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Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein)
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Subject: song info-I'mTheManWhoSingsSongsToTheRai From: Art Thieme Date: 16 Jan 04 - 05:39 PM Need info on this song---who wrote it---whatever. The late Fred Holstein sang it quite often... Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mTheManWhoSingsSongsToTheRai From: Phil Cooper Date: 17 Jan 04 - 07:51 AM Art, It's on the "Gathering at the Earl of Old Town" lp that included Fred, Ed, Steve Goodman, Ginnni Clemmons, and Jim Post. I'll see if I can locate my copy. There weren't any notes on the album, though I think there's writer's credit. Don't know anything else about it. Mark Dvorak sings it once in awhile. |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mTheManWhoSingsSongsToTheRain From: Joe Offer Date: 17 Jan 04 - 02:56 PM I found the CD, which calls it simply "The Man Who Sings" - Fred Holstein is the singer, and it's credited to songwriter Shep Slazlow. I couldn't find any information on Slazlow. I'll work up a transcription later today unless some nice soul would like to beat me to it. Seems like this would be a good week to spend some time with Fred Holstein recordings. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mTheManWhoSingsSongsToTheRain From: Joe Offer Date: 17 Jan 04 - 03:33 PM I haven't found time to transcribe the song, but I've been listening to the Gathering at the Earl of Old Town CD, and it's darn good music. Somebody sent me the track list, so I don't have to type it:
2. Eight-Ball/Steve Goodman 3. Wild Women Don't Have the Blues/Ginni Clemmens 4. Jimmy Newman/Fred Holstein 5. Chicago Bust Rag/Steve Goodman 6. Jazzman/Ed Holstein 7. The Man Who Sings/Fred Holstein 8. For Eddie/Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah 9. Colorado Exile/Jim Post 10. Fat Stuff/Ed Holstein 11. Goin' Home/Fred Holstein 12. I Met A Young Boy/Ginni Clemmens 13. City of New Orleans/Steve Goodman (first-ever recording) -Joe Offer- As I told Art in the other thread on Laszlo, it appears that Mark Dvorak also recorded "The Man Who Sings." |
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Subject: ADD: The Man Who Sings (Shep Slazlow) From: Joe Offer Date: 17 Jan 04 - 04:25 PM The Man Who Sings (Shep Slazlow) When my song is sung and ended, And I've lifted my coat (?) and gone And I walk out your door into the wedding Of the darkness and the dawn You may wonder of me for the moment Who I was, from where I came; I'm the man who sings songs to the rivers, I'm the man who sings songs to the rain. [instrumental break] Once I thought I knew some questions I thought I could change things my way I thought there was sense in the sunrise And a point to the passing of days But the world is a fine, splendid woman I must love her and not know why I'm the man who sings songs to meadows, I'm the man who sings songs to the sky. There's trouble in being a husband There's trouble in working the land There's trouble in being a lover There's trouble in being a man But there ain't no trouble in singin' In driftin' or movin' on I'm the man who sings songs to the moonlight, I'm the man who sings songs to the sun. I'm the man who sings songs to the moonlight, I'm the man who sings songs to the sun. from the Fred Holstein recording on Gathering at the Earl of Old Town. Also on Fred Holstein: A Collection |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mTheManWhoSingsSongsToTheRain From: Art Thieme Date: 18 Jan 04 - 12:14 AM Thanks Joe. Art |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mTheManWhoSingsSongsToTheRain From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Nov 07 - 04:29 PM Say, now that some time has gone by, has anybody been able to solve the mystery of the identity of Shep Slazlow? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mTheManWhoSingsSongsToTheRain From: Phil Cooper Date: 27 Nov 07 - 06:02 PM I heard a rumor that it was Fred Holstein himself. But not knowing of Fred writing anything else, I would doubt it. |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe Rain From: Peace Date: 27 Nov 07 - 07:22 PM A google of the name gives only the following from Mr Google song info-I'mTheManWhoSingsSongsToTheRainI found the CD, which calls it simply "The Man Who Sings" - Fred Holstein is the singer, and it's credited to songwriter Shep Slazlow. ... www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=66109&messages=7 - 2 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe RainI found the CD, which calls it simply "The Man Who Sings" - Fred Holstein is the singer, and it's credited to songwriter Shep Slazlow. ... www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=66109&messages=8 - 53 minutes ago - Similar pages - Note this The Midnight Special PlaylistFred Holstein: The Man Who Sings (Shep Slazlow) Fred Holstein: A Collection Holstein 01. Fred Holstein: Somebody Else's Troubles (Red Herring, ... www.midnightspecial.org/chicago/c20040117.html - 11k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe Rain From: Peace Date: 27 Nov 07 - 07:31 PM Also, please note. A google of the last name (Slazlow) shows that the only place the name appears on the www is in four places: three are connected with Holstein or Goodman and the other "tell me about Vice City - Loans.uk.netsection is just about ready as wellplease let me know. screens and a ViceCity trailer that'sLazlow MIA in ViceCity 12:00 AM CSTdays ago to tellme that" is a typo. If I had to take a wild guess, and I shall, the writer is Goodman. |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe Rain From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Nov 07 - 07:38 PM And who's that Red Herring guy, Peace? [grin] I think this Shep Slazlow name is a pserious pseudonym - but maybe only Fred would be able to answer the question. I wondered if Frank Hamilton might be able to shed some light on it, but he said he left Chicago in 1962, a bit too early to have knowledge of the genesis of this song. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe Rain From: Peace Date: 27 Nov 07 - 07:49 PM LOL |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe Rain From: Phil Cooper Date: 27 Nov 07 - 10:08 PM Joe, the words don't ring to me like one of Steve Goodman's songs. If Art were back in on the thread, he might have more information. O think if Fred Holstein had really written it, he would have taken credit for it. But both Steve and Fred are gone now. I may have to email Mark Dvorak and see if he has more insight. |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe Rain From: Phil Cooper Date: 27 Nov 07 - 10:14 PM Have emailed Mark, so now we can see if he has any insights. |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe Rain From: Art Thieme Date: 27 Nov 07 - 11:39 PM This one has always been a mystery in Chicago from the first emergence of this Earl Of Old Town album. When was that, Phil? About 1972 maybe?? I remember some of us wondering ever once in a while who the hell this Shep guy was!? But through all the years with Fred and Steve back then, I never thought to ask about this song. No reason. Just didn't. It got put on the back burner; and stayed there... Art |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'mThe Man Who Sings SongsToThe Rain From: Art Thieme Date: 27 Nov 07 - 11:47 PM I had forgotten about this Shep Slazlow fellow back when I started this thread. It's fascinating how little we know of the past sometimes--and then it is gone. Thanks for reminding me of him folks. Art |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'm The Man Who Sings Songs To The Rain From: Francy Date: 28 Nov 07 - 12:13 PM Mark Dvorak was at my 2007 August Folk Festival and we sang this song together......He didn't have any idea who Shep was and learned the song from Fred and never bothered to ask any questions as to who Shep was....Doesn't sound like a Steve Goodman song to me....I put it on my third CD and love singing this song.....Frank of Toledo |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'm The Man Who Sings Songs To The Rain From: Phil Cooper Date: 28 Nov 07 - 04:00 PM Art, I think the album, Gathering at the Earl of Old Town, came out in 1971 or 72, like you said. I remember getting a copy as soon as I could get to Discount Records in Chicago (I was in high school then) and played it to death. The midnight special had played songs from an advanced copy for several weeks beforehand. I still think the version of Eight Ball by Steve Goodman was better on "Gathering" than the more produced one that appeared on his first "proper" album. |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'm The Man Who Sings Songs To The Rain From: Gulliver Date: 28 Nov 07 - 07:12 PM Strange song... It reminds me a a Goons song that went: "I talk to the trees.... That's why they put me away!" (I'll get me coat) Don |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'm The Man Who Sings Songs To The R From: Chris in Portland Date: 28 Nov 07 - 07:58 PM I was listening to the WNUR folk show and Ron Lewis said that Ed Holstein is working on a new CD. Way to go, Ed! Chris in Portland ps might Emily Friedman remember? was the song in "Come for to Sing"? |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'm The Man Who Sings Songs To The Rain From: Phil Cooper Date: 28 Nov 07 - 11:36 PM I don't recall it being in Come For to Sing. Juel Ulven of the Fox Valley Folklore Society has the back issues of the mag. I'll try and ask him next time I see him. |
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Subject: RE: song info-I'm The Man Who Sings Songs To The Rain From: Art Thieme Date: 29 Nov 07 - 01:13 PM I used to have every one of the Come For To Sing magazines, all bound in 3 hard covers. I gave them away to the folksinger called Li'l Rev (Marc Revinson) from Milwaukee. Rev, along with Mark Dvorak and Anna Stange, are the three from the Midwest who are carrying the ball as folksingers much like I tried to do it. Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Phil Cooper Date: 12 Dec 07 - 03:41 PM The Christmas Band (Bittersweet Christmas Band) that I'm in for the month of December played a benefit gig Sunday night (Dec. 9) at the Irish American heritage center in Chicago. One of the performers that night was Norm Siegel, who played bass with Fred Holstein for years. One of the songs he sang was, in fact, The Man Who Sings. I told Norm about this thread, then asked if he had any insight into who really wrote the song. He also suggested that perhaps Fred wrote it. I repeated my theory, that I mentioned here in a previous post, that I thought for sure that Fred would have taken credit for it. Norm said that Fred most likely would not have taken credit for it. I will defer to him, as he knew Fred a lot better than I did. So, it's still up for grags. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Art Thieme Date: 13 Dec 07 - 03:52 PM I think I'll e-mail Emily and see if she might know anything about who ol' Shep might've been... |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Art Thieme Date: 13 Dec 07 - 04:00 PM I'd check with Ed but lost contact info for him. Art |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Art Thieme Date: 14 Dec 07 - 11:02 PM I just got an e-mail back from Emily Friedman--the illustrious guiding light behind COME FOR TO SING magazine out of Chicago in the 1970s and 80s. I did a column every issue for ten years for Emily's good magazine. Emily says: "Art, When I was writing Fred (Holstein's) obituary for SING OUT! I tried every possible means of finding out who Shep was, and where he was, because I used some of his lyrics in the obit. I called people, did Internet searching, checked out every source, and came up with nothing. I seem to remember that someone thought it was a pseudonym, but that's about all I remember, and at the moment I'm in Siem Reap, Cambodia, so if I had any notes or anything, I can't get to them. I think the theory that it was a pseudonym makes a lot of sense; I just couldn't find a trace of this guy. And I don't recall where Fred learned the song, but he almost always got his material from recordings. Please let me know if you find anything out; I would love to know, and Mark Moss (at Sing Out!) would like to know as well... Soooo, the mysterious waters surrounding this continue to defy any real insight into this song. Maybe we should let the mystery be!! Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Phil Cooper Date: 17 Dec 07 - 07:58 PM I'll go with the pseudonym and let it go. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: GUEST,Jeff Date: 17 Dec 07 - 08:44 PM Try Rich Warren of WFMT-FM. Or Jim Post. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Art Thieme Date: 17 Dec 07 - 09:08 PM Jeff, Neither has any idea either! Art |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: GUEST,Jeff Date: 18 Dec 07 - 12:03 AM To me it 'reads' like a Utah Phillips song. I've never heard it, but if it's got a delicate melody ala 'I remember Lovin' You' my guess would be Utah Phillips as the author. Lived and hung out in Chicago for many years and never among the songwriters of the period was there ever a mention of Shep Slazlow. Blaze Foley, Carolina Slim, Marvin Gardens, Kendall Kardt, et al, but never Shep Slazlow. Of course Jim Post completely lit up the room w/Light Up My Lady in 3/4 when the original recording was a driving rock beat in 4/4 and the singer/writer was barely intelligible on the cassette recording, so anythings possible. May have been one of those 'one of' situations, but you'd think the writer would want recognition...it's a great lyric. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Art Thieme Date: 18 Dec 07 - 12:41 AM Kendall Kardt!----There's an early to mid '70s name from ol' Chi-car-go for certain. I'll try to call Utah tomorrow. He doesn't do computers. |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Chris in Portland Date: 18 Dec 07 - 10:50 AM Speaking of memories - see Charlotte's Web Art - if you're playing Sherlock, Mike Dunbar might also be someone to contact. Chris |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: Charley Noble Date: 18 Dec 07 - 08:27 PM Art- Treasure the mystery! I've tracked down practically all the old songs I've been chasing for more than 40 years. Sometimes, as with "Pity The Downtrodden Landlord," it's the children who 'fess up, and they find their way to Mudcat. The hunt itself has been a journey where I've met a whole lot of people I might never have encountered, and many of them fascinating people. Now that I'm writing more songs, I have to wonder where these songs come from? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Origin: The Man Who Sings (Fred Holstein) From: GUEST,Jordan Date: 18 Oct 10 - 02:36 PM I Know. I think he might prefer to remain a mystery. I'll check and I or he will get back to you all. |
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