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26 Jan 01 - 10:52 AM (#383051) Subject: 'Louise' From: jeepman (inactive) This song was written and recorded by Paul Siebel, also recorded by Bonnie Raitt. Does anyone know the story of Louise? It is obvious she was a "Fallen Angel", but how did she die? Seems like there should be a story here. Jeepman |
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26 Jan 01 - 11:29 AM (#383086) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Various versions (Bill Broonzy, Fred McDowell etc. on Harry's Blues Lyrics site at: http://blueslyrics.tripod.com/ RtS |
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26 Jan 01 - 11:34 AM (#383094) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: Steve Latimer Is this the same one that John Lee Hooker did?
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26 Jan 01 - 11:39 AM (#383096) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler John Lee's version is on Harry's site as well. As Bonnie worked with both Fred & John her version could derive from either, I know no background story though. RtS |
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26 Jan 01 - 12:18 PM (#383124) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: GUEST,Dita (at work) I think we're on two different songs, guys. The question is about a country song, written in late sixties by singer/songwriter Paul Siebel, on one of his two albums. I first came across it on the first "Plainsong" album, "In search of Amelia Eairheart" (?sp.) sung by Iain Mathews.I don't think it can be the same song as on the blues link. (I tried to look but it bombed out with an error). I traced it from Iain back to Paul's own recording but there was no details about the story behind the song. Iain Mathews did track him down in the seventies via the guy from Electra records, but from what I remember despite Iain being keen to work with him (I think his idea was for them to form a band), he was quite reclusive and uncommunicative and Iain gave up. Hope this is some help, love, john. |
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26 Jan 01 - 12:52 PM (#383151) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: Barbara Shaw I thought I remembered this being harvested for the DT a long time ago: |
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26 Jan 01 - 01:01 PM (#383156) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: Metchosin Leo Koettke did a fabulous version of this too. Jeepman there probably is a story behind it, but I think part of the poignancy is that is left to your imagination. |
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26 Jan 01 - 01:52 PM (#383186) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: Mike Regenstreif Paul Siebel's "Louise" only shares a title with the "Louise" performed by various blues artists cited by Roger the Skiffler. Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee also did the blues song. I used to see Paul perform occasionally back in the 1970s and heard him do Louise just about everytime. I don't recall any "this is a true story" intros. A lot of songs spring from the imagination of the writer. Mike Regenstreif |
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26 Jan 01 - 02:48 PM (#383232) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: Dale Rose No one has mentioned my favorite version, by Katie Laur on a Vetco LP. I would suspect it would be difficult to find now, but well worth the effort. |
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26 Jan 01 - 03:15 PM (#383269) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: Jim Krause I learned it a long time ago from Leo Kotke's album Greenhouse. I've always had a soft spot for songs about guys who fall in love with the wrong women, or women who for some reason can't or won't return that love. The last line of the song, I think bears this out when the singer says: The wind is blowin' cold tonight |
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26 Jan 01 - 03:27 PM (#383283) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: GUEST I always assumed she committed suicide because of the sad lonely life she lived. A beautiful and heartbreakingly sad song. |
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26 Jan 01 - 09:39 PM (#383343) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: jeepman (inactive) I have known some old gals like Louise. Seem like they are always waiting for some man.(Like Ravishin Ruby, waiting for Smilin Jack. Jeepman I kind of favor the souicide theory,Guest. |
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26 Jan 01 - 10:40 PM (#383370) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: jeepman (inactive) Jim K. I just listened to Leo Koetke's version. Much Cool. Jeepman |
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27 Jan 01 - 12:06 AM (#383425) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: JedMarum Great song, I love Bonnie Rait's version - but I'm not sure it is a stroy about a real woman. I always thought it had the ring of a made up story that matches some others we've heard/seen. Not to take away from the beauty of the song ... I think I've met "Louise" once or twice along my way. |
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27 Jan 01 - 12:14 AM (#383430) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: Sorcha Sounds sort of like our friend Brent--spent his life waiting for "THE" woman, and committed suicide last Dec. |
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27 Jan 01 - 11:51 AM (#383649) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: jeepman (inactive) We can make up our own story of Louise. 1) Louise lived upstairs over the drugstore 2)She worked in a diner down the street 3)Talked about her "man" coming back someday 4)She was a "Good old Gal" SOMEONE ELSE'S TURN NOW. JEEPMAN |
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27 Jan 01 - 01:16 PM (#383717) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: BlueJay Boy does that song bring back memories, (the Paul Siebel song). I first heard it in the early seventies, performedby a stellar group known as the City Limits Bluegrass Band, from Denver Colorado. This band consisted of Pat Rossiter on guitar, Mary Stribling on stand up bass and dry humor, and Lynn Morris on banjo. The last I knew, Lynn Morris was playing with a group out of Pennsylvania called Whetstone Run. Mary Stribling has played withlots of folks, including the Mother Folkers, (the most carefully pronounced name in show business). Pat Rossiter, although a stellar guitarist, was last seen, (to my knowledge, according to a friend), driving a taxi in Denver. I have the two vinyl albums they recorded, and they have are collectors items, at least to me. Never been released on CD that I can tell. I tried Mary Stribling's web site for CD's with no luck. Chances are, some of you have seen these two talented ladies play. Way back then, Lynn Morris surprised me, because I'd never seen the banjo played by a GIRL. They did a wonderful version of "Louise". I later heard Leo Kottke's version on "Greenhouse", which Metchosin mentioned. I still listen to that album regularly. I like to play the song on twelve string, drop D tuning. What a great song. It doesn't matter to me how Louise died. Could be suicide, overdose, or old age. I agree with Metchosin: sometimes what is left unsaid can absolutely make a song. Thanks for allowing me to reminisce. BlueJay |
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27 Jan 01 - 01:26 PM (#383728) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: jeepman (inactive) You know Blue Jay, you are right. We don't need to know more about Louise. Everyone can feel free to draw any conclusion they want. Jeepman |
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27 Jan 01 - 01:26 PM (#383730) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: Dale Rose Oh, yeah! City Limits! Great stuff, brings back memories ~~ Hello City Limits, I saw your sign, peanut butter and the minimart, on and on. Don't remember them doing Louise though. Either my memory is faulty (no surprise there) or I don't have that album.
Lynn Morris is still big in bluegrass, has several CDs out on Rounder. Here is the link for her albums I have the first one. |
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27 Jan 01 - 01:41 PM (#383745) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: BlueJay Dale Rose- Right on! I didn't think there was a prayer anyone would remember them but me. Peanut butter Conspiracy was mentioned on a recent thread. You must have spent some time nearabout Colorado in the early '70's BlueJay |
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27 Jan 01 - 01:57 PM (#383752) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: BlueJay To me it's sad that neither Lynn Morris or Mary Stribling's websites give any recognition at all to "The City Limits Bluegrass Band", one of the greatest bluegrass bands of all time, IMO. I'd still like to know if Pat Rossiter ever continued with music. He was a hell of a guitar and dobro player. BlueJay |
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27 Jan 01 - 05:13 PM (#383868) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: jeepman (inactive) It finally came to me what Louise reminded me so much of. Remember the movie "Iron Weeds" with Jack Nicholson? He and his woman got a few dollars from somewhere and rented a room where she died. SOUND LIKE LOUISE? JEEPMAN |
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28 Jan 01 - 10:17 AM (#384188) Subject: RE: 'Louise' From: jeepman (inactive) refresh |
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27 Jul 25 - 05:27 PM (#4226311) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: Joe Offer What are the best-known recordings of this song? I know it from Bonnie Raitt's recording. |
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27 Jul 25 - 05:34 PM (#4226312) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: GUEST,gillymor Leo Kottke did my favorite version on the Greenhouse LP. |
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27 Jul 25 - 06:26 PM (#4226313) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: GUEST,gillymor Come to think of it the live version off My Feet Are Smiling by Kottke is the one I like best. |
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27 Jul 25 - 10:32 PM (#4226328) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: Hagman I would assume that Bonnie Raitt's version would be the most widely-heard and thus best-known recording, followed by the Kottkes. But the best recording (IMHO) is Siebel's own, on his 1970 debut LP for Elektra, "Woodsmoke and Oranges." |
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28 Jul 25 - 01:30 AM (#4226333) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: GUEST,PHJim This is the first song my wife ever heard me sing. I had learned it from Paul Siebel's WOODSMOKE & ORANGES Lp. I was a single parent living with two three year old boys 46 years ago and was carpooling with Maggie and a couple of other folks. They came to pick me up and, since I never locked my doors, she walked in and heard me playing and singing in the next room. I like to say that I won her heart with a song about a dead hooker. |
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28 Jul 25 - 01:35 AM (#4226334) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: GUEST,PHJim Canadian singer/song writer Ian Tamblyn was inspired to write a super song by the title of Paul's first LP. He plays it brilliantly on a high-strung Harmony Sovereign. Ian Tamblyn - Woodsmoke & Oranges |
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28 Jul 25 - 06:01 PM (#4226367) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: GerryM Also recorded by Patrick Sky. |
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29 Jul 25 - 01:50 PM (#4226389) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: GUEST,Mark Ross The inspiration for Louise came from a line scrawled on a bathroom wall in NY's Greenwich Village. The rest of the story comes from Paul's imagination. One of my favorite songwriters, and one of my favorite singers. I spent many a night trading songs and listening to him sing Jimmie Rogers and Hank Williams songs in The Kettle of Fish after hours. Mark Ross |
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29 Jul 25 - 04:52 PM (#4226398) Subject: RE: Louise (Paul Siebel) From: GUEST,DonMeixner I caught Siebel in concert at Jabberwocky in Syracuse, NY in 1970. A friend gave me Woodsmoke and Oranges and said you gotta learn this song. So when the chance came to see Paul Siebel(Happy and Artie Traum were the opening act) I jumped. I still play it as it it were brand new. Don Meixner |