Setting the Record Straight - Part I

1972: “All the Young Dudes” - Mott the Hoople / David Bowie
Bowie steps in when he hears news that Mott the Hoople is losing steam and becoming discouraged with their lack of commercial success. His first offer to them is his to be 1976 hit “Suffragette City”. They turn his offer down and Bowie later writes them this glam classic.

1976: “She’s a Sailor” - The Flying Burrito Brothers / Stevie Wonder
Stevie is a guy who has written songs for tons and tons of artists. One of the strangest is “She’s a Sailor” by TFBB. Stevie’s twangiest song ever gets some serious justice by these outlaws in 1976.

1978: “Hangin’ on the Telephone” - Blondie /The Nerves
Originally written by Jack Lee of the west coast power pop group, The Nerves, Debbie Harry and Blondie took this song to the UK charts in 1978 with the release of the album Parallel Lines.

1983: “Cum on Feel the Noize” - Quiet Riot / Slade
The origin of this song is commonly overlooked and falsely credited to Quiet Riot. Slade is not my favorite band of all time, but they definitely deserve credit where credit is due. Gene Simmons also stated that the song inspired the KISS hit “Rock and Roll all Nite”.

1990: “Nothing Compares 2 U” - Sinead O' Connor / Prince
Prince writes a song each day before getting out of bed and this one is by far the strangest of his arsenal. Since it was written originally for the R&B group “The Family”, it makes sense. Generally lending a helping hand to the popular dance, funk, and soul world, “Nothing Compares 2 U” really doesn’t easily compare to the rest of Prince’s outstanding and impressive “songs you can have” library, but yet another success.