Introduction

Everybody has to start somewhere. Businessmen start on the ground floor and try to work their way up the corporate ladder. Baseball players bide their time in the minor leagues wishing for an opportunity to move up and play in the majors. Musical compositions aren’t very different—some songs just don’t climb the charts the first time they’re recorded. However, with perseverance, the ideal singer, the right chemistry, impeccable timing, vigorous promotion, and a little luck, these songs can become very famous.

You’ll know most, if not all, of the songs listed in this book. What you may not know, though, is that, in many cases, the familiar hit version you’ve grown up with is not the first version, nor the only version. The purpose of this book is to show who did it first.

For example, neither the Isley Brothers nor the Beatles were the first to record “Twist and Shout”; Elvis Presley did not release the first version of “Burning Love”; George Harrison neither wrote nor originally recorded “Got My Mind Set on You”; and the Supremes did not originate “Someday, We’ll Be Together.” So, the question remains: Who Did It First?

Several songs were so good, they became Top Ten hits three or more times—unforgettable songs such as “The Locomotion,” “Only You,” “Silhouettes,” and “You Keep Me Hanging On.” But Who Did It First?

Several artists had the misfortune of recording several original versions of songs, only to watch as cover artists enjoyed the spoils and achieved the fame. Arthur Alexander, Don Covay, the Isley Brothers, Lou Johnson, Smiley Lewis, Dee Dee Warwick, and Larry Williams are just a few of the artists who did it first frequently.

The entries for each song in this book, listed alphabetically, consist of information about the original artist and the cover artist, the original record label and the cover version’s record label, the record numbers, the years of release, the record speeds (45, 78, LP, even CD), and the chart position each attained. Then read the fascinating history surrounding each song. Included within the body of many entries are honorable mentions of still more versions of these songs. Many contain quotes and behind-the-scenes information from the artists and songwriters themselves, as well as photographs they’ve provided. Also included are numerous pictures of key record labels and important songs—all from my own record collection, the result of a lifelong hobby.

This is the first volume in a project—a three-volume set. This edition focuses on songs that were originally recorded by R&B performers. Volumes 2 and 3 will concentrate on pop and rock songs, respectively. Your library will not be complete until you have all three.

So, whether you’re using this book to quiz your friends at a party, using it to quiz listeners to your radio show, or just satisfying your own insatiable musical curiosity, thank you for having a shared interest in Who Did It First?