Oldies Cover Versions of Pre-1950 Songs

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Posted by GrimsbyFan
August 10, 2025 11:17 am 		#1

In an earlier posting I mentioned how difficult it must have been for those who grew up with the music of the 1930s, 1940s and early 50s to accept the radical change that came with the rock and roll era.

In many instances, songs that were recorded in a very traditional style (often referred to as "standards") pror to the mid 1950s were covered and given a different treatment by artists of the late 50s and 60s.

I would be interested in knowing what are some of your favorite songs that would fit this category.   Here are a few of mine:

I've Got You Under My Skin 
Dennis Day 1945 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6FVBj1P8sI&list=RDj6FVBj1P8sI&start_radio=1
Frankie Valli and 4 Seasons  1966 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSpyqTjztwM&list=RDxSpyqTjztwM&start_radio=1

For Sentimental Reasons
Dinah Shore  1947
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnRuy7C6_Cs&list=RDRnRuy7C6_Cs&start_radio=1
The Cleftones  1961
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zbBh-3zkk&list=RDo-zbBh-3zkk&start_radio=1

My Heart Stood Still
Margaret Whiting 1946
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIW4QByi-rU&list=RDRIW4QByi-rU&start_radio=1
Bernadette Caroll  1962
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bernadette+carroll+my+heart+stood+still

 
Posted by aflem
August 10, 2025 1:02 pm 		#2

I can think of two off the top of my head.

The first is You Belong To Me, which was a hit for Jo Stafford in 1952.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJvwzZZkb4M

A decade later, it reached Top 10 status  (#7 on Billboard) in a great version on the rock charts in 1962, when the Duprees did a version of the song. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUGCCSAa_OQ&list=RDZUGCCSAa_OQ&start_radio=1

And then there's that 1930s-era classic Blue Moon, written by Rodgers & Hart. A guy named Al Bowlly had one of the big hits with it in 1935.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcidhDV4eV4

And then in 1961, came one of the all time great doo wop tunes, Blue Moon, by The Marcels. It's still fantastic all these years later, at least to me. I've read that the composers absolutely hated this version, even though it made them a lot of money. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoi3TH59ZEs

 
Posted by Taz
August 10, 2025 3:43 pm 		#3

Leaning On A Lamp Post - George Formby 1937
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEymZ3rXOmc
 
Leaning On The Lamp Post - Herman’s Hermits 1966
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYFPd7VVvJQ&list=RDFYFPd7VVvJQ&start_radio=1

Life is not a float trip
 
Posted by Jim Southern
August 11, 2025 1:56 am 		#4

I'll mention a few now and be back in a day or so with a few more....
MY PRAYER - #1 for the Platters in 1956.
                       #2 for Glen Miller in 1939
TWILIGHT TIME..#1 for the Platters in 1958
                        #8 for the Three Suns in 1944
SMOKE GET'S IN YOUR EYES .. #1 for the Platters in 1958
                                                  #1 for Paul Whiteman Orch. in 1934.
HARBOR LIGHTS ..#8 for the Platters in 1960
                            #1 for Sammy Kaye in 1950.
BLUEBERRY HILL ..#2 for Fats Domino in 1956
                              #2 fir Glenn Miller  in 1940
WHO'S SORRY NOW ...#4 for Connie Francis in 1958
                                    #3 for Isham Jones in 1923
MY HAPPINESS..#2 for Connie Francis in 1959
                          #2 for Jon & Sondra Steele in 1948.
AMONG MY SOUVENIRS ..#7 for Connie Francis in 1959
                                         #1 for Paul Whiteman in 1928
TOGETHER ...#6 for Connie Francis in 1961
                     #1 for Paul Whiteman in 1928
IN THE MOOD ..#4 for Ernie Fields Orch 1959
                        #1 for Glenn Miller in 1940 
 

 
Posted by Taz
August 11, 2025 7:41 am 		#5

Swinging on a star - Bing Crosby 1944
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Swinging+On+A+Star
 Swinging On A Star - Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva 1963
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOPlv0qJPQM&list=RDZOPlv0qJPQM&start_radio=1
 

Life is not a float trip
 
Posted by RobN
August 11, 2025 12:01 pm 		#7

Linda
Ray Noble & His Orchestra 1945

Jan & Dean 1962

Heart & Soul was originally performed in the 1930s. I remember hearing The Cleftones in 1961, and hearing Jan & Dean's version on their album the following year.

 
Posted by Little Rich
August 11, 2025 3:36 pm 		#8

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah 1946
James Baskett 1946
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWOkSyR_NhU

Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans 1962
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWOkSyR_NhU

 
Posted by Jim Southern
August 11, 2025 11:59 pm 		#9

A few more.....
I'VE TOLD EVERY LITTLE STAR...#3 hit for Linda Scott in 1961                       
                                                   #10 hit for Jack Denny in 1933
I DON'T KNOW WHY...#12 hit for Linda Scott in 1961
                                 #2 hit for Wayne King in 1942
SO RARE ...#2 hit for Jimmy Dorsey in 1957
                   #1 hit fir Guy Lombardo in 1937
LAVENDER BLUIE...#3 hit for Sammy Turner in 1959
                              #4 hit for Sammy Kaye in 1949
ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT...#1 hit for Elvis in 1960
                                                    #4 hit for Vaughn Deleath in 1927
THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC ...#18 hit for..Louis and Keely 1n 1958
                                          #10 hit for Bobby Rydell in 1961
                                          #1 hit for Glenn Miller in 19434
JUST A GIGOLO/I AIN'T GOT NOBODY ,,#12 hit for David Lee Roth in 1985
                                            ....GIGOLO #1 for Ted Lewis in 1931
                                             .........NOBODY  #3 hit for Marion Harris in 1921



















 

 
Posted by GrimsbyFan
August 16, 2025 11:18 am 		#11

This might be my favorite demonstration of the differences between music in the pre and post rock/pop eras.

Imagination
Doris Day  1950
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOx_8qr1dr4&list=RDlOx_8qr1dr4&start_radio=1

The Quotations  1961
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RwRR05nPYQ&list=RD5RwRR05nPYQ&start_radio=1

 


 
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