Nine songs that sound like they came from better-known musical artists

THE KNICKERBOCKERS – “Lies” (1965)

Had they been from Jersey – you know, the island in the old country just south of Guernsey – it would make more sense that they sounded like the mid-decade Beatles. But the Knickerbockers were from NEW Jersey, in the new world. So how did they end up sounding exactly like John Lennon on their one big hit “Lies?” Your guess is as good as mine.

Then again, Their hometown, Bergenfield, produced Al Di Meola and Jack Antonoff, so there’s obviously some musical genius bacteria floating around in the water of Bergenfield.

BADFINGER – “Come and Get It (1969)

Badfinger’s first big hit, “Come and Get It,” sounds exactly like the type of song Paul McCartney was putting out in the late ‘60s. That’s probably because McCartney wrote it and gave it to the Welsh band when they signed to the Beatles’ Apple label. That relationship didn’t turn out especially well, but there’s no denying Badfinger had a brief run of solid success.

Their other hits don’t exactly sound like the Beatles. That’s because “Come and Get It” was sung by bass player Tom Evans instead of by guitarist Pete Ham, who typically sang lead. McCartney produced the record and reportedly chose Evans as the vocalist. And Evans sounds an awful lot like Paul McCartney.

EMMITT RHODES – “Somebody Made for Me” (1970)

Rhodes released four acclaimed albums in the early ‘70s, then went 43 years before releasing his next – and final – album in 2016. His self-titled album from 1970 is the best distillation of his special songwriting gifts.

I have read others describe Rhodes as a McCartney sound alike, but to me, he sounds more like George Harrison, especially late ‘60s George. His voice is slightly higher and I don’t hear a Paul melody in “Somebody Made for Me.” It isn’t psychedelic George or operatic Paul. But I think it comes closer to “Here Coes the Sun.” Anyway, that’s what I hear and what I occasionally mistake it for.