3 Songs That Musicians Should Have Never Given to Other Artists

It’s hard to tell which songs will be hits in the studio. Though a songwriter can have a very good feeling about a song, there is really no surefire way to anticipate an audience’s reaction. Because of this, several artists have mistakenly given away songs they didn’t think much of. Unfortunately for them, the tracks became mega-hits for other artists, who capitalized on the songwriter’s misstep. Revisit three songs that musicians should have never given to other artists, below.

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“Come and Get It” (Paul McCartney)

Paul McCartney‘s early solo career was characterized by DIY projects that weren’t easily digested by much of the listening world. McCartney’s decision to jump headfirst into the experimental becomes even more of a gamble when you consider the kind of songs he had in his catalog that were given to other artists. Take Badfinger’s “Come and Get It” for example. It’s an effective pop-rock tune that isn’t dissimilar to the Beatles’ biggest hits. If McCartney had released this song himself as a solo artist, his first few albums could’ve been more readily accepted.

If you want it, here it is, come and get it
Mmh, make your mind up fast
If you want it, any time, I can give it

[RELATED: Two Songs on Final Beatles Album That Highlighted the Deep Tensions Between John Lennon and Paul McCartney]

“Manic Monday” (Prince)

It’s hard to image Prince singing “Manic Monday”. That kind of glittery pop wasn’t his MO. It’s really no wonder he penned then passed this song off to someone else, namely the Bangles. The female pop group had just the right blithe mentality for this song to work. However, it would’ve been an interesting step in Prince’s career if he had kept “Manic Monday” for himself. Given the success this song had in the ’80s, Prince would’ve likely earned a mammoth hit for himself if he hadn’t given it to another artist.

It’s just another manic Monday
Wish it were Sunday
‘Cause that’s my fun day 
My I-don’t-have-to-run day
It’s just another manic Monday

“The Boys of Summer” (Tom Petty)

Tom Petty gave away what would become the riff in Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer”. Though he didn’t think much of it at the time, it proved to be a foolish oversight on his part. The Heartbreakers needed a break around that time. They needed a winning track to get them back in the saddle. A track like “The Boys of Summer”. Nevertheless, Petty passed away the key to this win, robbing himself of a generational hit.

But I can see you
Your brown skin shining in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your
Sunglasses on, baby
I can tell you, my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

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