Lyr Req: Songs by the Limeliters

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: 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
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: 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: 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 - 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.