Songs Mistakenly Attributed to the Wrong Artist

[ScrabbCuse]

Have there ever been any songs you’ve listened to and were sure one artist sang it but were surprised to find out it was actually a different artist?

For the longest time, I thought the song “Oh Sheila” was sung by Prince. Was disappointed to find out it was actually Ready for the World.

 

[DeGrozz]

Stealers Wheel's 'Stuck in the middle with you' is constantly referred to as a Bob Dylan song.

 

[ScrabbCuse]

Stealers Wheel's 'Stuck in the middle with you' is constantly referred to as a Bob Dylan song.

Not as bad as Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” being mistaken for a Bob Marley song. Marley had already been dead for 7 years when the song was recorded. People still think it was him.

 

[CuseTroop]

Idk if this is what you’re asking or not, but I thought Bon Jovi sang “Pour some sugar on me” until like 3 years ago

 

[DoubleDee]

Idk if this is what you’re asking or not, but I thought Bon Jovi sang “Pour some sugar one me” until like 3 years ago

Just literally face palmed!

 

[Chip]

On The Dark Side, as a kid I thought it was Springsteen.

I still might think so.

 

[OrangeDW]

Have there ever been any songs you’ve listened to and were sure one artist sang it but were surprised to find out it was actually a different artist?

For the longest time, I thought the song “Oh Sheila” was sung by Prince. Was disappointed to find out it was actually Ready for the World.

It was certainly them trying to do their best Prince impression, no question.

 

[JJReddawg]

Stealers Wheel's 'Stuck in the middle with you' is constantly referred to as a Bob Dylan song.

Technically it’s a Bob Dylan parody song:
Gerry Rafferty and his songs of alienation

The pair their first major writing hit with Stuck In the Middle With You in 1972, a song taken from their self-titled debut-album.

Written as a parody of Bob Dylan’s paranoia, it ridiculed a music industry cocktail party, with the lyrics:

Clowns to the left of me,
jokers to the right,
here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

 

[DoubleDee]

First time I heard a Phil Collins song, I thought it was genesis.

 

[orange79]

On The Dark Side, as a kid I thought it was Springsteen.

I still might think so.

lol - me too.

 

[DoubleDee]

On The Dark Side, as a kid I thought it was Springsteen.

I still might think so.

I used to work with a guy, that while discussing favorite movies of ALL TIME, answered “Eddie and the Cruisers 2”.

He was dead serious. Not even the first one. Star Wars? The Godfather? Nope, Eddie and the cruisers 2.

 

[Cowtown]

I knew a few people who, when these guys first appeared, thought it was the Beatles getting back together.

 

[tbonezone]

when i first heard LONG COOL WOMAN by the HOLLIES i thought it was CCR.

 

[ScrabbCuse]

when i first heard LONG COOL WOMAN by the HOLLIES i thought it was CCR.

Yes, very similar sound. Another common mix up is people thinking “A Horse with No Name” by America is performed by Neil Young.

 

[ssbriefcase]

I've had to argue a few times about Bob Marley and the Wailers being the original for 'I Shot the Sheriff'.

 

[obliterata]

thought for sure it was Sade singing......

 

[ScrabbCuse]

I've had to argue a few times about Bob Marley and the Wailers being the original for 'I Shot the Sheriff'.

Understandable. My younger self always thought Manfred Mann produced “Blinded by the Light” before I found out it was a Springsteen song. Maybe it’s because the cover version did so much better than the original.

 

[bevosu]

I think many people identify Temptations songs as the Four Tops...and vice versa.

 

[Cowtown]

Understandable. My younger self always thought Manfred Mann produced “Blinded by the Light” before I found out it was a Springsteen song. Maybe it’s because the cover version did so much better than the original.

I was surprised when I learned Springsteen also wrote Cadillac Ranch, made famous by the NGDB.

 

[RandomGuy]

2 Springsteen tunes that I didn't know we're his. As mentioned, Blinded by the light.(manford Man). Because the night(Patti Smith) Springsteen didn't like it.

 

[RandomGuy]

If we're talking cover songs, that people think the second artist wrote...
All along the watchtower. (Hendrix/Dylan)
Hallelujah. (Cohen/Buckley(amongst others)
Babe I'm going to leave you(Joan Baez/led Zeppelin- although written by Anne bredon)
Cocaine, after midnight (jj Cale/ Clapton)

Robert Johnson has TONS of songs, that people attribute to other artists. Clapton, rolling Stones, led Zeppelin, red hot chili peppers, cream, howlin wolf, muddy waters, White stripes, doors, etc...

 

[RandomGuy]

When I was young, I couldn't tell the difference between, Yes, Toto, Reo Speedwagon, Kansas, or Supertramp. Happy to say, I still can't.

 

[orangefog]

If we're talking cover songs, that people think the second artist wrote...
All along the watchtower. (Hendrix/Dylan)
Hallelujah. (Cohen/Buckley(amongst others)
Babe I'm going to leave you(Joan Baez/led Zeppelin- although written by Anne bredon)
Cocaine, after midnight (jj Cale/ Clapton)

Robert Johnson has TONS of songs, that people attribute to other artists. Clapton, rolling Stones, led Zeppelin, red hot chili peppers, cream, howlin wolf, muddy waters, White stripes, doors, etc...

How about Harry Nilsson who had hits with covers of Everybody's Talkin and Without You (by the most tragic band ever Badfinger), while having one of his songs become a huge hit for Three Dog Night (One).

 

[PhatOrange]

Up until just the other day i thought Local H's "bound for the floor" was the Smashing Pumpkins.

 

[RandomGuy]

I totally see that.

When I was as kid, I thought van Halen wrote dancing in the streets, and you really got me.

I also had a hard time figuring out whether it was Joy Division, Depeche Mode, or the Smith's.