“Change the World” was first recorded and released by Wynonna Judd on February 13, 1996. The song was not released as a single.
“Change the World” would win the Grammy for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1997. However, it was the cover by Eric Clapton that made that happen. On the charts, it was only a #1 in the US and Canada but was Top 10/40 across the world. The song was written in completely separate parts by three songwriters; Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Tommy Sims. In fact they were never in the same room together during the process.
A brief look at the song’s story tells us that while Wynonna was working on her recording it was being pitched by music publisher Tony Brown to the people behind the movie “Phenomenon.” The Soundtracks Executive Producer was Robbie Robertson and he introduced it to producer Babyface and Eric Clapton who would also win for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
A live performance by Babyface with Eric Clapton was recorded (MTV Unplugged NYC 1997) and the song now has 80 more versions.
Mostly Music Covers 
Huh. I did not know Wynonna did this song. I think it’s more suited to the deeper quality of Eric’s voice, and his delivery seems more deliberate, though as you know I do like me a cover song.
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I do know Steve and when Claptons version came out I was quite sure it was his, but how many times have we made that mistake with Eric?
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Yes indeed, Randy. I’m sure it happens with many covers!
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While “Change the World” not the first song that comes to mind when I think of Eric Clapton, I well remember hearing it at the time it came out and always liked it. That said, I never bothered looking into it more closely. As such, I didn’t realize who wrote the song. I have to say I also like Wynonna Judd’s original. Clapton stayed pretty close to it.
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I never realized that Clapton was covering Wynonna Judd’s song, nor that hers was that good!
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Yes one wonders how a single from her might have done.
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Good question!
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I guess of Robbie Robertson pitches you a song even those at the top of the musical tree are going to listen to the song too.
It’s crazy that it has 80 covers, it seems to me to be one of those numbers that IS known to be Someones.
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to your point, I really was not familiar with any of the other versions at all.
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Well that’s a learning lesson in two ways – I thought it was an original Clapton song, and therefore I also rather assumed he wrote it.No idea Wynonna had done it, let alone before him.
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I am here to serve my friend. I would not have known either if I didn’t spend half my life with cover songs!
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I never knew it won a Grammy… Clapton…every few years would just come up with a song that hit. He did this over and over again. He wasn’t just stuck on his own songs….and it paid off.
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For sure, he was no fool and knew a great song when he found it.
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80 versions since 96! Those three dudes that wrote this I’m sure made a good penny of this track.
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Do doubt they are!
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