Untitled Document

C

	Song	Artist/Date/Label	Remade by
	C C Rider see See See Blues

Cab Driver

Carson & Gaile 1967
on lp Kapp 3516 San Antonio Rose

Mills Bros.

Calcutta see Take Me Dreaming (Tivoli Melodie)

California Dreamin'

Barry McGuire 11-4-65
On lp Dunhill 50005 This Precious Time

Mamas & Papas, Bobby Womack, America, Beach Boys

Producer Lou Adler had the Mamas & Papas—then calling themselves the Magic Circle—doing just vocal accompaniment on McGuire's recording. He subsequently took the same backing track, substituted Papa Denny Doherty's lead vocal and changed the solo from harmonica to Bud Shank's lilting flute, creating the hit.

California Soul

Messengers 6-14 to 7-7-67
Soul 35037

Nik Ashford, 5th Dimension

California Sun

Joe Jones 1961
Roulette 4344

Rivieras, Ramones

Call It Stormy Monday But Tuesday Is Just As Bad (aka Stormy Monday)

T-Bone Walker 9-13-47
Black & White 122

Bobby Bland, Count Basie, Lou Rawls, Allman Bros.,Lee Michaels

Earl Hines' "Stormy Monday Blues" from 1942 (Bluebird 11567) is a different song.

Call Me

Petula Clark 1965
on lp Warner Bros 1598 I Know A Place

Chris Montez

Writer/Petula Clark collaborator Tony Hatch was producing some tracks with Keely Smith in London's Pye studio, which resulted in a demo of "Call Me." Smith's 1964 recording has since been issued.

Call Me The Breeze

J.J. Cale 9-29 & 30-70
on lp Shelter 8908 Naturally

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Tom Petty & Heartbreakers, J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton, Eric Clapton

Calling Occupants (aka Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft)

Klaatu 1975
Capitol 4377/4412 (1976)

Carpenters

Can I Do It For You? (aka Chevrolet, aka Hey Gyp)

Kansas Joe & Memphis Minnie
2-21-30 Vocalion 1523

Lonnie & Ed Young, Jim Kweskin, Donovan, Animals

The melody was reworked for "Don't Tear My Clothes" aka "Baby Let Me Follow You Down." See entry for that title.

Can I Get To Know You (Better)

Betty Everett c. 5-13-64
Vee Jay 599

Turtles

Can I Steal A Little Love

Jimmy Daley & Ding-A-Lings 10-31-56
Decca 30163

Frank Sinatra (12-3-56)

The song was in the 1956 movie Rock, Pretty Baby, with John Saxon playing the role of Jimmy Daley.

Can The Circle Be Unbroken see Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Can You Fool

Michael Smotherman 1977
on lp Windsong 2416

Glen Campbell, Gregg Allman & Cher

Can't Get Enough Of You Baby

Toys 6-28-65
Dyno Voice 219

Four Seasons (c.11-65), ? & Mysterians, Sue Darby, Smash Mouth

Can't Sit Down (aka You Can't Sit Down)

Bim Bam Boos 1959
Dasher 500

Phil Upchurch Combo, Chris Columbo, Dovells

Guitarist Phil Upchurch played on the Bim Bam Boos' recording and was later given co-writing credit by organist Cornell Muldrow. The Dasher Records release credited Muldrow and (label owner) Joe Dasher as composers.

Can't Smile Without You

David Martin 1975
DJM 1003

Barry Manilow

Can't Stop Dancing

Ray Stevens 1976
on lp Warner Bros 2914 Just For The Record

Captain & Tennille

Can't Stop Lovin' You

Flirtations 1970
Deram 85062

Tom Jones

Can't Stop Talking About You (aka I Can't Stop Talking About You)

Tobin Matthews 1963
Warner Bros. 5398

Steve And Eydie

Matthew's record was starting to see some action in November of 1963 such that his label (Warner Bros.) sent him to Kansas City to tape a record hop TV show. Just as it was scheduled to air, JFK's assassination became the focus of all broadcasting, disrupting whatever momentum Matthew's version had built. Subsequently, radio picked up on Steve And Eydie's instead.

Can't You Hear My Heartbeat

Goldie & The Gingerbreads 1964
(rel. 1-29-65)
UK Decca 12070

Herman's Hermits (12-1-64)

Goldie & The Gingerbreads were an American girl group lead by Goldie Zelkowitz, aka Genya Ravan. Ironically, theirs was the UK hit (produced by Animals keyboardist Alan Price), while the US hit was by Brits (produced by Animals producer Mickie Most, who thought it unsuitable for them). Co-writer John Carter's demo has been issued.

Candida

Corporation 1970
Musicor 1418

Dawn (aka Tony Orlando & Dawn)

Candlelight Cafe (aka Danke Schöen)

Bert Kaempfert 12-17-62
on lp Decca 4374 Living It Up!

Wayne Newton

Kaempfert's recording was also issued as a single (Decca 31498) with the revised title "Danke Schoen."

Some online sites tout Kaempfert having done a 1959 recording of the song but the 12-17-62 original was his first version.

Candy Man, The

Anthony Newley 12-70
MGM 14252

Aubrey Woods, Mike Curb Congregation, Sammy Davis Jr. (8-19-71)

In addition to their own release, the Mike Curb Congregation's recording was used on Sammy Davis Jr.'s hit.

Anthony Newley's demo of the song has been issued.

Cara Mia

David Whitfield 5-6-54
London 1486

Jay & The Americans

Caravan

Barney Bigard & His Jazzopaters
12-36
Variety 515

Duke Ellington (many times!), Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Perez Prado, Santo & Johnny, Ventures et al.

Barney Bigard & His Jazzopaters were a subset of the Duke Ellington band. Trombonist Juan Tizol wrote "Caravan" and initially received sole credit, although Ellington's name was subsequently added. Lyrics were later penned by Duke's manager, Irving Mills, who became another co-writer. (Mills also owned the Variety label.)

Careless Love see Loveless Love

Carmelita

Murray McLauchlan 7-72
on lp Epic 31902

Warren Zevon, Linda Rondstadt, Counting Crows

Carol Of The Drum (aka Little Drummer Boy)

Trapp Family Singers 1952
on lp Decca DL 9553/45 box 9-339 Christmas With

Jack Halloran Singers, Harry Simeone Chorale, Trapp Family Singers (1964 for Kapp), Lou Rawls, Jimi Hendrix, Boney M., Bing Crosby & David Bowie et al.

"Carol Of The Drum" was written, arranged from a Czech carol, in 1941 by Katherine Davis (aka C.R.W. Robinson). No one seems to have recorded it until some eleven years later.

The Trapp Family Singers' recording was done in Germany for Deutsche Grammophon. In the US, Decca issued it in various forms, including an album, the six-45 record set shown and a single 45 (Decca 30997, 1959).

Carpet Man

Johnny Rivers 4-17-67
on lp Imperial 12341 Rewind

5th Dimension (later 1967)

Cat Squirrel see Mississippi Blues

Cattywampus (aka Tuff)

Bill Justis 6-5-58
Phillips 3529

Ace Cannon

Celebrate

Gary Bonner 1969
on lp Calla 101

3 Dog Night, Garry Bonner (1972 for MGM, as "Celebrity Ball")

Bonner's first name was spelled variously with one or two R's.

Certain Girl, A

Ernie K-Doe 7-5-61
Minit 634

Yardbirds, Warren Zevon

C'est La Vie

Beau Williams 1984
on lp Capitol 7123441 Bodacious!

Robbie Nevil

C'est si bon

Jacques Hélian Orch. w/ Jean Marco 2-18-48
French Columbia DF 3232

Yves Montand, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Desmond, Eartha Kitt, Stan Freberg, Conway Twitty

English lyrics ("It's So Good") were written in 1949 by Jerry Seelen.

Chaine, La (aka I'm A Train)

Les Troubadours 1967
on ep French AZ 1134

Colors Of Love (1968), Albert Hammond

The song was written in late 1966 as "I'm A Train" by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood. Their demo was sent various places and the French group Les Troubadours were the first to formally cut it, with new lyrics by Pierre André Dousset. Flash forward to 1973 when Hammond was jamming in a San Francisco studio. He was messing around with various rhythms, started playing "Train" and Santana's percussionist Armando Perasa happend to be there with his bongos. That chance rebirth of the song led to a U.S. hit for Albert.

Chained

Paul Petersen 1-13-67
Motown 1108

Marvin Gaye (2 to 6-68)

Chains

Everly Bros. 7-11-62
on lp UK Magnum Force 1028 Nice Guys (1984)

Cookies, Beatles (2-11-63), Carole King

Chaka (aka Through The Fire)

David Foster 1983
on lp Japanese Sound Design 1342-9 The Best Of Me

Chaka Khan

David Foster originally wrote the song as an instrumental, then lyrics were added with co-writers Cynthia Weil and Tommy Keane. Foster had Chaka Khan in mind for the song and he ended up producing, and playing on her hit, retitled "Through The Fire."

Change Of Heart

Samantha Sang 1978 (rel. c. 3-78)
Private Stock 45 188

Eric Carmen

Samantha Sang also performed on Eric Carmen's hit recording.

Change The World

Wynonna Judd 1996
on CD MCA/Curb 11090 Revelations

Eric Clapton

Chapel In The Moonlight see In The Chapel In The Moonlight

Chapel Of Love

Darlene Love 4-63
on CD Abkco 7118-2 Phil Spector - Back To Mono (1991)

Ronettes, Dixie Cups (2-3-64), Beach Boys, Bette Midler

Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy

Red Foley 11-8-49
Decca 46205

Bing Crosby (1-3-50), Frank Sinatra (1-12-50), Gene Autry, Freddy Cannon

Chelsea Morning

Fairport Convention 11-67
on lp UK Polydor 583 035 (1968)/US Cotillion SD 9024 (1970)

Dave Van Ronk & Hudson Dusters (12-12-67), Joni Mitchell, Neil Diamond, Judy Collins

Writer Joni Mitchell was staying at NYC's famed and storied Hotel Chelsea when she composed it. Her June, 1967 demo of the song has been issued.

Former US President Bill Clinton, inspired by the song, named his daughter Chelsea.

Cherry Pie

Marvin & Johnny 1954
Modern 933

Skip & Flip

Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White (as "Cerisier rose et pommier blanc")

André Claveau 1950
French Polydor 560241

Pérez Prado, Alan Dale, Jerry Murad's Harmonicats

Chevrolet see Can I Do It For You

Chicken Fried

Zac Brown Band 2003
on CD (self-issued, no label?) Home Grown (2004)

Zac Brown Band (2008 for Atlantic)

Child Of Clay

1929 Depression 1966
Providence 422

Jimmie Rodgers (c. 6-67)

China Girl

Iggy Pop 7-76
on lp RCA 1-2275 The Idiot (1977)

David Bowie

Chirpy Chirpy, Cheep Cheep

Lally Stott 1971
Phillips 40695

Middle Of The Road, Mac & Katie Kissoon

Chokin' Kind, The

Waylon Jennings & Waylors 4-27-67
RCA Victor 9259

Joe Simon

Choucounne (aka Yellow Bird)

Katherine Dunham & Ensemble 11-8-45
on 78 album Decca A-511 Afro-Caribbean Songs And Rhythms

Lolita Cuevas, Tarriers (as "Chaucon"), Norman Luboff Choir, Mills Bros., Arthur Lyman

"Choucounne" goes back to the late 1800s, with lyrics by Oswald Durand and music by Michel Mauleart Monton. Both lived in Haiti although Monton was born in New Orleans. Bits of the melody probably date back further as it was not uncommon at the time to "borrow" compositional elements.

Harry Belafonte's 1957 "Don't Ever Love Me," credited variously to Belafonte or Lord Burgess, used the same melody.

Christmas Song, The (Merry Christmas To You)

King Cole Trio (aka Nat "King" Cole) 6-14-46
on CD Rhino 70637 Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits 1935-1954 (1989)

King Cole Trio (8-19-46), Nat "King" Cole (1953, 1961), Mel Tormé

Mel Tormé and Robert Wells wrote the song (in 35 minutes!) during a summer heat wave in Los Angeles. Having jotted down some words prior to meeting with Tormé, lyricist Wells then said "It was so damn hot today, I thought I'd write something to cool myself off. All I could think of was Christmas and cold weather."

Cole wanted strings on his first session for the song but Capitol Records, probably afraid of him alienating his R&B audience, refused. Upon completion of this initial version, Nat insisted he recut it with more accompaniment and, a couple of months later, got his wish. Modest as the additional musicians were—four string players and a harpist—it turned out the way Cole envisioned. This version became a huge crossover hit, broadening his appeal.

The stringless original was also issued on Nat's Mosiac-label box set. The modern day hit came in 1961 and was recorded in stereo.

Christo Redentor see Cristo Redentor

Christopher Columbus

Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy 3-7-36
Decca 729

Benny Goodman (3-20-36, 7-6-37), Fletcher Henderson (3-27-36), Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Jim Kweskin

While the song wasn't ever a hit in the rock & roll era, it's notable for its inclusion in Benny Goodman's groundbreaking July, 1937 recording of "Sing, Sing Sing." It's usually not noted on Goodman (re)issues of "Sing," but his original 78 (Victor 36205) included the subtitle "Introducing 'Christopher Columbus,'" but with no separate songwriting credit.

Church Bells Are Ringing (aka Church Bells May Ring)

Willows 1956
Melba 102

Diamonds

The Willows' recording was later issued as "Church Bells May Ring," also on Melba 102.

Church On Cumberland Road, The

Dennis Robbins 4-87
MCA 53143

Shenadoah

Church St. Soul Revival

Exiles 1969
Columbia 44972

Tommy James

Seeking to expand his artistic independence, Tommy James co-wrote and co-produced the Exiles' version before recording it himself.

The Exiles evolved into the group Exile, of "Kiss You All Over" fame.

Cinnamon Cinder, The (It's A Very Nice Dance)

Cinders 1962
Warner Bros. 5326

Pastel Six

There's conflicting information as to who first recorded the song and I include it here in hopes of prompting a definitive answer.

The Cinnamon Cinder was a club owned by Los Angeles DJ Bob Eubanks. Russ Regan wrote the song and offered it to his friend (and business associate?) Marty Cooper, who promptly produced the Cinders' record and got it issued on Warner Bros. Records. Meanwhile Regan produced a version by the Pastel Six, who happened to be the house band at the Cinnamon Cinder. Cooper was disappointed that he didn't have an exclusive with the song and that, despite being on a major label, the Cinders' recording lost out to the Pastel Six's on the short-lived Zen label.

Circle Game (aka The Circle Game)

Ian & Sylvia 1967 (rel. 3-67)
on lp Vanguard VSD 79241 So Much For Dreaming

Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tom Rush, Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos

Circle Is Small, The

Gordon Lightfoot 9-68
on lp United Artists 6672 Back Here On Earth

Gordon Lightfoot (1978 for Warner Bros.)

City Lights

Bill Anderson 3-57
TNT 9015

Ray Price (5-29-58), Conway Twitty, Bill Anderson (1961 for Decca), Mickey Gilley, Jerry Lee Lewis

City Of New Orleans

Steve Goodman 3-23-70
on lp Dunwich 670/Mountain Railroad 52670 Gathering At The Earl Of Old Town

Steve Goodman (1971 for Buddah), Arlo Guthrie, Sammi Smith, Willie Nelson

The Gathering At The Earl Of Old Town was a various-artists studio album by frequent performers at that Chicago club.

Close To You, (They Long To Be) see They Long To Be Close To You

Close Your Eyes

Five Keys 11-16-54
Capitol 3032

Peaches & Herb

Closer You Get, The

Exile 3-31-80
on lp Warner Bros. 3437 Don't Leave Me This Way

Rita Coolidge, Alabama

Cloudburst

Claude Cloud & His Thunderclaps
1954 MGM 55003

Jon Hendricks & Dave Lambert Singers (5-55), Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Leroy Kirkland (1962 for Imperial), Pointer Sisters, Snowboy

Claude Cloud was a pseudonym for guitarist Leroy Kirkland, who had previously played with Jimmy Lunceford's big band.

Cocaine

J. J. Cale 9-9-75
Shelter 62002

Eric Clapton (1977, 1980)

Cole Slaw see Sorghum Switch

C'mon Everybody see Let's Get Together

Come And Get Your Love see Hail

Come And Take A Ride In My Boat (aka Come On Down To My Boat)

Rare Breed 1967
Attack 1403

Every Mothers' Son

First recorded by Chubby Checker(!), but as yet unreleased.

Come Back And Stay

Jack Lee 1981
on lp Maiden America 1001 Greatest Hits Vol. 1

Paul Young

Come Back Silly Girl

Steve Lawrence 1-12-60
ABC Paramount 10146

Lettermen (11-17-61)

Come Back When You Grow Up

Shadden & The King Lears 1967
Arbel 1016

Bobby Vee (3-17-67)

Come On see Darling Honey Angel Child

Come On In My Kitchen

Robert Johnson 11-23-36
Vocalion 03563

Taj Mahal, Steve Miller, Climax Blues Band

Come On Over

Bee Gees 1-23-75
on lp RSO 4807 Main Course

Olivia Newton-John

Come On-A My House

Kay Armen 1951
Federal 14001

Rosemary Clooney (6-6-51), William Saroyan & Ross Bagdasarian, Kay Starr, Richard Hayes

The song was written in 1939 by cousins Ross Bagdasarian and Pulitzer-Prize-winning author William Saroyan while driving across New Mexico. It wasn't performed until the 1950 off-Broadway play The Son, but Armen was the first to record it. Bagdasarian, as David Seville, went on to much fame with his Chipmunks recordings, particularly the perennial Christmas hit "The Chipmunk Song."

The 45 issue (at least some early pressings) has a 42 second introduction that explains the "old country ways" of the song's protagonist. My assumption is it was to diffuse any possible interpretation of the lyrics as scandalous.

Come To The Sunshine

Van Dyke Parks 1966
MGM 13570

Harper's Bizarre

Come Tomorrow

Marie Knight 1961
Okeh 7141

Manfred Mann

Knight's recording was reissued in 1963 on Okeh 7218.

Come What May

Al Casey 1957 (rel. 4-57)
Dot 15563

Etta James (4-22-57), Clyde McPhatter (2-26-58), Elvis Presley

The Four Tunes' 1951 "Come What May" (RCA Victor 4489) is a different song.

Comin' Home Baby

Dave Bailey Quintet 10-6-61
on lp Epic 16021/17021 2 Feet In The Gutter

Herbie Mann (11-17-61), Mel Tormé, Travis Wammack (as "Scratchy"), Kai Winding, Quincy Jones, Danny Gatton

Writer/bassist Ben Tucker played on both Bailey's and Herbie Mann's recordings.

Compared To What

Les McCann 9-9-66
on lp Limelight 86041 Les McCann Plays The Hits

Les McCann & Eddie Harris (6-21-69 for Atlantic), Roberta Flack, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, Al Jarreau

Conquistador

Procol Harum 6-67
on lp Deram 16008

Procol Harum w/ Edmonton Symphony Orch. (1972 for A&M)

Corrine Corrina (aka Corinna Corinna)

Charlie McCoy & Bo Chatman 12-28
Brunswick 7080/Vocalion 02701

Joe Turner, Ray Peterson, Bob Dylan, Siegel-Schwall, Taj Mahal

Bo Chatman, whose real name was Armenter Chatmon, also went by Bo Carter.

The Vocalion issue lists them as Bo Chatman & Charlie McCoy.

Cotton Song, The (aka Cotton Fields)

Leadbelly 1947 (summer)
on lp Folkways FP 14 Huddie Ledbetter Memorial, Vol. 2 (1951)

Highwaymen, Ace Cannon, Beach Boys, CCR

The song has its roots in the 19th century.

Could It Be Magic

Featherbed 1971
Bell 133

Barry Manilow

The song was inspired by Chopin's Prelude in C minor.

Barry Manilow was a session singer on a previous recording issued by Featherbed ("Amy") and Bell Records wanted a followup. There was no real group by that name but Barry & Tony Orlando had written "Magic" and went with it. Some of the lyrics were rewritten for Manlow's subsequent hit version.

Country Boy

Heads Hands & Feet 1971
on lp Capitol SVBB 680

Albert Lee, Ricky Skaggs

Cousin Of Mine see He's A Cousin Of Mine

Cowboy Love Song (aka Red River Valley, aka Red River Rock)

Carl T. Sprague 8-5-25
Victor 20067

Gene Autry, Woody Guthrie, Johnny & Hurricanes

Crazy Arms

Kenny Brown & Marilyn Kaye & Arkansas Ramblers 1955
Pep 102

Ray Price (3-1-56), Jerry Lee Lewis (11-56), Patsy Cline, Bob Beckham, The Bunch, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson, BR 549 et al.

Crazy Otto, The see beschwipste Drahtkommode, Die

Cristo Redentor (aka Christo Redentor)

Donald Byrd 1-12-63
Blue Note 1907

Charley [sic] Musselwhite (as "Christo Redemptor"), Harvey Mandel, Duke Pearson, Donald Byrd (1978 for Elektra)

While on tour in Brazil, Duke Pearson was inspired to write "Cristo Redentor" after seeing the Christ statue on Corcovado Peak.

Crooked Little House (aka Crooked Little Man aka Don't Let The Rain Come Down)

Jimmie Rodgers c. 6-60
on lp Roulette 25128/Forum 9025 At Home With Jimmie Rodgers, An Evening Of Folk Songs

Serendipity Singers

Cross Road Blues (aka Crossroads)

Robert Johnson 11-27-36
Vocalion 03519

Eric Clapton & Powerhouse, Cream

Cruel To Be Kind

Brinsley Schwarz 1974 (fall)
on lp UK Decal LIK 22 It's All Over Now (1988)

Nick Lowe, Letters To Cleo, Marshall Crenshaw

A different mix of the Brinsley Schwarz recording was issued in 1978 (UK Radar ADA 12), credited to group vocalist Nick Lowe.

Cry

Ruth Casey 1951
Cadillac 103

Johnnie Ray (10-16-51), Stan Freberg (as "Try"), Ronnie Dove, Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle

Cry Baby

Scarlets 2-55
Red Robin 135

Bonnie Sisters

Cryin' Time

Buck Owens 12-1-64
Capitol 5336

Ray Charles (6-65)

Crying At Daybreak (aka Smokestack Lightning)

Howlin' Wolf 10-2-51
RPM 340

Howlin' Wolf (1-56 as "Smoke Stack Lightning"), Muddy Waters, Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, Grateful Dead, George Thorogood, Aerosmith, Soundgarden et el.

Since this is essentially a one-chord song with vocal riffing, the lyrics vary from version to version. Wolf's "Crying At Daybreak" does include the words "Smokestack Lightning" though.

Crying Game, The

Dave Berry 1964
London 9698

Brenda Lee (12-30-64), Ian & Zodiacs, Boy George

Crying In The Chapel

Darrell Glenn 1953 (rel. 5-53)
Valley 105

Rex Allen, (6-5-53), June Valli (6-11-53), Orioles (6-30-53), Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, Bob Marley & Wailers (as "Selassie Is The Chapel")

Artie Glenn wrote the song specifically for his son Darrell to sing. Darrell's recording was actually a demo for Artie to shop the song with publishers. Valley Publishers accepted it and then issued the demo on their label.

Cum On Feel The Noize

Slade 1973
Polydor 15069

Quiet Riot, Oasis

While Slade's version was a number one hit in England, it was all but ignored in the States.

Custard Pie see I Want Some Of Your Pie

Cut Across Shorty

Eddie Cochran 1-8-60
Liberty 55242

Carl Smith, Rod Stewart, Faces