'Runaway' was Del Shannon.

In terms of folky stuff, probably the first version of a traditional song you hear and enjoy provides the template by which you judge subsequent versions.

However, if you really are talking about 'original' versions, it also has to mean original material of which the provenance is known. Is this the same thing?

I remember John Peel saying how he thought he really ought to prefer Neil Young's version of 'After the Goldrush', but he obviously had a strong feeling for the acapella version by Geordie group, Prelude, who had a very strong, and very popular version, of the song.

Ansherbee (Aght erbee) - Anchovy, anyway, whilst an 'original' has the benefit of originality, subsequent performances may have the benefit of insight which was unknown, even to the original performer.

It seems far, far too simplistic to suggest that somebody did it best just because they did it first.

Slaynt vie diu ooilley,

Bobby Bob.