This old world will keep on turning... (Music)

Member Name: lynn_bex

Product:	Music
Date:	22/08/03 (554 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Happy memories, Interesting Challenge, Favourite picks

Disadvantages: What a lot of time wasted!

Having stumbled upon competition.man’s challenge by chance, I’m duty bound to write this opinion, and to pass on his conditions, which are:-

1) You read this, then you rate this
2) By reading, you must submit an entry. Please try to use the same category heading

[Nothing to do with me! I refer you to competition.man’s opinion!]

With more time I would undoubtedly come up with different choices, but here is my selection as of today, under competition.man’s stipulated categories:-

1) Favourite Last Dance Smoochie
“FOR THE GOOD TIMES” - KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
(From the Album “Me and Bobby McGee” – 1971)

~~
UPDATE:
Having just returned from Kris Kristofferson's gig at London's Hammersmith Apollo, Wednesday, 25 February 2004, I can confirm that I still go weak at the knees for this song!
~~~

Oh, I love this… Kris Kristofferson may not be the best singer in the world but he has written some classic songs – and nobody interprets them better… This is my idea of a real country song - and what woman could fail to melt to lyrics like these?

“Don’t look so sad, I know it’s over/But life goes on, and this old world will keep on turning/Let’s just be glad we had some time to spend together/There’s no need to watch the bridges that we’re burning.

Lay your head upon my pillow/Hold your warm and tender body close to mine/Hear the whisper of the raindrops blowing soft against the window/And make believe you love me one more time/

For the good times…”

[Sigh…]

2) Best Cover Version

“ONLY SIXTEEN” - DR HOOK
(From the Album: “Bankrupt” – 1975. Hit Single –1976.)

A hit for Sam Cooke in 1959, I view Dr Hook’s later version of “Only 16” as one of thos


e exceptional covers that actually improves upon the original.

“She was only 16, only 16, and I loved her so/
But she was too young to fall in love, and I was too young to know…”





(Tell me about it!)

3) Worst Cover Version

“WHO THE ‘F’ IS ALICE” – ROY CHUBBY BROWN.

What can I say?

Being rather fond of Smokie’s innocent little song, “Living Next Door to Alice,”
I rest my case.

4) Best Male Vocal

This category has to be wide open, but I have chosen DENNIS LOCORRIERE, who has one of the most recognisable voices in popular music.

If you are familiar with 70’s music, I guarantee that you will be able to sing along to many of Dennis Locorriere’s vocals, given that he was lead singer on most of Super Group Dr Hook’s hit singles:-

“Sylvia’s Mother,” “When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman,” “More Like the Movies,” “A Little Bit More,” “Only Sixteen” and all the rest… What you hear is the unmistakeable throaty voice of Dennis Locorriere, WHO DID NOT WEAR AN EYE PATCH!

[As a band, Dr Hook was marketed in the image of their other vocalist, Ray Sawyer, wearer of an eye patch following the loss of an eye in a car accident. Whilst Ray Sawyer sang lead on some terrific album tracks, he was never the recognisable “Voice of Dr Hook” on the group’s hit singles.]

5) Best Female Vocal

I’ve changed my mind several times on this one, because my favourites are not necessarily the “best” vocalists… So, my choice is someone who does not figure in my record collection - but always stops me in my tracks, whenever I hear one of her recordings on the radio: ELLA FITZGERALD.

My goodness, even from distant childhood memori
es, I
reca
ll hearing Ella Fitzgerald’s songs… Jazz, swing, easy listening, show tunes, Ella could sing them all – in that beautiful voice that was both ageless and timeless. Even towards the end of her life, when she was in poor health, she retained that magical, bewitching voice.

6) Best Duo/Group

For me, there can be only one choice in this category, and that is the four long-time friends and major country music stars who came together from time to time during the 80’s and 90’s under the name “THE HIGHWAYMEN”. They recorded three albums together and toured the world, playing to sold-out stadiums, which is hardly surprising when you hear their names, given in order of personal favourites:-

Waylon Jennings; Kris Kristofferson; Willie Nelson; Johnny Cash.

I was lucky enough to see The Highwaymen when they played Wembley a few years ago. Backed by an amazing band that included many of Nashville’s top session men, the four superstars were on stage together throughout the show, singing harmony vocals to each other’s classic songs. Sadly, Waylon Jennings (the youngest of the four) died in February 2002 so the magic can never be re-created. As second best, I recommend the Video.

7) Most Memorable Song

I was undecided on this category, until I realised that THE SONG CHOSE ME, some dozen or more years ago…

“IT’S RAINING IN MY HEART” - THE CRICKETS
(Words & Music by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant)

In 1988 The Crickets (as in “Buddy Holly and…”) released a highly acclaimed album, “T-Shirt” - the title track of which, produced by Paul McCartney, very nearly hit the charts…
[At that time the “original and legendary Crickets” Jerry Allison and Joe B Maudlin had been joined on vocals and guitar by front man Gordon Payne.]

…A year or two

later, The Crickets toured the UK, and I took my then pre-teen daughter, [later to be known as Rocky,] to one of their gigs.

Pre-show and en-route to the bar, I heard, much to my astonishment, a familiar but disbelieving voice, "Lynn?” and recognised a long lost, once-removed cousin, who turned out to be in a position of some importance, being Tour Manager for the Show.

Bless his heart, my cousin did well by me… As the Crickets’ act drew to a close, Gordon Payne made an announcement:-

“There’s a lady in the audience who is very dear to our Tour Manager… They’ve just met up tonight, after a whole bunch of years…” [Rocky was under her seat, at this point!]

“…Where are you, Lynn? ” continued Gordon, explaining to the audience, “Lynn is the cousin of our good friend Phil…”

By now, Rocky was curled into a tight little ball beneath her seat, - but I stood up anyway!

Oh, yes. There was a spotlight shining upon me as Gordon Payne announced, “This song is for you…”

“The sun is out, the sky is blue/There’s not a cloud to spoil the view/But it’s raining, raining in my heart/
The weatherman says clear today/He doesn’t know you’ve gone away/And it’s raining, raining in my heart…

Awwwww… Of COURSE it’s my most memorable song…


8) Your Song

“DREAMING MY DREAMS” - WAYLON JENNINGS
(Words & Music by Allen Reynolds)
(From the Album “Dreaming My Dreams” - 1975)

For me, this song works on several levels – and usually makes me cry!

It is all too easy to make misjudgements in romantic relationships, but the sentiments expressed in these lyrics could equally well apply to friendships, working relationships, or even internet sites such as dooyoo…


Like everyone else, I’ve had my fair share of disappointments but, like the song says, “I won’t let it change me”:-

“I hope that I won’t be that wrong any more, and maybe I've learned, this this time/I hope that I’ll find what I’m reaching for, the way that it is in my mind

Someday, I’ll get over you/I’ll live to see it all through/But I’ll always miss, dreaming my dreams with you/

But I won’t let it change me, not if I can, I’d rather believe in love/
And give it away, as much as I can, To those that I’m fondest of….

[Back in 1977 Marianne Faithfull’s terrific version of this song topped the Irish charts for several weeks. It can be found on her album “Faithless”]

9) Best Female Vocal Performance

“FROM A DISTANCE” – NANCI GRIFFITH
(Words and Music by Julie Gold)

The wonderful Nanci Griffith, who is a good friend of songwriter Julie Gold, describes this as, “Julie Gold’s World Anthem” and, to my mind, only her version properly interprets the lyrics, which are a “Wake Up Call” to all of us - rather than the twee little prayer mistakenly sung by certain other vocalists!

“…From a distance, you look like my friend, even though we are at war/From a distance, I can’t comprehend what all this war is for…/
God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us… From a distance…”

Nanci Griffith, Texan by birth but a true World Citizen, sings this song in several languages. And, as a fellow dooyooer reminded me, a year or two ago, when singing this live, Nanci Griffith adds a barely audible whisper… “God is watching us… [BUT] from a distance…”
[Thank you, Chris. I haven’t forgotten!]

10) Best Male Vocal Performance


“CRY - JOHNNIE RAY”
(Written by Churchill Kohlman)

A Number 1 Hit in 1952, this was rather before my time, but I grew up listening to
the popular hits of Johnnie Ray, Guy Mitchell and their like. Johnnie Ray was generally recognised as the first “pop idol” (though the term was “popular singer” in those days) and as a child I can remember watching news clips of teenage girls trying to get within touching distance of him.

Given that Johnnie Ray began to lose his hearing at an early age, and was effectively deaf by his 14th birthday, his success in the music industry is all the more remarkable.

Remembering his television appearances from my youth, my recollection is of a slight figure, wearing an old fashioned hearing aid, who lived every word of each song…

“If your sweetheart sends a letter of goodbye/It’s no secret, you’ll feel better if you cry…” - At which point he would sink to his knees, in a convincing show of heartbreak…

Best part of 50 years down the line, I can laugh at my childish naivety in falling for this performance, - but Johnnie Ray still gets my vote in this category!

11) Most Poignant Song

“SAND AND WATER” - BETH NEILSON CHAPMAN

Oh, what heartbreaker.

American singer/songwriter Beth Neilson Chapman knew that her husband was terminally ill, as she worked on the songs for her magnificent album, “Sand and Water”. The title track has me snivelling almost every time:

“All alone I didn’t like the feeling/All alone I sat and cried/All alone I had to find some meaning/To the centre of the pain I felt inside/
All alone I came into this world/All alone I will someday die/Solid stone is just sand and water, baby/Sand and water, and a million years gone by/

[Chorus]
I will see you in the light of a thousand suns/I
will hear you in the sound of the waves/I will know you when I come, as we all will come/Through the doors beyond the grave/

All alone I heal this heart of sorrow/All alone I raise this child/Flesh and bone, he’s just bursting towards tomorrow/And his laughter fills my world and wears your smile…"

Oh dear. That’s enough of that. I can’t see the screen through my tears.

12) All Time Favourite Album
“HONKY TONK HEROES” – WAYLON JENNINGS
(All but one of the 10 tracks written by Billy Joe Shaver)

This was the ground-breaking country record that established Waylon Jennings as pivotal to the “Country Outlaw” scene in 1970’s Nashville, smashing the system and heralding a new era.
[Unfortunately, three decades on, the money men are again running Nashville but you can still find decent renegade country music, if you search for it.]

The album begins with a gentle introduction to the title track but you soon realise that this is something special as the tempo and volume gradually increase…

“…Piano roll blues, danced holes in my shoes/There weren’t another other way to be, for loveable losers, no account boozers, and honky tonk heroes like me…
Hey, hey…”

- With which the drums and bass kick in – and back in 1973, drove a coach and horses through the cosy little Nashville scene and system.

Waylon Jennings fought the Nashville system throughout his life and would have been amused by the tributes paid to him, via the Nashville machine, following his death in February 2002. He had no time for the Country Music Association and did not attend the ceremony when inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2001, (although one of his sons collected the award.)

Singer Marty Stuart, who announced and presented the award said afterwards, “I’m so prou
d I got to call his name out and induct him into the Hall of Fame. And I’m so proud that he didn’t show up. It would have broken my heart if he’d have showed up.”

Honky Tonk Heroes may not be the best album WaylonbJenning's ever cut, but it’s as rough, tough and funny as the man himself! - Pure Magic!

13) Best Music Video

“THE GREAT PRETENDER - FREDDIE MERCURY”

This is probably not my FAVOURITE music video – but I think it made me laugh more than any other, as Mercury hammed it up, switching between Matinee Idol and Loon dancing with a vacuum cleaner!

14) Best Act Ever

“WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY”

Grizzled Country Star Willie Nelson is well past pension age, yet he’s as fresh as ever and still appearing with the same band that he had in the 70’s.

Save for his sister, Bobbie, they are NOT his blood relations, but after so many years on the road together, they show every appearance of having come from the same mould.

I’ve seen Willie and his band several times and, at their best, they are absolutely unbeatable.

[From choice, Willie will play two and a half hours straight off, with no support act and no interval. The only time I ever left one of his shows disappointed was at the Royal Albert Hall, where there had been two support acts and an interval, so I can only suggest that you pick your venue with care!]

Generally, as the show opens there is a backdrop of the Texas flag and the band, with Willie Nelson, walk onto the stage unannounced – and get right down to business, playing song after song as easily as if they were shelling peas!

15) Best TV / Film Musical Piece

“THEME FROM THE DUKES OF HAZZARD - WAYLON JENNINGS”

There is such a huge choice for this s
el
ection that I have decided to indulge myself, and go for Waylon
again. What’s more, I’m going to quote from his autobiography:

“There was no chance that “The Dukes of Hazzard” television show would prove too
smart for its target viewers. A moonshine excuse for car chases and watching Catherine Bach’s ass in her trademark cut-off jeans, that long-legged good-lookin’ thing, it was incredibly popular. Bo and Luke Duke’s ongoing war with Mayor Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane provided just about the only plot line needed. I was the narrator, or “The Balladeer” as they called me, and although I never appeared on screen, for six years, beginning in 1979, I got to say things like “Happy as a pig eatin’ slop” and “Meanwhile, Bo and Luke Duke, not knowing that Uncle Jessie was disguised as a door, shot his knob off.” Down home. Yee-hah!”

The producers liked the way ‘Ol Waylon sounded and asked him to write the theme song:

“Just two good ol’ boys/Never meaning no harm… Been in trouble with the law/Since the day they were born…”

As Waylon tells it, it was one of the easiest songs he ever wrote and his first million-seller. When the series ended, they gave him the car, “General Lee, the orange Dodge Charger… with the rebel stars and bars painted on its roof and a big 01 bull’s-eyeing the door. It makes me laugh. Great car for eluding a sheriff.”
[Quotes from “Waylon, an autobiography” by Waylon Jennings with Lenny Kaye.”]

16) Best Personal Computer (any) Music Software.

Um… Sorry… I will tiptoe quietly away, rather than reveal my ignorance!

Thanks to Mr Competition Man for thinking up the interesting challenge!

Lynn

Summary: