6 Covers That Became Bigger Hits Than the Original Songs

Cover songs are a great way for musicians to pay tribute to their own favorites, and sometimes, they’re more than just an homage—a great cover can give a song an entirely new life. Some versions are so well-known, they’re more closely associated with the artist doing the cover than they are the original writer and are often assumed to be their original song.

“1985” by Bowling for Soup

In 2004, pop-punk band Bowling for Soup scored their biggest hit with the nostalgic “1985,” which made it to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. But the song was originally recorded by the band SR-71 for their final album, Here We Go Again, released earlier that same year.

“Blinded By The Light” by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

Bruce Springsteen first recorded “Blinded By The Light” for his debut album,  Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., released in 1973, but it became a hit for Manfred Mann’s Earth Band four years later, in 1977. It’s the only song written by Springsteen to ever hit No. 1.

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

Singer Whitney Houston released her famous cover of “I Will Always Love You” in 1992. But Dolly Parton wrote and recorded it years earlier, in 1974. Parton originally wrote the song for  Porter Wagoner, her business partner and mentor, when she decided to pursue a solo career.

“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley

Leonard Cohen’s 1984 album Various Positions included “Hallelujah,” which was later covered by John Cale. And that version, in turn, inspired Jeff Buckley. He recorded the track for his 1994 album Grace, but it wasn’t until after his death in 1997 that the song received widespread attention and acclaim.

“I Love Rock ’N’ Roll” by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

Joan Jett is best known for her 1981 hit “I Love Rock ’N’ Roll”. But it was originally released by glam-rock band The Arrows as a B-side in 1975. The band wrote the track as a response to The Rolling Stones’ “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll.”

“Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinéad O’Connor

Prince wrote and recorded a demo version of “Nothing Compares 2 U” in 1984, but he never released it. Instead, he passed it on to The Family, a band on his Paisley Park label. It was covered by Sinéad O’Connor in 1990, giving her the biggest hit of her career.

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