Ask “Mr. Music”
Jerry Osborne



FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 31, 2016

DEAR JERRY: What singer-songwriter had the greatest number of their originals recorded by others? Bob Dylan, perhaps?
—Anne "Grannie Annie" Nord, Newburgh, Ind.

DEAR GRANNIE: All my sources agree that the answer is Sir Paul McCartney, with Bob Dylan a distant second.

Including songs written solo by McCartney, or co-written with John Lennon and other luminaries, there are some 4,000 to 5,000 recordings of his music by other artists, and in practically every style.

Approximately half as many musicians have waxed one or more of Bob Dylan's tunes, pushing his impressive total over 2,000.

Many artists have also recorded tunes from the collected works of both Dylan and McCartney.

Coincidentally, over 2,000 is also the number of performers who chose to record "Yesterday" from among McCartney's massive catalog.

By limiting this list to U.S. charted artists, who recorded "Yesterday" in the 20th century (1965-1999), we still verified 101 different versions:

Tatayana Ali & Chico DeBarge (1998)
Ed Ames (1967)
Nancy Ames (1966)
Vicki Anderson (1971)
Chet Atkins (1966)
Shirley Bassey (1991)
Michael Bolton (1992)
Boston Pops Orchestra (1968)
Boyz II Men (1994)
Brass Construction (1977)
Brothers Four (1966)
Jim Ed Brown (1966)
Ruth Brown (1969)
Jerry Butler (1968)
Ray Charles (1967)
Perry Como (1966)
Ray Conniff (1968)
Count Basie (1970)
David & Jonathan (1966)
Sammy Davis Jr. (1979)
Billy Dean (1995)
Al DeLory (1966)
John Denver (1966)
Dillards (1970)
Dino, Desi & Billy (1966)
Placido Domingo (1981)
Val Doonican (1968)
Roy Drusky (1965)
Bob Dylan (1996)
En Vogue (1992)
David Essex (1976)
Percy Faith (1970)
Marianne Faithfull (1965)
Jose Feliciano (1970)
Ferrante & Teicher (1966)
Eddie Fisher (1966)
John Gary (1966)
Marvin Gaye (1969)
Donny Hathaway (1971)
Monk Higgins (1966)
Al Hirt (1966)
Hollyridge Strings (1966)
Impressions (1969)
James-Last-Band (1965)
Jan and Dean (1965)
Jack Jones (1966)
Linda Jones (1968)
Tom Jones (1969)
Gladys Knight (1969)
Brenda Lee (1966)
John Lennon (1998)
Lettermen (1966)
Mark Lindsay (1970)
Trini Lopez (1966)
Johnny Mathis (1966)
David McCallum (1966)
Mantovani & His Orchestra (1966)
Al Martino (1970)
Midnight String Quartet (1966)
Miracles (1968)
Moments (1971)
Matt Monro (1965)
Chris Montez (1967)
Wes Montgomery (1968)
Nana Mouskouri (1986)
Willie Nelson (1976)
Peter Nero (1966)
Elvis Presley (1970)
Ray Price (1968)
Boots Randolph (1967)
Lou Rawls (1967)
LeAnn Rimes (1997)
Marty Robbins (1968)
Sandpipers (1967)
Seekers (1967)
Jennie Seely (1966)
Shanice (1999)
Bud Shank (1966)
Frank Sinatra (1969)
Kate Smith (1966)
Smothers Brothers (1966)
Billie Jo Spears (1979)
Supremes (1966)
Swingle Singers (1999)
Sylvers (1973)
James Taylor(1970)
Temptations (1967)
Carla Thomas (1967)
Toys (1966)
Jerry Vale (1970)
Sarah Vaughan (1981)
Ventures (1967)
Dionne Warwick (1970)
Lawrence Welk (1966)
Wet Wet Wet (1997)
Andy Williams (1966)
Roger Williams (1966)
Nancy Wilson (1966)
Tammy Wynette (1968)
Barry Young (1966)
Young-Holt Trio (1967)

DEAR JERRY: During the vinyl era, it was not uncommon for someone who managed to get a No. 1 single to never have a charted LP.

But how rare is the reverse — a No. 1 album by someone who had 45s, but none that charted?
—Linelle Welk, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

DEAR LINELLE: My research for you will go quickly, thanks to many No. 1 Original Cast and Soundtrack LPs that don't qualify for this report.

Over 45 years (1955-1990), only five artists topped the LP charts, yet their 7-inch discs (includes EPs) never reached the Top 100:

Van Cliburn (1958) "Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1" (RCA Victor 2352)
Bob Newhart (1960) "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart" (Warner Bros. 1379)
Bob Newhart (1961) "The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back" (Warner Bros. 1393)
Vaughn Meader (1962) "The First Family"
Frank Fontaine (1963) "Songs I Sing on the Jackie Gleason Show" (ABC/Paramount 442)
Blind Faith (1969) "Blind Faith" (Atco 304)

IZ ZAT SO? In a related observation, I noticed some big names who sold millions of records, but never quite knew the thrill of seeing one of their singles atop at least one of the national charts.

The names on this list may surprise you:

Bruce Springsteen:
Had seven No. 1 albums, but the platinum single "Dancing in the Dark" peaked at No. 2.

Don Henley:
As a post-Eagles solo act, Don has six Gold and Multi-Platinum albums, but his biggest single, "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" peaked at No. 2.

Martha & The Vandellas:
"Dancing in the Street" went Gold and earned two prestigious Hall of Fame awards, but couldn't advance above No. 2. Right behind this classic is
"Heat Wave," that reached No. 3.


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