Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?

Subject: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Nick
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 12:35 PM

Very few on the internet and never hear anyone.

Always liked Mythical Kings and Iguana album from years ago.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Wrinkles
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 04:04 PM

I've never found a song book of her stuff, otherwise I would do her numbers; they're really good.

Wrinkles

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 04:10 PM

No, but I do have the LP record and occasionally play it. It speaks volumes about how she felt about her split with Andree and her subsequent life to that point. Felt sorry for her really.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 04:28 PM

Can't recall what she did have played on radio - can anyone refresh my memory with some titles?
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 04:45 PM

Mythical Kings and Iguanas.
Lady with the Braid.
A Stone for Bessie Smith.
Lemon Haired ladies.

Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Nick
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 05:05 PM

What prompted it partly was the thread on Changing sex - I have always really liked the song 'Angels and devils' and wondered whether you could get away singing it as a guy?

I think the f word puts people off singing it? It's a great lyric. Do oyou reckon it's changeable to a man's perspective. Would Dory care?


Angels and Devils the Following Day

loved i two men
equally well
though they were diff'rent
as heaven and hell
one was an artist
one drove a truck
one would make love
the other would fuck
each treated me   
the way he knew best
one held me lightly
one bruised my breast
and i responded
on two diff'rent levels
like children reacting
to angels and devils
one was a poet
who sang and read verse
one was a peasant   
who drank and who cursed
before you decide
who's cruel and who's kind
let me explain
what i felt
in my heart and my mind
the artist was tender
but suffered from guilt
making him sorry
the following day
and he made me feel guilty
the very same way
in his bed on the following day
the other would take me
and feel no remorse
he'd wake with a smile
in the bed where we lay
and he made me smile
in the very same way
in his bed on the following day

the blow to my soul
by fear and taboos
cut deeper far
than a bodily bruise
and the one who was gentle
hurt me much more
than the one who was rough
and made love on the floor

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Brendy
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 06:09 PM

I've done Mary C. Brown and the Hollywood Sign, from time to time. Mythical Kings, as well. Going Home, I have done, too. That's a powerful song, and is one of the easier ones I think, to sing from another perspective.

Having said that, I did 'Michael Michael, Superman (muscle-bound, and super-tanned)' in a pub one night, years ago. About 10 body-builders came in, and planked themselves right in front of the stage. One of them came up, and asked me to do a song for his friend Michael, who's birthday they were all celebrating.

I couldn't resist the opportunity.

I like 'Angels & Devils', but wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole. Not because of the work 'fuck', though. It just 'doesn't fit', if you know what I mean.

Songs are best sung, I think, if they are 'worn'.

$0.02

B.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Gray D
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 06:29 PM

"Songs are best sung, I think, if they are 'worn'".

Damn, that's good, Brendy.

Don't if that's yours or someone elses but I've never heard it put better . . . so I shall be using it myself at some point in the future.

I'll make sure to give you a name check though. Fair's fair.

Gray D

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: robomatic
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 06:32 PM

I've just been searching all over the internet for a song of hers I heard the last four lines of on WBCN in Boston thirty years ago:

"King Kong came to our town
Tore our town apart
King Kong put the fear of Jesus
Into every heart"


There is a fresh quality to her stuff that still resonates.

She has put together a pastiche of music regarding her response to current events. I do not have a link to it, unfortunately.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 06:47 PM

I recorded "Did Jesus Have a Baby Sister?" in the late '70s, and still perform it, always to great acclaim.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Brendy
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 06:49 PM

It's on the Mary C Brown and the Hollywood sign album (pre Mythical Kings). My album is in Ireland, unfortunately, and the words are on the inside sleeve, but I'll try and get my brother to hunt it out of his attic, and write them down for me...

Nice one, Gray D, thanks.
I cant think I've heard it said anywhere (although I could be wrong), I was just trying to qualify the image of the song 'fitting'.
It's like someone else's soul you are tring to emulate, when you sing (if it's not your own stuff), and you have to (here I go again...), lift your arms up and let the song descend on you.

For 'you', I mean 'one', of course.

B.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Brendy
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 07:13 PM

This might be a site that could be helpful to you, robomatic: In Search of Mythical Kings (the Ua Years)

B.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: open mike
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 03:21 AM

There was a song in a movie a long time ago...30 + years..
that went Come Saturday morning, I'm going away with my friend
we'll saturday spend til the end of the day...

i wonder if that was a Dory previn song? I seem to think so..
so long ago...what movie? no recollection...
maybe about a person who was in an institution?
crazy? depressed? i may have these images all mixed up..
creative memory!

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 06:41 AM

Read her autobiography, "Midnight's Baby" (or something similar with the word Midnight in it). It's absolutely chilling.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 07:04 AM

1997 BGO Records put out 'Mythical Kings & Iguanas/Reflections in a Mud Puddle'. BCOCD383. 19 tracks, all words included.

www.bgo-records.com (Beat Goes On Records PO Box 22, Bury St Edmonds

I had a tape of Mythical Kings that I played to death over 20 years & finally replaced it last year. She's a great songwriter.

sandra

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: mindblaster
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 07:19 AM

I did Mythical Kings at a folk club a bout 5 years ago!

Goin' home is such a ride cam be quite a good folky sing-a-long to add on to the end of another song.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: JJ
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 08:31 AM

"Come Saturday Morning" (words by Dory Previn, music by Fred Karlin) was sung by the Sandpipers in the 1969 movie THE STERILE CUCKOO, which featured Liza Minnelli in her first starring role.

Both Liza and the song were nominated for Oscars, but didn't win. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head" did.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 05:29 PM

Iain MacKintosh used to do 'Mary Cecilia Brown' (which he recorded on 'Standing Room Only', 1986) and 'Morning Song' - not sure that's the correct title. It starts "In the morning, when I wake up I've got to take an easy pace". Lovely piece! I've never heard Dory herself, but I think both songs are well suited to Iain's understated style.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: open mike
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 05:36 PM

thanks JJ for confirming and completing my sketchy memories!

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 06:13 PM

Amazing Australian singer Jeannie Lewis has recorded two Dory Previn compositions.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Mar 05 - 11:52 AM

I have all her albums. Bought each of them as they came out. Saw her in concert at Carnegie Hall too. I'm now in the process of trying to find them all on CD. Nice to read that so many still remember her songs and poetry.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 07 Mar 05 - 08:27 AM

My ex got the Dory Previn LP in the divorce but I think I got the book, "On My Way to Where."
Sometimes I sing "You were doing it alone/ You were doing it alone/ You were screaming in your car in 20-mile zone" in my car alone. But I've never done any of Dory Previn's songs on stage.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From:
Date: 24 May 06 - 10:58 PM

How nice to find a site about Dory.

I have all her albums and books. What I would really like are CDs. I think we can all use a night of depression from time to time :)

I'm also trying to find the lyrics to Michael Michael Suuperman. if you have them electronically, please let me know.

p.s. I had a friend in the audience at her concert at Carnegie Hall...just when she was singing "20 Mile Zone" an ambulance drove by...stopped her and the audience. Nice to know it was a real story.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 24 May 06 - 11:08 PM

michael michael
from ON MY WAY TO WHERE
by Dory Previn


Michael michael
superman
muscle-bound
and supertan
leather jacket
denim pants
never did learn
how to dance
how to dance
digs karate
raps on zen
michael makes it
best with men
digs karate
raps on zen
michael makes it
best with men
michael michael
superman
muscle-bound
and supertan
when he walks
and talks
and moves
michael proves
and proves
and proves
michael is a
hyper superman

pushes acid
peddles hash
that's how michael
gets his stash
rides his cycle
like a king
knows his number
does his thing
does his thing
and if he want to
he can con
any bird
he's turning on
if he wants to
he can con
any bird
he's turning on

michael michael
superman
muscle-bound
and supertan
when he walks
and talks
and moves
michael proves
and proves
and proves
michael is a
hyper superman

but
late at night
he sometimes seems
to hear
his mother's voice
in dreams
calling to him
clear and plain
but she calls him
mary jane
mary jane
and michael answers
plain and clear
i am coming
mother dear

michael michael
superman
muscle-bound
and supertan
when he walks
and talks
and moves
michael proves
and proves
and proves
michael is a
hyper superman
a superman.


This and more Dory Previn lyrics/poems can be found at http://www.starwalk.com/dory/


--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 01:04 PM

My old group, The Interlocking Pieces, did two Dory Previn songs: 20 Mile Zone, and King Kong--the latter Dory Previn took a different perspective on the King Kong story, seeing it from the Gorilla's perspective. The result is a powerful animal rights song, which is also a metaphor for how oppressed people are treated in North American society.

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 13 Jun 10 - 04:23 PM

I was given a cassette of Mythical Kings and Iguanas 23 years ago to help me during the aftermath of a painful breakup - which it absolutely did! At that time there were quite a few women on the Scotia Bar / Vicky Bar / Clutha Vaults / Riverside Club circuit who sang and joined in Dory Previn songs in sessions. Later on an American pal sent me more of her albums and a book - excellent, I really wished I could have seen her perform live - she expressed exactly how I felt!
As did Judy Small - right on, sisters!!!

Subject: RE: Does anyone do any Dory Previn songs?
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 04:50 AM

Yes, a couple.