Best Unknown Songs by Famous Performer

Subject: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Peter T.
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 05:40 PM

Made up this category while listening to the re-issue of Dusty Springfield's classic "Dusty in Memphis" album (sparked by the Broken Heart thread and a bad week). On the reissue of this well-known album is a fine outtake of "You've Got A Friend" which was recorded before James Taylor got hold of it from Carole King. I was wondering about other gems by well-known performers that for some reason no one knows about -- maybe because they only perform them live, or only recorded them once on an album that died, and dragged it down with the rest. The example of Bob Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell" is also on my mind -- only issued on the Bootleg album. Any others spring to mind?

yours, Peter T.

[Some song titles in this thread have been converted to links by a Mudelf.]

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: GUEST,#1
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 06:07 PM

It's one he/she hasn't sung yet. Is this turning into another hero worship website?

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: GUEST,#2
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 06:13 PM

Edgar's song "Pillicock sat on Pillicock-hill" in King Lear

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Peter T.
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 06:16 PM

I certainly hope so. Also a picking on hero/heroines site. We are equal opportunity.
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Peter T.
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 06:18 PM

Sigh.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Matt_R
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 06:35 PM

Ooooh Peter, I just ADORE "Blind Willie McTell". There are several unknown ELO songs that are some of their best, like Jeff Lynne's folk-like 7-minute-homage to his home town of Birmingham, "Hello My Old Friend", the achingly gorgeous "When Time Stood Still", 50's rocker "Bouncer" and the lounge lizard "No Way Out." Also, there is the very very VERY rare discarded ELO song that only exists in the form of a scratchy demo "Indian Queen". One of Jeff's best, lost in the deeps of time. I plan to revive it.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: GUEST,#1
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 06:44 PM

dan evergreen almost said it all, but not quite. Gargoyle, it's your turn!

empty post referred to was deleted by a
joeclone

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 12:13 PM

Well Dave Loggins (NOT the Loggins and Messina guy!!) is pretty famous around MY record player, and his fine song "My Father's Fiddle" still does it for me.

If you can't quite place the name...remember "Please Come to Boston"?

Lonnie Johnson BECAME famous for "Careless Love", but "Mr Johnson's Swing" is a classic.

Wayne Raney's "We Need a Lot More of Jesus (And a Lot Less Rock 'n' Roll)" hit the charts, but "(I'm an) Undertakin' Daddy", is great. One of the weirdest songs I've ever heard. I think Wayne UNINTENTIONALLY recorded the necrophiliac's anthem.

Agree with "Blind Willie McTell". It's superb.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Matt_R
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 12:21 PM

Rick, I thought that "Jack Jack (The Necrophiliac)" was the necro's anthem!

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: John Hardly
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 01:18 PM

Jeeeeeez Rick I've never loved you more than at this minute! I thought I was the only fan left in the world, and Dave" (not Kenny's) "My Father's Fiddle" has been a favorite at my family sing-a-longs since the vinyl "Apprentice in a Musician's(musical?) Workshop" came out.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 01:25 PM

Umm... I was gonna suggest Pharisee by Stan Rogers, but ever since the release of From Coffee House To Cashing In, I guess maybe it's not so unknown anymore eh...

Refugee by James Keelaghan is pretty unknown, seeing as how it didn't make the first run of Timelines...

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 02:11 PM

Oh I know one...........how about Catspaw's Rag by Rick Fielding. I think that one is an unknown gem. I just love that tune and one day I do hope to be able to play it myself.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: GUEST,#1
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 06:20 PM

King David's wooing song to Bathseba, and his harp tune for it. And maybe Uriah's death song, praising David for seeing to that he died so gloriously.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 06:30 PM

John it's a great song. And sooo damn sad! Beautifully written. I always wondered what has become of Dave Loggins.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Philibuster
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 06:51 PM

I nominate Phil Ochs "You Can't Get Stoned Enough", which I'm having hell finding the chords for...

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: John Hardly
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 07:12 PM

talk about sad. How about Sunset Woman from the same album? The guy could sure spin a sad one.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 07:44 PM

"Girl from Knoxville"! Damn it, John, we gotta introduce this guy to Mudcat. He was/is brilliant. I'm going to try and hunt him down tonight.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: flattop
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 09:04 PM

Stan's Rogers' Acadian Saturday Night is a gem that most people don't hear.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: John Hardly
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 09:38 PM

...and so I've gone to see the girl from Knoxville,
I just called and she said she'd be waiting at the door with outstretched arms.
So if my friends should call or come by, please tell 'em "hi"
And that I'll be back (if I'm back at all)
By monday,
And if I'm not please send me down,

All I own...

..in care of the girl from Knoxville town.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Apr 01 - 10:43 PM

Rick,

He's got stuff up on mp3 and at this site you'll see that he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 1995. There's a little bit of a bio there.

Philobuster, you might be able to find chords at THIS SITE, where there is a mailing list which you could also query.

Good luck,

kat

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 11:04 AM

Flattop... You don't mean the version on From Coffee House... do you??? The first time I heard that, I found myself wishing that I could record silence over that track...

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: Peter T.
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 11:47 AM

Bruce Springsteen does an amazing version of Guthrie's "Vigilante Man" on the Folkways "A Vision Shared" album. The fact that it is nothing like Guthrie's is a bit disconcerting, but it is terrific. (As compared to Brian Wilson's Goodnight Irene on the same album....)

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS:Best Unknown Song by Famous Performer
From: pastorpest
Date: 08 Apr 01 - 04:13 PM

I am fond of Tommy Makem's "Ever the Winds". I have never heard a recording of it. I found it in print (notation).