Re: Songs that Cut to the Bone

Casey H · Post by **Casey H** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:02 am

Hi Jumping in late... Long, Long, Time - Linda Ronstadt (written by Gary White)Shades of Gray - The Monkees (written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil)Yes, I'm dead serious about that song the Monkees did!Both these songs can bring a tear to my eyes... Casey

horacejesse · Post by **horacejesse** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:45 am

1. Suicide Is Painless2. Touch and Go--The Cars3. Rainy Night in Georgia--Brook Benton4. Ain't Nobody's Business--Billy Holiday5. Drive--The Cars6. Simple Twist of Fate--Dylan7. If You See Her Say Hello--Dylan8. Good Morning Heartache--Billy HolidayThe list is partial of course.

horacejesse · Post by **horacejesse** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 2:44 pm

I am a huge fan of Whiter Shade of Pale. Did that organ melody come from some prior piece? I have always heard that it came from a classical piece but do not know that for sure.

Casey H · Post by **Casey H** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:29 pm

Quote:I am a huge fan of Whiter Shade of Pale. Did that organ melody come from some prior piece? I have always heard that it came from a classical piece but do not know that for sure.You do know that the lyrics to that song were purposely total nonesense? Casey

carr · Post by **carr** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:32 pm

One to add to the list "This house is not a home " Burt Bacarach and Elvis CostelloJ

edteja · Post by **edteja** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:57 am

Re: WHITER SHADE OF PALE. According to the court testimony, the organist (who sued to get royalities) "altered" some of Bach's stuff. Details are on the BBC news web site.One other observation... I find it interesting that so many folks are listing songs and then, in referencing it to someone, list the singer, rather than the songwriter (for instance, Georgie on My Mind, Ray Charles). It is only curious because this is a group of songwriters, whom I would have thought, would be focused on the writers more than the artists (Notice I say "I would have thought," I won't make that mistake again). Is this because, as Mick Jagger is quoted as saying, "It is the singer, not the song"?

Casey H · Post by **Casey H** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:30 am

Quote:Re: WHITER SHADE OF PALE. According to the court testimony, the organist (who sued to get royalities) "altered" some of Bach's stuff. Details are on the BBC news web site.One other observation... I find it interesting that so many folks are listing songs and then, in referencing it to someone, list the singer, rather than the songwriter (for instance, Georgie on My Mind, Ray Charles). It is only curious because this is a group of songwriters, whom I would have thought, would be focused on the writers more than the artists (Notice I say "I would have thought," I won't make that mistake again). Is this because, as Mick Jagger is quoted as saying, "It is the singer, not the song"? I think it is important to recognize both the writer and the performer. But, to "cut to the bone", it is a combination of both. For example, I don't like all of Linda Ronstadt's work, but (IMHO) the emotion evoked in "Long Long Time" is outstanding. I never heard the writer or anyone else do it, so I can't compare... The lyric in that one, however, is (again IMHO) simply great... Casey

jchitty · Post by **jchitty** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:13 pm

I think one could make a case for it being more 'about the singer than it is about the song.' For example, you could argue that 'Like a Rolling Stone' wouldn't be the great song it is without Dylan's, raspy voice and irreverent treatment of the song. Yes, of course, he wrote the song too, but had he not written "Like a Rolling Stone' and just sang it, it would still be a song that cut to the bone. I think Dylan's brilliance lies not only in the way he wrote, but in the way he sang his songs. I believe you could take Dylan's lyrics and let others sing them (which some have) and they just don't come across as gritty or profound as when he delivered his own lyrics. I will admit that Dylan had some help too with that great keyboard lead in too.

edteja · Post by **edteja** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:39 am

Did you see Al Kooper's confession about that keyboard part on the documentary about Dylan? He didn't have a clue what he was doing. He only convinced the producer to let him try the keyboards because he went there to play guitar and Mike Bloomfield blew him away. Pretty up front of him to admit that, or cleverly self effacing (take you pick).

jchitty · Post by **jchitty** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:24 am

Hey, Ed, I guess you're referring to the documentary about Dylan that appeared on PBS not too long ago? Yeah, I saw parts of it, but I didn't catch Al Kooper's confession. Interesting.