Songs You Probably Didn’t Realize Were Covers

You may not have realized it, but some of the songs you’ve come to know and love by an artist are actually covers, with the original performers perhaps forgotten.

“The First Cut Is the Deepest” was written by Cat Stevens and first released by soul singer P.P. Arnold in 1967. Rod Stewart took the song to the top of the UK charts a decade later, with Sheryl Crow doing the same in 2003.

Janis Joplin earned a gold record with “Piece of My Heart” in 1968, but Aretha Franklin’s sister Erma charted with the single a year earlier. Same goes for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ breakout “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” which was recorded by The Arrows.

Bruce Springsteen’s name can’t be said without New Jersey in the same breath, but “Jersey Girl” is actually by Tom Waits. Other covers include Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove,” “Cum on Feel the Noize” made famous by Quiet Riot, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Woodstock,” which was written by Joni Mitchell, who didn’t even attend the famous festival.

Which other songs did you only recently learn were covers?