The Originals © by Arnold Rypens

Artist: Them
Author: Van Morrison
Label: Decca
Year: 1964

Not even an A-side UK. The riff came from Them guitarist Billy Harrison and Van Morrison wrote the lyrics. Once there was a real Gloria in his life: his dear niece Gloria Gordon, who died of cancer while he performed with his former band The Monarchs in Germany.

Covers:

1965:: Wheels [from Belfast]
1965:: Patrick Samson & Les Phéniciens [French version]
1966:: Spektors [with Bon Scott on drums]
1966:: Pleazers [from New Zealand]
1966:: Fingers [from Japan]
1966:: Mods [from Denmark]
1966:: Belles [as MELVIN]
1966:: Shadows Of Knight
1966:: Blues Magoos
1966:: Ray Sharpe with the Curtis Orch. [as Help Me (Get The Feeling), with Jimi Hendrix]
1966:: Rockin' Devils [from Mexico]
1967:: Jimi Hendrix
1967:: Aretha Franklin [as Save Me]
1968:: Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity
1969:: King Curtis [as Instant Groove, using Ray Sharpe's basic track, the one with Jimi Hendrix]
1969:: Doors
1969:: Nina Simone [as Save Me]
1976:: Patti Smith
1976:: Eddie & The Hot Rods
1983:: Janse Bagge Bend [as Proemevlaai]
1983:: Sylvie Vartan [English version]
1985:: Peter Zaremba's Love Delegation [as Save Me]
1990:: London Symphony Orch.
1991:: Sam Gooris
1991:: Headcoatees [as MELVIN]
1993:: Dr. Brown
2001:: Popa Chubby
2001:: One Two Trio [as G.L.O.R.I.A. in combination with Gloria In Excelsis Deo; hit NL]
2001:: Rickie Lee Jones
2003:: Kaz Lux [on Hubert's Hootenanny in medley with Brainbox' hit Down Man, written along Gloria's rhythm line]

More versions: Elvis Costello, Definition Of Sound, Grateful Dead, Shane MacGowan, 101ers, Iggy Pop, R.E.M., Santa Esmeralda, Bruce Springsteen, Al Bano, Jonathan King and U2.
Texas Blues guitarist Ray Sharpe, the king of the push sound, used GLORIA's groove in his Help Me. Van Morrison's Help Me from his live album It's Too Late To Stop Now is based on Sonny Boy Williamson's. Aretha Franklin's Save Me is another variation on GLORIA/Help Me. This was written by Curtis Ousley (King Curtis) who cut it as Instant Groove.

GLORIA

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