New Song Confusion

[stevations]

When a song was released did you think it was a different artist or title then later found out how far off you were? Examples......I thought He Ain't Heavy by the Hollies sounded like BJ Thomas. Automatic by the Pointer Sisters sounded like Stevie Wonder. Forever in Bluejeans by Neil Diamond sounded like the title was The Reverend Bluejeans...a song about a lusty preacher.

 

[firepoint525]

Not me, but a caller to a station where I once worked thought that "Denise" by Randy & the Rainbows sounded like the Four Seasons. Since I knew that it was not the Four Seasons, that never occurred to me.

"Lies" by the Knickerbockers sounded like it could have been done by the Beatles. Their lead vocalist sounded (to me) just like John Lennon.

When the Cascades recorded "Rhythm of the Rain," someone in the studio overheard the song and thought that it was intended for Rick Nelson. They mentioned that in a radio interview.

The Cyrkle (of "Red Rubber Ball" fame) sounded to me a bit like the Monkees. Ironic, since the Monkees SUPPOSEDLY sounded like the Beatles, and the Cyrkle was managed by Brian Epstein, who also managed the Beatles.

 

[BostonRandy]

When I first heard Julian Lennon's "Valotte", it sure sounded like Daddy John.

 

[firepoint525]

John Valenti ("Anything You Want") sounded to me a LOT like Stevie Wonder. I had never heard of this one until I came across it on an old K-Tel album. Cool song, but he sounds EXACTLY like Stevie Wonder.

I am sure that I am not the only one who thought that "Beach Baby" by First Class sounded like the Beach Boys. The subject material (girls and beaches) are exactly what the Beach Boys sang about.

 

[Thomps2525]

Bruno Mars = Michael Jackson.
Early Tom Petty = early Bob Dylan.
And see if you can listen to Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes without hearing Rod Stewart.

 

[Oldbones]

Bruno Mars = Michael Jackson.
And see if you can listen to Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes without hearing Rod Stewart.

To me Bruno Mars sounds more like Jackie Wilson. Don't forget Bonnie Tyler as a Rod Stewart sound-alike.

 

[rnigma1]

Fontella Bass' "Rescue Me" was often mistaken for Aretha Franklin.

 

[BostonRandy]

Bruno Mars = Michael Jackson.
Early Tom Petty = early Bob Dylan.
And see if you can listen to Kim Carnes' Bette Davis Eyes without hearing Rod Stewart.

Bonnie Tyler "It's a Heartache".....

 

[Thomps2525]

In 1961 Ral Donner charted the first of his four top-40 hits. He sounded just like Elvis Presley. After Elvis died in 1977, Ronnie McDowell released a tribute song, The King Is Gone, and he sounded just like Elvis. In 1979, Jimmy Bell started recording, calling himself Orion...and he sounded just like Elvis. Thankya, thankya verymuch.

 

[rnigma1]

In 1961 Ral Donner charted the first of his four top-40 hits. He sounded just like Elvis Presley. After Elvis died in 1977, Ronnie McDowell released a tribute song, The King Is Gone, and he sounded just like Elvis. In 1979, Jimmy Bell started recording, calling himself Orion...and he sounded just like Elvis. Thankya, thankya verymuch.

Let's not forget Terry Stafford's "Suspicion."

As for "Orion," his publicist promoted him with the rumor that he was Elvis - that is, Elvis didn't die, he just put on a mask and called himself Orion. He even recorded on Sun Records. Aiding and abetting Orion in this scam was Gail Brewer-Giorgio, who would start a cottage industry with her Elvis-is-alive books.

 

[Thomps2525]

I bought Brewer-Giorgio's 1988 book Is Elvis Alive? She claimed to have a tape of Elvis discussing the plot to fake his death. The Weekly World News ran a story about the book and the tape and one of their "experts" said that the voice on the tape really was Elvis. And if you can't believe the Weekly World News, who can you believe?

By the way, Elvis recorded Suspicion for his 1962 Pot Luck album, two years before Terry Stafford copied it...er, I mean recorded it.

 

[TheFonz]

In 1979, Jimmy Bell started recording, calling himself Orion...and he sounded just like Elvis. Thankya, thankya verymuch.

Ah, that would be Jimmy ELLIS.

 

[BostonRandy]

I remember the first time I heard David Essex' "Rock On". It was on AM radio and I thought the title was "Rocco".

 

[Thomps2525]

Thanks for the correction, Fonz. To clarify: Orion's birth name was James Hughes Bell. His unwed mother put him up for adoption when he was two years old. He was adopted by a family named Ellis and his last name was changed.

Two more pairs of sound-alike groups:

Led Zeppelin = Guns N' Roses
Fall Out Boy = Panic At The Disco

 

[firepoint525]

KLAATU>>>>The Beatles

 

[PirateJohnny]

Thanks for the correction, Fonz. To clarify: Orion's birth name was James Hughes Bell. His unwed mother put him up for adoption when he was two years old. He was adopted by a family named Ellis and his last name was changed.

Two more pairs of sound-alike groups:

Led Zeppelin = Guns N' Roses
Fall Out Boy = Panic At The Disco

Not if you actually own any Zeppelin albums. Anyway, I think Great White sounds more like Zeppelin than GNR. They even released a live album of Zep covers, called Great Zeppelin.

 

[TheFonz]

Thanks for the correction, Fonz. To clarify: Orion's birth name was James Hughes Bell. His unwed mother put him up for adoption when he was two years old. He was adopted by a family named Ellis and his last name was changed.

Ironically Ellis, like Elvis, also recorded for Sun Records. But this was long after Shelby Singleton bought the label from Sam Phillips.