A musical menu for National Junk Food Day:
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Tunes Du Jour Presents The Original Versions
Many of us grow up assuming the hit version of a song is the original. This playlist celebrates those surprising musical genealogies: well-known songs that were originally recorded by someone else, often with little fanfare. Here are the stories behind the transformations—where they started, and how they became iconic.
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” – Thelma Houston / Originally by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (1975)
Houston’s disco anthem actually began life as a Philly soul track sung by Teddy Pendergrass. Thelma took it to the dancefloor—and to #1.
“War” – Edwin Starr / Originally by The Temptations (1970)
This protest song started as an album cut by The Temptations. Starr’s rawer, angrier take made it a searing hit during the Vietnam era.
“Strawberry Letter 23” – The Brothers Johnson / Originally by Shuggie Otis (1971)
Otis’ dreamy, psychedelic original flew under the radar until producer Quincy Jones supercharged it with funk for The Brothers Johnson.
“I Feel for You” – Chaka Khan / Originally by Prince (1979)
Prince wrote it, recorded it, and released it on his 1979 self-titled album. Chaka Khan added Stevie Wonder’s harmonica and Melle Mel’s rap, creating a genre-blurring smash that gave the song a second life—and a much bigger audience.
“Louie Louie” – The Kingsmen / Originally by Richard Berry (1957)
Berry’s calypso-tinged rhythm & blues song became an unintelligible rock ‘n’ roll classic in the hands of teenage garage rockers.
“Pass The Koutchie” – Musical Youth as “Pass the Dutchie” / Originally by Mighty Diamonds (1981)
Musical Youth’s version cleaned up the ganja references but kept the groove. A British reggae hit born from a roots original.
“Tainted Love” – Soft Cell / Originally by Gloria Jones (1964)
This Northern Soul favorite was ignored in the U.S. until Soft Cell’s chilly synth-pop cover turned it into an international sensation.
“You Are So Beautiful” – Joe Cocker / Originally by Billy Preston (1974)
Preston’s gospel-inflected original was co-written with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. Cocker slowed it down into a tearjerking ballad.
“The First Cut Is The Deepest” – Rod Stewart / Originally by P.P. Arnold (1967)
Before Cat Stevens, the song’s writer, sang it himself, P.P. Arnold delivered a powerful version. Stewart’s cover gave it global traction.
“Red, Red Wine” – UB40 / Originally by Neil Diamond (1967)
Diamond’s mournful original was a slow ballad. UB40’s reggae version confused even him—he didn’t recognize his own song on the radio.
“Brand New Cadillac” – The Clash / Originally by Vince Taylor and His Playboys (1959)
This rockabilly obscurity became a snarling punk track on London Calling. Vince Taylor later served as an inspiration for David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona.
“Take Me To The River” – Talking Heads / Originally by Al Green (1974)
Green’s swampy soul gave way to Talking Heads’ jittery art-funk. An old-school spiritual reborn in new wave style.
“The Tide Is High” – Blondie / Originally by The Paragons (1967)
Jamaican rocksteady meets NYC cool. Blondie took this mellow gem and gave it a global pop sheen.
“Brandy” – Barry Manilow as “Mandy” / Originally by Scott English (1971)
English’s sad and simple original got a new name and new polish. Manilow’s grand version topped the charts.
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” – The Animals / Originally by Nina Simone (1964)
Simone’s pleading ballad became a snarling British Invasion hit. Her nuanced sorrow gave way to the raw edge of rock.
“Bette Davis Eyes” – Kim Carnes / Originally by Jackie DeShannon (1974)
The original was breezy and piano-driven. Carnes and her producer Val Garay turned it into new wave noir.
“Heaven Must Have Sent You” – Bonnie Pointer / Originally by The Elgins (1966)
Pointer’s disco version revived a Motown deep cut and put it back on the charts over a decade later.
“Love Buzz” – Nirvana / Originally by Shocking Blue (1969)
Nirvana turned this obscure Dutch psych-rock tune into a distorted grunge landmark. Their debut single.
“Piece Of My Heart” – Big Brother & The Holding Company / Originally by Erma Franklin (1967)
Aretha’s sister recorded it first, but Janis Joplin made it a fiery centerpiece of her legend.
“It’s Oh So Quiet” – Björk / Originally by Betty Hutton (1951)
A novelty big-band number revived by Björk into a theatrical showstopper. Old Hollywood meets Icelandic art-pop.
“China Girl” – David Bowie / Originally by Iggy Pop (1977)
Co-written with Bowie, Iggy’s version was skeletal and raw. Bowie’s version added synth gloss and MTV appeal.
“Good Lovin'” – The Young Rascals / Originally by The Olympics (1965)
The Olympics had the groove, but The Rascals turned it into a garage-rock rave-up and a #1 hit.
“Valerie” – Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse / Originally by The Zutons (2006)
The Zutons wrote it as a bluesy rock song. Winehouse made it retro-soul perfection.
“Police On My Back” – The Clash / Originally by The Equals (1967)
A stomping, paranoid track from Eddy Grant’s first band. The Clash turned it into a punk fugitive anthem.
“After Midnight” – Eric Clapton / Originally by J.J. Cale (1966)
Cale’s laid-back shuffle was juiced up with guitar licks by Clapton, who kept the songwriter’s cool intact.
“On Broadway” – The Drifters / Originally by The Cookies (1962)
Songwriters Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil gave this to a girl group first, but The Drifters made it a city-slick R&B classic.
“Love Hurts” – Nazareth / Originally by The Everly Brothers (1960)
Gentle heartbreak became hard rock agony. Nazareth’s arena wail made the song a power ballad staple.
“I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts / Originally by The Arrows (1975)
Jett saw it on UK TV and recorded a fiercer, snarling version that girls (and boys) everywhere could scream along to.
“Without You” – Nilsson / Originally by Badfinger (1970)
Badfinger’s version was plaintive; Nilsson’s was operatic. He didn’t just sing it—he wailed it.
“Superman” – R.E.M. / Originally by The Clique (1969)
A psychedelic pop obscurity turned indie-rock cult classic. One of R.E.M.’s rare early tracks not written by the band.
These songs remind us that inspiration doesn’t always strike where the spotlight shines. Sometimes greatness is borrowed—and reinvented.
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Tunes Du Jour Presents Punk
Ask ten people to define punk rock, and you’re likely to get at least fifteen answers. That’s part of its charm—and its challenge. Punk has always been more than a style of music; it’s a way of questioning the status quo, pushing back against complacency, and refusing to color inside the lines. The 30 songs in this playlist represent the genre’s many branches: from the snarling minimalism of the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” to the tightly coiled fury of Black Flag’s “Rise Above,” from Patti Smith’s poetic incantations to the danceable paranoia of Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer.”
The roots of punk go deep, even before the term existed. “I’m Waiting for the Man” by The Velvet Underground and “Kick Out the Jams” by MC5 helped pave the way with their raw sound and confrontational lyrics. By the mid-1970s, punk had taken recognizable form in both New York and London. The Ramones stripped rock to its bare essentials with “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker,” while The Clash’s London Calling album pointed to punk’s potential to absorb and reflect broader influences—including reggae, ska, and politics.
Acts like Gang of Four and Television took the energy of punk and redirected it into jagged rhythms and angular guitars. The B-52’s “Rock Lobster” and Talking Heads introduced eccentricity and art-school sensibilities, while the Dead Kennedys and Sham 69 channeled punk into direct political protest. Meanwhile, bands like The Jam and Buzzcocks added a melodic urgency, and Iggy Pop and the New York Dolls injected glam and danger into the proceedings.
In the decades that followed, punk fragmented and flourished. Rancid’s “Time Bomb” leaned into ska-punk; Blink-182’s “Dammit” helped define a generation’s version of pop-punk adolescence. Bikini Kill’s “Rebel Girl” roared from the riot grrrl movement with feminist fire, and Billy Bragg brought punk’s commitment to social critique to a solo singer-songwriter context. Even grunge touchstones like Mudhoney carried punk’s DNA—loud, unpolished, and emotionally direct.
This playlist doesn’t claim to be definitive—if anything, it’s a conversation starter. It suggests that punk isn’t a sound so much as a stance. Whether it’s The Replacements thumbing their nose at success in “Bastards of Young,” or Green Day channeling disillusionment into “American Idiot,” punk continues to reinvent itself. It may shift forms, but it never goes quietly.
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Tunes Du Jour Presents The David Bowie Songbook
David Bowie’s songwriting genius extends far beyond his own performances, as evidenced by this eclectic collection of covers spanning five decades. From punk pioneers to country legends, pop icons to elementary school choirs, artists across the musical spectrum have found fresh ways to interpret Bowie’s compositions. Iggy Pop’s raw, proto-punk “Lust for Life” shares space with Willie Nelson and Karen O’s unlikely but touching duet on “Under Pressure,” while Barbra Streisand’s take on “Life on Mars” contrasts with Ibibio Sound Machine’s Afrofuturistic reimagining of “Heroes.”
What’s particularly fascinating is how these songs illuminate different facets of Bowie’s writing. Some artists stay relatively faithful to the originals, while others take bold creative liberties. Together, these versions demonstrate not only Bowie’s versatility as a songwriter but also the enduring adaptability of his work across genres, generations, and cultures.
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Tunes Du Jour Celebrates International Left-Handers Day
Happy International Left-Handers Day! 🖐
Did you know that in the 1600s, lefties were suspected of witchcraft? Fast forward to today, and we’re still navigating a world designed for righties. From scissors to can openers, life’s full of little challenges for the left-handed among us.
Even language hasn’t been kind – check a thesaurus and you might find some surprisingly negative synonyms for “left-handed.” (Have you ever been accused of giving a left-handed compliment?) But lefties in good company! Some of the world’s most creative minds have been southpaws.
To celebrate this most important of holidays, I’ve put together a playlist featuring 30 incredible left-handed musicians. From rock legends to pop icons, these artists have left their mark on music history.
Tunes Du Jour Presents Blondie
If you cranked up the radio in the late ’70s and early ’80s, chances are you stumbled upon Blondie’s infectious blend of new wave. Fronted by the iconic Debbie Harry, this band fearlessly pushed boundaries, fusing punk energy with pop sensibilities to create a sound that remains instantly recognizable today.
Blondie’s influence extends beyond catchy tunes. They were true pioneers in the new wave scene, infusing punk’s raw energy with irresistible hooks and Debbie Harry’s cool vocals. Hits like “Heart of Glass” and “Call Me” became instant classics, showcasing their ability to craft danceable anthems with a bite. But Blondie wasn’t a one-trick pony. Songs like “The Tide Is High” (a reggae cover) and “Rapture” (one of the first mainstream songs to feature rapping) demonstrated their genre-bending abilities.
Blondie’s impact transcends charts and awards. With over 40 million albums sold worldwide, they’ve left an indelible mark. Their critically acclaimed third album, Parallel Lines, catapulted them into the spotlight. Notably, “Rapture” earned them a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Female. In 2006, they rightfully entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yet, beyond accolades, Blondie’s legacy lies in their enduring music—a testament to innovation and irresistible hooks.
Debbie Harry, the unforgettable face of Blondie, challenged traditional notions of femininity in rock. Her powerful voice and unapologetic stage presence made her a role model for aspiring musicians of all genders. Harry’s charisma and style continue to inspire artists worldwide.
Blondie isn’t just about music; they’ve also championed causes. Debbie Harry, in particular, advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness. Her participation in charity events underscores the band’s commitment to giving back. Blondie remains an iconic band whose legacy resonates across generations. Their fusion of innovation and catchy hooks serves as a timeless recipe for success, proving that music can transcend eras and inspire both musicians and fans alike.
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Tunes Du Jour Presents 1991
The year 1991 was a remarkable one for music, as it saw the emergence of genres, styles, and stars that would shape the musical landscape for years to come. Today’s playlist consists of thirty of the songs that defined 1991.
We’ve got slick pop hooks and hip-hop beats, soulful ballads and dancefloor anthems, synth pop and alt rock, industrial angst and Prince.
In late September of 1991, a trio from Seattle released an album that soon became a phenomenon that transcended music and defined a generation. Its first hit single inaugurated a new wave of alternative rock that would dominate the 90s. That song peaked on the pop charts the following year, so look for it when Tunes Du Jour Presents 1992.
For now, take a trip down memory lane and enjoy the musical smorgasbord that was 1991. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more posts about music.
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