Most country fans who know a little about the genre’s history know how prevalent cover songs used to be. There was a time when multiple versions of the same song would drop within months of one another, with several artists trying to find or replicate success. That practice has faded. However, many artists still find great success with secondhand songs.
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Sometimes, a cover obscures the original version in the public eye. This can happen for a number of reasons, including the duration of time between the songs’ release dates or the success that a new singer finds with an old song. No matter how it happened, the original songs below inspired hit country covers and have been largely forgotten.
[RELATED: 3 Hit Country Songs From the ‘90s You Didn’t Know Were Covers]
1. “Tall, Tall Trees” by George Jones
Country legends George Jones and Roger Miller wrote “Tall, Tall Trees.” Jones was the first to record the song and released it as a B-side in 1957. Miller recorded it for his 1970 album A Trip in the Country. Neither artist had a hit with the song. Then, decades later, Alan Jackson came along and put his stamp on it.
Alan Jackson released “Tall, Tall Trees” as a single from The Greatest Hits Collection in 1995. His version of the song went to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and stayed there for two weeks. More than that, it became a staple of country radio in the ’90s and effectively overshadowed the original versions.
2. “Fancy” by Bobbie Gentry
Bobbie Gentry wrote “Fancy” and used it as the sole single and title track from her 1969 album. It was a hit for Gentry, peaking at No. 26 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 8 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Additionally, it landed at No. 31 on the Hot 100, giving the singer/songwriter her final crossover hit.
Reba McEntire released her version of “Fancy” in 1991 as a single from her album Rumor Has It. It went to No. 8 on the Hot Country Songs chart but failed to reach the Hot 100. However, McEntire’s version overshadowed Gentry’s original, with many not realizing that the ’90s country banger is a cover.
3. “Tennessee Whiskey” by David Allan Coe
Legendary songwriter Dean Dillon co-wrote “Tennessee Whiskey” with Linda Hargrove. Outlaw Country artist David Allan Coe recorded the first version of the song, making it the title track and lead single from his 1981 album. Two years later, George Jones recorded his version and released it as a single from Shine On, and it reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. However, both of those versions would be overshadowed three decades later when Chris Stapleton recorded it.
“Tennessee Whiskey” is the song that helped launch Stapleton’s solo career. His Etta James-inspired version spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and has since been certified 6x Platinum by the RIAA.
4. “Always on My Mind” by Gwen McRae
“Always on My Mind” has a long history. Wayne Carson, Mark James, and Johnny Christopher wrote the song. Then, both Brenda Lee and Gwen McCrae recorded it. Lee recorded it first, but McCrae released it first. Elvis Presley, John Wesley Ryles, the Pet Shop Boys, and many others have covered the song since its release. However, Willie Nelson’s version overshadowed all other versions.
Nelson recorded his version and released it as a single in 1982. It went to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and stayed there for two weeks. It has since become one of the Red Headed Stranger’s signature songs.
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