Let's make a list of hit songs that were originally intended for somebody else to sing.Many artists routinely turn down songs,only to watch it become a big hit for another singer.Or sometimes the writer/producer changes their mind and gives the track to another artist.Here are some examples...


***In the early 80s,Donna Summer was originally offered the song "What's Love Got To Do With It".She turned it down,but it became a career-defining comeback hit for Tina Turner in 1984.

***Vanessa Williams has often complained that LA and Babyface offered her a great song in 1987---"Girlfriend"---but quickly took it back and gave it to Pebbles instead.

***In 1985,when Rick James was producing the debut album by his protege Val Young,he gave her a strong,infectious song called "In My House".But when a Motown record exec heard the track,he insisted that James give it to his other protege act---The Mary Jane Girls---instead.

***In the early 80s,songwriter Paul Jabara wrote a dance track called "It's Raining Men" and he offered it to his pal Donna Summer.When she turned it down,he offered it to Diana Ross,who also turned it down.Finally,he offered it to The Weather Girls and it became a sizable dance club favorite in 1983.

***Aretha Franklin has lost many big hits that went to other artists....Natalie Cole's 1977 smash hit "I've Got Love On My Mind"...Diana Ross' 1980 hit "Upside Down".

***Anita Baker's 1986 song "Mystery" (arguably the best song on her 'Rapture' album) was originally offered to Michael Jackson.Similiarly,Madonna's 1986 hit "La Isla Bonita" was also offered to Michael first.


***The Jets' 1987 hit "Rocket 2 U" was originally offered to Earth Wind and Fire for inclusion on their album 'Touch The World'.

***The 1979 disco classic "Ring My Bell" was originally offered to a young Stacy Lattisaw (!).But it was recorded by the much older Anita Ward,and became one of the biggest disco hits ever.


any others?
[Edited 12/15/04 5:27am]

The Bee Gees wrote To Love Somebody for Otis Redding. But he died so they did it themselves.

Cloudbuster said:

Wow,I never knew that!

Santana's 1999 comeback hit "Smooth" was supposed to be sung by George Michael.That was (executive producer) Clive Davis's idea.But when Carlos heard the demo by the songwriter Rob Thomas,he decided that Rob would sing the song.

DavidEye said:

Well, there you go.

I bet he would've done a brilliant version.

Cloudbuster said:

Indeed

DavidEye said:

they were actually on the way to give it to Otis,but they had heard on the radio he had died..

DavidEye said:

And I never knew that!!!

'Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)' written by Stevie Wonder was one of Aretha Franklin's biggest hits of the 1970s. However, he chose to record 'Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)' himself sometime in the 1960s. I cannot confirm that because I haven't heard it.

Aretha Franklin recorded her own version in September 1973 of cause.
[Edited 12/15/04 5:00am]

JDINTERACTIVE said:

He certainly did.

Cloudbuster said:

To this day,I wish Carlos had used George on that song.I can't really tolerate Rob Thomas' vocals

Cloudbuster said:

Can you confirm when it was released?

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Yes,Stevie recorded his own version in the 60s.I have it and it's pretty good,but Aretha's version is superior imo.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

And Aretha's version is beautiful indeed.

TheRealFiness said:

ass

TheRealFiness said:

truly a shame she had left Atlantic Records because Arista did her no damn good,Aretha had great Producers with Atlantic... Jerry Wexler and the whole Atlantic Staff churned out hit after hit..

Cloudbuster said:

assbat

Michael Jackson originally wanted Barbra Streisand (!) to sing with him on his 1987 song "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".Quincy Jones talked him into using Siedah Garret instead.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

It was released on Looking Back - Anthology in 1977 but recorded sometime in the
mid 60s.

DavidEye said:

He also wanted Whitney to sing it.

Cloudbuster said:

You're a great help!

In 1980,Lionel Richie played a beautiful song for the Commodores called "Lady".They hated it,so he gave it to his pal Kenny Rogers and it became a chart-topping smash.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Cloudbuster said:

Was it May 1st 1967? I think this is incorrect as far as a UK single release was concerned.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

Jody Watley's 1987 hit single "Still A Thrill" was composed with Grace Jones in mind.Producer/songwriter Andre Cymone felt that it would be perfect for Jones,but in the end,it made it onto Jody's album.Interestingly,Jody sings it in a deep,Grace Jones-like voice.

"Love Shoulda Brought You Home" was written for Anita Baker, she turned it down (I believe due to a scheduling conflict)...Anita thought the woman who recorded the demo sounded great and wanted to know why LA and Face just did'nt have the then unknown artist record/release it. Toni Braxton was the unknown artist and the single went on to become her break thru hit which was released on the Boomerang soundtrack and her debut album.

Philip Bailey said that if there was one song that he wished Earth Wind and Fire had done, It was the Skip Scarborough song, "Love Ballad"(Much More Than They Can See), but they (and many other artists) passed on the song, So Skip gave it to LTD and Jeffrey Osborne, and they made it a Classic ...

..Luckily, EWF did get some of Scarborough's other tunes: "Love's Holiday", "Can't Hide Love" , and "I'll Write A Song For You", and produced the Emotions' version of Scarborough's "Don't Ask My Neighbor"...



...
[Edited 12/15/04 8:31am]

"Do You Love Me" was orginally intended for The Temptations, with Paul Williams cranking out the lead (can you imagine that? ). Berry Gordy wanted it to be recorded right away, and the Tempts were nowhere to be found (they were in church, listening to some choir). Gordy gave it to The Contours, and The Temptations missed out on a huge one.

Madonna was originally supposed to sing "in the closet" with MJ.
But she wanted to change the lyrics and MJ though they were too sexy so Madonna told him to shove it