Beech Tree News Network

Under The Covers

Written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Rendell, “Working My Way Back To You” was originally recorded by the Four Seasons in 1966, reaching #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.  In the UK Top 50 chart it spent three weeks-all at #50.  It is the only hit to feature the groups arranger Charles Calello in the temporary role of basist/vocalist, having replaced original member Nick Massi.  The Spinners covered the classic in 1979.  Their version reached #1 on the UK charts and #2 on the U.S. Hot 100.  

Billy Joel released his classic “Say Goodbye To Hollywood in 1976.  It reached #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1981 when a live version was released.  Billy stated in his University lecture that he wrote the song with Ronnie Spector’s “Be My Baby” in mind.  Joel noted that the songs were similar in beat. Spector, recognizing Joel’s tribute, released her own version of the song in 1977 with the E Street Band, shortly after Joel’s original version on his Turnstiles album.  Her version wasn’t released as a single.

A few years ago, we entered the age where songs that were popular when I was a kid are getting covered.  The other night, I heard Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts cover Paula Abdul’s song “Straight Up”.  She released the song November 22, 1988.  I was 9 years old.  

According to Abdul, her mom found the song for her.  She says her mother knew someone whose boyfriend was an aspiring songwriter.  She got “Straight Up” as an 8-track demo.  The demo was so bad that Abdul’s mother was laughing at it.  Abdul heard something she liked, re-worked the song, and took it to #1 in the U.S.  Last year, Wicked Cool Records’(Steven Van Zant’s label) housed Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts when they released a cover of “Straight Up”.  The video incorporates the bands love of al things ‘80’s(and Star Wars)! 

I went 30 years thinking “Honky Tonk Man” was a Dwight Yoakam original.  The song was co-written and recorded by Johnny Horton.  It was released in March 1956 as his debut single on Colombia Records.  It reached #9 on the U.S. Country singles charts.  Horton re-released the song six years later, taking it to #11.  Dwight Yoakam released his version in 1986, taking the song to #3 on U.S. Billboard, #1 in Canada.  

I’ll end this week with this: Remember the Suzy Boggess country song “Someday Soon”? It was originally done by Ian and Sylvia Tyson in 1964.  It didn’t chart until Judy Collins covered the song in 1969 as a folk song.  Her version peaked at #55.  Suzy Boggess took the song to #12 on Billboard.  I learned the Collins tidbit on VH1’s Top 10 folk songs.  Yes, it was originally a folk song.  Who knew? I’ll return periodically with more song facts.