Yet MORE Songs You May Not Have Known Were Covers: Superstar (#1)

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And so it’s the end of another series of songs that became hits and, unknown to many, were covers. I have this one for last because I love it so much; plus, it surprised me how many people had recorded it before the hit version we all know. Here’s the last one on this round of covers. #1: Superstar Karen Carpenter. Let me tell you, I don’t care how smarmy the Carpenters’ music could be at times (their cover of Klaatu’s “Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft” was downright awkward), that woman had a voice and a half. “Superstar” was one of three hits from the Carpenters’ eponymous third album (the other two being “For All We Know” and the classic “Rainy Days and Mondays”). It’s a haunting song about a woman who misses her rock star husband/boyfriend. Of course, after nine other entries (and the title of the series), you know this was a cover. Enter Eric Clapton. No, he didn’t originally do the song, but he was part of the original recording. “Superstar” underwent a slight name change. Its original title was “Groupie (Superstar),” and it was recorded by Delaney and Bonnie and Friends (that’s where Clapton comes in). It also had a slight lyric change: the original line was, “I can hardly wait to sleep with you again.” After that, a number of other people recorded it: Joe Cocker (relax, it was on Mad Dogs and Englishmen, and Rita Coolidge sang it), Cher, and Bette Midler. According to Picky Wedia, Richard Carpenter saw Midler on Carson singing the song and just had to have Karen record it. Karen originally didn’t think much of the song, but after Richard arranged it, she changed her mind. No wonder: she did a splendid job on the song. If all of this trivia isn’t enough, you know who co-wrote this song with Bonnie Bramlett (the “Bonnie” of Delaney and Bonnie)? Leon Russell. Thanks for reading. Superstar Written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell Originally recorded by Delaney and Bonnie and Friends (under the name “Groupie [Superstar]”), 1969 First covered by Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen (lead vocals: Rita Coolidge), 1970 Also covered by Cher, 1971 Famously covered by the Carpenters, 1971 Loneliness is such a sad affair: