The Smiley Smile Message Board

I've done this with Chicago and Three Dog Night. Specifically, hearing "Make Me Smile" on the radio and getting all giddy about discovering an awesome 3DN song I had never heard before.  :lol

Pearl Jam and STP, Cat Stevens and Seals & Crofts, Firefall and The Eagles, 1910 Fruitgum Co. and The Ohio Express...

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Used to think "Don't Pull Your Love" by Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds was white robe era Elvis. It's not that much of a stretch.

Wow, me too. I always thought something was weird about that song because I knew Elvis never sang it, but man, it had me wonder each time I heard it. I finally had to look it up and find out who it really was. It's a really good song.

The Beatles and the Knickerbockers/"Lies".  For real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n03a7cLf0M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n03a7cLf0M)

Definitely a Beatles sound there.

Mike Love and Terry Bradshaw?

(http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTM1NzM1MzU4NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMzQ0MzM1._V1._SX214_CR0,0,214,314_.jpg)(http://images.tvrage.com/people/6/16112.jpg)(http://davepear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Terry_Bradshaw.jpg)(http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/story/exclusive-mike-love-talks-beach-boys-50th-anniversary-tour-20111219/square.jpg)

I first thought The Beach Boys' Barbara Ann was Jan and Dean, when I heard it in a diner in 2005 or 2006.

At 1st I mixed them too. Later though, after closely comparing their vocals etc., I made the conclusion that both bands are distinctly different. It's evident if you listen to each version of "Soul Struttin'":

The original (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frqigDkZj2o)

Ohio Express Cover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e8UpHeo0ag#t=6m59s) (starts from 6 m. & 59 sec.)

To my ears, the best version is the 2nd, jolly groovy! But overall, I dig works by both "...Fruitgum..." & "Ohio...".

This song called "My Baby Don't Care" by The Gants (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtFyhBONbHY) could've been easily taken for a Beatles number. The guitar is very George-like, the drums have Ringo beats & the singer almost succeeded in copying John's intonations. He even attempted to fake British accent (The Gants were an American band). I kind of bought into it myself. Either way, it is a very solid tune.

Puff Daddy and P. Diddy.

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That guy looks like Brendan Fraser.

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I used to get Roger Daltrey and Robert Plant mixed up  :lol

Impressed! Where in the world did you hear of The Gants?  They were from Greenwood, Mississippi - less than 100 miles from Monroe, Louisiana (My hometown).  They would come over and play the VFW and the park stage (always Rockin' on Saturdays) in '66/'67.

When I was young--I mean like 5, 6, 7--I always thought any melodic pop music was the Beatles. I didn't look into it or remember incorrectly, I just knew the Beatles had a diverse catalog and strong melody, so, presto. Billy Joel's Piano Man? Beatles. Queen's Killer Queen? Beatles. And so on.

Definitely got mixed up with a lot of grunge bands, also mixed up Bob Dylan with Donovan a couple times when I first started getting into Dylan.

I get Bruce & Terry confused with Rip Chords quite often. Can't figure out why  ::)

In Larry Grogan's blog; that's the place where I discovered many rare bands. The entries he writes are always pleasure to read, it's not only about giving out the basic info on the artist, Larry would often quote the book chapters, tell the stories, bring various cool interconnections - you know, "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon" - or just talk of his news. Gotta love when Larry starts with, "hope all is well on your end" in a neighborly way.

Great story, I can see why "Tell Me Why" was huge on the audience. One of the best Beatles songs (and my fave). And wow, they did Animals? Terrific choice!

Quite odd if you consider they sound nothing alike. Donovan has definitely better voice (though overall I'm no fan of his).

I once bought a JJ Cale record thinking I was buying a John Cale album..oh well...was a pretty decent album anyway :hat

which is funny since Dean is actually singing on it...

Carl Carlton and Stevie Wonder

The guy from the Girls & Conor Oberst have similar voices.

When I was little, I used to think that Surf City and Little Old Lady from Pasadena were Beach Boys songs. 

There was a time when I thought "Go All the Way" by The Raspberries was a Fleetwood Mac song. 

I find it difficult to tell some singers apart today.

Sounds familiar!

I used to have trouble with The Wonder Who and The Guess Who (but not The Who).

Many of the singers of US hard rock bands can be tough to tell apart as many of them use the name grunge-lite vocal style, usually referred to an "yarrling."

Almost all of the female pop tarts on top 40 radio sound the same to me.  But then, that's music I typically avoid.  

For the longest time when I was younger I thought the Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville" was done by the Beatles.

I once complimented Peter Case on "World Shut Your Mouth," only to have it disgustedly pointed out to me that was Julian Cope.  One of the absolute stupidest things I've ever said/done.

I used to get some of the British Invasion Groups mixed up.  For example, I used to think Ferry Cross the Mersey was Herman's Hermits, not Gerry and the Pacemakers. 

I took an Elements and History of Rock and Roll course in college, the question that was answered incorrectly on our midterm the most involved a multiple choice question.  The answer was The Byrds.  But, more than half the class answered The Yardbirds.  (Just for the record, I got that one correct).   :)

Two songs by America:

As a kid, when I heard Horse With No Name, I thought it was Neil Young. Also, when I heard Sister Golden Hair, I thought it was George Harrison.

Yes, I thought Horse With No Name was Neil Young until I was about 18. 

There was some similarity between the 2 on their strictly acoustic albums; much less so when they plugged in. Bob never would have cut a track like Sunshine Superman, and Donovan could not have done Like a Rolling Stone.

The first time I heard "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac I thought it was Patti Smith!

 ;D

Believe it or not, I only just discovered 10CC's body of music.  I  confused some of their their popular songs with Chicago.   

To me, New Radicals ( http://youtu.be/DL7-CKirWZE ) sounded like World Party.


(Come back, Gregg Alexander!)

I doubt I'm alone on this one, but for the longest time, I thought "Stuck in the Middle" by Stealers Wheel was Bob Dylan. 

I'll join the club if I may. I remember hearing a US hit version by The Gants of the Bo Diddley classic "Road Runner". Nice early use of distortion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1OjTtzn7o4 

Never mixed them up but you both have a point - they, yeah, they sound sort of similar. I think it's a compliment to Dewey, tho, to be compared to Neil Young. And that's coming from a non-fan (tttt, I don't like CSN&Y individually & collectively).

Three Dog Night/Blood Sweat and Tears/Guess Who

I also thought Sister Golden Hair was done by George.

 Oh man, that New Radicals album was a highlight in my life. I told everyone who'd listen they'd be massive!!  :-\

Fun Fact: Gregg Alexander wrote Love is a Rollercoaster for Ronan Keating

Yes, that song was anthemic, like "Won't Get Fooled Again."
( http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/newradicals/yougetwhatyougive.html ).

His fun side :-D !

Larry in his cool blog posted file titled "Ellie Greenwich & Mike Rashkow's Pineywood Productions", songs Ellie's written in late 60s. It's good music. Near the end, this pretty song by The Hardy Boys played, you'd think Davy Jones sings the lead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJyRa60oW3M

RRA1 - That does sound like Davy Jones!  I am embarrassed to say that I thought, until recently, that The Kinks'  "Sunny Afternoon" was a Lovin' Spoonful record.  (Probably couldn't get more different personalities than Ray Davies and John Sebastian! )

When I was a kid I thought Day After Day (Badfinger) might be Paul McCartney, though I wasn't really sure.

Sheena Easton and Pat Benetar

2Buckethead - You did really? Ray's voice is too distinct to mistake it. "Sunny Afternoon" is big favorite by The Kinks, bigger than "Waterloo Sunset". Re: John Sebastian, I'd say he's the Doug Sahm of LS. Doug Sahm is founder, lead singer & main songwriter of the Texan band Sir Douglas Quintet. He & John even kinda look alike.

RRA1 - That's why I said that I was embarrassed to say it. I think that what confused me was more the style of Sunny Afternoon
than the voice. It is kind of Lovin' Spoonful-ish, IMO.   

There was a time when I thought Go All the Way by the Raspberries was Fleetwood Mac. 

Also, I'm ashamed to admit this on a BB board, but I used to think Surf City and Little Old Lady from Pasadena were Beach Boys songs. 

the latter two  songs, I'm sure, are still BB songs in the minds of many.

Yes indeed. It kinda makes sense but not really - BBs' vocals differ drastically than J&D's. They're better, cooler, brighter. J&D smoke shyly in the corner. People should've realized it way before. But what funny, I still see "Beach Boys The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in various sites. The mind boggles. ::)

Go Your Own Way/Go All the Way mashup?

I would bet many people think of those 2 Jan and Dean songs as BB's songs - the BB's did them in concert many times.

I used to get some band names mixed up:

the Pixies and the Posies is the only one i can think of right now

The lady who interviewed each BB - Ida B - gone seriously cuckoo for "Little old lady from Pasadena". She repeated this song title again & again. Brian said "That's Jan & Dean", you'd think she'd shut up but nope. Such weirdo.

The Beach Boys poled fun at the mistaken identity with J&D on their late 90s appearance on Home Improvement.   As I recall, Tim asked the band to do Little Old Lady, and was corrected, then Tim said something to the effect of, "Well, there's Little Deuece Coupe, but that's not you guys."

Any 90s-2000s pop boys/ girls bands.

Embarrassingly, in the past I have mixed up Pat Benatar and Chrissie Hynde.

I can't convince myself that Rod Stewart and Barry Manilow are different people.

Yes, Barry with Rod got the same type face, either's blessed with epic fail hilariously bad voice.

Rod's early material is fantastic.

It isn't I but few people in the Internet stated they mix up Joni Mitchell & Rickie Lee Jones. Disagree - they possess different voices. Rickie's little bit in the youthful side, Joni's - golden middle.

Conflation, confusion, mixed up feelings about Adrian Baker and Brian 'Jersey Boy' Johnson.

I used to mix up the "stereo" bands--Stereophonics, Stereolab, The Apples in Stereo...
 
Happily, a good friend pointed me at "Miss Modular" and I could cross Stereolab off that list. :P

This is the live version I heard first (the parent album Dots and Loops is well worth investigating):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_PlJmtCwCo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dots_and_Loops

Yes besides Adrian can do mean Frankie Valli. :3d Casual listener will easily mix up the 2.