Two classic songs, that's for sure.

 

Dave,

About three weeks ago I found an 8 CD boxed set "Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947 to 1974". What a great collection. I think that Ahmet Ertghan (sp) had maybe the best ear fro R & B of any of the record producers.

A minute ago I was listening to "A Beggar For Your Kisses" by the Diamonds. Right now I'm listening to "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean" by Ruth Brown.

I think the later (1955 to 1965) Doo Wop was better in general, but some of this early R & B is great.

 

I find the music of the 50s and early 60s to be a little too simple (and I mean that in purely technical terms) for my tastes. Formulaic, even. I'm not talking about the jazz of that era, but rather the birth of rock... It was fun, jubilant music, but not all that engaging (to me).

For me, the music that happened around the death of disco -- late 70s, early 80s -- is what I come back to. Just before the hair bands got going, there were extremely complex rhythms merging with the birth of synthetic music. Stuff like Yes, Earth Wind and Fire... that's my kind of music.

I suppose a lot just simply has to do with what kind of music you listened to as a kid.

 

Chaz. When I'm working I like to listen to some of the 70s and 80s stuff, but when I relax or am reading, I enjoy listening to classical music or sometimes some Yanni, Enya or Secret Garden (flame suit is all zipped up)

 

Great stuff. Got that, and a lot more!

 

I had originally avoided reading this thread because I thought it might be a slam on Italians (perhaps better placed in the Politics sub-forum).

Fortunately however, I ventured in and got pulled back to the music of my early days. One of my many early attempts at time structuring included booking pop acts during the 60s. We ran shows with the Marvin Gaye Review, Chuck Berry and Dick and DeeDee (anyone remember them?). Also did Paul Revere and the Raiders, Sonny and Cher and the Beach Boys (on the day JFK was killed). Probably one of the high points was the Munsters.

I guess I wandered away from Doo Wop when I started to get the feeling that they all sounded the same. Now I like Blue Grass Wop.

 

Dick and DeeDee did a song with lyrics that went

The river deep
And the mountain so high
Can't get across to the other side.

Don't you give up baby,
Don't you cry,

I don't remember the name of the song, but I used to love it. I think they were one hit wonders, I don't remember anything else by them.

 

And here it is going out to ralper who requested a "nice song from a one hit wonder":

"The Mountain's High"

The mountain's high and the valley's so deep,
Can't get across to the other side.
Don't you give up baby, don't you cry,
Don't you give up til I reach the other side.
I was lonely baby, I couldn't sleep
The night they tood you from my side.
I was a lonely soul until you became my goal
And then I saw the spark of love
And then the stars fell from up above, oh yeah.
I know someday we will meet again,
But I don't k ow exactly where or when,
But baby, if fate has its way
We'll meet again some other day.
Doo Wop...

 

OK, Rob...

You didn't directly ask, but here goes. You might even remember some of these. I particularly remember "Thou Shalt Not Steal"

All songs written or co-written by Dick St. John unless otherwise noted


Tell Me

Tell me where I came to lose your love (tell me)
Tell me, what did I do wrong?
Was it only make believe?
Why it lasted oh so long

Could it be that you found someone new? (Tell me)
Am I just a memory?
Tell me please, I have to know
It means everything to me

I thought our love would never end
That shows how blind love can be
Won't you please say you care
& bring your love back here to me?

(repeat verse 1)

Why it lasted oh so long
Why it lasted oh so long

When You're Young And In Love

When you're young & in love (so in love)
The whole world seems to know
Love is like a candle light
Always giving off a glow

When you're young & in love (so in love)
All your troubles pass on by
There is nothing in this whole wide world
That could ever make you cry

When you're in love, you walk in the clouds
The night time turns to day
& the dark clouds that cover the sky
They just seem to float away

(repeat verse 1)

The whole world seems to know
When you're young & in love

Love Is A Once In A Lifetime Thing

Bow your head & say a prayer
Drive away all your cares
I am here, here with you
& I'm here, here to stay
DICK: Oh Dee Dee, I love you
DEE DEE: Oh Dick, I love you
DICK (double-tracked): & I'll never go away

For love is a once in a lifetime thing
It takes time to grow
& now I know that a love like ours
Is a once in a lifetime thing

(spoken):
DICK: Bow your head, & then Dee Dee, just say a prayer
DEE DEE: I will, Dick, & then I'll drive away all your cares

I am here, here with you
& I'm here, here to stay
DICK: Oh Dee Dee, I love you
DEE DEE: Oh Dick, I love you
DICK (double-tracked): & I'll never go away

Where Did The Good Times Go

Once I was your one & only, oh yeah
Then one day, like the wind, you began to change
You told me to go away, to go away
& now I'm so lonel without you
Oh tell me, where did all the good times go?

No more party lights for you & me
No more walks in the dark to the movie show
Last night, I saw you, I saw you, I saw you kiss another, yes I did
Oh tell me, where did all the good times go?

(instrumental)

Last night, I saw you, I saw you, I saw you kiss another, yes I did
Oh tell me, where did all the good times go?

Guess I'll call you for the last time forever
'Cause there's somethin', somethin' I just gotta know
Please excuse me, excuse me, excuse me for this intrusion, oh darlin'
But tell me, where did all the good times go?

You know, you know, you know I'm gonna make you over
& you know, you know, you know I won't be happy without you, baby
But I gotta know
...& fade

Turn Around
(Malvina Reynolds/Alan Greene/Harry Belafonte)

(spoken, by Dick):
Life goes short & man grows old
Summer's gone & the wind turns cold

Where are you going, my little one, little one?
Where are you going, my sonny, my own?
Turn around & you're 2, turn around & you're 4
Turn around, you're a young man going out of the door

Where are you going, my little one, little one?
Pigtails & petticoats, where have you gone?
(x2):
Turn around & you're tiny, turn around & you're grown
Turn around, you're a young wife with babes of your own

Where have they gone, our little ones, little ones?
Where have they gone, our children, our own?
(x2):
Turn around & they're young, turn around & they're old
Turn around & they've gone, & we've no one to hold

All My Trials

All my trials, Lord, soon be over

Hush, little baby, don't you cry
You know all men were born to die
All my trials, Lord, soon be over

The river Jordan is muddy & cold
It chills the body, yet warms the soul
All my trials, Lord, soon be over

Too late, my brothers, too late, but never mourn
All my trials, Lord, soon be over

If freedom were a thing that money could buy
The rich would live & the poor would die
All my trials, Lord, soon be over

All my trials, Lord, soon be over

Thou Shalt Not Steal
(John D. Loudermilk)

(parenthetical lyrics are Dee Dee's soprano ad-libs)

Thou shalt not steal, no no
Thou shalt not steal
That's what the good book says
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not steal, no no
But someone is stealin' you away from me

I wonder if he really don't know any better
(Maybe he don't know)
But he'll reap exactly, what he sows
(Yeah he gonna reap just what he sows)
If he don't, he'll find out someday when (yeah yeah yeah)
Somebody steals you from him (hear me call you now)

Thou shalt not steal (no no no)
Thou shalt not steal
That's what the good book says
(repeat & fade):
Thou shalt not steal (no no no no)

Just Round The River Bend
(Don Ralke/Deeda Patrick)

When a star shoots across the sky
Making trails with its light
Wonder where a star goes
When it falls from sight

CHORUS:
Just round the river bend
Down by the sea
I'll find the rainbow's end
Waiting for me

When a dream warms you in the night
Bringing love's tender song
Wonder where a dream goes
When the night is gone

(chorus)

Be My Baby

(parenthetical phrases are Dee Dee's sopranos)

Be my little baby, yeah; be my baby, do
I don't need nobody else; all I need is you
To be my baby (baby I love you)
Be my little baby (bay I need you, yeah)
If you want a love that's true
Take this love I offer you; come on now
Be my baby

Be my little baby, yeah; be my special one
You will never ever cry; all you'll have is fun
If you'll be my baby (baby I love you)
Be my little baby (baby I need you, yeah)
I would treat you extra good
Just the way a lover should; come on now
Be my baby

(repeat verse 1)

Be my baby (come on baby)
Be my baby (can't you hear me call you)
Be my baby (ooo)
Be my baby (come on honey)
...& fade

Can't Get Enough Of Your Love

Do I want you, ooo do I need you
Baby baby I try so hard to please you
'Cause your sweet love is drivin' me crazy
I can't get enough of your love, baby baby

& it's true that I need you, ooo how I love you
I spend my days & nights thinkin' of ya
I love you more & more every day
I can't get enough of your love, baby baby

Stay a little while, ooo baby & after a while, wo baby
Ooo baby, ooo baby, ooo baby, ooo

(repeat all of above)
(repeat verse 1, then fade)

 

I don't know if this one qualifys but the album called Pyrmid by The Alan Parsons Project was one with synthetic music that just blew me away, and I still play it a lot a high volume.