Untitled Document

S

	Song	Artist/Date/Label	Remade by
	Sad Girl	Jay Wiggins 1963 IPG 1008/Amy 955	Intruders, GQ

Sail Away

Calico 1976
on lp United Artists LA659 Vol. II

Sam Neely, Oak Ridge Boys

Sailing

Sutherland Brothers Band 6-72
Island 1209

Robin Trower, Rod Stewart, Joan Baez

The original was included on the 1973 US album Lifeboat, credited to the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver.

Sam Stone

Bob Gibson 1970
Capitol 3134

John Prine, Al Kooper, Johnny Cash

Sandy

Johnny Valentine 1958
Lode 2003

Larry Hall

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town

Harry Reser 10-24-34
Decca 264

Joe Green (11-2-34), George Hall (11-13-34), Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Crystals, 4 Seasons, Jacksons, Bruce Springsteen et el.

Satisfied Mind, A

Red Hays (aka Joe "Red" Hayes) 1954
Starday 164

Porter Wagoner (9-54), Red Foley & Betty Foley, Jean Shepard, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Byrds, Ian & Sylvia, Bobby Hebb, Jeff Buckley, Ben Harper et al.

Saturday Night

Bay City Rollers 1973
UK Bell 1319

Bay City Rollers (1974)

The Rollers' 1973 recording featured original lead singer Nobby Clarke, while the hit had Clarke's replacement, Leslie McKeown. The backing track on each is similar, if not the same, but the mixes are different.

Another Scottish band named Bilbo Baggins also had a record titled "Saturday Night," but it's a different song.

Saturday Night Fish Fry

Eddie Williams & His Brown Buddies w/ Ellis "Slow" Walsh
1948
Supreme 1542 (1949)

Louis Jordan (8-9-49, 1958, 1964), Pearl Bailey & Moms Mabley (11-3-49), Jimmy Witherspoon

Save The Country

Laura Nyro 6-10-68
Columbia 44592

Laura Nyro (3-4-69, Columbia 45089), 5th Dimension, Thelma Houston

Save Up All Your Tears

Bonnie Tyler 1988
on lp Columbia 44163 Notes From America

Robin Beck, Cher

Tyler's album was titled Hide Your Heart outside of the US.

Save Your Heart For Me

Brian Hyland 1963
ABC Paramount 10452

Gary Lewis & Playboys (6-3-65)

Saving All My Love For You

Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. 1978
on lp Columbia 35603 Marilyn & Billy

Whitney Houston

Say I Am see What I Am

Say You

Jamie Coe 1960
ABC Paramount 10149

Ronnie Dove

Scarborough Fair (aka Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme)

Gordon Heath & Lee Payant 1954
on 10" lp Elektra 29 Encores From The Abbaye (1955)

Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger, Martin Carthy, Simon & Garfunkel, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66

American actors/singers Gordon Heath and Lee Payant moved to France in the late 1940s and became co-owners of a small (capacity 90) Paris club called L'Abbaye. There were appartments above it and to avoid disturbing tenants with applause, patrons would snap their fingers. (This was probably the start of the finger-snapping beatnik!) For years, the two were L'Abbaye's only performers and they built quite a following.

"Scarborough Fair" goes back to 17th century England and may have been recorded by others along the way, but Heath & Payant's is the earliest I've found so far.

Simon & Garfunkel's version was inspired by Martin Carthy's treatment of the song, who had picked up the tune from the Ewan MacColl/Peggy Seeger songbook The Singing Island. Martin's distinctive acoustic guitar arrangement helped spur a mid-'60s UK folk revival and "Fair" became one of his signature songs. During a 1965 stay in London, Paul Simon attended a Carthy performance and, following the show, had Martin show him "Scarborough Fair's" delicate guitar part. This incident reached legendary status, with various supposed locations and famous people in attendance. Rumors aside, Simon obviously made the most of the lesson; when his & Garfunkel's version (with added "Canticle" counterpoint) came out, it was credited to the two of them. And their album was titled after "Fair's" refrain, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme. Martin Carthy became known as "the man who gave away 'Scarborough Fair'" and he & Simon had no further contact for years. Then at a 2000 Paul Simon concert in London, Simon ushered his surprise guest on stage. Thirty-five years after their initial encounter, he and Carthy played "Scarborough Fair" together, as whatever ill will existed had been put aside.

Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair)

Jo Stafford (10-31-49)
Capitol 785

Juanita Hall (11-4-49), Harry Belafonte, Kingston Trio, Browns, Sinéad O'Connor

Juanita Hall is often cited as the first to cut "Scarlet Ribbons," but assuming these recording dates are accurate, Stafford's preceded hers.

Scrub-Board (aka Hold Back The Night)

Trammps 1972
Buddah 321

Tramps (1975 as "Hold Back The Night"), Graham Parker & Rumour (as "Hold Back The Night")

"Scrub-Board" was an instrumental B-side that the Trammps then added vocals to, remixing and editing it to be longer, creating their hit "Hold Back The Night." There is some evidence the Trammps did "Hold" in 1973, two years before it was issued, but that's not definitive. Regardless, "Scrub-Board" preceeded it.

Sea Cruise

Huey Smith & Clowns w/ Bobby Marchan & Gerri Hall 1958 (cut for Ace)
on CD Ace 2021 Rock 'N' Roll Revival (1990)

Frankie Ford (9-58)

Frankie Ford's hit used the same backing track, with added sound effects, as Smith's.

Sealed With A Kiss

Four Voices 1960
Columbia 41699

Brian Hyland, Gary Lewis & Playboys, Bobby Vinton

Seasons In The Sun

Rod McKuen 1961 (summer)
on lp In 1003 (1963)

Kingston Trio (12-2-63), Rod McKuen (many times for various labels: Warner Bros., Buddah etc.), Terry Jacks

Adapted by Rod McKuen from Jacques Brel's 1961 composition "Le Moribond" ("The Dying Man"). McKuen sent out test pressings of the In label lp in hopes of getting other artists to record his songs and to gather quotes for the album jacket. Years later Terry Jacks produced a version by the Beach Boys. The group declined to release it (now available online to hear), so he did "Seasons" himself. Rod was on a trip to Mexico at the time and, upon his return to the States, was pleasantly surprised to find Jacks' record at the top of the charts.

See See Rider Blues (aka C C Rider aka See See Blues)

Ma Rainey & her Georgia Jazz Band 10-16-24
Paramount 12252

Chuck Willis, LaVern Baker, Animals, Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels et al.

Some pressings of Rainey's Paramount 78 list the title as "See See Blues."

See You Later Alligator see Later Alligator

Self Control

RAF 1984
Italian Carrere A 4223

Laura Branigan

Send In The Clowns

Glynis Johns 3-18-73
Columbia AE7-1070

Frank Sinatra, Judy Collins

Glynis' recording is from the A Little Night Music cast album.

Send Me The Pillow (That You Dream On) (aka Send Me The Pillow You Dream On)

Hank Locklin 6-49
4 Star 1360

Hank Locklin (1957 for RCA Victor), Browns, Johnny Tiltotson, Dean Martin

Sentimental Lady

Fleetwood Mac 1972
Reprise 1093

Bob Welch

Bob Welch was a member of Fleetwood Mac when he wrote and (they) first recorded the song. He subsequently left the group and had the hit as a solo artist, although some members of Fleetwood Mac played on Welch's recording

Sentimental Reasons (aka [I Love You] For Sentimental Reasons)

Deek Watson & His Brown Dots 1945
Manor 1009

Brown Dots (1946 on Manor 1041), Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Cleftones

Despite Deek Watson being credited, the song was written by Brown Dots member William "Pat" Best, who composed it when he was around 14 years old!

Senza Fine (aka The Phonenix Love Theme)

Ornella Vanoni 1961
Italian Ricordi SRL 10-186

Brass Ring

The song was used in the 1965 film The Flight Of The Phoenix, hence the title "The Phoenix Love Theme" for Brass Ring's 1966 hit.

Set The Night To Music

Starship 1987
on lp Grunt/RCA 6413-1 No Protection

Roberta Flack w/ Maxi Priest

Seven Bridges Road

Steve Young 1969
on lp A&M 4177 Rock Salt & Nails

Steve Young (1972 for Reprise), Joan Baez, Mother Earth, Ian Matthews, Eagles

7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Blow Your Whistle) see Get Up

Seventh Son

Willie Mabon 6-1-55
Chess 1608

Mose Allison, Johnny Rivers

Sha La La

Shirelles 1963
Scepter 1267

Manfred Mann (9-22/23-64)

Shades Of Gray

Will-O-Bees 1966 (late)
Date 1543

Monkees (3-16 & 22-67), Sons Of Champlin

Shadows Of The Night

Helen Schneider 1981
German WEA 18725

Rachel Sweet, Pat Benatar

Shadrach (A Bible Story) (aka Shadrack)

Bob MacGimsey 5-13-31
Victor 23562/Bluebird 7890

Louis Armstrong, Brook Benton

Shake A Tail Feather

Five Du-Tones 1963
One-derful 4815

James & Bobby Purify, Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels, Ray Charles

Shake It

Terence Boylan 1977
on lp Asylum 1091

Ian Matthews

Shakin' All Over

Johnny Kidd & Pirates 5-13-60
Apt 25040

Guess Who, The Who, Suzi Quatro, Billy Idol, Wanda Jackson

Shambala

B.W. Stevenson 1973
RCA Victor 74-0952

Three Dog Night

Although Stevenson's reached #66 on Billboard's Hot 100, it was overshadowed by Three Dog Night's hit version. The song has a confusing history and misinformation is rampant.

Three Dog Night heard writer Daniel Moore's demo and committed to cutting it, assured that they had an exclusive shot at the song. Meanwhile, Moore played his demo tapes for RCA, hoping to get signed as an artist. Label exec David Kershenbaum passed on signing Moore, but then produced Stevenson's take on "Shambala," insisting it would just be an album track (which it clearly was not). Three Dog Night had a busy touring schedule and hadn't finished their recording until after Stevenson's was completed. Radio stations began playing his and Three Dog Night's was rushed into release. RCA even took out music industry magazine ads touting B.W.'s as the original, but the public went for Three Dog Night's.

Shame On The Moon

Rodney Crowell 5-81
on lp Warner Bros 3587

Mac Davis, Bob Seger

Shame, Shame

Keith Colley 1968
Columbia 44410

Magic Lanterns

Shanghai Noodle Factory

Jay & Americans 1967
United Artists 50222

Traffic (11-68)

This wasn't a hit for Traffic but it was a popular album track (from Last Exit). I find it interesting that an American group like Jay & The Americans would be the first to record an early composition by Brits Steve Winwood and company, although it was produced by co-writer and Traffic producer Jimmy Miller.

Shangri-La

Matty Malneck & Orch. 2-7-46
Columbia 37877

Robert Maxwell (1953,1964), Four Coins, Vic Dana

Co-writer and harpist Robert Maxwell was a member of Malneck's band. He had previously used parts of this melody in a composition titled "Fantasy For Harp," recorded around 1943 as a member of Rudy Vallee's US Coast Guard Band. Jackie Gleason laters used "Shangri-La" as theme music for his Reggie van Gleason TV character.

Sharing The Night Together

Arthur Alexander 1976
Buddah 522/602

Lenny LeBlanc, Dr. Hook

Arthur Alexander and Lenny LeBlanc cut theirs (unbeknownst to each other) around the same time, while both were living in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Co-writer Eddie Struzick was LeBlanc's roommate so there's a possiblilty his was first, but even Lenny doesn't know.

She Believes In Me

Steve Gibb 1978
Clouds 12

Kenny Rogers

She Called Me Baby (aka He Called Me Baby)

Harlan Howard 5-3-61
Capitol 4682

Jan Howard, Patsy Cline, Carl Smith, Dick Curless, Charlie Rich, Ella Washington

She Comes To Me, (When She Wants Good Lovin') see My Baby Comes To Me, (When She Wants Good Lovin')

She Cried

Teddy Daryll 1961
Utopia 501

Jay & Americans (12-26-61), Shangri-Las (as "He Cried"), Lettermen

She Don't Know Me

Grass Roots 1982
MCA 52104

Bon Jovi

She Got The Goldmine (I Got The Shaft)

Johnny Paycheck 10-81
on lp Epic 37933 Lovers And Losers

Jerry Reed (12-81)

She Moves Thro' (Through) The Fair (aka White Summer)

Davy (aka Davey) Graham 5-63
on ep UK Decca 8538 The Thamesiders & Davy Graham From A London Hootenanny

Yardbirds, Fairport Convention, Sinéad O'Connor et el.

As with "Black Mountain Side,"" the song goes back at least a century with many variations through the years. It was Davy Graham's arrangement that "inspired" Jimmy Page for his version with the Yardbirds.

She Said, "Yeah"

Larry Williams 8-14-58
Specialty 658

Animals, Rolling Stones, Flamin' Groovies, Paul McCartney, Web Wilder

Co-written by Sonny Bono using the name Don Christy.

She Understands Me see He Understands Me

She's A Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked) see She's Built She's Stacked

She's A Lady

Paul Anka 5-7-69
on lp RCA Victor 4309 The '70s

Tom Jones, Paul Anka (1971 for Buddah)

She's Built She's Stacked (aka She's A Bad Mama Jama [She's Built, She's Stacked])

Leon Haywood 1978
on lp MCA 2322 Double My Pleasure

Carl Carlton

She's Crazy For Leaving

Guy Clark 8-80
on lp Warner Bros 3381 The South Coast Of Texas

Steve Wairner, Rodney Crowell

She's Got A Way

Billy Joel 7-71
Family Productions 0900

Billy Joel (6-80 for Columbia)

She's Looking Good

Rodger Collins 1966
Galaxy 750

Wilson Pickett (7-3-67)

Note the misspelling of Collins' first name on this pressing.

She's Not Just Another Woman

100 Proof (Aged In Soul) 1970
on lp Hot Wax 704 Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed

8th Day

She's Ready see He's Ready

She's Tuff see She's Tough

Sheila

Tommy Roe & Satins 1960
Judd 1022

Tommy Roe (1962 for ABC-Paramount)

Note the misspelled title on Roe's original!

Shilo

Neil Diamond 1967
Bang 561

Neil Diamond (1967, issued 1970 on Bang 575), (1968 for Uni)

Although his first and hit versions are similar, they are two distinct recordings with different second verses.

Bang Records head Bert Berns balked at issuing "Shilo," thinking this song about Neil's imaginary childhood friend (not a dog) wasn't commercial enough. This prompted Diamond to leave the label for Uni Records. Following Berns' death in late 1967, the first "Shilo" was released as a 45, then what became the hit version was issued in early 1970.

Ships

Ian Hunter 1979
on lp Chrysalis 1214 You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic

Barry Manilow

Shoop Shoop Song, The see It's In His Kiss

Shop Around

Miracles 9-60
Tamla 54034 (first pressing)

Miracles (twice more in 9-60), Captain & Tennille

Three different takes of the song, with variations in tempo, mix and instrumentation, were pressed with the same label number. The hit version had "L1" in the runoff groove while the previous two had "A1" and "A2."

Should I Do It

Tanya Tucker c. 4-81
MCA 51131

Pointer Sisters

Show And Tell

Johnny Mathis 3-73
Columbia 45835

Al Wilson

Show Me The Way

Peter Frampton 1975
A&M 1693

Peter Frampton (1975, on lp Frampton Comes Alive)

Show Must Go On,The

Leo Sayer 1973
Warner Bros 7768

3 Dog Night

Both Sayer's and 3 Dog Night's versions incorporate Julius Fucik's 1897 "Entrance Of The Gladiators."

Sick And Tired

Chris Kenner 4-22-57
Imperial 5448

Fats Domino

Sign Of The Gypsy Queen

Lorence Hud 1971
Canadian A&M 332 (1972)

April Wine

Silence Is Golden

Four Seasons 1964
Philips 40211

Tremeloes

Silver Threads And Golden Needles

Wanda Jackson 9-20-56
Capitol 3575

Springfields, Jody Miller, Linda Ronstadt (1969, 1974)

Silver Train

Johnny Winter 1973 (early)
Columbia 45860

Rolling Stones (spring 1973)

Since I Fell For You

Buddy Johnson w/ Ella Johnson 11-7-45
Decca 48016

Paul Gayten Trio, Lenny Welch, Charlie Rich, Dr. John

Since You Been Gone

Russ Ballard 1976
on lp Epic 34093 Winning

Head East, Rainbow

Sing

The Kids From Sesame Street 1971
Warner Bros. 7539

Carpenters

Prior to the commercial release of the song, "Sing" had been performed by various cast members on Sesame Street. The first of which was by Bob McGrath and Jaime Sanchez on episode 0218.

Sing In The Sunshine (aka We'll Sing In The Sunshine)

Hoyt Axton 1963
Horizon 6

Gale Garnett

Axton was Gale Garnett's boyfriend at the time and she wrote the song for him.

Sing, Sing, Sing

Louis Prima & His New Orleans Gang 2-28-36
Brunswick 7628

Fletcher Henderson (8-4-36), Benny Goodman (many times, 1st: 7-6-37), Louis Prima (many times), Gene Krupa, Mel Tormé, Bernie Lowe Orch., Flat Duo Jets et al.

Singin' In The Rain

Rounders 4-26-29
Victor 22002

Earl Burtnett (5-8-29), Cliff Edwards aka "Ukulele Ike" (5-28-29), Gene Kelly, Judy Garland

First performed by Doris Eaton in the 1928 stage production Hollywood Music Box Revue. The following year, it took off after being featured in the film Hollywood Revue Of 1929 (MGM's first "talkie") by the Rounders, Cliff Edwards and the Brox Sisters. The Rounders were the first to formally record it for release.

Singin' The Blues

Marty Robbins 11-3-55
Columbia 21545

Guy Mitchell (9-24-56), Jerry Lee Lewis, Dave Edmunds, Jimmy Dale Gilmore

Sister Morphine

Marianne Faithful 7-68 & early 1969 (rel. 2-69)
London 1022

Rolling Stones (3-31-69), Marianne Faithful (1982 for Island)

Sit Down I Think I Love You

Buffalo Springfield c. 8-66
on lp Atco 33-200

Mojo Men

Writer Stephen Stills' demo, done 6-66, has also been issued.

Sitting On Top Of The World

Mississippi Sheiks 2-17-30
Okeh 8784

Howlin' Wolf, Cream, Grateful Dead, Doc Watson

The song is often credited to Howlin' Wolf, but it clearly goes back farther than him!

Six Days On The Road

Paul Davis 1961
Bulletin 1001

Dave Dudley (4-1-63, 1973), Ferlin Husky, Sawyer Brown, Steve Earle & Dukes

This is not the Paul Davis of "I Go Crazy" and "'65 Love Affair" fame (who was all of 13 years old when "Six Days" was issued).

Sixteen Tons

Merle Travis 8-8-46
on 78 album Capitol 50 Folk Songs Of The Hills

Tennessee Ernie Ford, Johnny Desmond, Weavers, Johnny Cash

Skokiaan (Tsaba Tsaba Dance) (aka Skokiaan [South African Song])

African Dance Band Of The Cold Storage Commission Of Southern Rhodesia 4-30-50
Rhodeisan Gallotone Jive 1152

Four Lads, Ralph Marterie, Ray Anthony, Perez Prado, Louis Armstrong, Bill Haley, Brave Combo, Kermit Ruffins et el.

The original recording was a 1954 US (and elsewhere) hit when it was reissued and credited to the Bulawayo Sweet Rhythms Band (London 1491). English lyrics, beginning with the Four Lads' vocal version, were written by Lads member Tom Glazer.

"Skokiaan" is an illegal homemade African alcoholic beverage.

August Msarurgwa (aka Musarurwa) composed the song and led the African Dance Band..., although subsequent recordings often credited various others as composer(s).

The later subtitle of "South African Song" is a misnomer as Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) is a far cry from being the country of South Africa.

Sleep

Waring's Pennsylvanians 10-16-23
Victor 19172

Fred Waring (1950 for Decca), Earl Bostic, Little Willie John

Sleigh Ride

Boston Pops Orchestra 7-49
RCA Victor 10-1484/49-0515

Leroy Anderson (1950), Boston Pops Orchestra (1959, 1970, 1991, 1998, 2003), Dolly Parton, TLC, et el.

Leroy Anderson began writing this (as an instrumental) during a July, 1946 Connecticut heat wave. He completed it in time for the 1948 Boston Pops Orchestra season. Led by Arthur Fiedler, the BPO cut "Sleigh Ride" in 1949 while Anderson did his the following year.

Mitchell Parish wrote the lyrics in 1950. It was meant to be a song simply evoking winter but it's become a Christmas standard.

Slippin' And Slidin' see I'm Wise

Sloop John B see Wreck Of The John B

Slow Dancing (aka Swayin' To The Music)

Funky Kings 1976
Arista 209

Johnny Rivers

The song was originally titled "Slow Dancing" but when Johnny Rivers did it, the Addrisi Brothers had a record out titled "Slow Dancin' Don't Turn Me On." Songwriter Jack Tempchin was then asked to add the "Swayin' To The Music" subtitle, which he did but did not like. I trust he did like the royalty checks that followed!

Smack Dab In The Middle

Charlie Calhoun 1955
MGM 11989

Jacks, Mills Bros., Ray Charles, Ry Cooder

Writer-Singer Charlie Calhoun also worked as Jesse Stone and Charles Calhoun.

Smell Of Incense

West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band 1967
on lp Reprise 6270 Vol. 2

Southwest F.O.B. (mid 1968)

Dallas-based Southwest F.O.B. had met the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band when the later played a show there in 1967.

W.C.P.A.E.B. issued an edit of their LP original as a single (Reprise 0776) in 1968.

Smiling Faces Sometimes

Temptations 1971
on lp Gordy 957 Sky's The Limit

Undisputed Truth

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, (When Your Heart's On Fire)

Gertrude Niesen 10-13-33
Victor 24454

Paul Whitemam (11-3-33), Tamara with Leo Reisman Orch.(11-28-33), Platters, Blue Haze

The melody was originally written as the theme for a radio program that remained unproduced. Tamara introduced the song in the 1933 play Roberta, but her recording of it followed Niesen's.

Smokestack Lightning see Crying At Daybreak

Snake, The

Oscar Brown Jr. 1962
on lp Columbia 8825 Tells It Like It Is!

Johnny Rivers, Al Wilson

So Fine

Sheiks 1955
Federal 12237

Fiestas

So Rare

Gus Arnheim w/ Jimmy Farrell 6-23-37
Brunswick 7919

Guy Lombardo (7-16-37), Jimmy Dorsey

Softly As I Leave You see Piano

Softly Whispering I Love You

David & Jonathan 1967
Amy 11012

English Congregation, Mike Curb Congregation

Writers Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway were also recording artsits, using the name David & Jonathan.

Solitaire

Neil Sedaka 1972
on lp Kirshner 117 Solitaire

Searchers, Carpenters, Clay Aiken

Solitaire

Martine Clemenceau 1981
French Polydor 2056 925

Laura Branigan

Some Day Soon

Ian & Sylvia 1964
Vanguard 35025

July Collins, Suzy Bogguss

Some Days Are Diamonds (Some Days Are Stone)

Dick Feller 9-75
Asylum 45306

John Denver

Some Enchanted Evening

Frank Sinatra 2-28-49
Columbia 38446

Perry Como (3-1-49), Jo Stafford (3-9-49), Bing Crosby (3-10-49), Ezio Pinza (5-16-49), Jay & Americans

Written for the play South Pacific, which premiered March 7, 1949 and featured Ezio Pinza's performance of the song. While a number of singers cut it that same month, Sinatra's had been recorded in February.

Some Hearts

Marshall Crenshaw 1989
Warner Bros 7-22878

Carrie Underwood

Some Kind Of Wonderful

Soul Brothers 6 1967
Atlantic 2406

Grand Funk, Buddy Guy

The Soul Brothers 6 record was such a hit in Detroit, I was hesitant to list it. Hearing from people who suggested it and realizing it barely charted on Billboard's Hot 100, prompted me to include it.

Some Of Shelly's Blues

Stone Poneys feat. Linda Ronstadt 10-67
Capitol 2195

Monkees (5-29-68), Nittty Gritty Dirt Band, Mike Nesmith

Somebody To Love see Someone To Love

Somebody Touched Me

Ruth Brown 5-7-54
Atlantic 1044

Buddy Knox

Somebody's Watching You

Sly & Family Stone 1969
on lp Epic 26456 Stand!

Little Sister

The group Little Sister included Sly's sister Vanetta Stewart.

Someday, Someway

Robert Gordon 12-80
RCA 12239

Marshall Crenshaw

Someday We'll Be Together

Johnny & Jackey 1961
Tri-Phi 1005

Supremes

The first pressing of Johnny & Jackey's 45 listed the title as "Sometime We'll Be Together."

Someday We're Gonna Love Again

Barbara Lewis 3-23-64
Atlantic 2237

Searchers

Someone To Love (aka Somebody To Love)

Great Society 1965
Northbeach 1001

Great Society (6-66 for Columbia), Jefferson Airplane (11-15-66), Jim Carrey

The Great Society included vocalist Grace Slick, who brought this song with her upon joining the Jefferson Airplane. "Someone To Love" was written by fellow Great Society bandmate and brother-in-law, Darby Slick. Their version, produced by Sly Stone, reportedly took over 50 takes to get right.

Someone To Watch Over Me

Gertrude Lawrence 10-29-26
Victor 20331

George Gershwin (11-12-26), Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Etta James, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Rod Stewart, Amy Winehouse, Brian Wilson et el.

Introduced by Lawrence in the 1926 stage musical Oh, Kay!.

Something

Joe Cocker 1969
on lp A&M 4224 Joe Cocker!

Beatles (4 to 8-69)

George Harrison began writing "Something" during the Beatles' White Album sessions but it wasn't finished at the time. Following Joe Cocker's success with "With A Little Help From My Friends," the Beatles invited him to Apple Studios and offered him some other songs. Cocker picked "Something" after hearing George play it for him and Harrison even helped out on Joe's session. His version wasn't released though until after the Beatles' recording (on Abbey Road ) came out. George's demo has also been issued.

Something Stupid

Carson & Gaile 1966
Kapp 813

Nancy & Frank Sinatra (2-1-67)

Something You Got

Chris Kenner 9-12-61
Instant 3237

Alvin Robinson, Ramsey Lewis, Chuck Jackson & Maxine Brown, Lonnie Brooks

Somewhere In The Night

Richard Kerr 1975
Epic 50153

Batdorf & Rodney, Helen Reddy, Barry Manilow

Sommerwind, Der (aka Summer Wind)

Grethe Ingmann 6-65
German Metronome M 490

Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra

The song was introduced at the 1965 Deutsche Schlager Festspiel. Ingmann recorded it in both German and Danish.

Son Of Hickory Holler's Tramp

Merle Haggard 9-18-67
on lp Capitol 2848 Sing Me Back Home

Johnny Darrell (10-67), Sanford Clark, O. C. Smith

Song For The Life

Jonathan Edwards 11-75
on lp Reprise 2238 Rockin' Chair

Seldom Scene, Rodney Crowell, Alan Jackson

Writer Rodney Crowell played on Edwards' original.

Song Of The South

Bobby Bare c. 11-79
on lp Columbia 36785 Drunk & Crazy

Johnny Russell, Tom T. Hall & Earl Scruggs, Alabama

Song To The Siren

Pat Boone 1969
on lp Tetragrammaton T-118 Departure

Tim Buckley, This Mortal Coil, Sally Oldfield, Sinéad O'Connor, Robert Plant, Bryan Ferry

Writer Tim Buckley performed the song on the March 25, 1968 episode of the Monkees' TV show, but didn't formally record it until his 1970 Starsailor album.

While it was always titled as listed, Pat Boone's was labeled "Song Of The Siren."

Sookie Sookie

Don Covay & The Goodtimers 6-30-65
Atlantic 2323

Steppenwolf, Grant Green, Don Covay & Jefferson Lemon Blues Band (1970, Atlantic 2742)

Sorghum Switch (aka Cole Slaw)

Jimmy Dorsey 6-2-42
Decca 18372

Frank "Floorshow" Culley (1-17-49), Louis Jordan (4-12-49), Jesse Stone (4-19-49)

Jesse Stone originally wrote the song as an instrumental, retitling it when he produced Culley's version. Louis Jordan's was the first with lyrics.

Sorrow

McCoys 1965
Bang 511

Merseys, David Bowie, Status Quo

Soul Drippin'

Standells 1968
Tower 398

Mauds

Soul Song

Tanya Tucker 7-72
on lp Columbia 31472 Delta Dawn

Joe Stampley

Soul Twist see Jaywalk

Soulful Strut see Am I The Same Girl

Sound Of Music, The

Patti Page 11-16-59
Mercury 71555

Mary Martin (11-22-59), Julie Andrews

Sounds Of Silence, The

Simon & Garfunkel 3-10-64
Columbia 43396 (red vinyl promo)

Simon & Garfunkel (6-15-65), Paul Simon

Even though the two Simon & Garfunkel releases have the same vocal tracks, their hit had drums and bass added and the whole recording was remixed. The hit and pre-hit singles were given the same issue number but only the red vinyl promos have the original un-overdubbed version. The popular issue 45 continued to list it as being from their Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. album even though it was eventually released on their Sounds Of Silence LP.

Paul Simon's 1974 hit version used his original title, "The Sound Of Silence."

Southern Nights

Allen Toussaint 1975
on lp Reprise 2186 Southern Nights

Glen Campbell

Souvenirs (aka Among My Souvenirs

Kit-Cat Band 9-19-27
UK Columbia 4563

Paul Whiteman (11-22-27), Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Connie Francis, Marty Robbins

Space Oddity

David Bowie 2-2-69
on lp UK Deram BOWIE 1 Love You Till Tuesday (1984)

David Bowie (6-20-69 for Mercury)

"Space Oddity" was written and recorded for the film Love You Till Tuesday, designed to showcase and promote the then-mostly-unknown Bowie. Due to budget complications, the movie wasn't released at the time but finally came out in 1984.

Speedy Gonzales

David Dante 2-15-61
RCA Victor 7860/8056

Pat Boone (5-16-62)

David Dante was one of co-writer David Hill's (born David Hess) pseudonymns. See also "I'm All Shook Up."

Spirit In The Night

Bruce Springsteen 1973
Columbia 45864

Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Spooky

Mike Sharpe 1966
Liberty 55922

Classics IV, Atlanta Rhythm Section

Sharpe's was an instrumental.

St. James Infirmary

Louis Armstrong & His Savoy Ballroom Five (aka His Hot Fives) 12-12-28
Okeh 8657/41180

King Oliver, Cab Calloway, Josh White, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Joe Cocker, Doc Watson, Eric Burdon, Archie Shepp, Rickie Lee Jones, Dr. John, Hugh Laurie et el.

Although the song's roots went back to various 18th century English folk songs, horn man Don Redman received writing credit on Armstrong's record. Redman did bring the arrangement and play on its session, but didn't really compose "Infirmary." As with many songs that floated about, the first to properly register it typically became the designated writer. Publisher Irving Mills often also took credit under the pseudonym Joe Primrose.

St. Louis Blues

Prince's Band 12-18-15
Columbia A-5772

Bessie Smith, W.C. Handy (many times), Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday, Duke Ellington, Bob Wills, Benny Goodman, Django Reinhardt, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald et al.

It's not certain who was the first to cut "St. Louis Blues," but Prince's Band is as likely a candidate as any.

Stack o' Lee Blues (aka Stagger Lee, aka Stackolee)

Waring's Pennsylvanians 10-16-23
Victor 19189

Frank Westphal (10-18-23), Ma Rainey, Mississippi John Hurt, Woody Guthrie, Archibald, Lloyd Price, Professor Longhair, Tommy Roe, Wilson Pickett, Taj Mahal et al.

There are numerous title spellings of "Stagger Lee" as well as variations in its melody and lyrics. The song was probably first published in 1910. For more on "Stagger Lee" see Greil Marcus's book Mystery Train and his extensive article in the January 1996 issue of Mojo. There is also a book called Stagolee Shot Billy by Cecil Brown.

Both Fred Waring's and Frank Westphal's were instrumentals(!).

Stardust (aka Star Dust)

Hoagy Carmichael & Pals 10-31-27
Gennett 6311

Hoagy Carmichael (vocal,1929), Larry Clinton, Billy Ward & Dominoes, Nino Tempo & April Stevens, Willie Nelson et al.

Carmichael whistled a tune that became "Stardust" while looking to the sky one late summer night in 1927. Hoagy later wrote of the session, done on Halloween that year (as an instrumental), "This melody was bigger than I was. It wasn't a part of me. It didn't sound familiar in the playback. I wanted to shout 'Maybe I didn't write you, but I found you.'"

Starting All Over Again

Sam & Dave 1971
on CD Rhino 8122-71253 Sweat 'N' Soul: Anthology (1965-1971) (1993)

Mel & Tim

Phillip Mitchell wrote this with Sam & Dave in mind, as he thought they were about to start over again (by 1971 their career had waned). For whatever reason, the duo's recording wasn't issued until years later.

State Of Independence

Jon & Vangelis 1981
on lp Polydor 6326 The Friends Of Mr. Cairo

Donna Summer

Statesboro Blues

Blind Willie McTell 10-17-28
Victor 38001

Taj Mahal, Youngbloods, Allman Bros., David Bromberg, Pat Travers, John Hammond

Stay

Glenn Jones 1990
on lp Jive 1181-1 All For You

Eternal

Stay In My Corner

Dells 2-19-65
Vee Jay 674

Dells (1968 for Cadet)

Stay Together Young Lovers

Ben Aiken 1965
Roulette 4649

Brenda & Tabulations

Steamroller (aka Steamroller Blues)

James Taylor 12-69
on lp Warner Bros. 1843 Sweet Baby James

Masqueraders, Elvis Presley

Despite numerous online references and discographies that list the Masqueraders' version (Bell 932) as being from 1968, it was issued in 1970, after Taylor's original.

Step By Step

Superiors 1987
Motown 1895

New Kids On The Block

Step By Step

Annie Lennox 1992
on UK CD single BMG 10089 2

Whitney Houston

Stewball

Greenbriar Boys 1961
on lp Vanguard 9096 New Folks

Peter, Paul & Mary, Joan Baez, Hollies

There are numerous songs titled "Stewball," but in this case Peter, Paul & Mary's popular version is the one being referenced.

The title comes from "Skewbald," an animal (usually a horse) with patches of brown on a coat of a color other than black. An Irish ballad of that title, dating back to the 18th century, came out of an actual horse race in which a skewbald surprisingly beat a grey mare. "Skewbald" evolved into "Skewball" and alternately "Stewball."

There have been recordings concerning the race by Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, the Weavers, Cisco Houston, Memphis Slim and the Coasters. Greenbriar Boys member Bob Yellin adapted the lyrics (particularly Cisco Houston's) and used a different melody, albeit one that's similiar to Johnny Ace's 1955 hit "Pledging My Love." (Subsequetly, John & Yoko used the tune for their "Happy Xmas [War Is Over]) Peter, Paul & Mary's hit used Yellen's melody but they wrote their own race horse lyrics.

The New Folks album also includes cuts from Hedy West, Jackie Washington and David Gude.

Stir It Up

Bob Marley & Wailers 1967 (early)
Jamaican Wail 'N' Soul M (no #)

Johnny Nash, Wailers (1973 for Island)

Stoned Soul Picnic

Laura Nyro 1-9-68
on lp Columbia 9626 Eli & The Thirteenth Confession

5th Dimension

Stoney End

Laura Nyro 7-13-66
Verve Folkways 5024

Laura Nyro (11-66 on lp Verve Folkways 3020 More Than A New Discovery), Peggy Lipton, Barbra Streisand

Nyro's single and album versions use the same backing track but the vocal takes are different, including some lyric variations.

Stop Your Sobbing

Kinks 8-64
on lp Reprise 6143 You Really Got Me

Pretenders

For whatever significance it is, Pretenders vocalist Chrissie Hynde and Kinks singer Ray Davies had a daughter in 1983.

Stormy Monday see Call It Stormy Monday

Stormy Weather

Leo Reisman & Orch. w/ Harold Arlen
2-28-33
Victor 24262/24716

Guy Lombardo (4-12-33), Ethel Waters (5-3-33), Duke Ellington (5-16-33), Lena Horne, Five Sharps

The song was written for a revue at Harlem's famed Cotton Club, with the intent of having Cab Calloway introduce it. Calloway was not appearing at the club at the time though and the song's writers (Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler) decided it was equally suited for a woman. Ethel Waters became their choice but before she debuted it, Arlen cut it and had a hit. Waters recorded hers a few months later and "Stormy Weather" became her signature tune.

Straight From The Heart

Ian Lloyd 1980
on lp Scotti Bros. 7110 3WC (Third Wave Civilization)

Bryan Adams

Straight Life, The

Sonny Curtis c. 5-68
Viva 630

Bobby Goldsboro (5-13-68), Bing Crosby (11-21-68), Glen Campbell

Stranded In The Jungle

Jayhawks 1956
Flash 109

Cadets, Gadabouts, New York Dolls

The Jayhawks' record charted well in its day, but I think it's been lost to history, having been completely overshadowed by the Cadets' (and others).

Strangers In The Night (as "Beddy Bye")

Bert Kaempfert 3-8-66
on lp Decca 74750 A Man Could Get Killed ost

Bert Kaempfert (4-4-66 on lp Decca 74795 Strangers In The Night), Jack Jones (4-4-66), Frank Sinatra (4-11-66)

Only early pressings of the soundtrack album list the title as "Beddy Bye." Both of Kaempfert's recordings were instrumentals.

While Bert Kaempfert is the credited writer of the song (with English lyrics by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder), others, including Avo Uvezian and Ivo Robić, lay claim to composing its melody. It's likely the true source will never be known.

Strawberry Letter 23

Shuggie Otis 1971
Epic 10798

Brothers Johnson

Streets Of Bakersfield

Homer Joy 1972
Capitol 3476

Buck Owens (11-6-72), Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens

Streets Of London

Ralph McTell 11-68
on lp UK Transatlantic 177 Spiral Staircase

Ralph McTell (1974 for UK Warner Bros./US 20th Century), Joan Baez, Anti-Nowhere League (often wrongly identified as the Sex Pistols), Sinéad O'Connor

McTell, born Ralph May, changed his name in tribute to Blind Willie Mctell. He wrote "Streets" in the mid 1960s while busking around Europe and reluctantly recorded it for his second album, prompted by producer Gus Dudgeon. Unlike his first LP (Eight Frames A Second), Spiral Staircase wasn't released in the States. An alternate take of the first "Streets" (with overdubs) was included though on a repackaged version of McTell's 1971 You Well-Meaning Brought Me Here album, issued on US Paramount 6015.

Substitute

Righteous Bros. 1975
Capitol/Haven 7014

Clout, Gloria Gaynor

Such A Night

Clyde McPhatter & Drifters 11-12-53
Atlantic 1019

Johnnie Ray (2-16-54), Bunny Paul, Elvis Presley

Sue Me, Sue You Blues

Jesse Davis (aka Jesse Ed Davis) 1972
Atco 6873

George Harrison

George Harrison wrote "Sue Me, Sue Your Blues" in response to the protracted legal battles following the Beatles' breakup and issues with their collective company Apple Corps.

Sugar On Sunday

Tommy James 1968
on lp Roulette 42023 Crimson And Clover

Clique

Sugarbush (Vastrap)

Josef Marais & His Bushveld Band 1-29-46
Decca 23691 B

Doris Day & Frankie Laine, Josef Marais & Miranda (1952 for Columbia), Eve Boswell

"Sugarbush" was adapted from the South African song "Suikerbossie," that country's national flower.

Marais' original was issued as part of a six disc 78 set (Decca A-471), Songs Of The South African Veld, Volume One. Josef's wife Miranda accompanies him on many of the selctions but not "Sugarbush."

Sugaree

Dennis Lotis 3-56
UK Pye Nixa 15042

Jordanaires (11-56), Rusty York

Sugartime

Charlie Phillips 7-18-57
Coral 61908

McGuire Sisters (11-13-57), Johnny Cash

The melody was adapted from Chico Marx's "Lucky Little Penny" aka "I'm Daffy Over You."

Phillips' recording included Buddy Holly on guitar

Charlie Phillips' 1956 demo has been issued.

Summer Set

Mr. Acker Bilk & His Paramount Jazz Band 1959
Atco 6160

Monty Kelly

Summer Wind see Sommerwind, Der

Summer Wine

Lee Hazlewood w/ Suzi Jane Hokom 6-27-66
MGM 13664

Nancy Sinatra (late 1966)

Summertime

Helen Jepson 10-23-35
Victor 11881

Billie Holiday (7-10-36), Anne Brown, Chris Columbo Quintet, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, Zombies, Billy Stewart, Janis Joplin et al.

Written for the character Clara, played by Abbie Mitchell, in the original 1935 stage production of Porgy & Bess. The only recording of Mitchell performing "Summertime" is from a July 19, 1935 rehearsal, which was released on a 1991 CD entitled Gershwin Performs Gershwin: Rare Recordings 1931-1935 (Music Mastsers Jazz). The Porgy & Bess Original Cast album released by Decca has Anne Browne—who played Bess—singing "Summertime," and was recorded in 1940. (Apparently it wasn't uncommon to have a "cast" album done by an abbreviated lineup as a cost-saving measure.)

While the original 1935 cast consisted of black actors/vocalists, the 78 issue featured white opera singers. "Summertime" appears twice on this, first as a prelude combined with Lawrence Tibbett singing "A Woman Is A Sometime Thing," then Jepson's full version. The abbreviated recording was cut a week earlier on 10-14-35.

Jepson's record was issued as part of a four 12" 78 set of Porgy & Bess selections (Victor C 25).

Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore), The

Frankie Valli c. 6-65
Smash 1995

Walker Bros., Nielsen/Pearson

Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

Ray Stevens 5-27-69
Monument 1163

Kris Kristofferson (4 to 10-69), Johnny Cash (7-10-70)

Sunny

Mieko Hirota 1965
on lp Japanese Columbia JPS 5067 Hit Kit Miko Vol. 2

Dave Pike, Bobby Hebb (1966 for Philips, 1976 for Laurie), Electric Flag

American jazz bassist Ben Tucker supposedly took Bobby Hebb's demo and sheet music to Japan in 1965, which is probably how Japanese singer Hirota picked up the song. Another factor could have been that she performed at the Newport Jazz Festival that year.

On the two songs performed in English on Hirota's album—"Sunny" and "The Message" (written by Ben Tucker)—she's backed by the Billy Taylor Trio.

Superman

Clique 1969
White Whale 312/323

R.E.M.

Superstar see Groupie

Sure As I'm Sittin' Here

John Hiatt 7-73
Epic 11095

3 Dog Night

Sure Gonna Miss Her see I'm Sure Going To Miss Her

Surprise, Surprise

Lulu 1965
on lp Parrot 71016 From Lulu With Love

Rolling Stones, Underdogs

Suspicion

Elvis Presley 3-19-62
on lp RCA Victor LPM/LSP 2523 Pot Luck

Terry Stafford

In response to Terry Stafford's hit version, Presley's was relased on a 1964 45 (RCA Victor 0639).

Suspicious Minds

Mark James 1968 (rel. 7-68)
Scepter 12221

Elvis Presley, Dee Dee Warwick, Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter, Fine Young Cannibals

Mark James wrote the song under his real name, Francis Zambon.

Suzanne

Judy Collins 1966 (summer)
Elektra lp 7320 In My Life

Leonard Cohen (10-20 to 31-67), Joan Baez, Noel Harrison, Neil Diamond, Peter Gabriel

Writer Leonard Cohen was inspired by an encounter with the wife a Montreal sculptor friend of his, Suzanne Verdal.

A Canadian group called the Stormy Clovers had been performing "Suzanne" in 1966 but didn't do a formal recording of it.

Collins' original was also issued on a 1972 45, Elektra 45791.

Sway

Dean Martin 4-22-54
Captiol 2818

Bobby Rydell

Swayin' To The Music see Slow Dancin'

Sweet And Innocent

Bobby Denton 1958
Judd 1001

Roy Orbison (10-20-58), Donny Osmond

Cowriter Rick Hall's inspiration for the song was his friend Carolyn Fox. Denton & Orbison cut it as originally composed. Then, at the request of the Osmond family, he rewrote the lyrics to be more appropriate for 12-year-old Donny. Rick Hall was even the producer for Osmond's hit

Sweet Blindness

Laura Nyro 1-8-68
on lp Columbia 9626 Eli & The Thirteenth Confession

5th Dimension

Sweet Dreams

Don Gibson 9-12-55
MGM 12194

Faron Young (4-27-56), Patsy Cline, Don Gibson (1960 for RCA), Tommy McLain, Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire, Elvis Costello

Sweet Georgia Brown

Ben Bernie 3-19-25
Vocalion 15002

Bing Crosby, Brother Bones, Coasters, Beatles & Tony Sheridan

Sweet Home Chicago

Robert Johnson 11-23-36
Vocalion 03601

Junior Parker, Luther Allison, Freddie King, Foghat, Blues Bros.

Robert Johnson was no doubt influenced by Scrapper Blackwell's 1928 "Kokomo Blues" (Vocalion 1192) and/or Kokomo Arnold's subsequent version titled "Old Original Kokomo Blues" (1934, Decca 7026).

Sweet Little Angel see Black Angel Blues