Songs You May Not Know Were Covers Vol. 6: I’ve Done Everything for You (#7)

Tweet

First, a disclaimer: I was not asked, begged, threatened, cajoled, or in any other way, shape, manner, or form contacted by a certain cat slave on myLot to include this song. But, once I saw who wrote it I couldn’t help but include it. Here’s today’s cover song that you might not know was a cover song. I’ve Done Everything for You Ah, Rick Springfield. Okay, that’s enough. In 1981 the Australian-born singer/actor (he was on General Hospital) had a breakthrough with his fifth album, Working Class Dog. The song “Jessie’s Girl” made him an overnight star, and his looks made him an overnight teenybopper idol. The follow-up to the massively successful “Jessie’s Girl” was “I’ve Done Everything for You,” and the girls continued to fawn. That was a cover. And guess who it was by? (No, not the Guess Who. Not Bruce Who, either.) The Red Rocker. That’s right, Mr. Sam Halen himself, Samuel Roy Hagar, wrote and originally recorded the hard rocking tune (that Springfield managed to suck the life out of with his version). So if you hear this on the radio, remember it used to be a great tune before it got the teenybopper treatment. PS: I think Sammy was cuter. And let’s see Rick make tequila (if you didn’t know, Hagar was the creator of Cabo Wabo)! I’ve Done Everything for You Written by Sammy Hagar Originally recorded by Sammy Hagar, 1978 Famously covered by Rick Springfield, 1981 If you have that Springfield version in your head, let the Red Rocker clear your head: