Here’s the tune that started me down the path of songs that have reached #1 by more than one artist. When recently writing about “songs I didn’t know were covers,” I featured the original recording of ‘Venus’ by psychedelic rock band Shocking Blue in 1969.
I am very familiar with the 1986 Bananarama hit and was surprised to learn that not only was the recording a cover, but that the original was a big hit in its own right.
This song appeared on Bananarama’s third album, True Confessions, and gave them their only #1 hit in the U.S. Previously, they had hit #9 with ‘Cruel Summer,’ an even better song in my estimation.
Bananarama’s only other top ten hit in the United States was 1987’s ‘I Heard a Rumor,’ which made it all the way to #4.
Goddess on the mountain top
Burning like a silver flame
The summit of beauty and love
And Venus was her name
[Chorus]
She’s got it
Yeah, baby, she’s got it
I’m your Venus, I’m your fire
At your desire
Well, I’m your Venus, I’m your fire
At your desire
[Verse 2]
Her weapons were her crystal eyes
Making every man mad
Black as the dark night she was
Got what no one else had
Wow!
[Chorus]
She’s got it
Yeah, baby, she’s got it
I’m your Venus, I’m your fire
At your desire
Well, I’m your Venus, I’m your fire
At your desire
[Verse 1]
Goddess on the mountain top
Burning like a silver flame
The summit of beauty and love
And Venus was her name
Wow!
[Chorus]
She’s got it
Yeah, baby, she’s got it
I’m your Venus, I’m your fire
At your desire
Well, I’m your Venus, I’m your fire
At your desire
[Interlude]
(Venus was her name)
[Outro]
Yeah, baby, she’s got it
Yeah, baby, she’s got it
Meet Me In Montauk 
As with yesterday’s SOTD, I prefer the 60s version over the electro/dance pop 8Os cover.