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

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:19 pm

frsogrl - I'd glad that "Midnight in Moscow" brought back memories for you. When I started listening to popular music in January 1962 , I embraced quite a variety of musical styles spontaneously. I only knew the terms "old fashioned music", rock 'n roll, and popular music. At first I didn't know what country and western or rythmn and blues were. In fact I probably didn't know what trad jazz was, until I saw the movie "It's Trad Dad"!

stephen- It's good to hear you're enjoying the links. Although I didn't really define what I was doing when I started the thread, it has gone the way I intended - i.e. thrown the spotlight on good songs that mostly didn't get a high chart placing, or album tracks that were generally overlooked by the masses. It's ironic that most of Leonard Cohen's songs would have fallen into this category, until recent times.

Bequia · Post by **Bequia** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:12 am

For the 75th birthday, his first recording:

My Happiness, Elvis Presley, 1953

A million years it seems have gone by since we shared our dreams ...

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:15 pm

Thanks Bequia,

I had no idea that song existed (I always assumed "That's Alright Mama" was the first). My music life really began when I saw "Blue Hawaii" in 1962. The first pop song I really fell in love with was "Cant Help Falling in Love". Another Elvis favourite from that era, which you don't hear so often is :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07YoXYlbOrk

However the very first film I saw to feature a pop star was "What a Whopper" in 1961, so the first pop song I ever heard was probably this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bra-3tbJm6U

Mordy · Post by **Mordy** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:51 pm

John - did you catch the Beatles to Bowie exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery? Brought back loads of memories! I think it closes fairly soon now. Talking of Bowie - what about this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFoEjAMsmtg

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 3:35 pm

Hi Mordy,

Thanks for reminding me about that...I've got to see it! I've just checked and it's on till 24th January.

I do remember your Bowie choice (from his Anthony Newley era), but I hadn't heard it for a long time. Here's one I like from Bowie's mod era:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgBe8NL1818

and since the backing on that reminds me a bit of Del Shannon, here's the man himself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwMebfW5cZU

All the best, John E

Bequia · Post by **Bequia** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 4:36 pm

A 1958 hit with backup vocals similar to what is on Bowie's Laughing Gnome:

Witch Doctor, David Seville, 1958

Seville, under his name-by-birth of Ross Bagdasarian, had previously written a well known song:

Come On A My House, Rosemary Clooney, 1954

which would later be sung by a pop diva in a film:

Come On A My House, Madonna (from Swept Away), 2002

Seville's backup singers on Witch Doctor came to be known as the Chipmunks and went on to long-term success as pop stars, both with him and in their solo career fronted by Alvin:

Witch Doctor (Techno Remix), Alvin & the Chipmunks, 2008

Mordy · Post by **Mordy** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:43 pm

Hi John

I think What a Whopper was the first film I saw starring a pop star - and started a pre-teenage passion for Adam Faith! Can't remember what the film was about, but I enjoyed watching the clip - thanks for posting! You and Bequia have unearthed some real gems.

Here's another interesting early Bowie offering http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVi6-PVq4To

Glad the exhibition at the Portrait Gallery is still running - well worth seeing - look forward to hearing what you think.

Bequia · Post by **Bequia** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 6:26 pm

... who would have thought Ziggy could have been a vaudeville star ...

A song in the music hall tradition that became a hit:

Winchester Cathedral, New Vaudeville Band, 1966

… written by Geoff Stephens, who put the band together, as was another song on their album that would hit as a cover:

There's A Kind of Hush, Herman’s Hermits, 1967

… by a group that also had a hit with a song that was from the music hall days (1911):

I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am, Herman's Hermits, 1965

… Prior to Winchester Cathedral, Stephens had written a hit song (with session guitarist Jimmy Page on rhythm):

Crying Game, Dave Berry, 1965

… that would get associated with a film and be a hit again later:

Crying Game, Boy George, 1992

…Stephens has many other credits in his career including producing Donovan’s first album:

Josie, Donovan, 1965

…and writing/cowriting many other hits like:

Smile A Little Smile For Me, Flying Machine, 1969

dharma · Post by **dharma** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:35 am

i'd rather go blind - chicken shack (featuring christine perfect in her pre-fleetwood mac days)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohx9Ve7-GS0&feature=fvw

walking on sunset - john mayall (featuring a young mick taylor)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLzYBTIDYO0

i remember my brother had these records in the late sixties - think they were both minor hits at the time.

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:39 am

Thanks dharma, it's good to hear those, and they've inspired a sombre three tracks from me!

First, a track from one of the lesser-known Fleetwood Mac albums from the middle years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9p5ERJb6g4 ("Dust" by Fleetwood Mac)

Next, a track from one of Christine McVie's partners:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9OKsUSKn50 ("Farewell My Friend" by Dennis Wilson)

Finally, one of his brother's greatest songs ("Till I Die" by Brian Wilson):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGXhpRNT ... L&index=15

daveeliver · Post by **daveeliver** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 6:53 pm

Brian Augurs Trinity featuring Julie Driscoll

Czechoslovakia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-_S00jF ... re=related

tinderella · Post by **tinderella** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:14 pm

I think we are revealing our ages here with the song choices

This was always a favourite of mine. Did not have a clue what the song was about, but it always sent those shivers up my spine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKRLnTcF ... re=related

MacArthur Park with the incredible Richard Harris

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:44 am

daveeliver - thanks for the Brian Auger/Julie Driscoll track...I've never heard that before.

tinderella - great Richard Harris video...I hadn't seen that either. Check out my second post on page 3 here for the b-side of that.

Here are four from the folk rock era, that have just sprung to mind:

First a song about rain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCOqmQdSgiI ("Remember the Rain" by Bob Lind)

Second a song about another kind of rain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjJv5hUVpLw ("What Have They Done to the Rain")

The Searchers also recorded "Take Me For What I'm Worth" by P.F.Sloan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WneEz6LUR7w

who also wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmQsCRFycaQ "Where Were You When I Needed You" by The Grass Roots

kokenpere · Post by **kokenpere** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:27 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QssJS_8YqS8

Hi John -

I think everyone will enjoy this one. The writer is the subject of the song penned by Jimmy Webb.

michael

kwills · Post by **kwills** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:31 pm

This is a great piece of music to make you feel at peace,with a smile on your face,very nostalgic too.

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

Having a lie in on Saturday morning listening to the Brian Mathews, Songs of the sixties show, this came on:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElJJIBar1wk

There's an excellent program on Sunday afternoon, The Johnny Walker's sound of the seventies (my era!) on radio 2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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