Post 1970 hits that have been hits in more than one versions at once.

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This was not at all unusual back in the 60s or even more 50s, that several versions of the same song competed on the hitlists at the same time.

However, it seems considerably rarer these days, and in fact has been since the 70s. There are some exceptions though, and I'd love this thread to list as many of them as possible.

Macarena (Los Del Mar, Los Del Rio)
Dragosta Din Tei (O-Zone, some other act that I haven't been able to remember the name of)
Please Don't Go (KWS, Double You)
Superstar (Christine Milton, Jamelia)
Mamy Blue (Nicoletta, Pop Tops)
Dance Little Bird/Bird Dance (Electronicas, The Tweets + several others)

How many other examples are there?

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 16 September 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

Why did artists stop releasing their own versions of others' recent singles (as new singles or album tracks), as they did in the '60s?

― xhuxk (xheddy), Saturday, 16 September 2006 15:00 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, I know. This thread is influenced by that one, but the few exceptions have not been listed in that thread.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 16 September 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

How Do I Live? (Trisha Yearwood, LeAnn Rimes)
I Swear (All 4 One, John Michael Montgomery)*

*Didn't they both have a hit with another song as well?

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Saturday, 16 September 2006 15:12 (nineteen years ago)

I don't think there was much time lag between covers of "The Power of Love" by Laura Branigan and Air Supply, though I could be misremembering.

Also:
"You Light Up My Life" (Debby Boone / Kasey Szylk or whatever her name was)
"More Than a Woman" (Bee Gees / Tavares)
"Love Hangover" (Diana Ross / 5th Dimension)
"God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You" (N Sync / Alabama)

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Saturday, 16 September 2006 15:29 (nineteen years ago)

"More Than a Woman" (Bee Gees / Tavares)

Yes, surely there are several examples from the disco era? (I'm drawing a blank right now though, ugh)

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 16 September 2006 16:04 (nineteen years ago)

Another Bee Gees one: If I Can't Have You (shared w/Yvonne Elliman)

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Saturday, 16 September 2006 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

to make you feel my love (garth brooks / billy joel) (and though not a simultaneous hit for dude number three, bob dylan, it was on the most successful album he had released in years, so that should count for something)

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Saturday, 16 September 2006 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

Speaking of Dylan, wasn't there a cover of "Gotta Serve Somebody" released shortly after the original?

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Saturday, 16 September 2006 16:10 (nineteen years ago)

Of course, there is also Shipbuilding (Elvis Costello/Robert Wyatt)

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Saturday, 16 September 2006 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

was either one of those a hit?

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Saturday, 16 September 2006 16:18 (nineteen years ago)

Wyatt's was in the U.K. and Costello's version is on many of his comps. It might not have been an actual hit though.

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Saturday, 16 September 2006 16:25 (nineteen years ago)

Speaking of Billy Joel, there is also Billy Joel/Barry White and their two versions of "Just The Way You Are".

Also there's "Two Of Hearts" by Juicy Newton, who covered a rather recent Dave Edmunds song.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 16 September 2006 17:00 (nineteen years ago)

"Queen of Hearts", surely?

― Why does my IQ changes? (noodle vague), Saturday, 16 September 2006 18:05 (nineteen years ago)

"I Need a Lover That Won't Drive Me Crazy" - John Cougar/Pat Benatar
"Whoop! There It Is" - Tag Team/"Whoot! There It Is" - 95 South

― Matt Golden (goldmatt), Saturday, 16 September 2006 19:31 (nineteen years ago)

Though I'd pay to hear the Juice Newton "Two Of Hearts." (xpost)

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Saturday, 16 September 2006 19:34 (nineteen years ago)

Damn, somebody on ILX is on a serious "songwriting thread" jag. Antyway:
Speaking of Billy Joel, there is also Billy Joel/Barry White and their two versions of "Just The Way You Are".

I believe it was Isaac Hayes who had his "J.T.W.Y.A." simultaneous with Barry White.

Post-1970's? Well, in 1973 there was a glut of weak American covers of "Soul Makossa," mainly because Manu Dibango's original hadn't been released Stateside (but it was a big hit in discos, when they were still an underground thing). When Atlantic stepped in and finally released it in the U.S., the single was subtited "(The Original Version)" and the album had this big rectangle across the cover that said "THE ORIGINAL." I don't think ANY label does obvious, look-a-here/make-no-mistake marketing like that anymore.

And in the 70's and 80's, whenever a white pop hit got black radio airplay, overnight there'd be a black version to keep the white "visitors" away, sorta like Pat Boone covering Little Richard (but in reverse). I seem to remember Peabo Bryson's "Minute By Minute" appearing not long after the interracial Doobie Brothers' original. And I don't remember the artist, but there was also a black version of "Every Breath You Take," released right when the Police's original started picking up steam on soul radio...haven't heard it since it was out (not that I'd want to), but I remember the bass was slightly funkier, the dance beat was more pronounced, and the singer was "oversouling" just so the urban stations wouldn't have to deal with Sting & co. no more.

I think this practice might have started in '69 when both the Kelly Brothers and Joe Bataan jumped on "Crystal Blue Persuasion" the minute they noticed Tommy James & the Shondells being beamed over black airwaves...even though T.J.'s version didn't make the Billboard R&B charts, I still hear it on "dusties" (R&B oldies) shows every now & then.

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Saturday, 16 September 2006 20:35 (nineteen years ago)

That's "Queen Of Hearts", sure.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 16 September 2006 21:22 (nineteen years ago)

I thought there might have been some listed here, but I guess not..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Warren

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Saturday, 16 September 2006 21:27 (nineteen years ago)

"My Toot Toot"! Everybody sing!

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 17 September 2006 00:48 (nineteen years ago)

"The Curly Shuffle." I forget the cover band's name, since they didn't make it, but they released a version right behind the Jump 'N' The Saddle hit.

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Sunday, 17 September 2006 00:54 (nineteen years ago)

Does a Snap!/Chill Rob G type situation count?

― 100% CHAMPS with a Yes! Attitude. (Austin, Still), Sunday, 17 September 2006 01:05 (nineteen years ago)

1996: "Wonderwall" - (1) Oasis (2) The Mike Flowers Pops

― Sexy MFA (Hexy M.F.), Sunday, 17 September 2006 01:34 (nineteen years ago)

"Der Kommissar" - Falco (German version)/ After the Fire (English version)

― Hideous Lump (Hideous Lump), Sunday, 17 September 2006 02:42 (nineteen years ago)

Ooh, good call.

And one that I managed to never hear either version of:
"Inside Your Heaven" (Carrie Underwood / Bo Bice)

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Sunday, 17 September 2006 07:12 (nineteen years ago)

"Der Kommissar" - Falco (German version)/ After the Fire (English version)

Obviously, there has been the occasional translation, yes. Sometimes with different acts than the original.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 17 September 2006 07:48 (nineteen years ago)

Who the Fuck Is Alice - rereleased by Smokie and released by Gompie at pretty much the same time.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Monday, 18 September 2006 10:11 (nineteen years ago)

Wally Whyton ownz this thread:

4 Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O Jan 1957
10 Vipers Skiffle Group Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O Jan 1957

10 Vipers Skiffle Group Cumberland Gap Mar 1957
1 Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group Cumberland Gap Apr 1957

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 18 September 2006 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

I know, not exactly post 1970...

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 18 September 2006 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

"Black Velvet" - Alannah Miles (pop) / Robin Lee (country)
"Picture" - Kid Rock with Sheryl Crow (pop) / with Allison Moorer (country)

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:14 (nineteen years ago)

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - Bill Medley and Hollies reissue, both 1988.

Let's Do The Latin Hustle - M&O Band and Eddie Drennan/BBS Unlimited, both 1976.

Una Paloma Blanca - Jonathan King and George Baker Selection, 1975.

You're The One That I Want - John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John and Hylda Baker/Arthur Mullard, 1978.

Also, records which appeared on the chart at the same time on different labels:
Jane & Serge - Je T'Aime (Fontana), Je T'Aime (Major Minor), 1969.
Shangri-Las - Leader Of The Pack (Charly), Leader Of The Pack (Contempo), 1976.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:16 (nineteen years ago)

Plus Lulu's "Shout" which appeared in two different versions (reissue and remake) and labels at the exact same chart position. (First/Last time?)

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:18 (nineteen years ago)

I think it must be. 1986?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:20 (nineteen years ago)

I was surprised when I saw the chart of 1969 when Je'taime was the hit(s), as both singles were listed seperately (one week, both were top 10).

The Shangri's, both issues were listed together at the same number.

Quite often during the nineties, a 12" single would be listed away from the 7"/CD single as the "Two formats only" rule had been breached.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:24 (nineteen years ago)

The reason for the two Je T'Aimes was that Fontana got cold feet because of the Mary Whitehouse brigade and sold the masters to Major Minor; the deletion and reissue overlapped.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:26 (nineteen years ago)

Also, of course, let us honour "I Am The Walrus," the only recording to appear on both the number one and two records in the singles chart in the same week, being the B-side of "Hello Goodbye" and also one of the six tracks on the Magical Mystery Tour EP (Xmas '67).

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:27 (nineteen years ago)

The same recording though..... :)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:40 (nineteen years ago)

I believe that's what the phrase "the only RECORDING" implies.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 18 September 2006 11:44 (nineteen years ago)

Plus Lulu's "Shout" which appeared in two different versions (reissue and remake)

Something similar happened Stateside in 1990 with the use of the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" in the film Ghost: both the original and a re-recorded version appeared on the U.S. charts simultaneously IIRC, and the competition resulted in both versions barely missing the Top 10.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 18 September 2006 16:23 (nineteen years ago)

Geir,

you're thinking of Haiducii for the original version of "Dragostea Din Tei"

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 18 September 2006 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

"I Swear," by John Michael Montgomery (1994), covered that same year by All-4-One.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 18 September 2006 16:28 (nineteen years ago)

"Where Do You Go" - No Mercy, La Bouche (1996)
I don't know if La Bouche Charted, but I remember being in sixth grade, getting the La Bouche cassette, and hearing them do the same song by No Mercy that was on the radio at the time and thinking, "Can they do that? Two at once?" One of those kid-concepts about the limited possibilty of record-making.

― mox twelve (Mox twleve), Monday, 18 September 2006 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

"Hide Your Heart" (KISS / Ace Frehley), 1989

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Monday, 18 September 2006 17:33 (nineteen years ago)

Chic - Good Times/Sugar Hill Gang - Rapper's Delight
Prince/Tom Jones - Kiss (?)

― and PappaWheelie, author of Have You Ever Been Poxy Fuled? (PappaWheelie 2), Monday, 18 September 2006 17:41 (nineteen years ago)

Art of Noise/Tom Jones was more than two years after Prince.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Monday, 18 September 2006 18:29 (nineteen years ago)

50 Cent/Beyoncé - "In Da Club"

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Monday, 18 September 2006 18:39 (nineteen years ago)

"Just Don't Want To Be Lonely"-the Main Ingredient had the hit in '74, but Ronnie Dyson and Blue Magic gave them stiff competition around the same time.

(At least Blue Magic's version was a B-side - to their biggest hit, "Sideshow.")

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 01:54 (nineteen years ago)

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