Category Archives: music

♫ Hey Jude ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I have been meaning to redux this one since sometime in March, and hadn’t gotten around to it yet.  Last time I played it a couple of years ago, I included a new version comprised of not only the Beatles, but including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting, Phil Collins and more.  After I posted it, Clive did some research and found that this was part of a larger project, a benefit concert called Music for Montserrat.  According to Wikipedia …

Music For Montserrat was a benefit concert held on 15 September 1997 at the Royal Albert Hall. The event was organised by Sir George Martin, former producer for The Beatles and founder of Associated Independent Recording, to raise funds for the Caribbean island of Montserrat after a major volcanic eruption by the Soufrière Hills volcano earlier that year.

The concert was arranged and produced by Martin, and starred many iconic British and American rock musicians such as Phil Collins, Ray Cooper, Carl Perkins, Jimmy Buffett, Mark Knopfler, Sting, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Midge Ure, Arrow and many more, all of whom had once recorded or produced on the island. A DVD was released with the most famous songs from the concert, such as “Your Song”, “Layla”, “Brothers in Arms”, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Money for Nothing”, “Yesterday”, “Hey Jude”, and “Message in a Bottle”.

Proceeds from ticket sales and DVD copies went towards restoration and support of the island. The concert raised £1.5 million.  Proceeds from the show and DVD were used for immediate relief and also helped fund the building of a new cultural centre in Montserrat. On its completion in 2006, George Martin gifted the centre to the local community, which is still in operation today.

Somehow, knowing that makes the video even more meaningful.  But about the song …

Released in 1968, Paul McCartney wrote this as “Hey Jules,” a song meant to comfort John Lennon’s 5-year-old son Julian as his parents were getting a divorce. The change to “Jude” was inspired by the character “Jud” in the musical Oklahoma!

Says Paul McCartney …

“John and his wife Cynthia had divorced, and I felt a bit sorry for their son, who was now a child of a divorce. I was driving out to see the son and Cynthia one day and I was thinking about the boy whose name was Julian – Julian Lennon, and I started this idea, ‘Hey Jules, don’t make it bad, it’s gonna be OK.’ It was like a reassurance song.

So that was the idea that I got driving out to see them. I saw them and then I came back and worked on the song some more. But I like that name, Jude.”

And according to the all-grown-up Julian Lennon …

“Paul told me he’d been thinking about my circumstances, about what I was going through and what I’d have to go through. Paul and I used to hang out quite a bit – more than Dad and I did… There seem to be far more pictures of me and Paul playing at that age than me and Dad. I’ve never really wanted to know the truth of how Dad was and how he was with me. There was some very negative stuff – like when he said that I’d come out of a whisky bottle on a Saturday night. That’s tough to deal with. You think, where’s the love in that? It surprises me whenever I hear the song. It’s strange to think someone has written a song about you. It still touches me.”

At the time of its release, it was the longest song ever released as a single.  Hey Jude was a number-one hit in many countries around the world and became the top-selling single of 1968 in the UK, the US, Australia and Canada.

Hey Jude
The Beatles

Hey Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

Hey Jude, don’t be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better

And anytime you feel the pain
Hey Jude, refrain
Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it’s a fool
Who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Na-na-na, na, na
Na-na-na, na

Hey Jude, don’t let me down
You have found her, now go and get her (let it out and let it in)
Remember to let her into your heart (hey Jude)
Then you can start to make it better

So let it out and let it in
Hey Jude, begin
You’re waiting for someone to perform with
And don’t you know that it’s just you
Hey Jude, you’ll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Na-na-na, na, na
Na-na-na, na, yeah

Hey Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you’ll begin to make it better
Better better better better better, ah!

Na, na, na, na-na-na na (yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (Jude Jude, Judy Judy Judy Judy, ow wow!)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (my, my, my)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (yeah, you know you can make it, Jude, Jude, you’re not gonna break it)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (don’t make it bad, Jude, take a sad song and make it better)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (oh Jude, Jude, hey Jude, wa!)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (oh Jude)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (hey, hey, hey, hey)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (hey, hey)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (now, Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude, Jude)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (Jude, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (yeah, make it, Jude)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude (yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
Na, na, na, na-na-na na (yeah, yeah yeah, yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude
Na, na, na, na-na-na na
Na-na-na na, hey Jude

Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Hey Jude lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

♫ Uptown Girl ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

Yesterday, when I played a song by Barry Manilow for my friend Carolyn, a couple of people, including Carolyn herself, mentioned Billy Joel and I started thinking that it’s been a while since I’ve played a Billy Joel song.  Turns out, I’ve already played four of his this year, and we’re not even halfway through the year!  Still, by that time, I had Billy Joel on my mind, so I decided to play this one that I haven’t played since back in 2019!  I like the rhythm, like the video, like most everything about it and I hope you will, too!

Released in 1983, Uptown Girl was conceived on an occasion when he was surrounded by Christie Brinkley, Whitney Houston and his then girlfriend Elle Macpherson.

“The song was originally called ‘Uptown Girls’ not ‘Uptown Girl.’ I know its associated with Christie but when I started to write that song I had recently divorced prior to meeting her, all of the sudden I’m a rock star and divorced. All these women were going to go out with me.”

He married supermodel Christie Brinkley less than two years after this song was released, but he wasn’t even dating her when he started writing the song.  Joel also said that the song was inspired by the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  He and Christie divorced after just nine years.

This charted at #1 in Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, and #3 in the U.S.

Uptown Girl
Billy Joel

Uptown girl
She’s been living in her uptown world
I bet she’s never had a backstreet guy
I bet her mama never told her why

I’m gonna try for an uptown girl
She’s been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she’s looking for a downtown man
That’s what I am

And when she knows
What she wants from her time
And when she wakes up
And makes up her mind

She’ll see I’m not so tough
Just because
I’m in love with an uptown girl
You know I’ve seen her in her uptown world
She’s getting tired of her high class toys
And all her presents from her uptown boys
She’s got a choice

Uptown girl
You know I can’t afford to buy her pearls
But maybe someday when my ship comes in
She’ll understand what kind of guy I’ve been
And then I’ll win

And when she’s walking
She’s looking so fine
And when she’s talking
She’ll say that she’s mine

She’ll say I’m not so tough
Just because
I’m in love
With an uptown girl
She’s been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she’s looking for a downtown man
That’s what I am

Uptown girl
She’s my uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl

Songwriters: Billy Joel
Uptown Girl lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

♫ I Write The Songs ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

Well, it seems my two co-directors cannot agree about Barry Manilow.  One of them, Carolyn, suggested Manilow’s I Write the Songs, while the other, Clive, threatened to sick up if he had to listen to Manilow.  And then my friend Ryinger ringed in and suggested Copacabana!  So much to consider, yes?  So, I considered all viewpoints, listened to Copacabana … a song I’ve always liked, but never really bothered to listen and contemplate the lyrics & meaning before.  I opted out of that one, and then reviewed Manilow’s record in the UK … not a very impressive set of charts for him, I must admit.  And after much pondering and listening to a variety of Manilow’s songs, I settled on the one Carolyn originally suggested!  Why?  Well, I’m not gonna please Clive, nor likely any of my UK friends, with ANY Manilow song, so I might as well play what I want, and frankly, I Write the Songs is one of my top favourites of Barry Manilow’s music.  And so, that’s my reason/excuse for tonight’s song!  Now if somebody would get Clive a bag …

According to SongFacts …

This was written by Bruce Johnston, who is a member of The Beach Boys. The song is sometimes erroneously rumored to be about Brian Wilson. Johnston cleared this up when he told us: “The Captain & Tennille were the first artists to record my song ‘I Write The Songs.’ I never wrote ‘I Write The Songs’ about Brian Wilson. I wrote it about ‘where music comes from’ (for me, music comes only from God). My song has nothing to do with Brian! I admire Brian Wilson’s great melodies and, as a member of the Beach Boys, I’m singing these fantastic songs in concert year after year.”

Teen heartthrob David Cassidy released a successful version that was a single in England and hit #11 on the UK charts. Clive Davis, who was in charge of Manilow’s record label, heard Cassidy’s version and had Manilow record it.

This won a Grammy for Song of the Year. The Beach Boys never won a Grammy – after winning this, Johnston became the only member of the group to get one until Brian Wilson’s “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow” was awarded Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 2005.

From the liner notes of The Complete Collection And Then Some…: Manilow was originally reluctant to record this song, saying to Arista Records chief Clive Davis, “This ‘I Write The Songs’ thing Clive, I really don’t want to do it.” Manilow says his worry “was that the listeners would think I was singing about how I write the songs, when it was really about the inspiration of music. Clive understood, but didn’t think it would be a problem. ‘Besides,’ he told me, ‘You DO write songs!'”

Manilow says he was concerned about coming off as a gigantic egomaniac, but that he liked the song so much he decided to record it. He adds, “Whenever I heard the song in public, I felt the need to run to everyone who was listening and say, ‘You know, I’m really not singing about myself!'”

Interestingly, the David Cassidy version did make the UK charts at #11, but Manilow fell short there, not even charting in the UK and charting in the U.S. at #1 and in Canada at #3.

I Write the Songs

Barry Manilow

I’ve been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music
And I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

My home lies deep within you
And I’ve got my own place in your soul
Now when I look out through your eyes
I’m young again, even tho’ I’m very old

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

Oh, my music makes you dance and gives you spirit to take a chance
And I wrote some rock ‘n roll so you can move
Music fills your heart, well that’s a real fine place to start
It’s from me, it’s for you
It’s from you, it’s for me
It’s a worldwide symphony

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make the young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs

I am music and I write the songs

♫ Do It Again ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I liked the Beach Boys okay when I was in my teen years but was more caught up in the Motown sound and to me the Beach Boys were … I dunno … too light, maybe?  I worked full-time from the time I turned 13, so never had time to become a part of the beach crowd … that might have made a difference.  That said, they did some songs that I loved, like Good Vibrations, Kokomo, Sloop John B, etc.  Until last night, though, I don’t think I had ever heard of this song, Do It Again, although it did chart at #20 in the U.S.  But, my team of directors, after a bit of discussion starting with Manilow, then Whitney, finally settled on this one for me to play today!  😊  Thanks, guys … despite my teasing, I do like it … you done good!

According to SongFacts …

Mike Love sang lead vocals and wrote the words for this celebratory track that takes a nostalgic look back at his days of sun and surfing. Love told us that the lyrics were inspired by a surfing safari with some of his old high school buddies, and were autobiographical. He explained: “I went to the beach with my friends and we went to the surfing spot down at a place called San Onofre, down near the Marine Corps base down south. And it was such a beautiful day and the waves were great. And then of course one of the great things about the beach is it attracts good looking girls. [Laughing].”

Love had the concept and most of the lyrics before Brian Wilson added the instrumentation. He recalled to us: “I came back and we sat down at Brian’s piano, and we banged that song out in maybe 15 minutes, something like that. I had the concept and the lyrics in mind, and he just got a good groove going on the piano.”

Love told us that it was the Beach Boys’ engineer at the time, Stephen Desper, who came up with “that really interesting” drum effect heard at the beginning of the track. Desper created it by blending the original sound with that of one drum strike being repeated four times. The engineer recalled: “I had commissioned Phillips, in Holland, to build two tape delay units for use on the road (to double live vocals). I moved four of the Phillips PB heads very close together so that one drum strike was repeated four times about 10 milliseconds apart, and blended it with the original to give the effect you hear. Everyone liked the sound and credited me with adding to the commercial success of the single. Whether or not that was true, I don’t know, but it put me in the engineering seat for many years.”

The song was originally entitled “Rendezvous.”

The song charted at #1 in the UK, #3 in Australia & The Netherlands, #10 in Canada, and #20 in the U.S.

Do It Again

Beach Boys

It’s automatic when I talk with old friends
The conversation turns to girls
We knew when their hair was soft and long
And the beach was the place to go

Suntanned bodies and waves of sunshine
The California girls and a beautiful coastline
Warmed up weather let’s get together
And do it again

With a girl the lonely sea looks good
Makes your nighttimes warm and out of sight

Been so long
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now

Well I’ve been thinking
‘Bout all the places we’ve surfed and danced
And all the faces we’ve missed
So let’s get back together and do it again

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Brian Wilson / Michael Love

Do It Again lyrics © Irving Music Inc., Sea Of Tunes Publishing Co Inc

♫ Just The Two Of Us ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I have a few requests I’ve been planning to play for the last several days, but songs just keep popping into my head that I really, really want to play now, so … I give in to myself sometimes!  I’ll get around to the requests soon, but for now, let’s have us some Bill Withers, shall we?

Grover Washington was a very respected Jazz saxophone player who died of a heart attack in 1999. Bill Withers is a songwriter and vocalist responsible for songs like Lean On Me and Ain’t No Sunshine. Withers sang lead on this, but it was credited to Washington and appeared on his album.

According to Withers …

“I’m a little snobbish about words, so they sent me this song and said ‘We want to do this with Grover, would you consider singing it?’ I said, ‘Yeah, if you’ll let me go in and try to dress these words up a little bit.’ Everybody that knows me is kind of used to me that way. I probably threw in the stuff like the crystal raindrops. The ‘Just The Two Of Us’ thing was already written. It was trying to put a tuxedo on it. I didn’t like what was said leading up to ‘Just The Two Of Us.'”

When Withers went in to record his vocals, it was the first time he met Washington. They were rarely together when they recorded this, and they never got to know each other very well. Withers admired Washington because Grover did the first cover version of any song he’d written – an instrumental version of Ain’t No Sunshine that appeared on his first album.

Just the Two of Us
Bill Withers

I see the crystal raindrops fall
And the beauty of it all
Is when the sun comes shining through
To make those rainbows in my mind
When I think of you sometime
And I wanna spend some time with you

Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us
(Just the two of us)
Just the two of us
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I

We look for love, no time for tears
Wasted water’s all that is
And it don’t make no flowers grow
Good things might come to those who wait
Not for those who wait too late
We gotta go for all we know

Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us
(Just the two of us)
Just the two of us
Building them castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I

I hear the crystal raindrops fall
On the window down the hall
And it becomes the morning dew
And darling when the morning comes
And I see the morning sun
I wanna be the one with you

Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us, just
(Just the two of us)
Just the two of us
Building big castles way up high
Just the two of us
You and I

(Just the two of us)
(We can make it, just the two of us)
(Just the two of us)

Songwriters: Ralph Mac Donald / William Salter / William Harrison Withers Jr.
Medley: Just the Two of Us lyrics © Bleunig Music, BMG Rights Management

♫ Standing In The Shadows Of Love ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I have several recent requests on my list, including but not limited to Barry Manilow and Joni Mitchell.  And so … {drumroll} tonight I bring you … {‘nother drumroll, please} … MOTOWN!!!  Yeah, yeah … I know … but I’m really in a mood tonight and needed me some Motown before going to bed, so … live with it!  Barry and Joni will happen soon … I promise!

The Four Tops released this song as a direct follow-up to their #1 hit Reach Out I’ll Be There and it features a similar musical arrangement. Despite the likeness to its chart-topping predecessor, the record was still a big hit, easily reaching the Top 10 in both the UK and US. Both songs were written by the Motown songwriting team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland), and while the instrumentation is similar, the lyrics are very different.

This song was recorded by the Four Tops during the first ever session at Berry Gordy’s newly acquired Golden World Detroit studio, later dubbed Studio B.

The song has been covered by everybody and their brother from the Jackson 5 to Barry White to Rod Stewart to Joe Stubbs (the younger brother of The Four Tops’ lead vocalist Levi Stubbs).

Standing In The Shadows Of Love
Four Tops

Standing in the shadows of love
I’m getting ready for the heartaches to come
Can’t you see me standing in the shadows of love
I’m getting ready for the heartaches to come

I want to run but there’s nowhere to go
‘Cause heartaches will follow me, I know
Without your love, the love I need
It’s the beginning of the end for me
‘Cause you’re taking away all my reasons for livin’
When you pushed aside all the love I been givin’
Now wait a minute

Didn’t I treat you right, now baby, didn’t I?
Didn’t I do the best I could now, didn’t I?

So don’t you leave me
Standing in the shadows of love
I’m getting ready for the heartaches to come
Don’t you see me standing in the shadows of love
Trying my best to get ready for the heartaches to come

All alone
I’m destined to be, with misery my only company
It may come today, it might come tomorrow
But it’s for sure I ain’t got nothing but sorrow
Now don’t your conscience kind of bother you
How can you watch me cry after all I done for you
Hold on a minute

Gave you all the love I had now, didn’t I?
When you needed me I was always there now, wasn’t I?

I’m trying hard not to cry out loud
You know crying it ain’t gonna help me now
What did I do to cause all this grief?
Now what’d I say to make you want to leave
Now wait a minute

Gave my heart and soul to you now, didn’t I?
And didn’t I always treat you good, now didn’t I?

I’m standing in the shadows of love
I’m getting ready for the heartaches to come
Don’t you see me standing in the shadows of love
Trying my best to get ready for the heartaches to come
Oh I’m standing in the shadows of love

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jr. / Brian Holland / Edward Holland / Edward / Jr. Holland / Lamont Dozier / Lamont Herbert Dozier
Standing In The Shadows Of Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

♫ Delilah ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I love me some Tom Jones, and so when Carolyn suggested this one last night, it stuck in my head and … well, here we are!  I’ve only played it once before, back in 2019, so you can’t claim to be bored or burnt out on it, right?  And who doesn’t love Tom Jones???  And (hint, hint) you might prepare yourself for the other one she suggested by Barry Manilow!

tom-jonesTom Jones released this song in December 1967, but it had previously been recorded by P. J. Proby in late November, 1967. Proby hated the song and refused to include it on his album Believe It Or Not, which was being compiled and recorded at the time.

Is there a real Delilah? Depends who you ask. The official writer credits for this song go to the English team of Les Reed and Barry Mason.  However, Sylvan Mason, who was married to Barry when these songs were written, claims that she is a co-writer.  Her claims have been verified through court records from her divorce settlement that prove her authorship. She has also been vetted by major newspapers that acknowledge her as a co-writer, and Tom Jones mentions her as a lyricist on the track in his autobiography.

In 2001, Barry Mason told the UK newspaper The Sun that he based the song (minus the bloodshed) on a girl he met on vacation in Blackpool, England when he was 15. They had a summer fling, but when it came time for her to return home to Llandudno in North Wales, she told Barry that she had a boyfriend, and it was over between them. Mason is quoted in the paper as saying, “I was shattered. I never shook it off and I became sick with jealousy and a whole lot of pain. She had dark hair, brooding eyes and she was really feisty. If there’s a typical Welsh girl, she was the one.”

Mason said that her name was Delia, which was impossible to integrate into a song (“Why, why, why Delia” didn’t work). A decade later, working with Reed, he got the idea to change her name to Delilah, and they wrote the famous song.

“I just got more and more worked up with each line. I put my heart and soul into that song – and that’s how ‘Delilah’ was born.”

The Sun embarked on a search for the mystery woman who inspired the song, asking readers to call in if they knew Delia from Llandudno. They called off the search when they heard from Sylvan Mason, who explained that she co-wrote the song and that there was no Delia. According to Sylvan, Les Reed had already written the chorus “Why, why, why Delilah,” and the lyric is based on the 1954 musical Carmen Jones. “Les Reed’s idea was to write a modern-day Samson and Delilah song but we got carried away and it ended up like Carmen Jones.”

Asked to respond, Barry Mason told The Sun, “I have no comment on the opinions of my former wife.”

Delilah
Tom Jones

I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window
I saw the flickering shadow of love on her blind
She was my woman
As she deceived me I watched and went out of my mind

My my my Delilah
Why why why Delilah
I could see, that girl was no good for me
But I was lost like a slave that no man could free

At break of day when that man drove away I was waiting
I crossed the street to her house and she opened the door
She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more

My my my Delilah
Why why why Delilah
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn’t take any more

She stood there laughing
I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more

My my my Delilah
Why why why Delilah
So before they come to break down the door
Forgive me Delilah I just couldn’t take any more

Forgive me Delilah I just couldn’t take any more

Writer/s: BARRY MASON, LES REED
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

♫ Streets Of London ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music, Social commentary

You may remember that I gave cushy high-level management jobs to Clive & Carolyn last week, so that they would determine what songs I would be playing each day and free up some of my time for other things.  Well, they’ve been haggling about salary ‘n such, and forgot to give me a song for today until late last night when I finally asked Carolyn (Clive was already fast asleep), and she gave me this song!  I had never heard the song before, nor to the best of my knowledge had I ever heard of the artist, Ralph McTell!  So, this is new to me and perhaps, unless you live in the UK, to you as well, but I liked it almost immediately, which is very rare for me!  Songs usually have to grow on me over a period of time.  Perhaps it’s the message of this one — a message that maybe we all need to remember sometimes. But I like the tune, as well.  So, thank you, Carolyn (aka Joy of Roses).

The song was inspired by McTell’s experiences with street performances and hitchhiking throughout Europe, especially in Paris and the individual stories are taken from Parisians. McTell was originally going to call the song “Streets of Paris” — but eventually London was chosen, because he realized he was singing about London; also, there was another song called The Poor People of Paris.

McTell’s song contrasts the common problems of everyday people with those of the homeless, lonely, elderly, ignored and forgotten members of society.  This was not released as a single until 1974, five years after it first appeared on his album Spiral Staircase.

According to SongFacts …

McTell had originally written this song when he recorded his debut album Eight Frames a Second, which was released in early 1968. However he left it off, as he regarded it as too depressing. Ralph McTell explained: “In one day, ‘Streets’ sold 90,000 copies and it was #2 by Christmas. There were three versions in the German charts – all by me! Streets also sold more sheet music than any song since the war. I formed a rock band just before the record was a hit, but of course we never played ‘Streets.’ Audiences didn’t like the band, so I announced my retirement and went off to America in a fit of pique. Streets opened more doors than it closed. The song is still played all over the world and even schoolchildren in the Himalayas have been heard singing it.”

Over 200 artists have recorded covers of this song, including Sinead O’Connor, who did a cover as an additional track on her “Thank You For Hearing Me” single in 1994. Other artists include Cliff Richard, Mary Hopkin, Anti-Nowhere League and Roger Whittaker.

McTell won the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriting for this song in 1974.

As far as I can tell, while this song charted at #2 in the UK, it did not chart elsewhere.

Streets of London

Ralph McTell

Have you seen the old man
In the closed down market
Kicking up the papers
With his worn out shoes?

In his eyes, you see no pride
Hand held loosely at his side
Yesterday’s paper
Telling yesterday’s news

So, how can you tell me you’re lonely
And say for you that the sun don’t shine?
Let me take you by the hand
And lead you through the streets of London
Show you something to make you change your mind

Have you seen the old girl
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair
And her clothes in rags?

She’s no time for talking
She just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home
In two carrier bags

So, how can you tell me you’re lonely
And say for you that the sun don’t shine?
Let me take you by the hand
And lead you through the streets of London
Show you something to make you change your mind

In the all night cafe
At a quarter past eleven
Same old man
Sitting there on his own

Looking at the world
Over the rim of his tea cup
Each tea lasts an hour
And he wanders home alone

So, how can you tell me you’re lonely?
Don’t say for you that the sun don’t shine
Let me take you by the hand
And lead you through the streets of London
Show you something to make you change your mind

Have you seen the old man
Outside the seaman’s mission
Memory fading with
The medal ribbons that he wears?

In our winter city
The rain cries a little pity
For one more forgotten hero
And a world that doesn’t care

So, how can you tell me you’re lonely
And say for you that the sun don’t shine?
Let me take you by the hand
And lead you through the streets of London
I’ll show you something to make you change your mind

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Ralph Mc Tell

Streets of London lyrics © Westminster Music Ltd

♫ House At Pooh Corner ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

After Roger’s rather dark post of yesterday afternoon about the song “House at PooNeil Corner”, he let me know that he would really welcome this song sometime soon to bring a bit of balance to his mood!  I had actually wanted to play it last week, but since I knew Roger was working on his post, I held off, but now seems the perfect time for a happy, uplifting song, don’t you think?  So this one’s for you, Roger!  Enjoy!

Who cannot love both Kenny Loggins and Winnie The Pooh?  When you combine the two, you have … sheer magic!  pooh-1From Wikipedia …

kenny-loggins“House at Pooh Corner” is a song written by Kenny Loggins, based on the popular children’s book of the same name. The song was first performed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their 1970 album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy and then performed by Loggins and Messina on their 1971 album Sittin’ In. It is told from the perspective of both Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin, and serves as an allegory for loss of innocence and nostalgia for childhood. It has since become one of Loggins’ most popular and beloved compositions, and it remains a staple of his live performances.”

House at Pooh Corner
Loggins and Messina

Christopher Robin and I walked along
Under branches lit up by the moon.
Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore

As our days disappeared all too soon.
But I’ve wandered much further today than I should
And I can’t seeem to find my way back to the wood.
So, help me if you can I’ve got to get

Back to the house at Pooh corner by one.
You;d be surprised there’s so much to be done,
Count all the bees in the hive,
Chase all the clouds from the sky.

Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh.
Winnie the Pooh doesn’t know what to do,
Got a honey jar stuck on his nose.

He came to me asking help and advice
And from here no one knows where he goes.
So I sent him to ask of te Owl if he’s there,
How to loosen a jar from the nose of a bear

So, help me if you can I’ve got to get
Back to the house at Pooh corner by one
You’d be surprised there’s so much to be done,
Count all the bees in the hive,

Chase all the clouds from the sky .
Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh,
Back to the days of Christopher Robin,
Back to the ways of Pooh

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Kenneth Clark Loggins
House at Pooh Corner lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

An Upside To Grim Songs – House At Pooneil Corner

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Environmental Issues, Global Issues, History, music, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Re-blogs, Social commentary

Our friend Roger mentioned the song “House on Pooh Corner” a few days ago and hinted that he might be doing a post about it … or at least that was what I thought he was hinting at! Turns out he knew of another song with a similar title, but … OH BOY is it a different song with a different concept! Roger’s post is … deep. It is thought-provoking. The music is jarring and not one I hope to hear again any time soon, but Roger’s thoughts and musings are definitely worth the read! Thank you, Sir Roger!

Writing Despite Computers and Programmes

Jefferson_Airplane

Forewarning: This is one of those long post that might appear to be meandering. Some posts need the elements of stories to get to the point. This is one.

Yes, there they are, Jefferson Airplane, one of the bands which are automatically associated with the many often inaccurately named time from 1965 to its stuttering end 1969 – 1970.

Like many bands of that era, the more you read about them, even filtering out the hyperbole, the less you feel affection for them as individuals or a group of folk, even if the music does stick.  My own opinion was they were played out by 1969 and the music was dying…Marty Balin originator of the band was to leave, disillusioned with those politics of the band…

So having set the mood, let’s take a look at one particular but not universally known song produced when they were still fresh.

View original post 1,083 more words