1988 Number 1s you may not know were covers

Given I was a young child back in 1988, its quite possible the 1988 version of every charted song would have been the first version I have heard.

There are several songs from that year that are well known to be covers such as "With a Little Help From My Friends" by Wet Wet Wet or "A Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins.

However, there are four number ones of that year that you may not know were covers. Here are the originals with the artist who did the cover in brackets:

Tommy James & The Shondells - I Think We're Alone Now (Tiffany)

Yes the only song most people remember Tiffany for was a cover of a 60s song. This was a top ten in America but failed to chart in the UK. Tommy James & The Shondells are best known for their UK number one "Mony Mony" and had one more top 40 hit with "Hanky Panky". As for Tiffany, she actually had three further top 40s hits, "Could've Been", "I Saw Him Standing There" (cover of "I Saw Her Standing There" by the Beatles) and "Radio Romance".

Tina Turner - Don't Turn Around (Aswad)

UK reggae band Aswad scored their first top 40 hit and only number one after 13 years together with "Don't Turn Around". However not only was this not originally by Aswad, it wasn't originally a reggae song either with the original being by Tina Turner. This was the B-side to the Tina Turner single "Typical Male". Despite being songwriters, 6 out of Aswads 9 top 40 hits were covers. The other song Aswad were most famous for, "Shine", was an original.

George Benson - Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You (Glenn Medeiros)

The only song Glenn Medeiros is remembered before was a cover of an album track by George Benson. The two versions don't really sound that much different to each other, it turns out Glenn Medeiros got his break singing this in a radio talent contest in his native Hawaii. He looked on course to be a one hit wonder until two years later he scored his only other hit "She Ain't Worth It" with Bobby Brown. That same year he was the special guest on Jukebox Jury when the panel were reviewing his new song "All I'm Missing Is You" which got a complete slating prior to him appearing. They were right though, it was a miss.

Otis Clay - The Only Way Is Up (Yazz)

Yes that's right, the song Yazz is best remembered for was a cover. Otis Clay never had any hits in the UK but had a long successful career in his native America where he released many albums right up until his death earlier this year. Yazz had 7 top 40 singles which included one further cover which was of Ace's "How Long" with Aswad which would be her last top 40 hit.