18 Tracks That Turned Into Major Hits For More Than One Artist

Ever wonder why some songs feel like they belong to multiple artists?

Music history is packed with tracks that became massive hits not once, but twice – or even three times.

Different voices, fresh arrangements, and new eras can transform a song into something entirely magical, proving that great music never really goes out of style.

1. I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton / Whitney Houston

Dolly Parton penned this heartfelt ballad in 1974 as a farewell to her business partner, and it became a country chart-topper.

Nearly two decades later, Whitney Houston transformed it into a powerhouse anthem for The Bodyguard soundtrack.

Houston’s version shattered records, staying at number one for 14 weeks and becoming one of the best-selling singles ever.

2. Hurt – Nine Inch Nails / Johnny Cash

Trent Reznor originally released this haunting song in 1994, expressing raw pain through industrial rock layers.

When Johnny Cash covered it in 2002, near the end of his life, the track gained profound new meaning.

Cash’s weathered voice and the stark music video turned the song into a meditation on mortality and regret.

Even Reznor admitted the song now belonged to Cash, proving how perspective can completely reshape a track’s emotional weight.

3. Respect – Otis Redding / Aretha Franklin

Otis Redding wrote and recorded this soul classic in 1965, singing from a man’s perspective about coming home to respect.

Aretha Franklin flipped the script entirely in 1967, turning it into a feminist anthem that demanded equality.

Franklin’s fierce vocals and the iconic spelling breakdown made her version the definitive one.

Her interpretation became a civil rights and women’s rights rallying cry, showing how changing context can revolutionize a song’s message completely.

4. Hound Dog – Big Mama Thornton / Elvis Presley

Big Mama Thornton unleashed this bluesy burner in 1952, delivering a fierce kiss-off to a no-good man.

Her powerful, gritty performance topped the R&B charts and established the song as a blues standard.

Four years later, Elvis transformed it into a rockabilly explosion with a faster tempo and playful energy.

His version became one of his signature hits, though Thornton’s original remains a testament to raw blues power and female vocal strength.

5. Twist and Shout – The Top Notes / The Isley Brothers / The Beatles

Originally recorded by The Top Notes in 1961, this song barely made a dent on the charts.

The Isley Brothers revved it up with electrifying energy in 1962, creating the definitive R&B version that climbed the charts.

When The Beatles covered it in 1963, John Lennon’s raspy, throat-shredding vocals gave it fresh British Invasion charm.

6. Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Robert Hazard / Cyndi Lauper

Robert Hazard originally wrote and recorded this as a rock song from a male perspective in 1979, but it went largely unnoticed.

Cyndi Lauper reimagined it in 1983 as a colorful anthem celebrating female independence and joy.

Lauper’s playful vocals, quirky music video, and infectious energy turned it into a defining song of the 1980s.

Her version became a feminist pop culture touchstone, proving that gender perspective can completely transform a song’s impact and legacy.

7. The Tide Is High – The Paragons / Blondie

The Paragons created this smooth reggae track in 1967, capturing the laid-back vibes of Jamaican music perfectly.

It became a rocksteady classic in Jamaica but didn’t make major waves internationally at first.

Blondie brought it to global audiences in 1980, adding new wave polish while keeping the reggae rhythm intact.

Debbie Harry’s cool vocals and the band’s pop sensibility turned it into a chart-topping hit, introducing reggae influences to mainstream radio worldwide.

8. Tainted Love – Gloria Jones / Soft Cell

Gloria Jones recorded this Northern Soul gem in 1964, delivering emotional vocals over a classic Motown-style arrangement.

Though beloved in British soul clubs, it never became a mainstream hit during its original release.

Soft Cell’s 1981 synth-pop makeover changed everything, stripping away the live instruments for stark electronic beats.

9. Nothing Compares 2 U – The Family / Sinéad O’Connor

Prince wrote and produced this song for his side project The Family in 1985, but their funk-rock version flew under the radar.

The track sat relatively unknown for several years despite Prince’s involvement.

Sinéad O’Connor’s stripped-down 1990 version became a global phenomenon, with her vulnerable vocals and the iconic close-up video creating unforgettable emotional impact.

10. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins / Elvis Presley

Carl Perkins wrote and recorded this rockabilly anthem in 1955, creating one of the first true crossover hits that topped country, R&B, and pop charts simultaneously.

His original version defined the early rock and roll sound perfectly.

Elvis recorded his version shortly after in 1956, bringing even more swagger and mainstream appeal to the track.

11. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell / Diana Ross

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1967 duet version bubbled with joyful energy and perfect vocal chemistry.

Their Motown classic became an instant soul standard, showcasing the magic that happens when two voices blend seamlessly together.

Diana Ross transformed it into a solo epic in 1970, extending the song with a dramatic spoken-word intro and orchestral arrangement.

12. All Along the Watchtower – Bob Dylan / Jimi Hendrix

Bob Dylan’s 1967 original featured sparse acoustic instrumentation and his signature poetic mysteriousness.

The folk arrangement let the cryptic lyrics take center stage, creating an atmosphere of biblical foreboding and tension.

Jimi Hendrix electrified it in 1968, unleashing searing guitar work that transformed the song into a psychedelic rock masterpiece.

His version became so definitive that Dylan himself adopted Hendrix’s arrangement for his own live performances, a rare acknowledgment of a cover surpassing the original.

13. I Fought the Law – The Crickets / The Bobby Fuller Four / The Clash

The Crickets first recorded this rock and roll number in 1960, but it remained relatively obscure.

The Bobby Fuller Four’s 1966 version brought it mainstream success with garage rock energy and Fuller’s enthusiastic vocals.

The Clash punk-ified it in 1979, injecting rebellious attitude and raw power that matched their anti-establishment ethos perfectly.

14. Feeling Good – Nina Simone / Michael Bublé

Nina Simone’s 1965 interpretation of this musical theater song became the definitive version, dripping with soul, power, and civil rights-era significance.

Her commanding vocals transformed it from a show tune into a declaration of freedom and rebirth.

Michael Bublé brought it to new audiences in 2005 with a big band arrangement and smooth crooner style.

15. Valerie – The Zutons / Amy Winehouse & Mark Ronson

The Zutons released this indie rock track in 2006 with jangly guitars and a bouncy, carefree vibe.

While popular in the UK indie scene, it didn’t achieve massive mainstream crossover success initially.

Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson’s 2007 version stripped away the guitars for a retro soul arrangement with punchy brass and Winehouse’s distinctive vocals.

Their interpretation became a global smash, turning the plea to an absent friend into one of the late 2000s’ most recognizable and beloved songs worldwide.

16. Always on My Mind – Brenda Lee / Elvis Presley / Willie Nelson

Brenda Lee recorded the first version in 1972, though it didn’t make major waves initially.

Elvis Presley’s emotional 1972 version brought it wider recognition, with his vulnerable delivery suggesting personal regret and longing.

Willie Nelson’s 1982 interpretation became the definitive version, topping country charts and winning Grammy awards with his weathered, sincere vocals.

17. The First Cut Is the Deepest – P. P. Arnold / Rod Stewart / Sheryl Crow

Cat Stevens wrote this heartbreak anthem, but P. P. Arnold’s 1967 soul version brought it to life first with emotional vulnerability.

Rod Stewart’s 1977 raspy rock interpretation gave it mainstream success and radio dominance.

Sheryl Crow’s 2003 version brought fresh country-rock flavor, introducing the song to younger audiences who connected with its message about first love scars.