Who Sang That?

Last Updated 22.10.08

As well as being talented songwriters themselves, Showaddywaddy covered many old rock 'n' roll songs. The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles hits the nail on the head by saying that the cover versions "rousing revivals of old US rock 'n' roll songs".

This page shows who sang the original version and the year where known. Many thanks to Matthew Spicer from Slough for all his help with this page. If anyone has any further info, please get in touch.

Showaddywaddy (1974)

* Bony Moronie - Larry Williams (1957)
* Johnny Remember Me - John Leyton (1960)
* Temptation - The Everley Brothers (1960)

Step Two (1975)

* Three Steps To Heaven - Eddie Cochran (1960)
* Chain Gang - Sam Cooke (1960)
* Rave On - Well known version by Buddy Holly & The Crickets (1958), but the original was by Sonny West (1957).
* Three Stars - Well known original by Eddie Cochran (1959), but the original was by Tommy Dee (1959).

Trocadero (1976)

* Heartbeat - Buddy Holly (1959). Also covered by Nick Berry in 1992. Buddy Holly's version only reached the Top 30 whereas Nick Berry's reached the Top 10.
* Say Mama - Gene Vincent (1958)
* Rock'n'Roll Music - Chuck Berry (1957). Also covered by The Beatles!

Greatest Hits (1976)

* Under The Moon of Love - Curtis Lee & The Halos (1961). 'Take That' used to sing this in their live show, but I don't believe they ever recorded it.

Red Star (1977)

* When - Kalin Twins (1958)
* You Got What It Takes - The well known version is Marv Johnson (1960) but the original is Bobby Parker (1957). Bobby Parker wrote the song, but somehow Berry Gordy is credited with writing it.
* Dancin' Party - Chubby Checker (1962)
* Somethin' Else - Eddie Cochran (1959). Also covered by The Sex Pistols in 1979 - with Sid Vicious on lead vocals.
* (You've Got) Personality - Lloyd Price (1959)
* Listen To Me - Buddy Holly & The Crickets (1957)

Greatest Hits 1976-1978 (1978)

* I Wonder Why - Dion & The Belmonts (1958)
* A Little Bit Of Soap - Jarmells (1961)
* Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Curtis Lee & The Halos (1961)

Crepes & Drapes (1979)

* Remember Then - Earls (1962; first recorded in 1959)
* Just A Country Boy - Frankie Allen (1977)
* Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller - Drifters (1974 - album track)
* A Night At Daddy Gees - Original by The Church Street Five. Later by Curtis Lee & The Halos (1962)
* Sea Cruise - Frankie Ford (1959)
* That's Rock'n'Roll - Eric Carmen (1975)
* Twist & Shout - Interesting one this. The well known ones are the Isley Brothers (1962) and of course the Beatles (1963) but the original was The Top Notes in 1961.
* Come On Let's Go - Ritchie Valens (1958)

Bright Lights (1980)

* Always And Ever - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (1960)
* Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts? - Bob B Soxx & The Bluejeans (1963)
* Blue Moon - Marcels (1961) - The original song was written and recorded in the 1930's. Also covered by John Alford in 1993, London's Burning actor turned singer.
* Doo Wah Diddy (1964) - The well known original is Manfred Mann (1964). The original is The Exciters (girl group) also from 1964.
* I'll Never Get Over You - Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (1963)
* Wonderful Dream - Majors (1962)
* It's Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty (1958)

Good Times (1981)

* Multiplication - Bobby Darin(1961)
* Footsteps - The well known version is by Steve Lawrence (1961) The original is Barry Mann (1960 an album track). Also recorded by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
* Good Timing - Jimmy Jones (1960)
* Weekend - Eddie Cochran (1960)
* Ally Oop - Hollywood Argyles (1960)

Living Legends (1983)

* Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp-A-Bomp-A-Bomp) - Barry Mann (1961); there was an English cover at the same time by the Viscounts. Also recorded by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
* Goody Goody - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers (1957) - like "Blue Moon" it was written and recorded first in the 1930's.
* (You're My) Soul and Inspiration - Righteous Brothers (1965)
* It's So Easy - Buddy Holly & The Crickets (1958)
* Things - Bobby Darin (1962)
* Little Old Wine Drinker Me - Dean Martin (19??)
* Sorry (I Ran All The Way) - Impalas (1959)
* Mona Lisa - Original rock 'n' roll version was by Carl Mann (1959) but it's a pre-1950's "standard"
* Hey Little Girl - Well known original was by Dee Clark (1959) but the "original" original was by Thurston Harris & The Sharps (1958). The songwriter was Otis Blackwell, not Del Shannon.

Jump Boogie & Jive (1991)

* Why? - Cues (1957)
* Hang Up My Rock'n'Roll Shoes - Chuck Willis (1958)
* Hurry Up - Ritchie Valens (1958)
* I'm Walkin' - Fats Domino (1957)
* Red Hot/Tutti Frutti - The first song is Bob Luman and Billy Lee Riley in 1957 who did the rockabilly version at the same time. But the original was by Billy Emerson in 1954 and was in a slow R&B style.
* Tutti Frutti - Little Richard (1955)
* Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie - Bill Haley & The Comets (1955)
* Devil In The Disguise - Elvis Presley (1963)
* Another Sad & Lonely Night - Bobby Fuller (1964)
* Shape I'm In - The well known version was by Johnny Restivo (1958), whereas the original was by Kenny Lee Martin (1957)

The One & Only - Greatest & Latest (1996)

* Tossin' & Turnin' - Bobby Lewis (1961). Also covered by Bill Haley, Joan Jett, Dave Berry & Shakin' Stevens.
* Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa - Gene Pitney (1963)

Hey Rock 'n' Roll (2002)

* Peter Gunn - Duane Eddy (1959). Covered Henry Mancini's 1958 hit for a TV series.
* FBI - Shadows (1961)
* Chantilly Lace - Big Bopper (JP Richardson, 1958)
* Be Bop A Lula - Gene Vincent (1956)
* Ain't That A Shame - Fats Domino (1955). Actual original title is "Ain't It A Shame", although Fats, nor anyone else, sings it that way. But this is the way the songs is titled and copyrighted.

* Dream Lover - Bobby Darin (1959)
* Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day (1958)
* Girl Can't Help It - Little Richard (1956)
* Move It - Cliff Richard (1958)
* Bye Bye Johnny - Chuck Berry (1958)
* Rock Around The Clock - originally by Sonny Dae & The Knights (1953), but best known version by Bill Haley & The Comets (1954)
* I Hear You Knockin' - Smiley Lewis (1954). Also covered by Dave Edmunds (1971)
* Just Like Eddie - Heinz (1963)
* Somethin' Else / Twenty Flight Rock / Weekend / C'mon Everybody - all Eddie Cochran (1959, 1957, 1960, 1959)
* Sincerely - Moonglows (1954)
* Book Of Love - Monotones (1958). Also an English cover at the time by The Mudlarks.
* Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison (1960)
* Cathy's Clown - Everley Brothers (1960)
* Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)
* Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly (1957)
* Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson (1957). Re-issued in 1986 and a number one hit. Also released as a single by one of Showaddywaddy's rivals, Darts.
* Sleepwalk - Santo & Johnny (1959)
* Tell Laura I Love Her - Ray Peterson (1960). Best known version by Ricky Valence (also 1960)
* Runaround Sue - Dion & The Del-Satins (uncredited), (1961)
* At The Hop / Rock 'n' Roll Is Here To Stay - Danny & The Juniors (1957, 1958)

Hey Rock 'n' Roll - The Very Best Of Showaddywaddy (2004)

* Woo Hoo - The Rock-A-Teens (1959)

I Love Rock 'n' Roll (2006)

* I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Arrows (1975). Also a 1982 hit for Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
* Motor Bikin' - Chris Spedding (1975)
* 2-4-6-8 Motorway - Tom Robinson Band (1977)
* Hey Girl Don't Bother Me - The Tams (1971)
* Tiger Feet - Mud (1974)
* The Girl From New York City - Ad Libs. Also a number 2 hit for Darts in 1978
* Jungle Rock - a 1958 song by Hank Mizell which he took to number 3 in 1976
* Spanish Stroll / My Best Friend's Girl - Mink DeVille (1977) / The Cars (1978)
* Tulane - Steve Gibbons Band (1977)
* Let's Work Together - Canned Heat (1970)
* I Can Do It - Rubettes (1975)
* Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen (1979)
* Denise - Randy & The Rainbows (1963). Also Blondie in 1978
* Jeepster - T-Rex (1971)
* See My Baby Jive - Wizzard (1973)
* Back Of My Hand - The Jags (1979)
* Rock This Town - Stray Cats (1981)
* I Hear You Knocking - Smiley Lewis (1954). Also Dave Edmunds 1970
* Old Habits Die Hard (a 1990 album track by Hall & Oates written by Terry Britten)

The Sun Album (I Betcha Gonna Like It) (2008)

* Flyin' Saucer Rock 'n' Roll - Billy Lee Riley (1957)
* Betcha Gonna Like It - Jeb Stuart
* Lovin' Up A Storm - Jerry Lee Lewis (1958)
* Tweedle Dee - Elvis Presley (1955)
* Uh Huh Oh Yeah - Tracy Pendarvis (1958)
* Claudette - Roy Orbison (1957). Later recorded by the Everly Brothers
* Bobaloo - Bill Johnson (1960)
* Put Me Down - Jesse Lee Turner (1957)
* Who Will The Next Fool Be - Charlie Rich
* My Bucket's Got A Hole In It - Carl McVoy (1957). Also recorded by Sonny Burgess
* Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go - Hank Ballard
* Nothin' Shakin' - Linda Gail Lewis (1963)
* Uranium Rock - Warren Smith (1958)
* Apron Strings - Curtis Hoback. Later recorded by Cliff Richard and was the b-side to Livin' Doll.
* Do What I Do - Slim Rhodes Band (1956)
* Drinkin' Scotch - Gene Simmons (1958)
* Find My Baby For Me - Sonny Burgess (1957)

Back to Showaddywaddy Main Page