Rewritten Songs - Songs whose melodies and/or lyrics and/or chord structures have been...uh..."recyled" (consciously or not). Some of the remade songs do include credit
for the composer(s) of the original, but most don't.

Songs in this section range from clear lifts to similar riffs or merely inspirations.

Song Artist A Rewrite Of
Action Paul Revere & Raiders/Freddy Cannon
Shim Sham Shuffle by Ricky Lyons
All Alone Am I Brenda Lee Min Ton Rotas Ton Ourano by Mary Lo
All By Myself Eric Carmen Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 by (composer) Sergei Rachmaninov
Alone At Last Jackie Wilson Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor by (composer) Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Annie Fanny Kingsmen Alley-Oop by the Hollywood Argyles
Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, (Hey Won't You Play) B.J. Thomas Hey Look Me Over by Lucille Ball
Asia Minor Kokomo Piano Concerto in A minor by (composer) Edvard Grieg
Baby Please Don't Go Big Joe Williams Don't You Leave Me Here by Harvey Hull/Sunny Boy & His Pals
Ballroom Blitz Sweet Let's Stomp by Bobby Comstock
Because Beatles Moonlight Sonata by (composer) Ludwig van Beethoven
Billion Dollar Babies Alice Cooper Tell Me To My Face by the Hollies
Black Magic Woman Fleetwood Mac I Loved Another Woman by Fleetwood Mac
Blowin' In The Wind Bob Dylan No More Auction Block For Me by (composer) Gustavus D. Pike
Blues Stay Away From Me Delmore Bros. The Hucklebuck by Paul Williams
Blurred Lines Robin Thicke Got To Give It Up by Marvin Gaye
Bon-Doo-Wah Orlons Banua by the Kingston Trio
Born Under A Bad Sign Albert King Bad Luck Blues by Cousin Joe
Breakdown Tom Petty Cheating by the Animals
Breaking Us In Two Joe Jackson Day After Day by Badfinger
Bring It On Home To Me Sam Cooke I Want To Go Home by Charles Brown & Amos Milburn
Bristol Stomp Dovells Every Day Of The Week by the Students
Bristol Twistin' Annie Dovells Pistol Packin' Mama by Al Dexter & his Troopers
Brother John Wild Tchoupitoulas Jock-A-Mo (aka Iko Iko) by Sugar Boy Crawford
Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) Us3 Cantaloupe Island by Herbie Hancock
Can't Help Falling In Love Elvis Presley Plaisir d'Amour by (composer) Giovanni Martini
Can't Satisfy Impressions This Old Heart Of Mine by the Isley Bros.
Cha-Cha-Cha, The Bobby Rydell Rinky Dink by Dave "Baby" Cortez
Chain Of Fools Aretha Franklin Pains Of Life by Rev. E (Elijah) Fair & Sensational Gladys Davis Trio
There is a lot of online discussion as to whether Pains or Chain was first. Evidence points to them being cut
around the same time. Aretha's was recorded July 8, 1967 but not issued until November, certainly long after
Pains was out. Who could have even heard the other's to possibly copy? Perhaps they both came from a
heretofore undiscovered common source.

Cherié Bobby Rydell Little Darlin' by Gladiolas/Diamonds
Child In Time Deep Purple Bombay Calling by It's A Beautiful Day
Chipmunk Song, The Chipmunks Around The World by Victor Young/Bing Crosby
Come As You Are Nirvana Eighties by Killing Joke
Come Together Beatles You Can't Catch Me by Chuck Berry
Could It Be Magic Barry Manilow Prelude in C minor by (composer) Frederic Chopin
Count Every Star Ray Anthony/Rivieras/Linda Scott Tout Ca by Henri Salvador
Creep Radiohead The Air That I Breathe by Albert Hammond/Hollies
Dance By The Light Of The Moon Olympics Lubly Fan Will You Cum Out Tonight (sic) by (composer) John Hodges
"Lubly Fan" was also rewritten as "Buffalo Gals" (1848) and "Dance With A Dolly" (1944).
Also see "Rockin' Little Angel."

Dani California Red Hot Chili Peppers Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty & Heartbreakers
Darlin' Beach Boys Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby by Sharon Marie
Dedicated To The One I Love Five Royales I Don't Want You To Go by the Casanovas
Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? Rod Stewart Taj Mahal by Jorge Ben
Don't Think Twice Bob Dylan Who's Gonna Buy You Ribbons (When I'm Gone) by Paul Clayton
This was a rewrite of an old (public domain?) tune called "Who's Gonna Buy Your Chickens When I'm Gone."
Also see "Understand Your Man."

Don't You Know Della Reese Musetta's Waltz, from La Bohème, by (composer) Giacomo Puccini
Dragnet (theme) (composer) Walter Schumann/Ray Anthony Danger Ahead, from Killers ost, by (composer) Miklós Rózsa
Dreamin' Kiss Eighteen by Alice Cooper
81, The Candy & The Kisses In My Lonely Room by Martha & The Vandellas
Elected Alice Cooper Reflected by Alice Cooper
Every Breath You Take Police More Than I Can Say by Bobby Vee
Everybody's Everything Santana Karate by the Emperors
Fat Man, The Fats Domino Junker Blues by Champion Jack Dupree
Feelings Morris Albert Pour Toi by Dario Moreno
Fingernails Joe Ely I Keep My Fingernails Long (So They'll Click When I Play The Paino) by Harvard Lampoon Tabernacle Choir
Fire On The Mountain Grateful Dead Happiness Is Drumming by Diga Rhythm Band
Fish, The Bobby Rydell Mama Said by the Shirelles
Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash The Blues Singer (aka Crescent City Blues) by Gordon Jenkins w/ Beverly Mahr
Frozen Madonna Ma Vie Fout L'camp by Salvatore Acquaviva
Gaucho Steely Dan Long As You Know You're Living Yours by Keith Jarrett
Ghostbusters Ray Parker Jr. I Want A New Drug by Huey Lewis
Similar to "Pop Music" by M

Gimme Some Lovin' Spencer Davis Group A Lot Of Love by Homer Banks
Gloria Laura Branigan Gloria by Umberto Tozzi/Jonathan King
God, Love And Rock And Roll Teegarden & Van Winkle Amen by Jester Hairston/Impressions
Goin' Steady Faron Young/Tommy Sands She Knows Why by Claude King
Good News Sam Cooke Good News by the Pilgrim Travelers
Got My Mojo Working Muddy Waters/Ann Cole Hands Off by Jay McShann's Orchestra
Gotta Travel On Billy Grammer Do Lord, Do Remember Me by Garner Brothers
Greatest Love Of All George Benson/Whitney Houston If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lightfoot
Groovy Kind Of Love Diane & Annita/Mindbenders Sonatina in G, Op. 36, No. 5 (Rondo) by (composer) Muzio Clementi
Happy Heart Andy Williams/Petula Clark In Other Words (aka Fly Me To The Moon) by Kaye Ballard
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) John & Yoko Stewball by Greenbriar Boys
Both songs share some musical forms with Johnny Ace's "Pledging My Love."

Hello Dolly Louis Armstrong Sunflower by Frank Sinatra
Hello I Love You Doors All Day And All Of The Night by the Kinks
Hello Mary Lou Gene Pitney/Ricky Nelson Merry Merry Lou by the Sparks
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! (A Letter From Camp) Allan Sherman Dance Of The Hours by (composer) Amilcare Ponchielli
"Dance Of The Hours" also served as the melodic basis for the Andrew Sisters' 1952 "Idle Chatter" and Nancy Sinatra's 1962 "Like I Do."

Help Yourself Tom Jones Gli Occhi Miei by Wilma Goich/Dino
Hey Mister (aka The Most Beautiful Girl) Norro Wilson Mama McCluskey by Norro Wilson
Hot (I Need To Be Loved, Loved, Loved) James Brown Fame by David Bowie
Hot Rod Lincoln Charley Ryan/Johnny Bond/Commander Cody Hot Rod Race by Arkie Shibley
How Many More Times Led Zeppelin No Place To Go (You Gonna Wreck My Life) by Howlin' Wolf and The Hunter by Albert King
I (Who Have Nothing) Ben E. King Uno Dei Tanti by Joe Sentieri
I Can't Be Satisfied Muddy Waters I Be's Troubled by Muddy Waters (as McKinley Morganfield)
I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag Country Joe & Fish Muskrat Ramble by Louis Armstrong
I Got A Woman Ray Charles I've Got A Savior (Across Town) by the Bailey Gospel Singers
Ray Charles most likely modeled his song from another version of this gospel form, "It Must Be Jesus" by the Southern Tones.

I Got Stripes Johnny Cash On A Monday by Leadbelly
I Had A Talk With My Man Mitty Collier I Had A Talk With My God Last Night by James Cleveland
I Keep Forgettin' Michael McDonald I Keep Forgettin' by Chuck Jackson
I Only Want To Be With You Dusty Springfield It Was I by Skip & Flip
I Will Follow Him Petula Clark/Little Peggy March Chariot by Frank Pourcel
"Chariot" by Rhet Stoller (UK Decca 11302) is a different song.

I Wonder Why Dion & Belmonts Now I'm Telling You by the Legends
I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing New Seekers/Hillside Singers True Love And Apple Pie by Susan Shirley
I'll Take You There Staple Singers What Am I To Do Now by Tony Scott
Liquidator by the Harry J All Stars also borrowed from Scott's recording and that's likely the source for the
Staple Singers.

I'm So Glad Skip James So Tired by Dallas String Band w/ Coley Jones
Ice Ice Baby Vanilla Ice Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie
It Must Be Him Vikki Carr Seul Sur Son Etoile by Gilbert Becaud
It's Impossible Perry Como The Way Of Love by Kathy Kirby
The melody was adapted from the French song "J'ai le mal de toi."

It's Now Or Never Elvis Presley O Sole Mio by Emilio De Gorgorzo
It's Only Love Tommy James & Shondells This Old Man by (Traditional)
It's Only Make Believe Conway Twitty (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings by Hildegarde
Jambalaya Hank Williams Gran Prairie by Happy Fats & Rayne Bo Ramblers
A rewrite of the French song "Mia Mie"

James Bond Theme John Barry Ninety Nine Years by Guy Mitchell and Bad Sign Good Sign by (composer) Monty Norman
Jenny, Jenny Little Richard Johnny Johnny by Mari Jones with Johnny Moore's 3 Blazers
Jeepster T-Rex You'll Be Mine by Howlin' Wolf
Joker, The Steve Miller Band Lovey Dovey by the Clovers
Jolly Green Giant Kingsmen Big Boy Pete by Don & Dewey
Just A Dream Jimmy Clanton Irene by Guitar Gable w/ King Karl
Just Because Lloyd Price A Little Word by Shirley & Lee
Later Alligator Bobby Charles Later For You Baby by Guitar Slim
Lawdy Miss Clawdy Lloyd Price Junker Blues by Champion Jack Dupree
Layla Derek & The Dominos As The Years Go Passing By by Albert King/Time by (writers) Jim Gordon and Rita Coolidge
The Jim Gordon/Rita Coolidge song "Time," very similar to "Layla's" piano coda, was recorded in 1973 by
Booker T. & Priscilla but written years earlier by Coolidge and Derek & The Dominos member Gordon.

Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) Hombres Cigareets, Whuskey, And Wild, Wild Women by Red Ingle & Natural Seven
Let's Live For Today Rokes/Grass Roots Piangi Con Me by the Rokes
The song also shares some melodic elements with the Drifters' "I Count The Tears."

Let's Turkey Trot Little Eva Little Girl Of Mine by the Cleftones
Liquidator Harry J All Stars What Am I To Do Now by Tony Scott
The Staple Singers' I'll Take You there also borrowed from Scott's recording.

Long Run, The Eagles Trying To Live My Life Without You by Otis Clay
Loop De Loop Johnny Thunder Loop-De-Loo by John Ryan
Love Is A Wonderful Thing Michael Bolton Love Is A Wonderful Thing by the Isley Bros.
Love Is Strange Bo Diddley/Mickey & Sylvia Billy's Blues Part 2 by Billy Stewart
Love Me Tender Elvis Presley Aura Lee by (composers) W.W. Fosdick & George Poulton
Lover's Concerto, A Toys Minuet in G by (composer) J.S. Bach
Make Believe Wind Save It For Me by the 4 Seasons
Man Without Love, A Engelbert Humperdinck Quando M'nnamoro by Anna Identici
Mannish Boy Muddy Waters I'm A Man by Bo Diddley
Mashed Potato Time Dee Dee Sharp Please Mr. Postman by the Marvelettes
Maybellene Chuck Berry Ida Red by Bob Wills
Mercy Ohio Express Down By The Station by the Four Preps
Both are adaptations of the French song "Alouette."

Metronomic Underground Stereolab The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil-Scott Heron
Mockingbird Inez Foxx Hambone by Red Saunders
Monsters Inc. Theme Randy Newman Rockin' Chair by Hoagy Carmichael
Morning Has Broken Cat Stevens Bunessan (a hymn based on an old Gaelic melody) and Eleanor Forjean's 1931 children's book Morning Has Broken
MTA Arnold Berman/Kingston Trio Wreck Of The Southern Old 97 by Henry Whitter
My Babe (first as Mercy Babe) Little Walter This Train by Sister Rosetta Tharpe
My Ding-A-Ling Dave Bartholomew/Chuck Berry Little Brown Jug by (composer) J.E. Winner (aka R.A. Eastburn)
My Sweet Lord Billy Preston/George Harrison He's So Fine by the Chiffons
My Way Frank Sinatra Comme d'habitude (As Usual) by Claude François
Need You Now Lady Antebellum Eye In The Sky by The Alan Parsons Project
Never Gonna Fall In Love Again Eric Carmen Symphony No 2, op.27, Third Movement by (composer) Sergei Rachmaninov
Never Never Never Shirley Bassey Grande Grande Grande by Mina
New Girl In School, The Jan & Dean Gonna Hustle You by Jan & Dean
Night Train Jimmy Forrest That's The Blues, Old Man by Johnny Hodges and Happy Go Lucky Local, Part 2 by Duke Ellington
No One To Depend On Santana Spanish Grease by Willie Bobo
No Particular Place To Go Chuck Berry School Day by Chuck Berry
On The Road Again Canned Heat On The Road Again by Floyd Jones
Canned Heat also used lyric elements from Jones' earlier recording "Dark Road" and Tommy Johnson's
"Big Road Blues."

Other than sharing a title, the Memphis Jug Band's "On The Road Again" (Victor 38015) is not related to the
Canned Heat song.

Pain In My Heart Otis Redding Ruler Of My Heart by Irma Thomas
Paris, Texas Ry Cooder Dark Was The Night - Cold Was The Ground by Blind Willie Johnson
Peanut Butter Marathons (Baby) Hully Gully by the Olympics
Pride And Joy Stevie Ray Vaughan I Go Into Orbit by Johnny Acey
Promised Land Chuck Berry Wabash Cannonball by Carter Family
Puff The Magic Dragon Peter, Paul & Mary It's Almost Tomorrow by the Dream Weavers
Put Your Hand In The Hand Anne Murray/Ocean Water Boy by Don Shirley Trio
Rag Mop Johnnie Lee Wills/Ames Bros. Get The Mop by Henry "Red" Allen
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 Bob Dylan Torture by the Fendermen
Ray Of Light Madonna Sepheryn by Curtiss Maldoon
Reelin And Rocking Chuck Berry Around The Clock Blues by Wynonie Harris
Reverend Mr. Black Kingston Trio Lonesome Valley by the Carter Family
Right Back Where We Started From Maxine Nightingale Goodbye Nothin' To Say by the Javells w/ Nosmo King
Right Or Wrong Wanda Jackson Wake The Town And Tell The People by Mindy Carson
Rikki Don't Lose That Number Steely Dan Song For My Father by Horace Silver
Ring, Ring Abba Underdog by Giorgio (Moroder)
Road Hog John D. Loudermilk Ground Hog by Land Norris
Rock Around The Clock Sonny Dae/Bill Haley Move It On Over by Hank Williams
Rocket 88 Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats Cadillac Boogie by Jimmy Liggins
Rockin' At Midnight Roy Brown/Honeydrippers Good Rocking Tonight by Roy Brown
Rockin' Little Angel Ray Smith Lubly Fan Will You Cum Out Tonight (sic) by (composer) John Hodges
"Lubly Fan" was also rewritten as "Buffalo Gals" (1848) and "Dance With A Dolly" (1944).
Also see "Dance By The Light Of The Moon."

Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop Little Anthony & The Imperials (Shimmy, Shimmy) Ko Ko Wop by the El Capris
Shoppin' For Clothes Coasters Clothes Line by Boogaloo & His Gallant Crew (Kent Harris)
When "Shoppin' For Clothes" writers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were faced with a copyright infringement
suit, they bought the publishing company that controlled "Clothes Line."

Sidewalk Surfin' Jan & Dean Catch A Wave by the Beach Boys
Since I've Been Loving You Led Zeppelin Never by Moby Grape
Slippin' And Slidin' Little Richard I Got The Blues For You by Al Collins
South Street Orlons Camptown Races by (composer) Stephen Foster
Stairway To Heaven Led Zeppelin Cry Me A River by Davy Graham and Taurus by Spirit
Stay With Me Sam Smith I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty
Stray Cat Strut Stray Cats Lonely Travelin' by Lonesome Lee and Icky Poo by the Nomads
Stroll On Yardbirds Train Kept A-Rollin' by Tiny Bradshaw
Suddenly You Love Me Tremeloes Uno Tranquillo by Riccardo del Turco
Sue's Gotta Be Mine Del Shannon Sherry by the 4 Seasons
Sugartime Charlie Phillips/McGuire Sisters Lucky Little Penny (aka I'm Daffy Over You) by Chico Marx
Surfin' Bird Trashmen Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow and The Bird's The Word both by the Rivingtons
Surfin' USA Beach Boys Sweet Little 16 by Chuck Berry
Surrender Elvis Presley Torna a Surriento by Mario Massa
Swanee River Rock Ray Charles Old Folks At Home by (composer) Stephen Foster
Sweet Little 16/Surfin' USA Chuck Berry/Beach Boys Route 90 by Clarence Garlow
Sweet Soul Music Arthur Conley Yeah Man by Sam Cooke
The intro to "Sweet Soul Music" is a lift from (composer) Elmer Bernstein's "Magnificent Seven" theme.

Take It To The Limit Eagles If You Don't Know Me By Now by Harold Melvin & Blue Notes
Tar And Cement Verdelle Smith Il ragazzo della Via Gluck by Adriano Celentano
Tell The Truth Derek & the Dominos Five Feet Seven by Big Bill Broonzy
Them Changes Buddy Miles Sing Lady Sing by New York Rock & Roll Ensemble
This Is It Michael Jackson I Never Heard by Safire
This Land Is Your Land Woody Guthrie Little Darling, Pal Of Mine and When The World's On Fire both by the Carter Family
This Little Girl Of Mine Ray Charles This Little Light Of Mine by Clara Ward
Three Button Hand Me Down (Small) Faces with Rod Stewart Some Kind Of Wonderful by Soul Brothers 6
Tomorrow Annie stage show cast Replay (The Way We Live Now) by Shelley Plimpton
Total Eclipse Of The Heart Bonnie Tyler Theme For The Masses by Ford Theatre
Trouble No More Muddy Waters Someday Baby Blues by Sleepy John Estes
True Love Ways Buddy Holly I'll Be Alright by the Angelic Gospel Singers
Tweedle Dee And Tweedle Dum Bob Dylan Uncle John's Bongos by Johnny & Jack
Twenty-Five Miles Edwin Starr Mojo Mamma [sic] by Wilson Pickett
"Mojo Mamma" had also been recorded by Hoagy Lands as "32 Miles Out Of Waycross (Mojo Mama)" but
was never issued.

Twist, The Hank Ballard & Midnighters What'cha Gonna Do by the Drifters
Twist Twist Senora Gary "U.S." Bonds Jump In The Line (aka Shake Shake Sonora) by Aldwin Roberts/Harrry Belafonte
"Jump In The Line" used elements of "Calpyso Behind The Wall" (1938, Decca 17380) by Errol Duke, aka The
Growler.

Under Assisstant West Coast Promotion Man Rolling Stones Fannie Mae by Buster Brown
Understand Your Man Johnny Cash Who's Gonna Buy You Ribbons (When I'm Gone) by Paul Clayton
This was a rewrite of an old (public domain?) tune called "Who's Gonna Buy Your Chickens When I'm Gone."
Also see "Don't Think Twice."

Venus Shocking Blue The Banjo Song by The Big Three
"The Banjo Song" was Big Three member Tim Rose's reworking of Stephen Foster's "Oh Susanna."

Walkin' On The Sun Smash Mouth Swan's Splashdown by Perrey & Kingsley
Wallflower (aka Roll With Me Henry aka Dance With Me Henry) Etta James Work With Me Annie by the Midnighters
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Michael Jackson Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango
(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet Blues Magoos Summertime by Rick Nelson
We Will Rock You Queen Fanfare For The Common Man by (composer) Aaron Copland
Whatta Man Salt-N-Pepa What A Man by Linda Lyndell
What It Was, Was Football Andy Griffith Feetball by Benny Rubin
White Summer Yardbirds She Moves/Moved Through The Fair by (performer) Davey/Davy Graham
She Moves Through The Fair is a traditional British song that had been recorded numerous times (under numerous titles), as both a vocal and an instrumental. It was Davey Graham's 1962 arrangement and recording that clearly inspired Yardbirds guitarist Jimmy Page.

Why Don't You Do Right Lil Green/Peggy Lee Why Don't You Do Now (aka Weed Smoker's Dream) by Harlem Hamfats
Wipeout Surfaris Bongo Rock by Preston Epps
Wooly Bully Sam The Sham & Pharaohs Hully Gully, Now by Big Bo & Arrows
Yellow River Tremeloes/Christie In A Persian Market by (composer) Albert Ketelbey
Yesterday Beatles Answer Me, Lord Above by Frankie Laine/Answer Me, My Love by Nat King Cole
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me Dusty Springfield Io Che Non Vivo (Senza Te) by Jody Miller/Pino Donaggio
You Give Love A Bad Name Bon Jovi If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man) by Bonnie Tyler
You Need Love (aka Whole Lotta Love) Muddy Waters Too Many Women by Smoky Babe
Younger Girl Lovin' Spoonful/Critters Prison Wall Blues by Cannon's Jug Stompers