Songs written by one artist but made famous by another

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

Written by John Denver, made famous by Peter, Paul and Mary

 

[low-key]

Manic Monday

sung by the Bangels, believe it or not written by Prince

 

[suejai]

Cocaine - written by JJ Cale made famous by Eric Clapton

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The song I listed on the "color" thread...

Blue Bayou

Written by Roy Orbison, made famous by Linda Ronstadt

 

[powellrj]

I Will Always Love You written by Dolly Parton Made Famous by Whitney Houston

 

[NEDisneyFans]

Nothing Compares 2 U -- another written by Prince but performed and made famous by Sinead O'Connor (for whom he wrote it).

I Will Always Love You -- written and recorded by Dolly Parton but made REALLY famous when recorded by Whitney Houston for "The Bodyguard." (I prefer DP's version.)

Me and Bobby McGee -- written by Kris Kristofferson and recorded by several artists but Janis Joplin's version is most well known. (Most of his songs were made famous by other singers, but I've always enjoyed KK's voice.)

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I Will Always Love You written by Dolly Parton Made Famous by Whitney Houston

The song was already famous long before Whiney ever sang it. Dolly hit #1 twice with it.

 

[AustinTink]

Crazy written by Willie Nelson, made famous by Patsy Cline.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Crazy, written by Willie Nelson and made famous by Patsy Cline.
Willie recorded it as well, and it's a great version in it's own right.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The song was already famous long before Whiney ever sang it. Dolly hit #1 twice with it.

That's a really interesting song. Three times as #1 for two separate artists.

I think some of it depends on your age or other factors like the type of music you listen to. I know I never heard that song until The Bodyguard. Dolly sang it as a country song in 1974, and Whitney as an R&B song in 92. Whitney's version became one of the best selling singles of all time.

I'm thinking some here might not have known I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane until they heard it more on Glee.

Anyway, a few more tidbits about it, from Wiki:

"I Will Always Love You"

In 1992, singer Whitney Houston recorded the song for the soundtrack to The Bodyguard, her film debut. Houston was originally to record Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" as the lead single from The Bodyguard. However, when it was discovered the song was to be used for Fried Green Tomatoes, Houston requested a different song and her co-star Kevin Costner brought her Linda Ronstadt's 1975 version of "I Will Always Love You" from her album Prisoner in Disguise. Houston and producer David Foster re-arranged the song as an R&B, soul and smooth jazz ballad. Her record company did not feel a song with an a cappella introduction would be as successful; however, Houston and Costner insisted on retaining the a cappella intro. The tenor saxophone solo was played by Kirk Whalum. Whitney Houston's recording is not the only version of the song featured in the movie. In a scene where she dances with Kevin Costner, a version by John Doe can be heard playing on a jukebox.

Houston's version was a massive worldwide success, appearing at number 49 on Billboard's "Greatest Songs of All Time."[20]

Jennifer Hudson performed the song in front of Houston in 2010. On February 12, 2012 Hudson performed the song as a tribute during the 54th Grammy Awards, the day after Houston's death, alongside images of musicians who had died in 2011 and 2012 including Amy Winehouse and Etta James. The song was played at Houston's funeral as her casket was brought out of the church. Parton complimented Hudson on her performance of the song at the Grammys and praised Houston's amazing gift in a statement earlier Monday (February 13), saying, "I was brought to tears again last night, as I'm sure many were, when Jennifer Hudson sang 'I Will Always Love You' on the Grammys in memory of Whitney. Like everybody else, I am still in shock. But I know that Whitney will live forever in all the great music that she left behind. I will always have a very special piece of her in the song we shared together and had the good fortune to share with the world. Rest in peace, Whitney. Again, we will always love you."[21]

 

[CPT Tripss]

Respect - Aretha made Otis Redding's song a classic.

I Shot the Sheriff - Clapton took this Bob Marley now classic to #1 and to the Grammy HoF.

 

[Disneylover99]

The Bee Gees wrote lots of songs for other artists. These are a few of my favorites.

Islands in the Stream - Kenny and Dolly
Grease - Franki Valli
Woman in Love - Barbara Streisand

 

[willowsnn3]

Dolly's version of 'I Will Always Love You' is by far my favorite.
Posts have been given about how Whitney came to sing the song but no one posted Dolly's inspiration for writing the song to begin with, so here it is

Dolly Parton wrote it about a professional breakup, not a personal one.

When Parton wrote it in 1973, it was as a farewell to her mentor, producer, and longtime duet partner, Porter Wagoner, with whom she never had a romantic relationship. Wagoner was reluctant to have her go solo, to say the least. "It's saying, 'Just because I'm going don't mean I won't love you. I appreciate you and I hope you do great and I appreciate everything you've done, but I'm out of here,'" Parton told CMT. "And I took it in the next morning. I said, 'Sit down, Porter. I've written this song, and I want you to hear it.'... And he was crying. He said, 'That's the prettiest song I ever heard. And you can go, providing I get to produce that record.' And he did." She even sang it on one of her last appearances on Wagoner's TV show in 1974.

 

[bballmom56]

I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

Written by John Denver, made famous by Peter, Paul and Mary

That's the one that came to my mind first when I read the title of this thread! I just happened to catch a John Denver Live in Japan concert on one of the PBS stations last night. When he sang that song, I googled to see who wrote it out of curiosity because I couldn't remember. I was surprised to see he had written it.

What a great concert it was! He was a great performer. Many of the songs brought tears to my eyes. He put such passion and emotion into them. They also took me back to a simpler time in my life. Great show!

 

[nooneshome]

Tainted Love originally released by Gloria Jones and made famous by Soft Cell.

Red Red Wine written and released by Neil Diamond later made famous by UB40.

Blue Suede Shoes written by Carl Perkins and made famous by the King.

You could list hundreds of such examples. Just google who wrote all those Monkees songs.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Neil Diamond wrote "I'm a Believer". Big Hit for The Monkees, and later used in "Shrek" and a hit for Smashmouth.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[KristaTX]

A songwriter named Jim Steinman wrote many songs, including Meatloaf's "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)", Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart", and Air Supply's "Making Love Out of Nothing at All". That's why they all sound kind of like the same song.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That's the one that came to my mind first when I read the title of this thread! I just happened to catch a John Denver Live in Japan concert on one of the PBS stations last night. When he sang that song, I googled to see who wrote it out of curiosity because I couldn't remember. I was surprised to see he had written it.

What a great concert it was! He was a great performer. Many of the songs brought tears to my eyes. He put such passion and emotion into them. They also took me back to a simpler time in my life. Great show!

Yes, he was! I love so many of his songs! I saw him in concert in MA several weeks before he died. It was cool because it was one of those small summer arenas (Music Circus) where you feel like you're up close and personal with the performer! I was very pregnant with my twins at the time so I always tell them they got to at least "hear" him live in concert. Between his death and Princess Diana's I was a mess!

 

[Lorelei Lee]

John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote songs for other bands. Most notably Peter and Gordon's "World Without Love" and the Stones' "I wanna be your man".

 

[Pea-n-Me]

From DD16

Moments, written by Ed Sheeran, brought to popularity by One Direction

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B8BMkWz9yJs