Topic: Blues Singers Singing Pop and Country Songs

[Colin Brooks]

Lonnie Johnson made a recording of 'Old Fashioned Love', and should anyone want the words

OLD FASHIONED LOVE
(James P. Johnson / Cecil Mack)

I?ve got that old-fashioned love in my heart
And there, it shall always remain
You?re like that old ivy vine
Cling a little closer all the time
Through the years, joy and tears, just the same

I?ve got that old-fashioned dream in my heart
And there it shall always be
Although the land may change to sea
It will never make any change in me
I?ve got that old-fashioned love in my heart

(Rep once more)

[Mr.OMuck]

Great. Thanks!

[Pan]

In his live concert from 1972 in Harvard Dining Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Mance Lipscomb performs a very personalized version of the old pop tune "I Ain't Got Nobody". I wouldn't probably even had recognized the tune, if it weren't for the lyrics that were clearly lifted from the original, after what seems to be Mance's own (?) verse, before the chorus. You can hear the song around at 17:10 in this video:



For comparison, here's Marion Harris' version from 1916 (which might be the oldest recorded version):



Note that since the 1950's hit version by Louis Prima, this tune is often coupled with another pop song, "Just a Gigolo".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ain%27t_Got_Nobody

Cheers

Pan

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Here's Charlie McCoy singing and playing "Too Long".  This sure has a pretty melody.  Does it seem like the bridge is missing its second half to any of you?



All best,
Johnm

[Slack]

Does it seem like the bridge is missing its second half to any of you?

Yes, it seems very quick vocal bridge, and on the break, it sounds like they (or charlie) loses track... they sound off at about 1:25

[Johnm]

I agree with you, John, and it would make more sense musically, too.  Where the bridge ends, it's only half of the way back to the A part.  It kind of jumps there in a way that seems really abrupt.

[banjochris]

Sounds like they were trying to make the song a little more swing-like, and Charlie starts playing the old bridge then remembers the new version.

This is IMHO the best version, better than the above or the Sheiks' versions:

!Too Long

[Johnm]

Thanks, Chris.  That's how the bridge should go!
All best,
Johnm

[Slack]

Thanks for posting Chris - much better!

[banjochris]

Such a great song -- should be much better known than it is. The Sheiks' version has a little "verse" intro before the chorus starts. It's interesting McCoy kept reworking it.

I also think it's kind of funny that in the "swing" version with more modern-sounding chords and runs, Charlie still has his mando strung in octaves on the G and D courses so it still has an old-timey sound.

[Slack]

It is a such great song... it would be a good candidate for frankie's SOTW thread...

I thought the mando sounded "odd" against the swing chords, your ear is epic Chris, I'll have to go back and listen again... I wrote it off to the recording engineer... ha!