. No one says that it has to
> > be a record.
> Roger's right.

> "Cover" in '50s usage (and, equally important, in rec.50s usage) has always implied competition.
> No one chose to buy a record instead of a ticket to a movie.

Suppose that Capitol and Les Baxter THOUGHT that the Duncan version was available on a record, or would soon be available on a record. Is it a cover then, or does there have to actually be a physical record out? Or is intent what matters, as in, "let's get a version of this out before they put Duncan's version out so we can beat them to the hit."

What about "Got My Mojo Working" by Muddy. He and Chess recorded the song because Muddy toured with Ann Cole and heard her do that song every night before her version had been release. Her version cam out one week after his version, but was recorded much earlier. Is either version considered a cover by you?

How about Jerry Lee releasing "Mean Woman Blues" as a single or EP covering an Elvis album track that was also on an EP. Do you consider that a cover?

What about Federal releasing the Platters earlier recording of "Only You" to compete with the Mercury version by them. Is either one of those a "cover.." Based on your definition that would make the earlier Federal version a "cover" of the Mercury version, as the Platters were no longer on Federal and the label released a master that it owned to compete with the Mercury version.

Do you agree with Roger that the first version t be released is th original version? Or does it go by when it was recorded?

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 8:19:51 PM UTC-4, Bruce wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 8:05:17 PM UTC-4, Bob wrote:
> > Roger's right.
> > "Cover" in '50s usage (and, equally important, in rec.50s usage) has always implied competition.
> > No one chose to buy a record instead of a ticket to a movie.

> Based on your definition...

It's not my definition. It's the definition that was traditionally used in the 1950s and it is the definition that is frozen in amber here.
"Cover" implies one-to-one competition in the marketplace, and therefore a cover must be the same product as the original.
A single is not competing with an album track, and it is definitely not competing with a scene in a movie.
You gave examples of nuances in the thought process of the cover artist, but the thinking of anyone while making the recording is irrelevant. Only the fact of the competition is relevant.
In later usage (i.e., usage in the past 60 years) the competition aspect fell away. So in later usage, a record can be a cover of an album track, or of a movie song, or of a song from the stage. But, in 1950s usage, just as a common time frame of the releases is relevant, so is common product released.

--
BR

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 9:34:06 PM UTC-4, robert...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 8:19:51 PM UTC-4, Bruce wrote:
> > On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 8:05:17 PM UTC-4, Bob wrote:
>
> > > Roger's right.
> > > "Cover" in '50s usage (and, equally important, in rec.50s usage) has always implied competition.
> > > No one chose to buy a record instead of a ticket to a movie.
> > Based on your definition...
>
> It's not my definition. It's the definition that was traditionally used in the 1950s and it is the definition that is frozen in amber here.

What makes you think that? You were not even alive in the 50s, I've never seen anything that specified that it was only a cover if there was another version of that song already issued on a record.

> A single is not competing with an album track, and it is definitely not competing with a scene in a movie.

But it is competing with an EP, as several songs charted on the singles chart from EPs in the 50s, and even in the 60s. Like "Love Me" and several pother Elvis songs that were hits from an EP. Singles re competing with album tracks for airplay, and even for sales. Lots of times people would buy an album to get one song that wasn't on a single. You don't think that some people bought an Elvis album or an EP for "Mean Woman Blues" rather than buying the Jerry Lee 45 in the UK, or the EP here?

> You gave examples of nuances in the thought process of the cover artist, but the thinking of anyone while making the recording is irrelevant. Only the fact of the competition is relevant.

I don't agree with that. If they thought they were "covering" "Unchained Melody," then they were covering "Unchained Melody." And by the same token, if Hibbler and Decca did not know about the Les Baxter version yet when they recorded and released their version, then it can't be a cover of the Baxter version, which is clearly sounds nothing like. The Hibbler is clearly a cover of the Duncan recording in the movie.

> In later usage (i.e., usage in the past 60 years) the competition aspect fell away. So in later usage, a record can be a cover of an album track, or of a movie song, or of a song from the stage.

In later usage they call it a cover even if it's a new version of an 80 year old song. Total bullshit.

The word “cover” is now used by music writers and music fans incorrectly. They use it to describe any attempt by an artist to perform old songs or previously recorded material. The use of this term gives them a bit of authority since it makes them sound like they are in the music business. They are in fact ignorant of what a cover version of a song really is.

Back in the days of black radio stations and white radio stations (i.e. segregation), if a black act had a hot record the white kids would find out and want to hear it on “their” radio station. This would prompt the record company to bring a white act into the recording studio and cut an exact, but white, version of the song to give to the white radio stations to play and thus keep the black act where it belonged, on black radio. A “cover” version of a song is a racist tool. Many examples can be found from “Sha Boom” to “Good Lovin’” It is NOT a term intended to be used to describe a valid interpretation of an old song. In that case every pop singer is nothing more than a cover artist (a derogatory description if ever there was one). I am not a “cover” artist and I do not do “covers”. The Crewcuts were cover artists.

The term has morphed into its present misuse and I suppose I’ll not see this change anytime soon but I do hope the readers of this website and fans who are kind enough to write concert reviews will not use this term.

Madonna did not “cover” American Pie, she just sang an old song, and made an old songwriter mighty happy.

Thanks, DON McLEAN
August 26, 2004

On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 07:37:42 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <SavoyBG@aol.com>
wrote:

>On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>
>> Too Young - Nat "King" Cole - 1951 (Victor Young)
>
>Rosemont did not have this one on his site, but he does now thanks to you and me.
>
>http://www.originalsproject.us/graphics/thumbnails/TooYoung.jpg

Note the first entry for 'Recent additions':
http://www.originalsproject.us/

On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:37:06 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <SavoyBG@aol.com>
wrote:

>On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 2:22:43 PM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:20:17 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
>> wrote:=20
>>=20
>> >On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:42:02 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:=
>=20
>> >> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:23:44 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>=20
>> >> wrote:=20
>> >> >On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:=
>=20
>> >> >=20
>> >> >> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)=20
>> >> >=20
>> >> >Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of=
> Baxter?=20
>> >> Yes but Todd Duncan was only ever in the movie. There was no record.=
>=20
>> >> Les Baxter had the first record out=20
>> >=20
>> >So?=20
>> >=20
>> >Why can't you cover something that you can hear from another source than=
> a record?
>> You're going against the basic concept of "cover records" no?=20
>>=20
>> Cover records were surely created to easily cash in on an existing=20
>> current recording that was beginning (or about to begin they hoped) to=20
>> become very popular and so siphon off sales from the original=20
>>=20
>> Since Todd Duncan's version was only featured in the movie "Unchained"=20
>> and was never on record at the time it doesn't fit that criteria and=20
>> so doesn't count.=20
>>=20
>> As far as I know the definition outlined above has been the one used=20
>> by grouo members here as long as I've been here=20
>>=20
>> With "Unchained Melody" strictly speaking the original version---the=20
>> first recordiing released----was that of Liberace,=20
>
>The original version is the first one recorded, not necessarily the first o=
>ne released.

I've always agreed with that

>Otherwise you must believe that the Mercury "Only You" was the=
> original version rather than the earlier Federal recording that came out a=
>fter the Mercury version was released.

Thats correct but remember The Hilltoppers were covering the hit
Mercury version of "Only You". Doubtful if many folk outside The
Platters themselves and Syd Nathan knew about the earlier "Only You"
recording at that precise time

>Same thing for "That'll Be The Day."=
> The original Decca recording was released 2 months after the Crickets vers=
>ion. There are plenty of other examples of this, and I say that the first r=
>ecording is the original version, which is the same standard that Rosemont =
>uses.=20
>
It's the same thing Roger uses too. There is no argument here--so far

>Whether or not it as released is a business decision that has nothing to do=
> with which was the first version IMO.
>
>There are other examples of covers being released before the original. like=
> Muddy hearing Ann Cole do "Got My Mojo Working" while they were touring to=
>gether and recording a cover that got released a week before her version, w=
>hich had been recorded earlier.

I think I used this one as a prime example in the list pof favorite
covers that started this whole shebang off :)

>I can't go alone with business decisions determining which version is the o=
>riginal.=20
>
I wasn't aware that anybody was advocating that position???

ROGER FORD
-----------------------

"Spam Free Zone" - to combat unwanted automatic spamming I have added
an extra "b" in my e-mail address (mariabus@bblueyonder.co.uk) Please
delete same before responding.Thank you!

On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:41:40 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <SavoyBG@aol.com>
wrote:

>On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 2:22:43 PM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:20:17 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 11:42:02 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>> >> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 08:23:44 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >> >On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 8:04:14 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler - 1955 (Les Baxter)
>> >> >
>> >> >Isn't this a cover of the version in the movie rather than a cover of Baxter?
>> >> Yes but Todd Duncan was only ever in the movie. There was no record.
>> >> Les Baxter had the first record out
>> >
>> >So?
>> >
>> >Why can't you cover something that you can hear from another source than a record?
>> You're going against the basic concept of "cover records" no?
>>
>> Cover records were surely created to easily cash in on an existing
>> current recording that was beginning (or about to begin they hoped) to
>> become very popular and so siphon off sales from the original
>>
>> Since Todd Duncan's version was only featured in the movie "Unchained"
>> and was never on record at the time it doesn't fit that criteria and
>> so doesn't count.
>
>On the contrary. Nobody says the song being covered has to already be on a record. The cover is done because they believe there is hit potential of an already existing performance or recording. No one says that it has to be a record.

This is like chalk and cheese. Yes,the first person to sing "Unchained
Melody" is without any doubt Mr Todd Duncan in a movie. Nobody
disputes that. But AFAIK it was never recorded and it never turned up
on record ntil recent times and then in a version lifted directly from
the movie soundtrack. Second Hand Songs site lists Todd Duncan as "the
first theartrical release" which is correct. They also list Liberace
as the first actual recording and Les Baxter as the first recording
with any vocal.
>
>What about covers of a recording that is only available on an album so far? Was Nella Dodds "Come See About Me" not a cover because it came out on a single before the Supremes version was out on a single.

I've never argued to the contrary on this one. Examples like this are
rare as you're well aware

ROGER FORD
-----------------------

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On Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 12:13:24 AM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:
> On Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:37:06 -0700 (PDT), Bruce <Sav...@aol.com>
> >
> >The original version is the first one recorded, not necessarily the first o=
> >ne released.
>
> I've always agreed with that

Just today you said that "Unchained Melody" by Hibbler could not be a cover of the Duncan unless the Duncan was on a record. A cover is not always towards a record. A cover can be towards a song or a recording that is not on a record (yet), like the Duncan "Unchained Melody" or the Ann Cole live performance of "Got My Mojo Working." Someone can think that a song has potential to be a hit before it actually becomes a hit, or before it actually gets released as a record. I say Hibler never even heard or heard of the Baxter version when he recorded his version, which was based on the Duncan version in the movie. The Baxter did not chart until April 9, and Hibbler recoded his version on February 4. It's possible the Hibbler was released before the Baxter, they were only recorded about 2 weeks apart. Both records entered the pop chart the same week, April 9.