Untitled Document

W

	Song	Artist/Date/Label	Remade by
	Walk, Don't Run!	Johnny Smith 1954 on 10" lp Roost 424 In A Sentimental Mood	Chet Atkins, Ventures (countless times!), Johnny Smith (1967 for Verve), Jeff Beck, JFA et al.

The song's title supposedly was inspired by warning signs in NYC subways.

The Ventures picked up the song from Chet Atkins' 1957 album Hi-Fi In Focus.

Walk Right In

Cannon's Jug Stompers 10-1-29
Victor 38611

Rooftop Singers, Janis Joplin

Walkin' After Midnight

Lynn Howard & Accents 1956
Accent 1044

Patsy Cline (11-8-56), Wanda Jackson, Loretta Lynn, Cowboy Junkies, Madeleine Peyroux

Walking Along

Solitaires 10-10-56
Old Town 1034

Diamonds

Walking Blues (aka Walkin' Blues)

Son House 5-28-30 (cut for Paramount) on lp Document 532 Delta Blues Vol. 1 1929-1930 (1988)

Robert Johnson, Son House (1941 for Library Of Congress), Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Dion

Eddie "Son" House's first recording session, May 28, 1930, yeilded three 2-part blues releases on the Paramount label and a test pressing of "Walking Blues." That particular copy was discovered many years later (in the attic of a house!) and finally made available in 1988. "Walking Blues" was his theme song and it's hard to know for sure why it wasn't issued at the time. One possible factor was Paramount's demise soon thereafter.

"My Black Mama, Part 2," one of the three 78s pressed in 1930, was melodically similar to Robert Johnson's version of "Walking Blues." It's possible that when Johnson learned it from House, he either took the initiative to work the two together or Son's arrangement had evolved. Robert Johnson often gets credit for the song, but it should go to House.

Son House made a 1942 recording (also done by Alan Lomax for the Library Of Congress) titled "Walking Blues," but it's a different song(!), which may be an indication of how loose he was with his own compositions.

Walking On Sunshine

Katrina & The Waves 1983
on lp Canadian Attic 1172 Walking On Sunshine

Katrina & The Waves (1985 for Capitol)

Wang Dang Doodle

Willie Dixon 2-17-54
on CD MCA 9353 Original Wang Dang Doodle (1995)

Howlin' Wolf, Koko Taylor, Savoy Brown, Pointer Sisters

Adapted by Dixon from an old ribald lesbian song called "The Bull Daggers Ball."

War

Temptations 1-3 & 10-70
on lp Gordy 947 Psychedelic Shack

Edwin Starr, Bruce Springsteen, D.O.A.

Warm And Tender Love

Joe Haywood 1964
Enjoy 2013

Percy Sledge, Buckwheat Zydeco

Wasn't That A Party?

Tom Paxton 10-26-72
on CD UK Strange Fruit 079 Live In Concert

(Irish) Rovers, Tom Paxton (1973 for Reprise, 1988 for Flying Fish)

Paxton's version on his 1973 LP New Songs For Old Friends (Reprise 2144) may have been recorded first, but dates for it have been elusive. Tom himself said he's not certain of the order.

Wasted Days And Wasted Nights

Freddy Fender 1960
Duncan 1001/Imperial 5670

Sir Douglas Quintet, Freddy Fender (1975 for ABC/Dot)

Water Boy

Paul Robeson 1-7-26
Victor 19824

Odetta, Don Shirley Trio

Watermelon Man

Herbie Hancock 5-28-62
Blue Note 1862

Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Hancock (1973 for Columbia)

Way Back Home

Jazz Crusaders 1970
Chisa 8010

Jr. Walker & All Stars

Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

Peerless Quartet 6-22
Victor 18942

Freddy Cannon

Way Of Love, The

Kathy Kirby 1-16-65
Parrot 9775

Cher

Way You Look Tonight, The

Fred Astaire 1936
on lp Sountrak 106 Swing Time ost (1976)

Fred Astaire (7-26-36, Brunswick 7717), Lettermen, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Art Pepper, Wes Montgomery, Stan Getz et al.

We Both Believe In Love (aka Do You Believe In Love)

Supercharge 1979
on lp UK Virgin 12118 Body Rhythm

Huey Lewis & News

Famed British producer "Mutt" Lange wrote "We Both Believe In Love" and sang the lead on Supercharge's recording. Huey Lewis then made a few changes and had his first hit.

We Got The Beat

Go-Go's 1980
UK Stiff 78

Go-Go's (1981 for I.R.S.)

We Like Birdland (aka Birdland)

Huey Smith & Clowns 1958
Ace 548

Chubby Checker

We'll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again

Jeffrey Comanor 1975
Epic 50148

England Dan & John Ford Coley

We'll Sing In The Sunshine see Sing In The Sunshine

We're All Alone

Boz Scaggs 9-75
on lp Columbia 33920 Silk Degrees

Frankie Valli, Rita Coolidge

We're Gonna Groove see Groovin'

We're In This Love Together

Dean Conn 1980
on lp A&M 4839

Al Jarreau

We've Only Just Begun

Freddie Allen 3-70
White Whale 345

Mark Lindsay, Carpenters

The tune began as a jingle for a late-1960s bank commercial and was then expanded it into a complete song. Co-writers Paul Williams and Roger Nichols have different ideas as to who cut it first. Williams sites Mark Lindsay while Nichols says Freddie Allen's was earlier. Nichols was the arranger for Allen's recording, without Williams' involvement, which could explain Paul's lack of knowledge about it.

Wedding Bell Blues

Laura Nyro 7-13-66
Verve Folkways 5024

5th Dimension

The CD liner notes for Nyro's first album (More Than A New Discovery), which contains "Wedding Bell Blues" state it was recorded in November of 1966. The 45 of the song, listed here, appeared on Billboard's Bubbling Under chart beginning October 22, 1966. I therefore assumed the single was a different (earlier) take but it turns out they are identical versions. Clearly the liner notes date is incorrect.

Weekend in New England, A

Randy Edelman 1975
on lp 20th Century Farewell Fairbanks

Barry Manilow

What A Fool Believes

Kenny Loggins 6-8-78
on lp Columbia 35387 Nightwatch

Doobie Bros. (rel. 12-1-78), Self

What Have They Done To My Song Ma (aka Look What They've Done To My Song Ma)

Melanie 1970
on lp Buddah 5060 Candles In The Rain

New Seekers, Ray Charles

What Have They Done To The Rain

Joan Baez 1962
on lp Vanguard 2122 In Concert

Searchers, Malvina Reynolds

What I Am (Say I Am)

Fireballs 1966 (issued 2-66)
Dot 16834

Tommy James & Shondells

"What I Am" was written by Fireballs' guitarist George Tomsco (along with his uncredited wife) and published by producer Norman Petty's Dundee Music. Tommy James' issues of the song often credited him and his publisher, which kept Dundee busy pursuing royalties. Interestingly, there are James 45s which include Tomsco's wife Barbara in the writing credits.

What I Am

New Bohemians (w/ Edie Brickell) 1986
on cassette (self-issued) It¹s Like This

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians (1988 for Geffen)

What Now My Love

Jane Morgan 2-8-62
Kapp 450

Gilbert Bécaud (in English, Kapp 566), Sonny & Cher, Herb Alpert, Mitch Ryder

Adapted from the French song "Et maintenant," written and recorded by Gilbert Bécaud in 1961.

What Will My Mary Say?

Mark Dinning 1961
MGM 13048

Johnny Mathis (8-9-62)

What's Forever For

England Dan & John Ford Coley 1979
on lp Big Tree 76015 Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive

Michael Murphey

What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love & Understanding see Peace, Love & Understanding, (What's So Funny 'Bout)

When Blue Turns To Grey (aka Blue Turns To Grey)

Dick & Dee Dee 12-64
Warner Bros. 5627

Mighty Avengers (rel. 2-65), Rolling Stones (9-6-65), Epics, Andrew Oldham Orch., Cliff Richard, Flamin' Groovies

The Rolling Stones played on Dick & Dee Dee's recording and their manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, produced the session in London. The Mighty Avengers' version (UK Decca F 12085, also produced by Oldham) used the same backing track. Definitive evidence has yet to surface as to whose vocals were done earier, but I suspect it was Dick & Dee Dee's. Considering Oldham's propensity for efficiency (i.e. cheapness), it's possible theirs and the Mighty Avengers' were done at nearly the same time.

The Stones' demo of the song, cut in August of 1964, has appeared on various bootlegs.

When I Fall In Love

Jeri Southern 4-3-52
Decca 28224

Doris Day (6-5-52), Nat King Cole, Lettermen, Donny Osmond, Celine Dion & Clive Griffin

The song originated in the 1952 film One Minute To Zero (noted erroneously on Southern's record as One Minute Before Zero), performed as theme music by Victor Young's orchestra. As far as I can determine, that recording has never been commercially released.

When I Need You

Albert Hammond 1977
on lp Epic 35049 When I Need You

Leo Sayer, Leonard Cohen, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart

When I'm Gone

Mary Wells 5-11-64
on lp Motown 653 Vintage Stock (1966)

Brenda Holloway (1-65)

Wells' recording was scheduled to be issued as a single (Motown 1061) but it was canceled following her decision to leave the label. Picture sleeves for the 45 are rumored to exist. Brenda Holloway's version used the same backing track.

When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again

Wiley Walker & Gene Sullivan 3-9-41
Okeh 06374/Columbia 37665

Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard

When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

Charlie Rich 10-16-66
on CD Sony 64762 The Essential Charlie Rich (1997)

Sam & Dave

When The Levee Breaks

Kansas Joe & Memphis Minnie
6-18-29
Columbia 14439

Led Leppelin, John Campbell, A Perfect Circle, Bob Dylan (as "The Levee's Gonna Break")

Inspired by the massive Mississippi River flood of 1927.

When You Walk In The Room

Jackie DeShannon 9-63
Liberty 55645

Searchers

Where Have All The Flowers Gone

Pete Seeger 1960
on lp Folkways 2454 The Rainbow Quest

Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, Johnny Rivers

Writer Pete Seeger was inspired to compose this by a line in the Russian novel And Quiet Flows The Don by Mikhail Sholokhov.

Where Or When

Hal Kemp w/ Bob Allen 3-24-37
Brunswick 7865

Dion & Belmonts

Written for the stage play Babes In Arms, which opened on Broadway April 14, 1937.

Where Peaceful Waters Flow

Jim Weatherly 1973
RCA 0949

Gladys Knight & Pips

Where's The Playground, Susie?

Michael Whalen 1967
Reprise 0602

Glen Campbell (11-27-68)

This is not the same Michael Whalen who's a contemporary film & TV composer.

Whipped Cream

Stokes 1964
Alon 9019

Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass

White Lightning

Big Bopper 10-55
on lp Mercury 20402 Chantilly Lace (1958)

George Jones, Waylon Jennings

White Rabbit

Great Society 1966
on lp Columbia 9624 Conspicuous Only In Its Absence (1968)

Jefferson Airplane (11-3-66), George Benson, Damned

Great Society vocalist Grace Slick wrote the song and (obviously) brought it with her to the Jefferson Airplane.

Who Do You Love?

Bo Diddley 3-56
Checker 842

Yardbirds, Ronnie Hawkins, Woolies, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Juicy Lucy, UFO, Grateful Dead, The Band, George Thorogood

Who Do You Think You Are

Jigsaw 1973
on lp UK BASF 5051 I've Seen The Film, I've Read The Book (1974)

Candlewick Green, Bo Donaldson & Heywoods, Saint Etienne

Co-written by Jigsaw members Clive Scott and Des Dyer, they recorded it as a possible single. The group's management also handled Candlewick Green, who had just won a talent contest on British TV. It was thought that Candlewick Green were guaranteed radio airplay so their vocals were laid over Jigsaw's backing track and that's whose version came out on a 45. Jigsaw's was done first but issued a bit later as an album cut.

Who Let The Dogs Out see Doggie

Who Was It?

Gilbert O'Sullivan 1972
on lp Mam 5 Back To Front

Hurricane Smith

Who Were You Thinking Of

Jim Glaser 1979
UK Mint CHEW 32

Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornados, Jim Glaser (2007 for Solitaire)

Who's Sorry Now

Bob Thompson c. 1-23
Cameo 350

Connie Francis, Marie Osmond

A least eight singers cut this in 1923 and Thompson's appears to be the earliest.

Who's That Lady (aka That Lady)

Isley Bros. 1-14-64
United Artists 714

Isley Bros. (1973 for T-Neck)

Whole Lotta Love see You Need Love

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Big Maybelle 3-21-55
Okeh 7060

Roy Hall (9-15-55), Commodores (not the '70s soul group), Jerry Lee Lewis

The song was written by Dave Williams and Roy Hall, who used the pseudonym Sonny David as a supposed tax dodge. Both their names appeared on Jerry Lee Lewis' hit but only Williams was credited on Big Maybelle's original, Hall's own rendition and the Commodores' 1956 release.

Why Don't You Write Me

Feathers 1955
Showtime 1105

Jacks

Wide Open Spaces

Groobees 1997
on CD Downtime 0002 Wayside

Dixie Chicks

Wild Horses

Flying Burrito Bros. 1969
on lp A&M 4258 Burrito Deluxe

Rolling Stones (12-69 & 2-70), Old & In The Way, Leon Russell, Sundays, Otis Clay, Blackhawk

The Rolling Stones had begun sessions for the song, and sent a demo to Gram Parsons of the Flying Burrito Bros., who immediately cut it for their next album. Meanwhile the Stones were between labels and didn't finish theirs until a few months later. Written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, the song was about either Anita Pallenberg or Marianne Faithful, depending on whose account you believe.

Wild One (aka Real Wild Child)

Johnny O'Keefe & Dee Jays 1958
Aussie Festival ep FX 5002 Shakin' At The Stadium

Ivan (aka Jerry Allison), Jerry Lee Lewis, Iggy Pop, Teenage Head, Brian Setzer

O'Keefe's issues in the US (Brunswick 9-55067) and UK (Coral 45 Q 72330) were titled "Real Wild Child." Both were a close-but-different take from the Australian original, probably using the same backing track but with a different intro edit. The US & UK versions also eliminated the crowd sounds and cheers that had been added to simulate a "live" recording.

Wild Side Of Life

Jimmy Heap 1 to 3-51
Imperial 8105

Hank Thompson, Charlie Feathers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Freddy Fender, Jimmy Heap (1961 for Fame), Status Quo, Rod Stewart, Willie Nelson & Leon Russell

Wild Thing

Wild Ones 10-7-65
United Artists 947

Troggs, Senator Bobby, Jimi Hendrix, Fancy, Sam Kinison, X

Wild Weekend (Theme)

Russ Hallet Trio 1958
on CD UK Ace 426 Tom Shannon Presents...The Rockin' Rebels (1994)

(Rockin') Rebels, NRBQ

Russ Hallet Trio's recording was done for Buffalo, NY DJ Tom Shannon's WKBW radio show and was not commercially issued at the time. (While it may not have been made for release, Hallert's version certainly was done for public consumption.) Shannon received so many requests for the song, he had a local combo (the Rebels) record it.

Wild World

Jimmy Cliff 1970 (rel. 7-70)
A&M 1201

Cat Stevens (7-70), Maxi Priest

Cat Stevens started his recording of the song, went off to produce Cliff's version, then finished his own.

Stevens' 1969 demo has also been issued.

Wildwood Days

Dovells 1962
Parkway 867

Bobby Rydell

Wildwood Weed

Don Bowman 9-63
on lp RCA 2831 Our Man In Trouble

Jim Stafford

It's gotta be somehow notable that Chet Atkins produced this 1963 song about "wacky weed." Bowman wrote it and Stafford's 45 originally listed just Don, but on later pressings (after it started to get popular?), Stafford was somehow the co-writer. What was he smoking?

Will The Circle Be Unbroken (aka Can The Circle Be Unbroken)

William McEwan 11-11
Columbia 1364

Frank & James McCravy (12-27 for Brunswick, 1930 for Clarion), Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Staple Singers, Flying Burrito Bros., Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Willie Nelson, John Lee Hooker et al.

Willin'

Johnny Darrell 9-17-69
on lp United Artists 6752 California Stop-Over

Little Feat (1970, 1972), Byrds, Seatrain, Linda Ronstadt

Willow Weep For Me

Paul Whiteman Orch. w/ Irene Taylor
9-26-32
Victor 24187

Ted Fio Rito (10-32), Billie Holiday, June Christie, Stan Kenton, Ella Fitzgerald, Wes Montgomery, Chad & Jeremy, Lou Rawls, George Benson, Ray Charles et al

Wimoweh see Mbube

Wind Beneath My Wings (aka Hero)

Roger Whittaker 12-31-81
on lp RCA 4321 Wind Beneath My Wings

Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight & Pips, Bette Midler, Gary Morris, Gerald & Eddie LeVert

Barbara Streisand was the first to attempt a recording of the song, but after starting the session, she decided she didn't want to do it and left the studio!

Windmills Of Your Mind

Noel Harrison 1968
on lp United Artists 5182 The Thomas Crown Affair ost

Dusty Springfield (9-68), Henry Mancini, Swing Out Sister, Michel Legrand, Sting

"Windmills Of Your Mind" was featured in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair and won an Academy Award for best original song.

Winning

Russ Ballard 1976
Epic 50211

Santana

Wish You Didn't Have To Go

Spooner & The Spoons 1965
Fame 6405

James & Bobby Purify

Wishin' And Hopin'

Dionne Warwick 1963
Scepter 1247

Dusty Springfield

Wishing For Your Love

Clovers 7-26-57
Atlantic 1175

Voxpoppers

Witchcraft

Spiders 8-27-55
Imperial 5366

Elvis Presley

The melody was taken from the Spiders' 1953 recording "I Didn't Want To Do It" (Imperial 5265).

With Pen In Hand

Johnny Darrell 1-18-68
United Artists 50292

Bobby Goldsboro (2-26-68), Billy Vera, Vikki Carr

Without You

Badfinger 7-15 & 29-70
on lp Apple 3367 No Dice

Nilsson (6-71), Mariah Carey

Without Your Love

White Horse 1977
on lp Capitol EMI 11687

Roger Daltrey

Woman Love

Jimmy Johnson 3-56
Starday (Custom series) 561

Gene Vincent (5-4-56)

This song was the original A-side on Vincent's hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula."

Johnson's recording was a demo that, following his (initial) failure to get it recorded by anyone else, was pressed on 45 (probably a few hundred copies, if that) to further promote it. Starday's Custom Series was a vanity sub-label, usually used by artists marketing themselves in hopes of getting a proper label signing.

Woman Woman

Jimmy Payne 1967
Epic 10173/10222

Gary Puckett & Union Gap, Tompall & Glaser Bros.

Wonder Like You, A

Jerry Fuller 1961
on CD Varese Sarabande 66447 The Lost '60s Recordings (2003)

Rick Nelson (7-20-61)

Soon after Fuller recorded this for Challenge Records, he was called up for Army service and the track was shelved.

Won't Find Better Than Me

Kit-Kats 3-3-66
Jamie 1321

Kit-Kats (1967, Jamie 1337), New Hope (1969, Jamie 1381, same group as Kit-Kats)

Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey see Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home

Wooden Heart

Elvis Presley 4-28-60
on lp RCA Victor 2256 G.I. Blues

Joe Dowell, Bobby Vinton

Adapted from the German folk song "Muss I Denn Zum Stadtele Hinaus."

Words

Leaves 1966 (rel. 6-66)
on lp Mira 3005 Hey Joe

Regents, Boston Tea Party, Monkees (6-14-67)

The song's 1965 demo, done by its writers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, has also been issued.

Work Song

Nat Adderley 1-27-60
on lp Riverside 12-318 Work Song

Oscar Brown Jr., Cannonball Adderley (1960, 1962, 1964, 1975), Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Nina Simone et al.

Worried Life Blues

Big Maceo (Merriweather) 6-24-41
Bluebird 8827

Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Animals, B.B. King, Blues Magoos, Eric Clapton, Fred McDowell, Freddy King, James Cotton, Corey Harris et al.

Adapted from Sleepy John Estes' "Someday Baby Blues" (1935, Champion 50068).

Worried Man Blues (aka A Worried Man)

Carter Family 5-24-30
Victor 40317

Carter Family (1935 for Arc), Kingston Trio

Although they're not really the same song, "Worried Man Blues" used a couple of lyric lines from Charlie Kyle's 1928 "Kyle's Worried Blues" (Victor 21707).

Worst That Could Happen

5th Dimension 1967
on lp Soul City 92001 The Magic Garden

Brooklyn Bridge

Wrap It Up

Sam & Dave 1-5-68
Stax 242

Fabulous Thunderbirds

Wreck Of The John B (aka Sloop John B)

Weavers 11-3-50
Decca 27332

Kingston Trio, Jimmie Rodgers, Lonnie Donegan, Beach Boys

The song was adapted from a Caribbean folk tune called "The John B. Sails." Poet Carl Sandburg then reworked the lyrics in 1927—the ones used by the Weavers. Alan Lomax made a 1935 Bahamian field recording of "Sloop John B. (Histe Up The John B.'s Sails)" sung by the Cleveland Simmons group. It has been issued on various Rounder Records compilations.