Songs that may be forgotten, or many people have never heard

[kwills]

I'm really enjoying this thread too.

When I was young I remember my brother playing this song on a big tape deck. I checked it out you tube
and found a rare live recording of it ,so it says, I hope you like it too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw5eTaGSKPc

It may not be a forgotten song but its not heard very often.

[John Etherington]

Thanks Kwills...I know that track, but it's one of their best! That's got me going on Elektra Records, so here are three acts from that label:

First: A very unusual band with the addition of another great lady ("Painting Box" by The Incredible String Band with Julie Felix):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOyiDIUhbAE

Second: My favourite song by a lesser known male singer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD0LjDKeOA4 (Be My Friend" by David Ackles)

Third: My favourite song by a lesser knowm female singer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MKDcsk_Ab4 ("Amoreuse" by Veronique Sanson)

The third was also covered by this great singer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eguKt_TSwLU ("Loving and Free" by Kiki Dee)

[Bequia]

... Women seem wicked when you're unwanted ... I doubt Jim wrote that from personal experience ...

John, another Michael Chapman - this one from Kansas - plays guitar on this and this with a short-lived but pretty good mid '60's band ...

Among other songs that Kiki Dee has covered is one that I think the original ranks among the absolute best soul recordings...

Adding to those other great women, here is another doing a song by that lesser known male singer who sadly has largely remained overlooked despite having fans such as this duo (one of whom did some choice covers of Nick Drake before becoming fantastic) ... and speaking of duets, at 0:45 of this clip Julie helps someone out on a song ... Véronique doing similarly with ex-husband Stephen (and their son Chris) ... and Bridget with a pretty capable "second" guitarist ....

Little Millie may have been the international queen (or princess given her age) but the King of Ska back home was someone who would later have the first Jamaican-produced record to hit #1 in the UK (and elsewhere) and reach the top 10 in the US ...a success the singer attributes to the words not being understood or being misheard:Get up in the morning same thing for breakfast...My ears are alight ... 40+ years on and still welcoming people to Jamrock ...

[John Etherington]

Thanks Bequia,

I didn't know that first band (shades of the Byrds there)... You've pre-empted me on some of this, because I had Lorriane Ellison and Julie Driscoll lined up. ...Great to see the Leonard/Julie clips and Bridget Michael clips again...I'm familiar with these, because as you may know, I sell CDs for Michael & Bridget at some of their gigs... I also know Julie, who I re-connected with Leonard in 2007...I'd forgotten that Stephen Stills and Veronique Sanson had that relationship... I have the Elton/Nick Drake demos, and love Elton's early stuff - especially the first album, which has songs such as this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy6wntFzE-c ("Skyline Pigeon" by Elton John)

Elton also wrote this song for another great voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JChGwcXmtf4 ("Planes" by Colin Blunstone)

I saw the former make his comeback at Dingwalls, where I've seen a great white soul singer (who covered Stay With me Baby):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=133AlNpsopA ("Without Expression" by Terry Reid)

I first saw the latter with these guys who covered this (here are both versions - original first):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et1l2tftdlA ("Living Above My Head" by Jay and the Americans/The Walker Brothers)

They also covered "Stay With Me Baby" and here's another favourite song they covered:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhyVoX1GPHM ("Another Tear Falls" by Gene McDaniels)

Their lead singer (Scott Walker) also covered this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LmD0TE41Xk ("The Highwayman" by Jimmy Webb)

who in turn wrote for a well-known actor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ICQ52ZS3c ("Paper Chase" by Richard Harris)

[Bequia]

John, Your work for Bridget goes beyond her concerts - I had missed her until I picked up Ask Me No Questions after one of your posts in another thread (quite good, thanks) ... Elton's early work was something I really like; later I was coerced into seeing him during the Yellow Brick Road days - it was actually a very good show ... Richard Harris, Colin Blunstone, Terry Reid, Gene McDaniels, Jay Traynor, Scott Walker - one great actor and so many great voices ... I had always preferred the Jay & the American version of Livin' but placed back to back with the Walkers I'm not sure ... Jimmy Webb's Highwayman is a favorite of mine in many versions - that one is as good as they come ... For year's end, here are some for those who may now simply be a single drop of rain ... starting with this guilty pleasure ...

I don't care what they say I won't stay In a world without love ...

May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold ...

How Do You Say Auf Wiedersehn? ...

One sigh of the dawn, sweet instant of memory, one celestial rhapsody, and heaven stood still ...

Somewhere there's music, how faint the tune, somewhere there's heaven, how high the moon ...

the water is wide and I can not get o’er …

Let us go to the banks of the ocean...

so thin and so shear it disappears ...

Gracias a la vida ...

...and something to help you pitch a wang dang doodle all night long tonight ...

Happy New Year!

[John Etherington]

Bequia,

You've got an very diverse bunch there! Especially good to remember Peter Paul & Mary, and Peter and Gordon (since Mary and Gordon are now departed). You also found the John Martyn video that I wanted to include alongside Nick Drake, Michael Chapman and Bridget St. John. By the way (UK ers) Bridget and Michael are playing gigs in March/April including Green Note Cafe (on sale) and Manchester, Plymouth & Penzance etc. Tickets are approx. £10, and hopefully at my request they'll play "Passing Thru'".

Happy New Year! John E

[Bequia]

... You've got an very diverse bunch there ... Mary and Gordon are now departed ... hopefully at my request (Bridget and Michael will) play "Passing Thru'" ...

... along with Mary Travers and Gordon Waller, in 2009 the others - John Martyn, Blossom Dearie, Willy DeVille, Les Paul, Liam Clancy, Vic Chesnutt, Mercedes Sosa, Koko Taylor and even the King of Pop - were among those who reminded us that we are all just passing through ...

[Tony]

Los Carnales.

Carmelita.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7oVhj9GZHU

Emmylou Harris Steve Earle

Goodbye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr2IY8q687I

[Mollydog]

After the 2008-2009 tour a lot of us can relate to this song by the wonderful Canadian band The Deep Dark Woods!

All the Money I Had Is Gone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-dO2MmzquM

[John Etherington]

Tony - I'd forgotten "Carmelita" (original was 70s wasn't it?). Always good to see Emmylou...I've never got round to exploring Steve Earle's work, even though someone sent me some copies of his discs.

Mollydog - I really like The Deep Dark Woods track, and can relate to it (seriously). It's the first time I've heard of this band.

[Diane]

Somebody linked to Willy Deville (I can't seem to be able to find it now). I had never heard of this guy til people started mentioning him on this forum. Can anyone recommend an album?

Happy New Year.

[John Etherington]

Hi Diane,

It wasn't me who put Mink (Willy) DeVille on here, and the only album I knew by him was his first (the one with "Spanish Stroll") which I believe is called "Cabretta" and unavailable. However there's a recent "Very Best of..." album on Amazon that looks asif it might be a good collection. Here's the link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Mink-DeVil ... 276&sr=1-5

Happy New Year, John E

[Bequia]

Diane, The earlier link was under the "one sigh of the dawn" line in the earlier post referencing some who left us in 2009 ... Of the albums under the Mink DeVille band name, Cabretta from 1977 (it was just titled Mink DeVille in the US) and of his subsequent albums Le Chat Bleu from 1980 are my favorites ... Here is Willie doing the song found onCabretta that first got my attention (I don't quite remember why...). Zevon's Carmelita that was covered in Tony's post is also done by Willie here.

Tony, a personal favorite from Zevon ... a show I was lucky to be at ... and one that I wish I were ...

Mollydog ...very nice track from from a group I had not heard ... while looking for a road out of the woods we can take heart- money is just something you throw off the back of train (nice cover of that one from Ravi's daughter here) ... as much as it is wanted, it can't save your soul ... although along with lawyers and guns, it has its place ...

[Bequia]

Willie DeVille got me thinking about the songs that may have been forgotten/not heard by a "songwriter hall of fame" collaborator of his. Here are a great eight:

... one by someone who didn't have to wander far from Belmont Avenue in the Bronx to find a songwriter from Brooklyn ...

... one that was a bigger hit in this magical version than in an earlier one by the group that did the next song on the list ...

... to understand this one, it helps knowing that the writer's dancing was curtailed by being braced on crutches due to polio and that his wife was a Broadway dancer and actress...

... this one won't be misunderstood with this group covering the Ray Charles hit (which I can't find on youtube) ...

... one later done by Leon at the Bangladesh concert ...

... one from the Soul Queen of New Orleans ...

... of course, one from the King ...

... and one by some guy covering the original by the Boss of the Blues ..

[Diane]

Thank you, John and Bequia! This forum has been my musical education. I will send for that Best of Album, John. Great links of his, B. He seems to be someone who really burned. Yes, the first song I heard of DeVille's was Mixed Up Shook Up Girl, from dear departed Greg, who was expressing his opinion of Cate and my interpretations of the Book of Mercy:-).

Yes, I too can relate to that song, Mollydog. Steve Earle is a good un, as was Warren Zevon. Townes VZ, who I never knew of before Kush told me about him, wrote some of the best lyrics I have ever heard.

I don't know much music from the 60's, and tend to prefer rockier versions of the same old blues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhrqZP_qVyU