Now that bubblyrat has hived off the classical bits to another thread (to which I just contributed by the way!), I guess we could continue the "pop songs based on non-classical instrumentals" here, or should that be another thread too? What do you think Leadbelly/Manfred?

Meanwhile, I wass going to say, of course there are plenty of instrumental versions of pop songs that preceded them, but I guess these aren't worth mentioning, because there are too many for them to be of interest. There are whole albums of 'easy listening' stuff which consist of instrumental versions of pop songs, by orchestras, people playing the Wurlitzer or Hammond organ, brass bands, etc., etc.