Lyr Req: Songs by the Limeliters

Subject: Songs by the Limeliters
From: GUEST,Mike Strobel
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 08:32 AM

I've been asked to perform some songs by the Limeliters.I'm not to familiar with any of their songs and wondering if any of you could suggest some. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: IanC
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 08:42 AM

You could try their official site here or one of their tribute pages (like this one. Should list plenty of their song titles. You will probably have to search a little further for the lyrics then.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: GUEST,chrisj
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 03:32 AM

'The Limeliters', a name to conjure with for sure. They were among my earliest favourites of the folk revival of the 50s and 60s. Hard to believe how fresh and 'gutsy' they sounded pushing their way up through the undergrowth of pop and rock on radio. With only one of the original trio left (I checked the link) are they really 'THE Limeliters'?

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: John Kidder
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 03:50 AM

I remember the Limeliters at the University of British Columbia in the fall of '65, madras cotton shirts, chinos and banjos. Some of us still wore ties to school.

"Those Were The Days", "Mairie's Wedding", "the Ruckus at Blue Mountain Lake", "The Blue and The Gray", others.

They were followed in the same hall two days later by some new people: pulled up in a hearse, bailed out wearing long robes and colours of all sorts, came into the auditorium and set up all sorts of gear and began to play. Weird new music - within half an hour the place was packed - the Jefferson Airplane had come to town.

Transition time, them days.

John Kidder

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 09:14 AM

Chrisj asks: "With only one of the original trio left (I checked the link) are they really 'THE Limeliters'?"

I saw them in concert last spring, and chatted a bit afterward with original member Alex Hassilev (actually, I mostly listened to him!). The trio made it very clear that they were dedicated to performing in and preserving the style and flavor of the original group's music. Unfortunately, one of the originals (Lou Gottlieb) has passed away (suddenly, as I understand), and Glenn Yarbrough is busy with his solo career, but apparently the musicians who replaced them were carefully chosen with the Limeliter "sound" in mind.

If you can see the present trio in concert, I highly recommend that you do so.... while Hassilev is still with us! The title song of their current CD, "Until We Get It Right!", is a riot (I've already learned and performed that one!). But for classic Limeliters material, you'll probably want to include "Have Some Madiera, My Dear" in your repertoire.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: LR Mole
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 11:31 AM

Didn't Alex Hassilev do some production work, later? All I remember (and I could be wrong) of their rep are "(Puttin' On the Agony) Puttin' On the Style" and "There's a Meetin' Here Tonight".

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: John Kidder
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 01:58 PM

SharonA:

"Have Some Madiera, My Dear" is a Limeliters cover.

The real version is by Flanders and Swann on "At Thre Drop of a Hat", from sometime in the 50s.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 02:06 PM

John Kidder: True! But I thought that quite a few, if not the majority, of Limeliters songs were written by other people (am I wrong?). People certainly identify "Madiera" with The Limeliters in any case (kinda like "You've Got a Friend" and James Taylor, though Carole King wrote that one, did she not?).

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Amos
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 04:16 PM

I am sorry to say that the lyric I remember them best for is commercial:

L&M has found the secret
That unlocks the flavor
Unlocks the flavor
Unlocks the flavor
L&M has found the secret
That unlocks the flavor
In a fiiiiilter ciiiiiiigaaaareeeeeeeeete!!!!

The only reason I remember it is the unusual chord sequence on the final flourish -- from C to F to G to G# and back to C.

A

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Aug 01 - 04:27 PM

And don't forget the Coca-Cola commercial theme "Things Go Better With Coke"! (They sang that at the concert I attended, but did not sing the L&M theme... not PC these days, I suppose.)

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 01:42 PM

The current edition of the limelighters is the best ever.
To understand them, recall this. There was a time when
even people like Gordon Lightfoot couldn't get their
efforts heard without a "mouthpiece".
Record companies wanted nothing less than "polished
professionalism".
S the limelighters combined powerful, classically
trained voices and perfect harmonic blend (for male
parts, of course) with a the notion of seeking gigs
in intimate nightclubs and small opera houses.

They were and are way good enough to work without
power. (Alas, I believe they've sadly retired their
familiar bass fiddle).

I suppose you could call them a tribute group.
Although they make considerable effort to put their
own sound on each tune.

They do a potpouri of succesful acoustic songwriters.
When they do a Chapin or Ochs tune, acknowlegements
and respect are always prominent and sincere.

If you are familiar, for instance, with Harry's "
"Circle or Och's "Power & Glory", you really have to
hear what they do with them . . . it's beyond my
ability to describe.
Bob P

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 03:13 PM

My favorite Limeliters song is one nobody's mentioned yet: "What the World Needs Now". Glenn Yarborough's voice on that one could give you shivers, and it was sort of the epitome of the sixties song, I thought.

Lin

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: GUEST,Bob P
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 04:29 PM

Reading over my post from before, it sounded a bit terse to mention their beloved bass fiddle as being "retired". That they now feature an electric bass, which makes them not entirely acoustic, is correct, but the fiddle was not "retired". It was Lou's! I. e. It belonged to the late, original member and group honcho Lou Gottlieb! Even if nobody else caught that; I'm still very glad to have corrected it. And, gotta add that their best effort was and still is "There's A Meeting Here Tonight". Says me, Bob P

Subject: ADD: Malaguena Salerosa^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Aug 01 - 06:52 PM

I guess the quintessential Limeliters song for me was "Malaguena Salerosa. I didn't really like Yarbrough, but he did a great job on the lead on this song.
-Joe Offer-

---

Malaguena Salerosa
(Sorry, no tildes or accent marks available)
(Galindo/Ramirez)

Que bonitos ojos tienes
Debajo de esas dos cejas,
Debajo de esas dos cejas,
Que bonitos ojos tienes!

Ellos me quieren mirar,
Pero si tu no los dejas,
Pero si tu no los dejas
Ni siquiera parpadear.

Malaguena salerosa,
Besar tus labios quisiera,
Besar tus labios quisiera,
Malaguena salerosa.

Y decirte nina hermosa
Eres linda y hechicera,
Eres linda y hechicera,
Como el candor de una rosa.

Si por pobre me desprecias
Yo te concedo razon,
Yo te concedo razon,
Si por pobre me desprecias.

Yo no te ofrezco riquezas
Te ofrezco mi corazon,
Te ofrezco mi corazon
A cambio de mi pobreza.

Subject: ADD: Vasectomy (Limeliters)
From: Genie
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 03:55 AM

The Limeliters "Vasectomy"
Lyrics

Vasectomy

This is a song that discusses a subject rarely mentioned in folk music: minor surgery!

Well, I went to see my Doctor,
I said, "Doc, I can't pay my bills!
The rent's all spent, The truck's got a dent,
And I think I'm gettin' the chills
From being forced to sleep alone,
You see this house just ain't no home,
I can't afford no kids, My life is on the skids,
'Cause my woman says "Leave me alone,
Unless you get a vasectomy! You ought to get a vasectomy!
Just one little male alteration
Can keep us from another altercation!
Get a vasectomy!" You ought to get a vasectomy!
Oh what a vas deferens there could be!"

Well, the next thing I know, I'm lying on a table
With a light shinin' in my eyes!
They strapped my wrists, They strapped my ankles,
And they double-strapped my thighs!

The nurses were a gigglin'
And I was a wigglin', Most uncomfortably,
When the Doc walked in, With a perverted grin,
And here's what he said to me:

"It only hurts For a little while,
That's what they tell me, That's what they say!"

Oooeeeiy! Ooooh! Aiiiy Oh!

Well, it's two weeks later, And I feel a little better,
My mind is more at ease.
The rent's still spent, The truck's got a dent,
But my woman's no longer a tease!

And even down at the office,
There is a lot more interest in me,
The girls all grin when I walk in!
And brother, they mean to please
A man with a vasectomy!
You ought to get a vasectomy!
Like a sun-kissed orange, I've been squeezed,
'Cause its all juice and there's no seed!

Well, a vasedctomy! You ought to get a vasectomy!
Oh what a vas deferens!
It's beginnin' to make a little sense!
Oh what a vas deferens there could...'

Here is the part that I like the most,
It takes the danger out of bein' close!

Oh what a vas deferens there could..

They snip those little suckers right in two
And clamp 'em of with super-glue!

Oh what a vas deferens there could be!

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: iamjohnne
Date: 04 Oct 01 - 01:15 PM

I remember having a Limeliters vinyl back in the day. I like "Those Were the Days" but the song that comes to mind most when someone mentions the Limeliters is "Uncle Vinny Had one to Many"

Johnne

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 May 04 - 01:04 PM

I forgot about Pretty Far Out a pretty far-out version of "Our Goodman."
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Once Famous
Date: 25 May 04 - 05:29 PM

At least the Limeliters still have Alex.

The Kinbgston Trio is now performing with no original members since Bob Shane was forced to retire due to health reasons. Plenty of hits there being performed by no one on all those records.

That continuity is over.

Makes you think and cherish how Peter, Paul, and Mary are still intact.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 25 May 04 - 06:52 PM

Their sound has always been true to the original---and, though, most of the songs are better than the one I am about to mention I just loved the take they had on the Yiddish song--Romania. Funny as hell--as was the Flanders and Swan piece. In that case, I think it even better than the original.

As to trivia re: members. At one time the very talented Red Grammar was member of the group---sang the high harmony.


Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe_F
Date: 25 May 04 - 08:39 PM

Bill_H: I couldn't disagree more about their rendition of "Madeira, M'Dear". I still remember it with pain after 30 years or more. IMO they succeeded, against all odds, in making the song *not funny*. I should concede, tho, that I was prejudiced against The Limeliters by the vulgarity of their name. The world would get on very well without limeliting.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 May 04 - 08:41 PM

Bill, what album is "Romania" on?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 26 May 04 - 05:16 PM

Rumania, Rumania is on TONIGHT:IN PERSON. That LP also has Madeira M'Dear.

Gee, Joe F if the name Limeliters offends you because , I assume, you mean they are saying they are in the Limelight (great theatrical traditions) you would surely not like the title of another of their LPs---The SLIGHTLY FABULOUS LIMELITERS.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Cool Beans
Date: 26 May 04 - 05:41 PM

Here's a 1988 Detroit Free Press story aobut the Limeliters. IT addresses some of the issues in this thread.


At the height of the folk music boom in the early '60s, there were two
types of fans -- the masses who watched "Hootenanny" on TV and the folk purists who watched but were ashamed to admit it.

That means nearly everyone saw the Limeliters. Nearly everyone enjoyed the trio, too, but some were ashamed to admit it.

"Yes, we were tarred with the brush of folk music as saleable," Limeliter Alex Hassilev said in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "We certainly never consciously set out to pop-ify anything. We just sang folk songs the way we wanted to sing them."
The Limeliters -- originals Hassilev, who'll turn 56 on July 11, and Lou Gottlieb, 64, and relatively new addition Red Grammer, who's about 35, Hassilev says -- are alive, well, recording and performing.
And having been around, on and off, since 1959, a funny thing has
happened to the Limeliters: They've gained a measure of espectability in the folk community.
As Hassilev points out, "Back in the '60s we never did any folk
festivals; nobody ever asked us." This year they finally did one -- the well-regarded Kerrville (Tex.) Folk Festival. "They loved us," said Hassilev. "We loved it."
After Yarbrough left in 1963 to embark on a solo career, the group
disbanded. In 1973 they reunited with Yarbrough and did reunion concerts for four months a year until 1977. "From 1977 to 1980 we didn't work," Hassilev said.
Then they discovered tenor and songwriter Grammer "and decided he was so good it drew us out retirement."
Nowadays they're on the road 15 to 18 weeks a year. "We don't want to work any harder than that."
The cu rent Limeliters repertoire is a mixture of old and new, Hassilev said. "Needless to say, when you go back as far as we do, the audience won't let us forget a lot of the old ones, 'Have Some Madeira, M'Dear,' 'There's a Meetin' Here Tonight.' . . . We also do a variety of folk or folk-like songs that are more contemporary."
There are, says Hassilev, "only two places for an act that's been around as long as ours to go -- you either become living legends or you get out of the business. Have we become living legends? To a slight extent, but not as much as I would like it to be.
"I think there's somewhat more respect for what we do. The folk community always looked askance at the Limeliters. I never quite understood that. In my opinion the Limeliters were always a lot more straightforward than sometimes the critics felt we were.
"We were interested in making good music. We still are."

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 26 May 04 - 06:08 PM

Thanks for that great article. I think he hit the nail on the proverbial head. Given the time frame they were surely as "folk" or more than some others.

Red Grammer, who I have had on my program a number of times, has a great voice and now tours with his band, solo, and also does many Family (aas they are now called) concerts.   He has a few really good children's CDs out and one---and adult one--that I really like---Free Falling.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe_F
Date: 26 May 04 - 06:44 PM

Bill Hahn:

You are absolutely right. I am glad to have escaped The Slightly Fabulous.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 26 May 04 - 07:18 PM

Flattery will get you everywhere.

Bill H

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 May 04 - 06:15 AM

I hate it when people say vicious things about musicians. You may not like a musician or in this case a group of musicians work.   But they seem to have given a lot of people pleasure in a long career. Its not as if they were serial killers or something - why the angst....

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Once Famous
Date: 28 May 04 - 03:51 PM

Yeah why the angst? And Joe F., what is so seriously wrong with limeliting?

These guys were good and a credit to folk music.

Isn't amazing how the purist/commercial thing still breathes after all of these years by the same old and I do mean old whiners?

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe_F
Date: 28 May 04 - 06:44 PM

I will pass over the question whether it is vicious to call something vulgar. You are right to point out that I am in enemy territory here & would do well to make myself inconspicuous, especially as there is little cost in doing so. If I went on at any length about my attitude toward show business, you would skip over "vicious" & go straight to "insane".

This is probably the first thread I have contributed to in which I have made the mistake of commenting about a performance, live or recorded. Mainly I am interested in songs. When it comes to talk about people connected with the songs, I am mostly interested in the ones mentioned in the songs (individuals or types), secondarily in the writers of the songs & their intended audiences, and scarcely at all in performers & performances. I dare say that for most Mudcatters that order is precisely reversed.

I am sentimental about some performers (perhaps a dozen), mostly because they sing songs that I like, so that I have a motive to buy their recordings. If they come to town, I go & see them, partly because I am not immune to the vulgar wish to interact with people I appreciate, and partly because I take an ironic pleasure in imitating normal people from time to time. But going thru such motions is far from the center of the consolation that folk music gives me. It is less important than singing while I wash the dishes -- less important, indeed, than reading the Mudcat.

As for the Limeliters, they at any rate got my attention. If they hadn't happened to leave a bad taste in my mouth 35 years ago, I wouldn't know them from the Bee Gees or the Beatles.

Subject: ADD: Rumania, Rumania
From: GUEST,Eric Nelsen
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:00 AM

Joe Offer and I were knocking our heads together trying to come up with the lyrics to "Proschai" from Tonight: In Person. I have also been digging for the lyrics to the other foreign language tunes, mainly so I can sing along with the CD and not "Yadda yadda yadda" through the parts I cannot make out. So here are the lyrics to "Rumania, Rumania":

Rumania, Rumania
(Words and Music by Aaron Lebedeff)

Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye,
Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a sheyne.

Ekh, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye,
Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye, Rumenye.
Geven a mol a land a zise, a fayne.

Dort tsu voynen iz a fargenigen.
Vos dos harts glust dir, dos kenstu krign.
A mameligele, a pastramele,
A karnatsele, un a glazele vayn, aha!

In Rumenye iz dokh gut,
fun keyn dayges veyst men nit;
Vayn trinkt men iberal,
me farbayst mit kashtaval.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.

In Rumenye iz dokh gut,
fun keyn zorgn veyst men nit;
Vayn trinkt men iberal,
me farbayst a kastravet.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.
Hay digi digi dam, digi digi digi dam;
Hay digi digi digi digi digi dam.

Oy vey g'vald, ikh ver meshige,
kh'lib nor brinze, mamelige,
Kh'tants un frey zikh biz der stelye,
ven ikh es a patlozhele.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

Di Rumener trinken vayn
un esn mamelige
Ver es kusht zayn eygn vayb,
o yener iz meshige.
Dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidl ti dam;
dzingma, tay tidlt ti dam.
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye, beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

A ...
Yokum purkon min shemaye,
shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye,
Ongeton in alte shkrabes,
makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam!

A ...
Yokum purkon min shemaye,
shteyt un kusht di kekhne, Khaye,
Ongeton in alte shkrabes,
makht a kugl l'koved Shabes.
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam;
Zets! tay tidl di dam!
Ay, s'iz a mekhaye beser ken nit zayn,
Ay, a fargenign iz nor Rumenish vayn.

Subject: Lyr Add: LES MOINES DE ST BERNARDIN
From: GUEST,Eric Nelsen`
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:03 AM

And now the lyrics to "Les Moines de St. Bernardin":

LES MOINES DE ST BERNARDIN


1. Nous sommes les moines de Saint-Bernardin {2x}
Nous nous couchons tôt et levons pas matin {2x}
Si l'prieur nous engueule, on lui chante des chansons
C'est ça qu'est bon et bon, bon, bon !
Et voilà la vie, la vie, la vie, la vie chérie, ah ! ah !
Et voilà la vie que tous les moines font.

2. Pour notre dîner, de bons petits oiseaux {2x}
Que l'on nomme cailles, bécasses et perdreaux {2x}
Et la fine andouillette et la tranche de jambon,
C'est ça qu'est bon et bon, bon bon !
Et voilà la vie...

3. Pour notre coucher dans un lit aux draps blancs {2x}
Avec une nonne de quinze à seize ans,
Qu'à la taille bien faite et les tétons bien ronds,
Voilà qu'est bon et bon, bon, bon !
Et voilà la vie ...

4. Si c'est ça la vie que tous les moines font {2x}
Je me ferai moine avec ma Jeanneton {2x}
Et le soir dans ma couchette j'lui chatouillerai l'menton
C'est ça qu'est bon et bon, bon, bon !
Et voilà la vie ...

Happy singing. Contrary to Joe F.'s opinion, I find the Limeliters funny and engaging. They delighted me as small boy and I have thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering their music now that I am older.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:00 PM

I vaguely remember the Limelighters, but had forgotten that Glenn Yarborough was an original member. Now, the next time I watch "A Mighty Wind," I'll have a better idea of who "The Folksmen" are patterned after -- Christopher Guest does a great parody of Yarborough's quivering tremolo vocal delivery on the high notes.

I'll be checking out "Mitch & Mickey" with a fresh outlook, too. They had immedidately put me in mind of Ian & Sylvia, of course, but I have since learned something (from a Mudcat thread, of course) to reinforce that connection: Catherine O'Hara's "Mickey" character may well be based upon the latter-day Sylvia Fricker's appearance in "Festival Express" (which I plan to see a.s.a.p., probably in a month or so).

What else? I had assumed that "Have Some Madeira, My Dear," (which I remember only in part) was a Tom Lehrer song, but now know that it was written by two other guys.

I'm as guilty as anyone of rejecting the "commercial" groups so prevalent in the early Folk Revival, in favor of the more "authentic" traditional performers who came to our attention later. In hindsight, the earlier trios and quartets featured something most of us really love -- harmony singing. Seems like many of the so-called "authentic" folk acts (not all, but plenty of 'em) have been solo performers.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:15 PM

Poppa: The Weavers sang in harmony quite a bit. On the other hand, maybe they count as inauthentic too. Well then, Jean Ritchie. She sang in harmony with her family, in Kentucky in the 1930s.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: annamill
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:21 PM

I always thought that Tony Randell (of the odd couple fame on TV) was the originator of Madeira, My Dear. Oh well.

Just before we left Jersey, Honey, Bert (our Bert), our friend Figgy, and myself went to see what I call the Kingston Trio Cover Band. I seem to remember one of the guys used to be in the Limelighters. Mainly, they sounded like the Kingston Trio I remember, except for "Mariah", they clobbered that song. Before this wonderful(tsk) group came on we had the pleasure of seeing/hearing Glenn Yarborough and a comedy trio whose name escapes me. I thought he sounded pretty good.

All in all, it was a good evening. It was in an large old wooden church and I felt like I was inside a big old Martin. Fun night, good company.

Annamill

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 02:22 PM

Looks like there's more to be found about "Rumania," Eric. Look here (click).
And look here for the monks. Wish I had a translation - Babelfish gives just enough of the meaning to whet the appetite...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Jen M
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 09:52 PM

As a child we listened to the Limeliters-Through Children's Eyes--I dubbed it off on to tape years ago and my children enjoyed it. i still sing some of those songs to my classes.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 11:10 PM

I thought I posted a reply to Joe F hours ago, but I must not have submitted after previewing. Lemme try again:

I've never considered The Weavers to be in the same category as the Limelighters, Kingston Trio, Brothers Four, etc. The Weavers are from an earlier era, and (thanks at least in part to the blacklist, I suppose) did NOT share the sudden early-60s success of those other quartets and trios. Far be it from me to call them "inauthentic,"or even "commercial"; on the contrary, I always regarded the Weavers as legendary and above reproach. Of course, I heard more *about* them than I ever actually heard them -- I'm too "young" (at 56!) to remember the Weavers' heyday.

While I'm sure that many exceptions can be easily cited, I still stand by my assertion that the shift of public interest from "commercial" to "traditional" folk music (around '63 to '65) saw -- IN GENERAL -- a lot more attention go to solo artists and less to singing groups.

PS: In my private classification system, Peter Paul & Mary, like the Weavers, also avoid being put into the same bag with those other folkie groups. I don't know that I can explain or justify this logically -- I just continued to like them so dang much, even while I was rapidly losing interest in so many other groups who were superficially similar.

Like the Weavers, of course, PPM had that political commitment; their absolute sincerity and intensity may be more obvious now than ever before, since it may be the only explanation for their continued longevity.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: jimmyt
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 09:40 AM

You know I have thought about this several times over the couple years I have been coming in here. Someone will bring up a group or artist. Then another person will begin telling about how lame the group is, another jumps aboard and trys to justify why the first person's comments were valid or invalid or whatever.

It seems to me that it is a bit like food. When I was a kid, I really liked cheeseburgers and fries. Best food in the world to me. I couldn't guite figure out why other resturants even sold other food, they were obviously missing out on Cheeseburgers and fries.

Later, I found steak to be a lot the same way, best thing ever, no need to even sell other foods (except cheeseburgers and fries, which I still had a fond place for)

Once exposed to Mexican food, and Italian food, and Greek food, and Chinese food, etc. The revelations continued. Tried French food a couple times and hated it. ULtimately have grown to absolutely love French food. Does this make my taste for food to be sophisticated? Not in my opinion. It is all in the eye of the person who is enjoying the food. It is a journey, not a destination. I still have a taste for a big old greasy cheeseburger from time to time, though.

I think music is much the same   (you can plug in wine, painting, hobbies,vacation spots, whatever one person thinks is good and another person thinks is pure crap.) There is no accounting for taste.

When I was a music major back in the 60s, I liked Wagner overtures.   Most of my classmates turned their nose up to this as pure crap. My tastes were obviously not very sophisticated if I liked Wagner. Fact is I like big music and brass, and at that time that fit my criteria. Now since then I have found some of the music to be not as interesting to me as it was in 1967, but that didn't change the music. It was my difference. You can call it growth, but it probably shouldn't have the positive connotation of growth, because I am not convinced that all change in taste over the years is necessarily for the better. It is just change.

Does this make any sense to anyone but me? I like the Limeliters, by the way.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 12:04 PM

Damn straight, jimmyt.   Tw

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 12:17 PM

I'd agree, Jimmy. Still, I try to keep my CD's of 60's folk groups hidden, so the purists won't see who I really am. And I guess I must have grown - or changed - because I don't listen to those recordings as often as I once did. Still, it's comforting to pull out a Limeliters or Peter, Paul and Mary or Kingston Trio album and be able to sing along - knowing all the words to every song. Like a security blanket, you know.
It also reminds me of the days when I could sing those songs and women would find me irresistable (or maybe that was just my imagination....)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: GUEST,Eric Nelsen
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 01:06 PM

BTW...I agree with JimmyT. I have very eclectic musical tastes. There is music in everything...be open to it.

---

Amos had a post in this thread about Iraq and nuclear bombs and the like. I moved it and the responses here, my guess as to where Amos meant to post it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Once Famous
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 02:58 PM

The Weavers were every bit as a commercial act as the later day folk groups, both in the way they were recorded (orchestras) and the way and to who they were advertised to by their record company.

Denial is useless.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 03:47 PM

Yeah, the early Weavers on Decca sounded like a big band group. I've read that Decca added the band to make the Weavers more commercial. They sure sounded different after they moved to the Vanguard label.
I suppose the Limeliters sound a lot more commercial than other groups because they were on RCA. Probably make a lot more money because of the label they were on, too.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Once Famous
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 03:53 PM

You know what?

I love the sound of those "commercial" folk groups. Most of those acts could really sing and play. They were polished singers, musicians, and entertainers.

Personally, I could never get into the braying of many so called traditional singers or their instruments that sounded like they had rubber bands for strings.

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: GUEST,Tinker in Chicago
Date: 24 Sep 04 - 10:47 AM

1) The name Limeliters was assigned to the group by a promoter because they didn't have a name yet and had played at a club called The Limelite. Don't blame them for it if you find it offensive.
2) What I don't understand is why the Limeliters have rewritten their own history. Wherever I've looked, they refer to the band as originally consisting of Alex Hassilev, Lou Gottlieb and Glenn Yarborough, and then they say that Red Grammer replaced Glenn when he left, etc., etc. That just isn't true. Ernie Sheldon replaced Glenn for two albums, and I still have one of them. Yet all the Limeliters website materials I've seen and all the introductions I've heard them make from onstage omit any mention of Sheldon (best known for almost nothing, but perhaps for writing the song "Seattle" that became the theme song of the TV series "Here Come the Brides").
I asked Gottlieb about this once, and he politely changed the subject. Makes me wonder what Ernie did that made him persona non grata.

Subject: Lyr Add: ROUND ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN (Lou Gottlieb)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Oct 04 - 02:21 AM

The other day, I heard a song with

"If you cannot pray like Peter, if you cannot preach like Paul;
Go home and tell your neighbor, He died to save us all.

-but it wasn't Balm in Gilead the song I know that has that verse. A search led me to this page (click) at a Kingston Trio site - but the song is by Lou Gottlieb, so I'm putting it with the Limeliters. Anybody know of a Limeliters recording of this song?
-Joe Offer-

---

'Round About the Mountain
(Lou Gottlieb)

'Round about the mountain.
'Round about the mountain.
My God is waitin'. You can rise in His arms.
My God is waitin'. You can rise in His arms.

Chorus:
The Lord loves a sinner.
The Lord loves a sinner man.
The Lord loves a sinner
who will rise in His arms.

I would not be a sinner. I'll tell you the reason why.
If the Lord should want me, I would not be ready to die!
I tell you fellow members, things happen mighty strange.
The Lord was good to Israel and His ways don't ever change.

Chorus

Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my works in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.
If you can't pray like Peter, if you can't preach like Paul,
go home and tell your neighbor that He died to save us all.

Chorus

'Round about the mountain.
'Round about the mountain.
My God is waitin'. You can rise in His arms.

The Lord loves a sinner.
The Lord loves a sinner man.
The Lord loves a sinner who will rise in His arms.

On the Kingston Trio album At Large

Subject: Add: Round the Mountain
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 03:38 PM

Joe,

There are three recordings of a song like this, billed as spirituals, in Amazon sound clips on albums with Leontyne Price, Barbara Hendricks, and Florence Quivar. The verse/chorus pattern scans right, and a lot of the lyric matches. Maybe this great song needs its own thread. PM me if you want me to email you the clips.

Lyrics I'm hearing in the clips, below.

~S~

=============================================

In "Roun' About de Mountain," with Hendricks:

The Lord loves the sinner.
The Lord loves the sinner man.
The Lord loves a sinner and he'll rise in His arms.

When I was a sinner, a-seekin' just like you,
I went down in the valley....

=============================================

In "Round the Mountain," with Price:

(chorally)
'Round about de mountain.
'Round about de mountain.
My God's a rulin', and she'll rise in His arms.

(solo)
'Round about de mountain.
'Round about de mountain.
My God's a rulin', and she'll rise in His arms.

The Lord loves a sinner.
The Lord loves a sinnerman.
The Lord loves a sinner and she'll rise in His arms.

(verse)
When I was a sinner, a-seekin' just like you,
I went out into the valley, and I prayed till I come through

You hypocrite! You concubine!
The ............


When I was a sinner, a-seekin' just like you,
I went down in the valley....

=============================================

In "Roun' About de Mountain," with Quivar:
Very expressively acted/sung, with the same words as the longer Price clip.

=============================================

I don't find it by a title like this in my index of spirituals in print, so I would suspect it had been heard and passed on orally till it got to an arranger for concert spirituals-- I'd bet it was ROLAND HAYES (thanks Masato!).

See also HYPOCRITE AND CONCUBINE, HERE.

Now, I happen to know Masato has the Hayes book, and perhaps if this is a separate thread he might notice it and share the full lyric....

I was thinking of doing it for Eastertide, but I have not been able to buy the book yet. I'm starting to need a dam' budget! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: PoohBear
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 04:49 PM

I grew up listening to a tape of a live recording of the Limelighters. Recorded probably around the time I was born. I found a copy of the LP in a shop in Greenwich Village in the mid 80's and packed it back across the country. Still have it. I used to perform the Malvina Reynolds song which chorus included "run, run from the Little Folk, or you'll have dead leaves in your pockets and snowflakes in your hair." Love "Gunslinger", "Goin' 'Cross the Plains Charmin' Betsy", "Curimau", "Harry Pollit", live recording of "Whistling Gypsy" ("c'mon Glenn, just pucker!), live recording of "Hard Ain't it Hard" ("the last time I seen her false hearted smile, she lay dead on the Kremlin floor").
My friends - both then and now - don't have an appreciation for this music. I am not fussed over how commercial, or non, any particular 'act' happens to be. I do not mind 'traditional' music being 'cleaned up' to a certain extent to make it more commercially appealing. I do not have to listen to a scratchy recording made in a kitchen in the Blue Mountains to appreciate a song - nor does it have to be professionally recorded in a studio somewhere with 'schooled' musicians for it to be considered worth listening to. My appreciation is for a good song (there's a subjective phase!) performed with heart and enthusiasm and love for the music.
PB

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: CStrong
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 06:06 AM

I read somewhere that Lou Gottlieb was hired by the fledgling Kingston Trio to arrange harmonies. Lou got Hassilev and Yarborough to "test sing" the arrangements, eventually giving birth to the Limeliters.

Can anybody verify?

Subject: RE: Songs by the Limeliters
From: Steve-o
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 06:40 PM

Yes, you are exactly correct. He started as a member of the Gateway Singers and then was hired by the K. Trio. Shortly thereafter he met Alex and Glenn who were singing together and they formed a trio. What a funny and interesting man. And I take great pride in the fact that he grew up in my little home town of La Crescenta!