Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Jan 14 - 10:50 AM

Out of curiosity I decided to see if I could learn how to get permission for record 'Didn't I Dance.' I didn't have any luck.

Isn't it ironic that we are all supporting the copyright laws, the courts that enforce them, and the agencies ASCAP and BMI, yet when we want to follow the law, we can't get the info on how to do it?
=======
About ten years ago, the leaders of our church choir decided we were good enough to make a CD. One leader told me that she had to contact the writers of our music three or four times before they would respond to an enquiry. (She was a jump ahead of most of us, because she had the printed music on hand with the name of the composer and music company.) Most of them wanted about $40 for the permission once they could be cajoled into doing business.

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 04:28 PM

BINGO.

Lori Holland did two albums in the 1960s. She also wrote this one but in 1984.

Check the link, Joe.

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.music.folk/2008-02/msg00018.html

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 04:12 PM

http://www.gulfweb.net/rlwalker/jamnfolk/book001/Didn't%20I%20Dance.pdf

The music notation and words are there, but it doesn't tell anything more than is known now.

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 03:52 PM

Didn't I Dance?

Grandmother heard him -
His song was so sweet.
She danced to the fiddler
On little bare feet.
She was fifteen and fair,
With black braided hair,
And didn't she dance in her day
Over the years I remember she said,
One night as she kissed me and put me to bed,
"When I was a maid, and my song was played,
Oh didn't I dance in my day?"

Didn't I dance, didn't I dance
Didn't I dance in my day.

Mother, she danced
In a long silken gown
Hair done in curls
The belle of the town.
There was many a man
Who asked for her hand
And didn't she dance in her day.
Now when she dances, just once in a while,
She says, "I remember those times and I smile
I think of the night my feet danced so light
Oh, didn't I dance in my day?"
See the young girls
On a soft summer's night
Silhouettes slender
Against the moon's light;
Hair flowing free
Once that was me,
And didn't I dance in my day!
Now that I'm older, there's one thing I know,
I'll go on dancing though the tempo be slow
And I know that some day to my grandchild I'll say
"Oh didn't I dance in my day!"

Copyright Lori Holland BMI 1984


That is from

http://pineyflatwoodsgirl.blogspot.ca/2007_02_01_archive.html

---

I'm pretty sure those are taken from the Digital Tradition, with the spelling of "damce" corrected. I'm looking for lyrics I can positively connect to the version written and sung by Lori Holland. I see I posted above that the song is in v.36#1, p.32, of Sing Out! Magazine. I've been given a number of issues since then, so I'll check.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD Version: Didn't I Dance (Lori Holland)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 03:50 PM

Sandy and Caroline Paton recorded the song on their New Harmony album, with Sandy singing lead. Sandy tweaked the lyrics slightly, to fit a male singer.

DIDN'T I DANCE
(Lori Holland)

My grandmother heard him, the tune was so sweet.
She danced to the fiddler on little bare feet.
She was fifteen and fair, with black braided hair,
And didn't she dance in her day!
And over the years I remember she said,
One night as she kissed me and put me to bed,
"When I was a maid, and my song was played,
Didn't I dance in my day!"

    CHORUS:(repeats 2x each time)
    Didn't I dance, didn't I dance,
    Didn't I dance in my day!

My mother, she danced in a long silken gown,
Hair hung in curls, the belle of the town.
Many a man asked for her hand,
Didn't she dance in her day!
And now when she dances, just once in a while,
She says, "I remember those times, and I smile
When I think of the nights my feet danced so light,
Didn't I dance in my day!"
CHORUS

Now see the young girls on a soft summer's night
Silhouettes slender against the moon's light;
Hair flowing free, Once that was she,
Oh, didn't she dance in her day!
Now that she's older, there's one thing I know:
She'll go on dancing, though the tempo be slow;
And I know that one day to her grandchild she'll say,
"Didn't I dance in my day!"
CHORUS

Copyright Lori Holland BMI 1984
@dance @aging
filename[ DDNTDANC
TUNE FILE: DDNTDANC
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

Subject: ADD Version: Didn't I Dance (Lori Holland)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 03:37 PM

This is my transcription of a recording by Mustang Sally and the Hamjos. I like the wording better than what's in the DT transcription. The album title is Road Trip. It's available on Spotify.

DIDN'T I DANCE
(Lori Holland)

Grandmother heard him, His song was so sweet.
She danced to the fiddler On little bare feet.
She was fifteen and fair, With black braided hair,
And didn't she dance in her day!
Over the years I remember she said,
One night as she kissed me and put me to bed,
"When I was a maid, and my song was played,
Didn't I dance in my day!"

    CHORUS:(repeats 2x each time)
    Didn't I dance, didn't I dance,
    Didn't I dance in my day!

Mother, she danced In a long silken gown,
Hair done in curls, The belle of the town.
There was many a man Who asked for her hand,
And didn't she dance in her day!
Now when she dances, just once in a while,
She says, "I remember those times, and I smile
When I think of the nights my feet danced so light,
Didn't I dance in my day!"
CHORUS

See the young girls On a soft summer's night
Silhouettes slender Against the moon's light;
Hair flowing free, Once that was me,
Oh, didn't I dance in my day!
Now that I'm older, there's one thing I know:
I'll go on dancing though the tempo be slow;
And I know that one day to my grandchild I'll say,
"Didn't I dance in my day!"
CHORUS

Copyright Lori Holland BMI 1984
@dance @aging
filename[ DDNTDANC
TUNE FILE: DDNTDANC
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

Subject: DT Corr: Didn't I Dance (Lori Holland)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 03:17 PM

A few corrections of typos in the Digital Tradition lyrics of this wonderful song. In my not-so-humble opinion, the correct ending for the phrase "Didn't I dance in my day!" is an exclamation point, not a period or question mark, because the phrase seems to me to be an exclamation.

DIDN'T I DANCE
(Lori Holland)

Grandmother heard him -
His song was so sweet.
She danced to the fiddler
On little bare feet.
She was fifteen and fair,
With black braided hair,
And didn't she dance in her day!
Over the years I remember she said,
One night as she kissed me and put me to bed,
"When I was a maid, and my song was played,
Oh didn't I dance in my day!"

CHORUS:(repeats 2x each time)
    Didn't I dance, didn't I dance
    Didn't I dance in my day!

Mother, she danced
In a long silken gown
Hair done in curls
The belle of the town.
There was many a man
Who asked for her hand
And didn't she dance in her day!
Now when she dances just once in a while,
She says, "I remember those times and I smile
I think of the night my feet danced so light
Oh, didn't I dance in my day!"

See the young girls
On a soft summer's night
Silhouettes slender
Against the moon's light;
Hair flowing free
Once that was me,
And didn't I dance in my day!
Now that I'm older, there's one thing I know,
I'll go on dancing though the tempo be slow
And I know that some day to my grandchild I'll say
"Oh didn't I dance in my day!"

Copyright Lori Holland BMI 1984
@dance @aging
filename[ DDNTDANC
TUNE FILE: DDNTDANC
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

I'm just correcting typos here - I was unable to find a recording or source I could tie to Lori Holland. Anybody have Lori's actual lyrics? You might want to consider the alternate versions I posted in the following messages.

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: Suffet
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 09:44 AM

Fantastic news!

Lori Holland will be making a rare house concert appearance in New York City on Friday, April 4, 2008, starting at 8:00 PM. The concert will take place at a private residence on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, near West 98th Street and Broadway. Seating is strictly limited, and reservations are required.

For reservations, location, and other information, please call John Ziv at 212-662-6575.

This concert is sponsored by the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club. Admission: $12 for club members, $15 for non-members, $6 for children and full-time students, and $10 for seniors age 65 and over.

Be there!

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: Suffet
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 08:14 PM

Greetings:

I couldn't find the right Lori Holland on Zaba Search or on Google. However, Lori Holland's husband's name is David and the last I heard is that they live in New York City somewhere uptown near Columbia University. By doing a Google search, this came up:

David Holland
711 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY, 10025
212-222-4367

I'll bet you dollars to donuts that's Lori's right address, especially since the phone number matches the one given by Joe Offer above! So contact her either by mail or by phone, and I'm certain she will be delighted to hear that someone is interested in her song.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: GRex
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 03:08 AM

I have been singing 'Didn't I Dance' for many years now. It is still one of my favourites. The cassette tape recording that I obtained the song from (Vision Weaver) gives the song writer as M Dufresne. Does M Dufresne ring a bell with anyone?
      
            GRex

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 06:36 PM

SylviaN sings a nice version and has helped popularise it in the UK.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 01:51 PM

It's a beautiful song. My recollection is that Lori wrote it as a tribute to Lil Appel, a woman who ran a marvelous "sing" at her home in Valley Cottage, NY.   Friday night's at Lil's was a tradition in our area and many musicians enjoyed an evening of music in her living room.   These were the days before anyone ever heard of house concerts.

Lil passed away a number of years ago, but her spirit is still felt, and there are people who continue to host sings.

I have Lori's number somewhere. If you can't find her, give me a shout!

Thank's for reminding me of this beautiful song.   I look forward to hearing your version of it Arnie!

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 07:51 AM

Many thanks Joe! Just what I needed to know.
Cheers, Arnie

Subject: RE: Lori Holland-'Didn't I Dance' recording rights
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 03:36 AM

Hmmmm. This thread (click) has a review of Lori's CD and info how to contact her to buy one, right after a review of an Arnie Naiman CD. Here's the review:

hread #46624   Message #1084516
Posted By: Fortunato
02-Jan-04 - 09:18 AM
Thread Name: Review: PHILLY FOLKSONG SOCIETY Reviews
Subject: Lori Holland:The Woman She Became


There's snow business like show business...part 3
    LORI HOLLAND:The Woman She Became

There is no more quality-varied genre than the singer/songwriter scene. Every third person in the United States has written a dozen songs and recorded them for posterity. If I do not, often, report the latest Dar-come-lately, it is more evidence of my sloth than my taste.

Well, I wandered into the land of contemporary composition and came upon a field of dreams. I had heard Lori Holland sing "Didn't I Dance" some years ago. I heard everyone else sing it, too. It is a magical, marvelous song, the best exposition of nostalgia I had encountered. So, when Lori sent me a copy of her new CD ("The Woman She Became"), I gave it more than a cursory ear. It is an interesting and rewarding collection of retrospection, reflection not unlike her masterpiece opus, woven into an olio of a cappella trad and gutsy, gentle blues. It is, I think, a pretty album and a worthy addition to anyone's shelf. Lori's voice is strong and clear and her arrangements are tastefully complex. There is some dynamite accompaniment by a bevy of talented instrumentalists, with the honors going to former Progressive Bluegrasser, Manny Krevat. Mr. Krevat doubles as producer and his product is primo.

This CD is available by phone orders to the lovely Lori (212-222-4367). Yes, the Nashville acoustic guitar licks are played by Lori's son, legendary Bluegrass whiz, Danny Holland.

--- Michael Miller, Tune-Up, a publication of the Philadelphia Folksong Society

---

The song is in v.36#1, p.32, of Sing Out! Magazine (my collection starts with Volume 39 -1994)
It's also on the Sandy and Caroline Paton CD, New Harmony

Subject: Lori Holland
From: GUEST,Arnie Naiman
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 04:11 PM

Does anyone her know how I could get in touch with Lori Holland? Failing that does anyone have any copyright info on "Didn't I Dance"? It's listed under her name,BMI in mudcat lyrics, but the BMI website has no information about her or the song. I'm trying to track this down for a recording project - any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Arnie