These 80s Pop Songs Were Actually From the 60s - Funk Radio #114

Today we return to the “famous covers of songs” discussion, this time specifically focusing on 80s pop songs that you may or may not know were originally done in the 60s.

Many of us are pretty familiar with 80s pop music—you either lived through it, or you grew up with it on the radio. But did you know that some of these popular songs were actually remakes of R&B songs from two decades prior? For this week’s episode we’ve put together a solid list of examples that will expand your horizons. You’ll hear that in some cases the covering artist does a careful job of keeping a similar sound to the original, while in other cases there are some more stylistic liberties taken. But such is the nature of covering songs—artists can directly take songs that inspire them and put their own twist on it.

Honorable Mentions:

“You Can’t Hurry Love” by Phil Collins

“You Can’t Hurry Love” by the Supremes

“Tainted Love” by Soft Cell

“Tainted Love” by Gloria Jones

“Really Sayin’ Something” by Bananarama

“He Was Really Sayin’ Something” by the Velvelettes

‘Hurt So Bad” by Linda Ronstadt

‘Hurt So Bad” by Little Anthony and the Imperials

“Together” by Tierra

“Together” by the Intruders

“To Be a Lover” by Billy Idol