Top 40 cover tunes of songs that DID NOT hit the Top 40

[dth1971]

How about Jackie DeShannon's original 1973 version of "Bette Davis Eyes" that never made Billboard's Hot 100 until Kim Carnes covered it in 1981 at took it to #1?

[dth1971]

Another one I found: "Never Gonna Let You Go" was first done by Dionne Warwick in 1982 and never made Billboard's Hot 100, but was covered by Sergio Mendes a year later in 1983 and it made the top 40.

[retrodaddy]

After The Fire's cover of Der Kommissar made it to #5 on the pop chart. The original by Falco made it to #74 on Cashbox, though it had much better success on the Dance Club (#10) and Mainstream Rock (#22) charts.

Interestingly enough, the Falco original and ATF cover peaked in the same week in January 1983 on the Canadian pop chart at #11 and #12, respectively.

I dig Falco, but I much prefer tbe ATF cover.

[woolebull]

"Ghost of You and Me" was first done by Curtis Stigers in 1995 for his second album, but was never released. In 2001, BBMak would take the song to number 27 on AT 40.

[dth1971]

Dallas Fraizer first recorded "Elvira" in 1968 but it only got to #72 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, the Oak Ridge Boys covered it in 1981 and took to #1 country and #5 Billboard Hot 100.

And if you use R&R Casey's Top 40/Rick Dees sources, in Summer 1994 (as the old AT40 was on its deathbed that time) Frente made the R&R CHR/Pop top 40 with "Bizarre Love Triangle", a nearly 2 minute cover version of a 1986 song by New Order which never made Billboard's Hot 100.

[at40nut]

Ace Frehley's "New York Groove" was written by Russ Ballard and hit #13 for Space Ace, but it was originally done by a British band named Hello back in 1975.

[dth1971]

Here's one from the Shadoe AT40 era: In 1990 there was the #1 song by New Kids on the Block called "Step By Step" which was a remake of a song in 1987 done by the Dynamite Superiors - That Superiors version never made Billboard's Hot 100.

[woolebull]

Nov 26, 2015 17:35:50 GMT -5 at40nut said:

Here's a reverse Robert Palmer for ya! He recorded a song titled "Some Guys Have All The Luck" which became a Top 40 hit for Rod Stewart back in 1984.

While "Some Guys Have All The Luck", the ladies want to be part of this equation as well!

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" was first released by Robert Hazard as a single. It would be five or so year until it would become a hit by Cyndi Lauper.

[mga707]

Nov 26, 2015 18:31:01 GMT -5 dukelightning said:

^Except the original is by the Persuaders and it did hit the top 40, barely, in 1973.

Just in case anyone else doesn't recall this thread from back in 2015/16.
The Persuaders' original is head and shoulders above EITHER remake, Palmer or Stewart. It's a superb slice of early '70s soul. #39, December 1973.

[woolebull]

Listening to the 6/6/92 AT 40 show made me realize one I that should have come to my mind earlier: "Wishing On A Star" by The Cover Girls was on its way into the top 10 in the summer of 1992. The original, done by Rose Royce in 1978, failed to hit the Hot 100.

[dth1971]

Helen Reddy's "You're My World" is a remake of a Cilla Black 1960's song. Cilla's original never made the top 40 reaches.

[LC]

Jun 18, 2022 8:31:48 GMT -5 dth1971 said:

Helen Reddy's "You're My World" is a remake of a Cilla Black 1960's song. Cilla's original never made the top 40 reaches.

#26, 1964

[dth1971]

Jun 18, 2022 8:46:12 GMT -5 LC said:

Jun 18, 2022 8:31:48 GMT -5 dth1971 said:

Helen Reddy's "You're My World" is a remake of a Cilla Black 1960's song. Cilla's original never made the top 40 reaches.

#26, 1964

Sorry I didn't notice.

[dth1971]

Did anyone mention the Doobie Brothers' cover of Kim Weston's missing the Top 40 reaches song from the 1960's "Take Me In Your Arms"?

[mrjukebox]

Believe Kim's original version of "Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me)" peaked at # 50 in 1965.