Who recorded the song "Mockingbird" recorded before Carly Simon and James Taylor?

Answer 1

It was written and recorded first by Inez & Charlie Foxx (brother/sister soul duo from the 60's) and was later recorded by many after them, including Martha & The Vandellas, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin and Peter, Paul & Mary. But Carly Simon & James Taylor's version from the 70's is the most familiar version. Don't remember the album, but it was from the one where Carly was pregnant on the cover.

Answer 2

Charles and Inez Foxx introduced it to the soul/pop canon, but it was a folk song before that, thus the general lyrical format and the final line of "Bo Diddley".