In the 1960s, two completely different songs were released having the same title, "Some Kind Of Wonderful." The first song by that name was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. King/Goffin's song was made famous in 1961 by the Drifters whose version peaked at #32. A number of versions followed thereafter over the next several years, none of which made the Billboard Top 40. The second song by the same name was written by John Ellison, lead singer of the Soul Brothers Six (a.k.a. John Ellison and the Soul Brothers Six). The Soul Brothers Six released their song in 1967, and although theirs was the original version, it peaked at only #91. The Soul Brothers Six's version was followed in 1968 by that of the Fantastic Johnny C which peaked at #87. Ellison's song was later made famous by Grand Funk Railroad in their late 1974 remake which reached #3. (When you first heard Grand Funk Railroads's version on the radio, you probably thought it sounded vaguely familiar. Now you know why.)
Different versions of "Some Kind Of Wonderful" are listed below in chronological order.
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| Performing Artist | King Goffin? | Ellison? | Year (Rank) | CD Albums That Include This Song |
| The Drifters | yes | N/A | 1961 (#32) | All-Time Greatest Hits & More: 1959-1965
More Dirty Dancing (1987 Film Additional Soundtrack) Save The Last Dance For Me Save The Last Dance For Me/The Good Life With The Drifters The Very Best of the Drifters |
| Little Eva | yes | N/A | 1962 | Little Eva |
| Idalia Boyd | yes | N/A | 1963 | On Broadway: Hit Songs & Rarities From The Brill Building Era |
| Freddie Ryder (a.k.a. Freddie Self) | yes | N/A | 1965 | None known to date. |
| Soul Brothers Six | N/A | yes | 1967 (#91) | Another Day In Paradise
At The Club [IMPORT] Beg, Scream & Shout!: The Big Ol' Box Of '60s Soul [Box] Great R&B Male Group Hits Of The 60's In Yo' Face: The Roots Of Funk Vol. 1/2 Soul Patrol 4 Sweet Soul Music (Sire) |
| The Fantastic Johnny C | N/A | yes | 1968 (#87) | Boogaloo Down Broadway |
| Marvin Gaye | yes | N/A | 1968 | Moods Of Marvin Gaye/In The Mood (Remastered) |
| Carole King | yes | N/A | 1971 | Music |
| Grand Funk Railroad | N/A | yes | 1974 (#3) | Bosnia [LIVE]
Capitol Collectors Series: Grand Funk Railroad Caught In The Act [LIVE] Thirty Years of Funk: 1969-1999 [BOX SET] |
| Tyrone Barkley | N/A (?) | yes (?) | 1979 | None known to date. |
| Huey Lewis And The News | N/A | yes | 1994 | Four Chords And Several Years Ago |
