The Turtles had a hit with “Happy Together” in 1967.

Quora post on the Turtles

“Caldonia” ia a Louis Jordan song. Try the James Brown cover.

I know “One Step Beyond” because of the cover by Madness. The original was by Prince Buster.

“A Message to You Rudy” is familiar to me because of the cover by the Specials from 1979.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 23punk (@23punk_)

Amazing cover of the cantina music from Star Wars

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kaboom Percussion (@kaboompercussion)

The film scene:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Devin Elrod (@thecarolinapicker)

“Your True Love” is a 1957 Carl Perkins song.

“John Henry”, like some other old folk songs, was based on a real person.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rhiannon Giddens (@rhiannongiddens)

“We Shall Overcome” has gospel roots,

#ResistanceRootsToday in history, 1960: Folk musician Guy Carawan introduces “We Shall Overcome” to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Raleigh, N.C., popularizing it as a civil rights protest anthem. The song has its roots in a gospel hymn that was adopted by striking workers. /1

— Shooti (@bambooshooti.bsky.social) 2025-04-15T18:01:08.844Z

I recently watched A.K.A. Doc Pomus about the songwriter who wrote the lyrics for “Save the Last Dance for Me” among many songs. Pomus had polio and needed crutches. The song was apparently based on his wedding. He couldn’t dance with his wife but she went home with him, not the guys she danced with.

“Lonely Avenue” was written by Doc Pomus and a hit for Ray Charles in 1956.