Original vs Elvis Remake

September 26th we celebrate the 70th birthday of the fantastic Olivia Newton-John, today its her first top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit and first top 5 Billboard Country hit, what made this so great to listen to besides the beautiful Olivia was the bass harmony of Mike Sammes: 

"IF YOU LOVE ME (LET ME KNOW)" 

1974

April 1977 Elvis recorded his live version of this song to be released on the last album he released while still alive, "Moody Blue". 
This version was not released as an official single but has become famous for the great bass harmony of J. D. Sumner.

Elvis Original vs Remake

"Always On My Mind"

Elvis Presley

1972

Elvis recorded this soon to be classic on March 29th 1972 just weeks after his separation from wife Priscilla.  Originally the "B" side of the sing "Separate Ways", this would become one of his best songs of the 1970s and peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, #16 on the Country chart, and #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

"Always On My Mind"

Willie Nelson

1982

Recorded and released in the early part of 1982 this remake of the Elvis song from 10 year previous raced to the top of the Billboard Country songs chart and spent 2 consecutive weeks at #1 and eventually became Billboard's #1 country song of 1982.

Willie would also peak at #5 on the Hot 100, #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #1 on the Canadian Country songs chart.

Original vs. Elvis Remake

There are a lot, I mean a lot of songs that were big hits or small hits that Elvis would remake as part of his concert set or put on his albums because he enjoyed singing them.  Most famously was "Hound Dog"  written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1952 and sung by Big Mama Thornton,  but until Elvis made it his own and turned it into a monster hit, no one really knew about the original.  

I will be giving you 2 songs, the original version/artist along with Elvis' version that may or may not have been a top 40 hit for him.  

This first song is one of my favorites that isn't a well known Elvis remake but the original by Roger Whitaker became a Top 20 hit in the US and UK 4 years after its original release.   

Elvis's version  appeared on his "From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee" album in 1976 but did not make the top 40, stalling at #48. 

The Last Farewell 

(Roger Whitaker)

1975

#19 Billboard Hot 100

#1 Billboard AC Chart

#2 UK Official Chart

The Last Farewell

(Elvis Presley)

1976

#48 Billboard Hot 100

Original vs Remake (Ain't Too Proud To Beg)

Ain't To Proud To Beg

The Temptations

1966

(8 non consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Soul chart)

Ain't To Proud To Beg

The Rolling Stones

1974

Original vs Remake (Viva Las Vegas)

Viva Las Vegas - Elvis Presley

released April 1964

# 29 on the Billboard Hot 100

# 12 on the UK Top 40

Viva Las Vegas - ZZ Top

released April 1992

#16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Singles Chart

Original vs Remake (Help Me Make It Through the Night)

Written and recorded by Kris Kristofferson in 1970 for his album "Kristofferson", he had some nominal success with "Help Me Make It Through the Night" but it would become a standard and a classic with country singer Sammi Smith in 1971.
She reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and this is still the version that is most requested and played on classic hit radio.
In 1972 Gladys Knight and The Pips had the second most successful version when they peaked at #33 on the Hot 100 and #13 on the Billboard Soul Chart.

Original vs Remake (Tainted Love)

Gloria Jones

1965

Failed to chart in the US and UK

Soft Cell

1981

#1 - UK Top 40

(2 weeks)

(The #1 selling single in the UK for 1981)

#8 - Billboard Hot 100

Marilyn Manson

2001

#5 - UK Top 40

#30 - Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart

Original vs Remake (True Colors)

True Colors
(Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly)

Cyndi Lauper

October 25th 1986

1 week at #1

True Colors

Phil Collins

1998

#2 (Billboard AC Chart)

#26 (UK Top 40)

Original vs Remake #21 (Rockin' Robin)

Our original vs remake returns for its 21st installment and this time we go back to 1958 for "Rockin Robin" by Bobby Day.  

#2 on the Billboard Hot 100

The most famous and successful of the remakes of "Rockin Robin" came in 1972 when a young superstar, Michael Jackson, released his first solo album.   

Michael was red hot in popularity with his brothers in the Jackson 5 and a were a regular presence at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. 

Michael also peaked at #2 with this great version.

Original vs Remake #8 (New York Groove)

Today the song is a little obscure but a good one. 
 "New York Groove".

A #9 hit in the UK in 1975 by the group Hello.

Then the remake by Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley on his solo album in 1978.

Ace hit #13 on the Billboard Hot 100