12 tunes to take you round the US

[ernstinen]

Jul 6, 2008, 4:07pm, mazz wrote:Wichita Lineman is a fantastic tune!! What a vibe that song sets. Yes, I have the same reaction Ern! Excellent!!Yea, great song, Mazz! Has anyone recorded that other than ol' Glen Campbell? That's a great record, but I think it could done in a more contemproary style. Squids? Anybody?Maybe I'LL record it! I did a hard rock version of Paul Simon's "Run That Body Down" from his first solo recording, and I'll take a template of the arrangement and do "Wichita Lineman" with my Strat through Marshalls and Soldanos! Ern

[Mark Kaufman]

We're missing "Moonlight in Vermont"...I'll take Willie Nelson's version. It's hard to think of more. I suppose singing "Telegram Sam, you're my Maine Man" doesn't really qualify...Oh, and Bobby: I'm sorry your head looks like a potato...

[twilsbach]

Jul 4, 2008, 2:38pm, mojobone wrote:How did I miss that? They're only my favorite band. Wasn't Indianapolis a Brian Henneman solo release, though?That is the only song that I have by them/him floating all lonesome-like in my iPod, so I can't rightly say.

[ernstinen]

Jul 6, 2008, 4:07pm, mazz wrote:I recommend checking out Webb's fairly recent album "Ten Easy Pieces". He plays piano and sings and it's great to hear his harmonic conception of these tunes all these years later.Mazz --- Just wanted to thank you again for sending me Webb's version of "Wichita Lineman." Just stunningly gorgeous! Wow --- I'm blown away.Best Regards,Ern

[Mark Kaufman]

Count me in as another HUGE fan of "Wichita Lineman" (and Jimmy Webb in general). The section where he sings "searching in the sun for another overload" is one of the best chord/melody interplays I have ever heard in my life, and that's when my arm-hairs raise too. Who's done it? Let's ask Wikipedia:Performers have included: * German singer Katja Ebstein recorded "Wichita lineman" in German language for her first single record: "Der Draht in der Sonne" in February of 1969. * Johnny A on 'Sometime Tuesday Morning' * Jimmy Barnes and David Campbell, on Double Happiness * Ken Berry on Ken Berry R. F. D. * Dennis Brown on Tracks of Life * Glen Campbell on Love Story * Johnny Cash on Unearthed Volume Three * Andy Williams on Happy Heart * Clouds * The Fatback Band on Let's Do It Again * Friends of Dean Martinez on Wichita Lineman * Gomez for a radio session * Wade Hayes * British Electric Foundation on Music of Quality and Distinction * Steve Hogarth on the H Natural tour * Freedy Johnston on Unlucky * Shawn Lee on Soul Visa * The Lettermen on I Have Dreamed * Hank Marvin on Solid Gold Collection * The Meters, on "Struttin'" * Dwight Yoakam, on Under the Covers * Optiganally Yours on Spotlight On... * Peter Nero on Love Story * R.E.M. on their "Bittersweet Me" single * The Rolling Stones at their concert in Wichita, Kansas on their "A Bigger Bang" tour on 1st October 2006 (Short intro and chorus only) * Scud Mountain Boys on Pine Box * Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66 (Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1969) * Stone Temple Pilots with Glenn Campbell on a rare black and white video * "Tennessee" Ernie Ford * These Animal Men secret track on Come on Join the High Society and Childline Charity compilation CD * Urge Overkill, on Americruiser/Jesus Urge Superstar (listed as "Witchita Lineman") * Jimmy Webb, on Ten Easy Pieces * The White Stripes various Live Shows * Cassandra Wilson, on Belly of the Sun * Steve Poltz various live shows * Culturcide spoofed it on Tacky Souvenirs of Pre-Revolutionary America * Spoofed in a Pinky and the Brain sketch on Animaniacs with the line "I am a telephone repairman from this area" * Homer Simpson, in the Simpsons episode Co-Dependent's Day * Tony Joe White * The UK band Gomez covered the song in May 2008 in a BBC Radio 2 session.

[mazz]

Another of my favorite songwriters is Burt Bachrach (on thread subject: Do You Know the Way to San Jose)A CD that might have been under the radar that came out in the last few years is Ron Isley singing Bachrach, recorded at Capitol studios live with an orchestra, just like they used to do it (I think Al Schmitt engineered). Worth a listen, IMO:http://www.amazon.com/Here-I-Am-Ron-Isl ... sr=8-1Have fun!!Mazz