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L.L. Bean commercial

15 Nov 07 - 11:29 AM (#2194472)
Subject: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GUEST,Jim

There is a L.L. Bean TV commercial that uses the first two lines of a version of Footprints In The Snow. Although the voice sounds familiar, I'm having trouble identifying who sings it. Could anyone help?

15 Nov 07 - 12:13 PM (#2194512)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: Mark Ross

It could be Mac Wiseman.

Mark Ross

15 Nov 07 - 03:50 PM (#2194687)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GUEST,Zeke

I've heard the commercial. It sounds more old timey than Mac Wiseman.

15 Nov 07 - 04:16 PM (#2194718)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: Wesley S

Wasn't there a website somewhere that would identify songs used in commercials?

15 Nov 07 - 04:19 PM (#2194722)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: Francy

How much more old timey can you get than Mac?   Frank of Toledo

15 Nov 07 - 04:21 PM (#2194725)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: topical tom

It could be Roger Miller:know the full story behind the ad, but even I don't know where Mike D's going with that riddle! He's a tricky one, you know...

Since we're talking about the ad, I thought you might find this interesting... We were asked via email a few days ago about the song that accompanies the ad. To try and find an answer, I Googled the lyrics that I could discern from the commercial and found out that it is a song from 1960 by Roger Miller called "Footprints in the Snow".

In a weird, tragic Mount Washington twist, it's about a guy finding a young girl who got caught in a snowstorm and succumbed to the adverse weather...

15 Nov 07 - 04:23 PM (#2194729)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: Francy

The original song goes back to othe 1880's......Bill Monroe did it as well as Mac Wiseman and many others................Frank of Toledo

15 Nov 07 - 04:49 PM (#2194763)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GUEST,Zeke

I think of Mac Wiseman as a bluegrass singer. I was thinking of the Carter Family or Roscoe Holcomb when I said old timey.

15 Nov 07 - 05:24 PM (#2194802)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: Cool Beans

Haven't heard the commercial, but could it be Vernon Dalhart?

15 Nov 07 - 08:46 PM (#2194956)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GUEST

Mr. Jim -

You obviously know more about this the first two lines of a version of Footprints In The Snow

When requesting an "investigation" it is ALWAYS best to post everything your already know:

Re: L.L. Bean Commercial

When: Date commercial was aired
Where: What geographic place on the globe? (Mudcat is Universal)
What: the words you beleive the first line to be.... additional words that make you believe this to be connected to
How: Radio, Cable, Satilite, Station ID number/Country?

Why:?????? -

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Given the foundation - there are some (not me on this one!) who might look long and deep to solve a nice puzzle.

16 Nov 07 - 01:15 AM (#2195056)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: topical tom

The singer in the LL Bean commercial is Cliff Carlisle.

   
During the mid-'30s, Carlisle's son -- billed as "Sonny Boy Tommy" -- began regularly appearing on live dates and recording sessions, a situation that often ran afoul of individual states' child labor laws. The recordings Carlisle made with his son were typically mild and innocuous, but his solo sides continued to get down and dirty -- "A Wild Cat Woman and a Tom Cat Man" offered a cartoonish portrait of domestic disputes, while the snarky "You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone" was later covered by Elvis Presley as "Just Because." In 1939, he recorded "Footprints in the Snow," later to become a bluegrass standard; the song offered clear proof that consumers' appetite for blue yodels was on the wane; in the years to follow, Carlisle was a regular on WMPS in Memphis, but by the early '50s he was essentially retired from the music industry, having recorded well over 300 sides during his heyday. He was rediscovered a decade later when the Rooftop Singers covered his "Tom Cat Blues," leading to a handful of reunion performances with Wilber Ball and even the recording of new material for the Rem label. Cliff Carlisle died in Lexington, KY, on April 2, 1983; he was 78. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

16 Nov 07 - 11:01 AM (#2195303)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GUEST,Jim

Thanks, Topical Tom!

16 Nov 07 - 12:55 PM (#2195391)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: topical tom

Not a problem.It feels good because it's rare that I can succeed in tracking down a song!

16 Nov 07 - 01:55 PM (#2195453)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: RangerSteve

Of the Cliff Carlisle recordings available, there are two single disc reissues, one on Arhoolie, another on BACM, but neither have the "Footprints" recording. There is a complete set of Carlisle's recordings on JSP, a British label, consisting of 2 4-cd sets and containing everything accept for the above mentioned REM recordings.
Footprints in the Snow is probably definately in that set, but as they're out in my car right now, I can't say for sure.

16 Nov 07 - 02:42 PM (#2195492)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GLoux

It's on Arhoolie CD 7039

Cliff Carlisle: Blues Yodeler & Steel Guitar Wizard CD

1.Memphis Yodel
2.No Daddy Blues
3.Hobo Blues
4.Columbus Stockade Blues
5.Shanghai Rooster Yodel
6.I Don't Mind
7.High Steppin' Mama
8.It Ain't No Fault of Mine
9.That Nasty Swing
10.Get Her By The Tail On A Down Hill Grade
11.My Lovin Kathleen
12.A Wild Cat Woman And A Tom Cat Man
13.You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone
14.Rambling Yodeler
15.When the Evening Sun Goes Down
16.Handsome Blues
17.My Rockin' Mama
18.Pay Day Fight
19.My Travelin' Night
20.Trouble Minded Blues
21.Pan American Man
22.I'm Saving Saturday Night For You
23.Footprints In The Snow
24.Black Jack David

16 Nov 07 - 06:48 PM (#2195626)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: RangerSteve

I must have overlooked it. After checking again, Gloux is right and I'm wrong.

A very contrite Steve

17 Nov 07 - 10:03 AM (#2195936)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GUEST

I just YouTubed it its CLIFF CARLISLECool tune

18 Nov 07 - 08:12 AM (#2196643)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GUEST,Kozzmo

Its Cliff Carlisle singing footprints in the snow......Positive.

18 Nov 07 - 08:34 AM (#2196654)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: topical tom

To clarify a point, prior to my post of Nov. 16 I contacted LL Bean and was assured that the singer in the ad was Cliff Carlisle.My post of Nov. 15 was pasted from a web site and they are not my words.

19 Nov 07 - 04:01 PM (#2197753)
Subject: RE: L.L. Bean commercial
From: GUEST,Tallweed in Houston

yeah..OK but did your father sing this tragic tune to you from the day you were born until the day you left for college?
Mine did. I know it in my sleep!
In college my roommate wrote an alternative lyric:
" she was dead. she was dead. She was shot in the head. Lying in the snow with no where to go." repeat and fade.