Brian’s Weekly Sleevenotes – 6 June 15

Find out more about the song's in today's playlist...

Lucille - The Everly Brothers

Released both here and in The States as a double A side with the much slower, ‘So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)’. A cover of the Little Richard original, and recorded as part of their second album for the Warner Brothers label, ‘A Date With The Everly Brothers’. For the recording session, they used eight guitar players all doing the same thing in unison to make it sound like one big guitar.

A Hazy Shade Of Winter - Simon & Garfunkel

Originally forming part of their album, ‘Bookends’ and released as a single around the same time. In the States the record reached number thirteen but here in the UK it failed first time round and it wasn’t until 1991 when it was re-issued that it finally reached number thirty. Three years earlier in 1988, The Bangles covered the song and reached number two in Britain with their version being featured in the movie, ‘Less Than Zero’ featuring a very young Brad Pitt.

Anymore - Skeeter Davis & Porter Wagoner

Jasmine Records have just released a sixty track double CD containing the work of country singer Skeeter Davis under the title of her only UK hit, ‘The End Of The World. CD one contains all her American hits between 1957 and 1962 whilst the second disc features two of her albums, ‘I’ll Sing You A Song And Harmonise Too’ and her 1962 release, Skeeter Davis-Sing Duets’ on which she is joined by Porter Wagoner and from that release we’ve selected the closing track titled ‘Anymore’.

Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out Of Tune - Jack Bruce

Jack Bruce who is best remembered for his work with Cream dedicated his first solo hit album, ‘Songs For A Taylor’ to the group’s clothes designer Jeannie Franklyn who had recently passed away. Although released as his debut LP, he had previously recorded ‘Things We Like’ but the album was shelved by his record label until 1970. ‘Songs For A Taylor’ reached number six on our album charts and the opening tack on side one is ‘Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out Of Tune’ that he wrote along with the rest of the repertoire with poet, Pete Brown and features George Harrison on guitar.

Shake The Hand Of A Fool - Johnny Hallyday

The song was written by Margie Singleton and was first released by Titus Turner in 1961 then covered by Shakin’ Stevens on his 1985 album, ‘The Ultimate Rock ‘N’ Roller’. French singer , Johnny Hallyday released his single version in 1962 taken from his album, ‘Johnny Halliday Sings America’s Rockin’ Hits’. The singer and actor has been recognised as an Icon in French speaking countries and was nick-named ‘the French Elvis’. During his career, he completed nearly two hundred tours and continues to do so despite announcing his retirement in 2007. He’s sold more than eighty million records worldwide making him one of the world’s best selling artists of all time.

I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown

This became Brown’s signature tune but began life as ‘I Found You’, a song he wrote for Yvonne Fair in 1962 and recorded himself over three years later selling over a million copies in America and topping the Billboard R&B chart for six weeks. Despite his huge record sales worldwide and R&B number ones, the
Godfather of Soul never managed to top either the American or British pop charts.

I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face - Bernard Cribbins

The song written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe for their 1956 musical, ‘My Fair Lady’ based on George Bernard Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’. ‘Ive Grown Accustomed To Her Face’ was first performed by Rex Harrison who played the part of Professor Higgins, a role he reprised in the 1964 film version. This version by Bernard Cribbins was included on his album, ‘A Combination Of Cribbins’ and was selected by broadcaster Danny Baker as the outstanding record he would treasure when he appeared on Desert Island Discs in August 2011.

Dandelion - The Rolling Stones

The record was released as a double ‘A’ side with “We Love You” but when it picked up most of the plays, it effectively became recognised as the ‘A’ side and became a ‘flower power’ anthem with vocal harmonies not a million miles away from the style of The Beach Boys. Both John Lennon and Paul McCartney allegedly contributed backing vocals to ‘Dandelion’ that was also the name that Keith and his partner, Anita Pallenberg would later give to their daughter.

Chantilly Lace - Shorty Long

Big Bopper’s 1958 classic, ‘Chantilly Lace’ was recorded by Shorty Long in 1967 as the follow up to his American soul hit, ‘Function At The Junction’ but unfortunately was not well received. The single version was only mixed in mono but an alternative take with a different vocal that was over half a minute longer was prepared in stereo but never issued and remained in the Motown vaults until included on a CD of Shorty’s complete works issued by Ace in 2012. This though is the now rare original single version.

The Thoughts Of Mary Jane - Nick Drake

‘The Thoughts Of Mary Jane’ comes from Nick Drake’s first of three albums recorded in his lifetime, ‘Five Leaves Left’ released in 1969 on which he was accompanied by members of the British folk-rock groups Fairport Convention and The Pentangle. His own primary instrument was the guitar as well as being proficient at piano, clarinet, and saxophone. Despite his great talent, he sadly failed to find a wide audience during his lifetime although Drake's work has grown steadily in stature, to the extent that he now ranks among the most influential English singer-songwriters of the last 50 years. In November, 1974, Drake died from an overdose of prescribed antidepressants; he was 26 years old. Whether his death was an accident or suicide has never been resolved.