“Needles and Pins” is best known from the Searchers version in 1964. The original version was released by Jacke DeShannon in 1963. See the Instagram post at the bottom for more about her.

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Slim Harpo’s original version was issued in 1968. The cover version I know is Alex Chilton’s version from 1985.

George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” from the 1968 Beatles album known as the White Album has served as a launching pad for guitar solos – Eric Clapton’s on the original and Prince at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction concert in 2004.

I was thinking about it yesterday when the version by Regina Spektor played over the end credits of Kubo and the Two Strings.

“Everybody’s Everything” was a hit for Santana in 1971. They put new lyrics on “Karate” by the Emperors from 1966.

Did you know that the original version of “Burning Love” was by Arthur Alexander? His version preceded Elvis Presley’s . Both were released in 1972. The song’s author, Dennis Linde, played guitar on Presley’s version and recorded it himself.

“Hey Doll Baby” began as and R&B song written by Titus Turner that was an R&B success for the Clovers. I first heard it as a country song by the Sweethearts of the Rodeo several decades later in 1986. The Everly Brothers had recorded it in 1958.

I know “Pouring Water on a Drowning Man” because of the magnificent 1966 recording by James Carr but it appears that Percy Sledge recorded it first.

For more on James Carr, see Peter Guralnick’s book Sweet Soul Music.

Todd Rundgren wrote “I Saw The Light” and played all of the instruments on his 1972 recording.

I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job but it has been covered.

Delaney and Bonnie & Friends took Bessie Griffin’s gospel song and made it secular.