Tag Archives: James Brown

Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan - The songs he didn't write, George Harrison

Bob Dylan: Something (George Harrison)

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bob dylan george harrison 1971

 

Something in the way she moves
Attracts me like no other lover
Something in the way she woos me
–

I’ve always liked the way George Harrison plays guitar—restrained and good.
~Bob Dylan (to Ron Rosenbaum, Nov 1977)

He was a giant, a great, great soul, with all the humanity, all the wit and humor, all the wisdom, the spirituality, the common sense of a man and compassion for people. He inspired love and had the strength of a hundred men. He was like the sun, the flowers and the moon and we shall miss him enormously. The world is a profoundly emptier place without him.
~Bob Dylan (George Harrison’s Obituary, 30 Nov 2001)

From Wikipedia:

Released 6 October 1969 (US)
31 October 1969 (UK)
Format 7″
Recorded 25 February, 16 April, 2 May, 15 August 1969
EMI Studios, London
Genre Rock, pop
Length 2:59
Label Apple
Writer(s) George Harrison
Producer George Martin
Certification 2x Platinum (RIAA)

“Something” is a song by the Beatles, featured on their 1969 album Abbey Road. It was released that same year as a double A-sidedsingle with another track from the album, “Come Together”. “Something” was the first Beatles song written by lead guitarist George Harrison to appear as an A-side, and the only song written by him to top the US charts while he was in the band. The single was also one of the first Beatles singles to contain tracks already available on an LP album.

beatles something

John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the band’s principal songwriters, both praised “Something” as one of the best songs Harrison had written, or that the group had to offer. As well as critical acclaim, the single achieved commercial success, topping the Billboard charts in the United States and making the top five in the United Kingdom. The song has been covered by over 150 artists, making it the second-most covered Beatles song after “Yesterday”. Artists who have covered the song include Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, James Brown, Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Ike & Tina Turner, The Miracles, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker,Isaac Hayes, Julio Iglesias, Mina, and Phish. Harrison is quoted as saying that his favourite version of the song was James Brown’s, which he kept in his personal jukebox.
… read more over @ wikipedia

I don’t want to leave her now
You know I believe and how

Somewhere in her smile she knows
That I don’t need no other lover
Something in her style that shows me

I don’t want to leave her now
You know I believe and how

Other notable versions:

Something:

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James Brown, Music Calendar, Soul

May 3: James Brown Birthday

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james brown

When I’m on stage, I’m trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don’t go to church to find trouble, they go there to lose it.
~James Brown

The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.
~James Brown

“Soul Brother Number One,” “the Godfather of Soul,” “the Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” “Mr. Dynamite” — those are mighty titles, but no one can question that James Brown earned them more than any other performer. Other singers were more popular, others were equally skilled, but few other African-American musicians were so influential over the course of popular music. And no other musician, pop or otherwise, put on a more exciting, exhilarating stage show: Brown’s performances were marvels of athletic stamina and split-second timing.
~Richie Unterberger (allmusic.com)

Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – from TV program Shindig:

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Music Calendar

May 03 in music history

James Brown: born May 3, 1933 (read more)“Soul Brother Number One,” “the Godfather of Soul,” “the Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” “Mr. Dynamite” — those are mighty titles, but no one can question that James Brown earned them more than any other performer. Other singers were more popular, others were equally skilled, but few other African-American musicians were so influential over the course of popular music. And no other musician, pop or otherwise, put on a more exciting, exhilarating stage show: Brown’s performances were marvels of athletic stamina and split-second timing.”
~Richie Unterberger (allmusic.com)		 james-brown
 Bob Dylan: 4th Slow Train Coming Recording Session, 3 May 1979 (read more) “Today I’m accused of being a follower of religion. But I’ve always been a follower! My thoughts, my personal needs have always been expressed through my songs; you can feel them there even in ‘Mr Tambourine Man’. When I write a song, when I make a record, I don’t think about whether it’ll sell millions of copies. I only think about making it, the musical end-product, the sound, and the rhythmic effect of the words. It’s purely a technical piece of work because the most important thing is to come out with something that’s perfect artistically. Even Charlie Chaplin used to say that and I respect him for that judgment.”
~Bob Dylan (to Sandra Jones – June 1981)		  bob dylan slow train coming
 Peter “Pete” Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead Belly’s “Goodnight, Irene”, which topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. Members of the Weavers were blacklisted during the McCarthy Era. In the 1960s, he re-emerged on the public scene as a prominent singer of protest music in support of international disarmament, civil rights, counterculture and environmental causes.  Pete_Seeger
 Dave Dudley (May 3, 1928 – December 22, 2003), born David Darwin Pedruska, was an American country music singer best known for his truck-driving country anthems of the 1960s and 1970s and his semi-slurred baritone. His signature song was “Six Days on the Road,” and he is also remembered for “Vietnam Blues,” “Truck Drivin’ Son-of-a-Gun,” and “Me and ol’ C.B.”. Other recordings included Dudley’s duet with Tom T. Hall, “Day Drinking,” and his own Top 10 hit, “Fireball Rolled A Seven,” supposedly based on the career and death of Edward Glenn “Fireball” Roberts.  davedudley
 “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” (recorded: May 3 1952 Castle Studios – Nashville, Tennessee). Written by J. D. “Jay” Miller, and originally recorded by Kitty Wells. It was an answer song to the Hank Thompson hit “The Wild Side of Life.”The song — which blamed unfaithful men for creating unfaithful women — became the first No. 1 Billboard country hit for a solo female artist. In addition to helping establish Wells as country music’s first major female star, “It Wasn’t God…” paved the way for other female artists, particularly Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, and songs where women defied the typical stereotype of being submissive to men and putting up with their oft-infidel ways.  KittyWells honkytonkAngels
Bruce Springsteen: Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View,CA May 03, 1988 (read more) roses & broken hearts springsteen
Neil Young: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, May 03, 2009 (Videos) neil young new orlans jazz 2009

Spotify Playlist – May 03
Music Calendar, Rolling Stones

Today: Bill Wyman is 77 Happy birthday

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bill_wyman

I didn’t want to stay in the Stones, and be stuck in a position having to play a music I didn’t like anymore and that restricted me from doing all the others things I’m interested in because of time.
~Bill Wyman

I wanted a variety in my life but after a couple of years I thought that music is what I do so maybe I should start doing it again.
~Bill Wyman

From Wikipedia:

Birth name William George Perks
Also known as Lee Wyman
Born 24 October 1936 (age 76)
Lewisham, London EnglandUnited Kingdom
Genres Rock, rock and roll, swing,rhythm and blues, jazz, blues,skiffle
Occupations Musician, composer, author,record producer, film producer,bandleader, photographer,inventor
Instruments Vocals, bass guitar, guitar,keyboards, percussion,autoharp
Years active 1962–present
Labels Velvel, Koch International,Rolling Stones, BMG
Associated acts The Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Wilie & the Poor Boys, The Cliftons
Website www.billwyman.com

Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings – Chicken Shack Boogie:

Bill Wyman (born William George Perks; 24 October 1936) is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1993. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. He has worked producing both records and film, and has scored music for film in movies and television.

Wyman has kept a journal since he was a child after World War II. It has been useful to him as an author who has written seven books, selling two million copies. Wyman’s love of art has additionally led to his proficiency in photography and his photographs have hung in galleries around the world. Wyman’s lack of funds in his early years led him to create and build his own fretless bass guitar. He became an amateur archaeologist and enjoys relic hunting; The Times published a letter about his hobby (Friday 2 March 2007). He designed and markets a patented Bill Wyman signature metal detector, which he has used to find relics in the English countryside dating back to the era of the Roman Empire.

bill wyman

As a businessman, he owns several establishments including the famous Sticky Fingers Café, a rock & roll-themed bistro serving American cuisine first opened in 1989 in the Kensington area of London and later, two additional locations in Cambridge and Manchester, England.

Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Albert Lee & Peter Frampton – Green River:

From allmusic – Jason Ankeny:
As a member of the Rolling Stones for three decades, Bill Wyman established himself among the greatest bassists in rock & roll history; in tandem with drummer Charlie Watts, he belonged to one of the most stalwart rhythm sections in popular music, perfectly complementing the theatrics of Mick Jagger and the gritty guitar leads of Keith Richards.  …. read more @ allmusic.com

 Rolling Stones

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bill wyman compendium

Album of the day – Bill Wyman – Compendium Complete Solo Recordings:

 

Other October 24:

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James Brown, Music Calendar, Soul

Today: The late James Brown was born in 1933 – 80 years ago

JB

When I’m on stage, I’m trying to do one thing: bring people joy. Just like church does. People don’t go to church to find trouble, they go there to lose it.
~James Brown

The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.
~James Brown

“Soul Brother Number One,” “the Godfather of Soul,” “the Hardest Working Man in Show Business,” “Mr. Dynamite” — those are mighty titles, but no one can question that James Brown earned them more than any other performer. Other singers were more popular, others were equally skilled, but few other African-American musicians were so influential over the course of popular music. And no other musician, pop or otherwise, put on a more exciting, exhilarating stage show: Brown’s performances were marvels of athletic stamina and split-second timing.
~Richie Unterberger (allmusic.com)

Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – Live at Montreux:

James Brown tribute youtube playlist:

From Wikipedia:

Birth name James Joseph Brown, Jr.
Born May 3, 1933
Barnwell, South Carolina, United States
Origin Toccoa, Georgia
Died December 25, 2006 (aged 73)
Atlanta, Georgia
Genres R&B, soul, funk, doo-wop, rock ‘n’ roll, blues, jazz
Occupations Musician, songwriter, dancer, bandleader, record producer, actor
Instruments Vocals, drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, organ
Years active 1954–2006

James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is one of the founding fathers of funk music and is a major figure of 20th century popular music and dance. In a career that spanned six decades, Brown profoundly influenced the development of many different musical genres.

james brown

 

I Feel Good:

Brown moved on a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly “Africanized” approach to music making. First coming to national public attention in the mid 1950s as a member of the R&B singing group The Famous Flames, Brown performed in concerts, first making his rounds across the Chitlin’ Circuit, and then across the country and later around the world, along with appearing in shows on television and in movies. Although he contributed much to the music world through his hitmaking, Brown holds the record as the artist who charted the most singles on the Billboard Hot 100 without ever hitting number one on that chart.

james-brown

For many years, Brown’s touring show was one of the most extravagant productions in American popular music. At the time of Brown’s death, his band included three guitarists, two bass guitar players, two drummers, three horns and a percussionist. The bands that he maintained during the late 1960s and 1970s were of comparable size, and the bands also included a three-piece amplified string section that played during ballads. Brown employed between 40 and 50 people for the James Brown Revue, and members of the revue traveled with him in a bus to cities and towns all over the country, performing upwards of 330 shows a year with almost all of the shows as one-nighters. In 1986, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2000 into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Brown died on Christmas Day 2006 from heart failure after becoming ill two days earlier and being hospitalized for hours. He is buried in Beech Island, South Carolina.

Night Train:

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