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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2008 23:06:32 GMT
Where do I start with this? I have quite a few examples so, rather than saturate the thread, I'll feed them in at regular intervals during the coming weeks. One of my all time favourite (English spelling! ) songs of the Sixties was 'I'd Rather Go Blind'. The song has been covered many times by different artistes but I first heard it in 1968 by a British band called Chicken Shack and frankly, I was blown away. I didn't know anything about the song or the band at that time but I went out and bought the single. The song was very poignant to me at that time because I had just found out that my girlfriend was seeing someone else. The lyrics were, and still are, very cutting. Anyway, a couple of years later I heard, by chance, another version of the song sung by a solo female and a little research led me to the realization that I was listening to the original version by Etta James which was released in 1967 in America. I bought that single too. I really can't say which version I prefer as they are quite different in the song delivery but the Etta James version always sends shivers down my spine. Quite emotional actually. I would be very interested to hear your views on the 2 different versions so I'll start with the first one I heard. This is the British version : Chicken Shack - I'd Rather Go Blind [music]http://h1.ripway.com/arthurlee/ChickenShack-IdRatherGoBlind.mp3[/music] Next post is the American version.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2008 23:07:38 GMT
Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind
[music]http://h1.ripway.com/arthurlee/EttaJames-IdRatherGoBlind.mp3[/music]
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Post by Michelle Revolution on Jan 20, 2008 23:52:52 GMT
This is going to be a very interesting thread. For me, Etta James is the definitive version though. I think Rod Stewart also covered this song.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2008 19:37:13 GMT
Hmmm, let's try a more 'commercial' offering this time. I remember hearing The Searchers singing 'Sweets For My Sweet' back in 1963. Of course it charted and I naively thought that it was the original version. I really loved the song and the harmonies and, although it was very 'poppy', it was a catchy tune and I used to sing along to it whilst listening to my transistor radio (showing my age there ). It wasn't until about 1979 when I was listening to a programme (English spelling ) called 'Backtrack' on Radio Newcastle that I heard the original by The Drifters - yes those Drifters of 'Under The Boardwalk' and 'Sitting In The Back Row Of The Movies' fame. There are marked similarities to The Searchers but The Drifters' version is rather more 'soulful' which doesn't come as any surprise given their background. Their version was from 1961 so it took The Searchers a while to pick up on a potential hit song. I still like The Searchers' version the best though and I would be interested to hear what you think? The Searchers - Sweets For My Sweet [music]http://www.fileupyours.com/files/153600/Searchers%20-%20Sweets%20For%20My%20Sweet.mp3[/music]
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2008 19:39:01 GMT
See previous post.
The Drifters - Sweets For My Sweet
[music]http://www.fileupyours.com/files/153600/Drifters%20-%20Sweets%20For%20My%20Sweet.mp3[/music]
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Post by The End on Feb 4, 2008 21:26:25 GMT
Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind Yep, Etta James for me too.
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Post by The End on Feb 4, 2008 21:28:36 GMT
The Drifters - Sweets For My Sweet I had never heard The Drifters' version before and I think it is MUCH better than The Searchers! That piano makes it for me. Thanks for posting (sorry it took so long to reply!)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2008 18:29:52 GMT
The Drifters - Sweets For My Sweet I had never heard The Drifters' version before and I think it is MUCH better than The Searchers! That piano makes it for me. Thanks for posting ( sorry it took so long to reply!) I hear you've been looked after by the Redcoats for a while - hope you enjoyed your stay and the Blues stuff. Good to have you back. Anyway, something a little different inasmuch as there were three single versions of this song knocking about during 1965/66. The song was 'Trains & Boats & Planes' written of course by Burt Bacharach. The highest British chart entry was Burt himself in May 1965 when it peaked at number 4. The same month, our very own Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas peaked at number 12 with his version. It wasn't until 1966 that Dionne Warwick released the song as a single both in the UK and USA and it reached number 49 in the USA charts and didn't chart at all in the UK. I know you're all waiting with baited breath to hear them so, without further ado, let me introduce : Burt Bacharach - Trains & Boats & Planes [music]http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/46211/Burt%20Bacharach%20-%20Trains%20And%20Boats%20And%20Planes.mp3[/music] I do like this version for it's 'easy listening' quality.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2008 18:32:46 GMT
Dionne Warwick - Trains & Boats & Planes
[music]http://www.fileupyours.com/files/153600/Dionne%20Warwick%20-%20Trains%20And%20Boats%20and%20Planes.mp3[/music]
This is my favourite version.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2008 18:39:04 GMT
Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas - Trains & Boats & Planes
[music]http://h1.ripway.com/arthurlee/BillyJKramerTheDakotas-TrainsAndBoatsAndPlanes.mp3[/music]
Billy trying his best to sing in tune (double tracked too)!
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Post by The End on Feb 7, 2008 18:30:50 GMT
Thanks for posting this Arthur :-)
I'm actually not a big fan of Burt Bacharach and I was more familiar with Dionne Warwick's version (although I'm not a big fan of her's either!). But out of the three, I actually prefer Burt's version I think - I love that electric piano which is more to the fore on his version.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2008 20:05:26 GMT
Thanks for posting this Arthur :-) I'm actually not a big fan of Burt Bacharach and I was more familiar with Dionne Warwick's version (although I'm not a big fan of her's either!). But out of the three, I actually prefer Burt's version I think - I love that electric piano which is more to the fore on his version. Ah well - you can't win 'em all! Seriously though, he (and not forgetting Hal David)) did write some great songs although I appreciate they might not be everyone's cup of tea. Actually, he wrote 'Baby It's You', a hit in America for The Shirelles and later, as you well know, recorded by The Beatles. A damn good version too.
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Post by The End on Feb 8, 2008 0:45:15 GMT
LOL! Yeah, sadly I'm not a big fan of that girl-from-ipanema-type rhythm - yeah I know, shocker eh?! A bit too easy-listening for my liking. I did prefer Burt's version though
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2008 16:57:29 GMT
LOL! Yeah, sadly I'm not a big fan of that girl-from-ipanema-type rhythm - yeah I know, shocker eh?! A bit too easy-listening for my liking. I did prefer Burt's version though OK - Just for you (and anyone else who wants to join in), this is a Burt Bacharach song that isn't raindrops-keep-falling-on-my-head-type- latin- bossa- nova- wallpaperry- muzak Also, as pure self indulgence because I get to give my username a namecheck! Recorded on the other side of the pond by Love (featuring Arthur Lee) in 1966, this is when the band were on the verge of recording one of the best albums you'll ever hear - ' Forever Changes'. This was a single release and it's called 'My Little Red Book'. Stay with it as it gets better as it progresses. This side of the pond saw our very own Manfred Mann release a single version of the song. I'm always going to go for Love's version though. See what you think. Love (featuring Arthur Lee) - My Little Red Book [music]http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/46211/Love%20%28With%20Arthur%20Lee%29%20-%20My%20Little%20Red%20Book.mp3[/music]
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2008 17:01:41 GMT
Manfred Mann - My Little Red Book
[music]http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/46211/Manfred%20Mann%20-%20My%20Little%20Red%20Book.mp3[/music]
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2008 12:42:56 GMT
It's 1965 and The Swinging Sixties are really starting to kick in. The singles charts were being dominated by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones with valuable contribuitons from The Kinks, The Who, The Byrds, The Animals and Bob Dylan. I was a sickly child and had to go into hospital during that year and if it wasn't for the music that my transistor radio (with earphones of course!) provided, my stay would not have been as pleasant (as pleasant as can be in hospital!) A song I heard during that time was 'Can't You Hear My Heartbeat' by Herman's Hermits and I really liked it - kind of a catchy tune and uptempo. Peter Noone was the focal point of the band - a cute, mother's boy character. My mother wanted to 'mother' him They had many other hit records during the sixties and I believe Peter went to America to live and became quite successful, still touring today. As with many songs during that period, I thought it was the original, until I heard the actual original by Goldie & The Gingerbreads which is a different production and delivery and it was one of the first songs that I actually preferred the original to the 'cover' version. Still do but when you listen to it (and I know The End will prefer this version because of the organ - I think he has a thing about organs ) there's a passage that reminds me of The Dave Clark Five! Let me know what you think. Herman's Hermits - Can't You Hear My Heartbeat : [music]http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/46211/Hermans%20Hermits%20-%20Cant%20You%20Hear%20My%20Heartbeat.mp3[/music]
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2008 13:09:01 GMT
Goldie & The Gingerbreads - Can't You Hear My Heartbeat :
[music]http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/46211/Gingerbreads%20-%20Heartbeat.mp3[/music]
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Post by The End on Feb 10, 2008 16:05:28 GMT
I have My Little Red Book on CD - great record! One of my favourite tracks of theirs is "Always See Your Face" (not on that album though as I recall) - top tune! Out of the two versions I do prefer Love's - Manfredd Mann's version sounds messy to me! Another great tune though - even if it was written by Burt Bacharach!
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Post by The End on Feb 10, 2008 16:16:35 GMT
Love these comparisons Arthur! Great stuff! I have always found Herman's Hermits to be a little bit twee for my liking - they certainly recorded some great songs though, aided by future 10cc member Graham Gouldman. I actually have the original single by Goldie and the Gingerbreads single which is far,far better than HH in my opinion - always sounds like someone stepping on a seagull after the line "I get a feeling that's oo-wee"!! I think the reason the Goldie track isn't working is because the URL (the link) is too long - if you rename the track to make it shorter it should work
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Post by The End on Feb 10, 2008 16:24:34 GMT
Sticking with the Herman's Hermits theme - here is the original version of I'm Into Something Good by Earl Jean, lead singer of The Cookies. I did always like The Hermits version until I heard the original - now I won't listen to anything but Earl Jean's! Let me know what you think Earl Jean - I'm Into Something Good [music]http://www.fileupyours.com/files/150873/EJSomethingGood.mp3[/music]
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