PASSING OF ANOTHER LEGEND

With regret I have to report on another passing, this time it’s an original member of Detroit’s own Spinners – Pervis Jackson. While the Spinners have been around since the 50s, and had their biggest success with a string of soulful hits in the 70s, my favorite song splits the difference, the 1966 heartbreaker, “Truly Yours.” The lead singer for this one was, I believe, Bobbie Smith, and Pervis Jackson sang bass. Mr. Jackson died in Detroit at the age of 70. Here’s thanking him for the music!






Vid from YT member pieroangelo1

ANOTHER SONG ABOUT DRUGS?

I’m sure we all can easily name several songs from the vintage years that either unquestionably were, or were rumored to be, in whole or in part, about drugs. In case you haven’t had your morning cuppa joe yet, here, not in chronological order, are a few to get you going:

Undeniably Unquestionable – The Pusher, Don’t Bogart That Joint, Coming Into Los Angeles, Six Days on the Road (the original version)

Rumored (or maybe unquestionable depending on your viewpoint) – Puff The Magic
Dragon, Eight Miles High, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

Well, I think I found one more that’s suspect. A while ago I upgraded my Mamas and Papas Greatest Hits single CD to a more comprehensive 2 CD set. It was sure wonderful to hear a lot of the old album tunes I used to listen to back in the 60s, the ones that weren’t big hit singles, and thus never get played on most oldies stations. The song I’m referring to is “Straight Shooter.” Back in my student days, I was pretty naïve. I was also (and still am) pretty square. So I wouldn’t immediately have associated terms like “shooting” and “holding” with drugs, evening thought I’d heard them used in that context. In fact, I remember listening to this song in the (non-coed) dorm with some of the girls, giggling because we thought the line “…what your holding, half of that belongs to me” might mean…uh-oh…a baby! You know, like that freshman girl down the hall who suddenly had to drop out and, it was whispered, get married! Oh, those were different days all right. Anyway, I’ve never seen this song on anyone’s list of oldies about drugs, and even if I am right, it doesn’t change anything for me. It’s a wonderful vintage oldie, and real vintage Mamas and Papas too.
STRAIGHT SHOOTER (click for YouTube vid. It was recorded live at Monterey, and thus is not a perfectly balanced studio recording, but it’ll take ya back, guaranteed). Meanwhile, here's the lyrics; see what you think.

Don't get me mad; don't tell no lie.
Don't make me sad; don't pass me by.
Baby are you holding, holding anything but me?
'Cause I'm a real straight shooter, if you know what I mean.
You can bring me love; you can hang around.
You can bring me up; don't you bring me down.
Baby are you holding, holding anything but me?
'Cause I'm a real straight shooter, if you know what I mean.

I've been searching all night, just to find what I'm looking for.
Baby, baby, treat me right, or I won't come round your door
No more!
You can bring me love; you can hang around.
You can bring me up; don't you bring me down.
Baby are you holding, holding anything but me?
'Cause I'm a real straight shooter, if you know what I mean.

I've been searching all night, just to find what I'm looking for.
Baby, baby, treat me right, or I won't come round your door
No more!

Don't get me mad; don't tell no lie.
Don't get me sad; just get me high.
Baby, what your holding, half of that belongs to me.
'Cause I'm a real straight shooter
(Baby, don't you get me down...)
I'm a real straight shooter...
(I've been searching all night long...)
I'm a real straight shooter (baby) if you know what I mean -
If you know what I mean.

ANOTHER MUSICAL FAREWELL

Famed music producer and mogul Jerry Wexler, who gave us the term “rhythm and blues,” has died at the age of 91. During his years at Atlantic Records, Wexler worked with some of the greats, like Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, and Aretha. Here’s one of everybody’s favorites…and thanks, Jerry.

I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU...

I had one of those eclectic music mornings yesterday. It started out with a visit to the Keep the Coffee Coming blog, which was featuring a song by one of my favorite contemporary singers, "Greenville" by Lucinda Williams. From there I went on to browse around my own CD shelf - the Mamas and Papas, a little Donovan, a quick jump over to the Burrito Brothers, then double back for some classic doo wop from the Cleftones. I ended up my session with a song from one of my favorite voices, Dion Di Mucci. This one really showcases his slow dance love ballad side instead of the finger-poppin' numbers people probably think of first. It was the flip side of his big hit, "Ruby Baby." When it comes to heartbreak songs, I'd put "He'll Only Hurt You" right up there with "Cryin" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling."

WHO IS THE MAN...?

ISAAC HAYES

1942 - 2008

Music has lost a giant talent; the planet has lost a real mensch

MOTOWN SUPREMACY!

Okay, I’m from Detroit originally, so naturally I think Motown rules, but you have to admit, the sound is a staple and still making new young converts all over the globe. I have my favorite artists and groups just like everyone else, and for me, as far as the Supremes go, it’s the earlier the better. Here’s a little number that dates back to their 1962 debut album, Meet the Supremes. It’s also the first song they recorded as a trio (Diana, Flo, Mary) after the other original member, Barbara Martin, left the group. The album didn’t perform as hoped, and none of the songs broke the top 40. Of course, things changed radically with their sophomore album, with “Where Did Our Live Go” shooting to numero uno. I have to say, with all the good tunes they had, this is still my favorite. I like the directness of the lyrics (written by Berry Gordy) and that cool-on-cool R&B strut. And to my ear it’s just a little less polished and produced. Here, have yourself a groove.

WHO ARE THEY WHISPERING ABOUT NOW?!

Well, maybe we didn’t find out who the mystery girl is behind Gene Clark’s song, “I Knew I’d Want You” (two posts prior to this) but there are a couple of other songs in vintage rock-and-rolldom that are easy to figure out. One song I have always enjoyed is “The Fat Angel” in both its incarnations, by Donovan and Jefferson Airplane. Donovan wrote the song in tribute to Mama Cass Elliott, and whispers her name as the sitar and tabla do their thing, right after the Jefferson Airplane namecheck (still an unknown SF band, but destined for fame in a short while). So naturally, the Airplane gang recorded it as well. I like that one a lot, too, but I think I have to give the edge to Donovan because of that whisper.

He will bring happiness in a pipe,
He'll-a ride away on his silver bike
And apart from that he'll be so kind
In consenting to blow your mind.
Fly Translove Airways, get you there on time.
Fly Translove Airways, get you there on time.
He will bring orchids for my lady,
The perfume will be of an excellent style
And apart from that he'll be so kind
In consenting to blow your mind.
Fly Translove Airways, get you there on time.
Fly Translove Airways, get you there on time.
He will bring happiness in a pipe,
He'll-a ride away on his silver bike
And apart from that he'll be so kind
In consenting to blow your mind.
Fly Jefferson Airplane, get you there on time.
Fly Jefferson Airplane, get you there on time.
Sitar/tabla Cass…Cass
He will bring happiness in a pipe,
He'll-a ride away on his silver bike
And apart from that he'll be so kind
In consenting to blow your mind.
Fly Translove Airways, get you there on time.
Fly Translove Airways, get you there on time.
We'll be flying at an altitude of thirty-nine thousand feet
Captain High at your service.

And we should also mention the reference to Timothy Leary’s Translove Airways, and probably a salute to Jerry Garcia in the last line (Captain High). Jerry was once nicknamed “Captain Trips” because of his penchant for LSD, but “high” definitely works better in the lyrics, IMHO.

Speaking of whispers, Mama Cass did a little whispering of her own on “I Call Your Name.” Remember “John…John”? Well, I had heard many years ago that it might be a reference to Papa John Phillips, because Cass had a thing for him. That made sense to me at the time. But in checking around on the web for this post, I found several other possibilities and contradictions. The song itself was written (mostly) by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, so some say she was giving a wink and a nod to Lennon. And still others said that Cass had a thing for Papa Denny, not John. So, I’m not sure we can really nail this one down. Sadly, the all four (both Johns, Denny and Cass) main players are gone. I pass these speculations along to you just as I found them. Ultimately all we have on this one are weasel words and the song. I vote we listen!

“I Call Your Name”

“The Fat Angel”Too bad no one on YouTube has posted the Donovan’s album version of this. But there is the Airplane’s cover, so if you’d like to, have a listen, but be forewarned, it’s a long flight.

Fat Angel photo from

idolswine.com