“You Can’t Stop a Tattler” was written by Washington Phillips and released in 1929. Ry Cooder covered it in 1974.

“Someday Soon” covered by Judy Collins (from 1969) was popular when I was in high school. The original version is by Ian & Sylvia from 1964.

“Riot in Cell Block Number 9” was a Leiber-Stoller song recorded by the Robins in 1954. The Beach Boys used the same tune with updated lyrics for “Student Demonstration Time” in 1971.

“Ol’ 55” is a Tom Waits song released in 1973. The Eagles smoothed it out for their 1974 version.

“Go Where You Wanna Go” was written by John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas and recorded by them in 1965. The Fifth Dimension had a successful single with it in 1967. To me, the records are very similar.

“I Heard it Through the Grapevine” is such a great song it was a big hit twice – in 1967 for Gladys Knight & the Pips and in 1968 for Marvin Gaye (which was a #1). You may also remember the Creedence Clearwater Revival version and the California Raisins commercial. The first recording was actually by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in 1966 but was not released as a single.

The Isolated Vocals of Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”. Incredible… pic.twitter.com/qqFvlwTmEU

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) September 16, 2020

“It’s Gonna Work Out Fine” was originally released by Ike and Tina Turner in 1961. Ike’s spoken part was actually recorded by Mickey Baker of Mickey and Sylvia. A 1960 version by Mickey and Sylvia wasn’t released until 1990. The cover version I know best is an instrumental version by Ry Cooder (with David Lindley also on guitar) from 1978,

“Temptation” was published in 1933 and was written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown. It was first performed by Bing Crosby in the 1933 film Going Hollywood. The cover I know best is the 1961 Everly Brothers version which was #1 in the UK but only #27 in the US.

Steve Earle released the original version in 1986. I’m putting it here because I like the bluegrass version he did with the Del McCoury band. I found a cover by Percy Sledge who covered other country songs over the years. If you like the Earle/McCoury combination, check out The Mountain (1999) an album of original bluegrass songs written by Earle. There are also other Earle/McCoury videos on YouTube.

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Percy Mayfield wrote songs for Ray Charles after his own popularity waned. “Hit the Road Jack” was a big hit for Charles in 1961. Many years later, Mayfield’s demo was released.

Behind The Song Lyrics: “Hit the Road, Jack” Ray Charles