Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)

Subject: RE: Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 04:45 PM

I had no idea that the singer of "Hundred Pounds of Clay" was the writer of the imcomparably hip "Compared To What," probably the best-selling jazz single record ever.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)
From: gnu
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 03:34 PM

I just read it at Yahoo news. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)
From: NormanD
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 03:31 PM

Thanks for the info, Larry. Will definitely look this up.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 12:17 PM

His last CD (recorded last year) called Evolution's Child is incredible! Mostly music by Ted Brancato (jazz pianist) and classic melodies by great jazz writers (eg. Wayne Shorter), with lyrics by Gene McDaniels. An absolutely amazing voice!

Subject: RE: Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)
From: GUEST,NormanD
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 01:56 AM

I had thought he'd vanished from the music scene, then I "rediscovered" him a few months ago via his web site. You can see some live home recordings of new songs, from a dignified older man, still very funky.

He had a fascinating career. He'd been groomed as a pop singer in the early 1960s, controlled by the studio producers of Liberty records and had a string of hits, provided a lot by top writers of the day like Goffin & King (Point Of No Return), and Leiber & Stoller (Another Tear Falls). There is a great YouTube clip of the latter that was part of a pre-Beatles pop film called "It's Trad Dad, Dad". Then he tired of being a pop singer, started writing his own material and became more of a "political" singer in the early Black Consciouness period. He recorded a couple of albums for Atlantic in the late 1960s which still sound good: a combination of proto-funk, acoustic soul, sharp lyrics ahead of their time. In fact, parts of them were sampled extensively decades later, and must have kept him well on the royalties.

I think, in later years, he worked when he wanted to, rather than had to: a bit of production here, a new song there that kept him in royalties. So it's a great pity that he seemed to be coming out of retirement again when he died.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 12:12 PM

An unrecognized talent in the UK, IMO. I only really recall cover versions by Frankie Vaughan and Craig Douglas - no disresrect intended.
I have Compared To What and will play it tonight as a small tribute.
RIP Mr. M.

Subject: RE: Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 10:28 AM

I don't want you!
I don't need you!
I don't love you anymore
As I walk out the door.

RIP Gene
S

Subject: Obit: Gene McDaniels (Song Writer)
From: voyager
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 10:23 AM

Mudcat - No folk thread here, just generations of Monster Songwriting talent (A Hundred Pounds of Clay, Tower of Strength, Feel Like Making Love)....Compared to What!

LA Times Obit - Gene McDaniels

Gene McDaniels Interview (You Tube)

"I love a Life and Life I love. We're hanging on thru push and shove.
Possession is the motivation that is hanging up this G*D* nation. Looks like we alway end up in a rut.   Try to make it real, compared to what!"

Nuff Said.... RIP GMcD
voyager