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I Need a Good Duet!!!

02 Jun 05 - 08:15 PM (#1498708)
Subject: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,SweetiePie

Howdy all-
My sweetheart and I have been tapped to sing the ubiquitous love song duet at an upcoming show...

We're NOT doing "I've got you babe" or "Love Shack"...barf...

We're looking for something along the lines of "Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" from Mighty Wind, but we'd prefer not to do a parody.

Anyway, I've gotten some great suggestions here...so fire away....

[Many song titles in this thread have been converted to links by a Mudelf.]


02 Jun 05 - 09:17 PM (#1498748)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,Russ

THE BRAMBLE AND THE ROSE


03 Jun 05 - 12:54 AM (#1498887)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST

Me and thee



A jug of wine - a loaf of bread



And Thou ----(who could make a more celestial duo?)


03 Jun 05 - 02:22 AM (#1498920)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,Allen

CAPTAIN WEDDERBURN'S COURTSHIP?


03 Jun 05 - 02:50 AM (#1498926)
Subject: Lyr Add: I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (L Payne)
From: Ebbie

Old country song:

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE

( L. Payne)


I love you because you understand dear
Every single thing I try to do.
You're always there to lend a helping hand, dear.
I love you most of all because you're you.

No matter what the world may say about me,
I know your love will always see me through.
I love you for the way you never doubt me.
But most of all I love you 'cause you're you.

No matter what may be the style or season,
I know your heart will always be true.
I love you for a hundred thousand reasons,
But most of all I love you 'cause you're you


03 Jun 05 - 03:20 AM (#1498938)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: muppitz

If you can, look up some Jez Lowe stuff, he's done some great duets.
GREEK LIGHTNING is a favourite and more recently he's done one called FANCY GOODS.

muppitz


03 Jun 05 - 03:33 AM (#1498944)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: Little Robyn

THE ROSEVILLE FAIR


03 Jun 05 - 04:12 AM (#1498962)
Subject: Lyr Add: LET IT BE ME
From: PoppaGator

Let It Be Me

(maybe not folk, but venerable country pop; first recorded in 1957 by one Jill Corey)

LET IT BE ME
English Words by Mann Curtis and Music by Gilbert Becaud

I bless the day I found you
I want to stay around you
And so I beg you, let it be me

Don't take this heaven from one
If you must cling to someone
Now and forever, let it be me

Each time we meet love
I find complete love
Without your sweet love what would life be?

So never leave me lonely
Tell me you love me only
And that you'll always let it be me

Each time we meet love
I find complete love
Without your sweet love what would life be

So never leave me lonely
Tell me you love me only
And that you'll always---let--it--be--me

Often done in 2-part harmony ~ Everly Brothers ('60), Jerry Butler and Betty Everett ('64), the Sweet Inspirations ('67), Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry ('69), and a solo recording by Willie Nelson in 1982. The Everlys and Jerry & Betty both had top-ten hits.

"English Words by Mann Curtis and Music by Gilbert Becaud" ~ I assume this means the song was originally written in another language (French?)

Four of us sang this last Saturday as part of the bilingual kareoke spectacle at a Vietnamese/American wedding. It woulda been better with just two well-rehearsed singers.

I'll take a stab at the chords, but I have to do it in my head. It's the middle of the night so I can't actually play 'em out loud:

VERSE:
C       G
So never leave me lonely
Am          Em
Tell me you love me only
F               C      F         C
And that you'll always let it be me

BRIDGE:
F            Em (or C)
Each time we meet love
F          Em
I find complete love
F            C          F(?)            E G
Without your sweet love what would life be

(I'm pretty sure about that E major chord near the end of the bridge; I think it resolves into a G or G7. Can't be sure, and I can't bust out my guitar to check right now.)

Well, here's hoping I just cured my insomnia ~ back to bed!


03 Jun 05 - 08:18 AM (#1499071)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,Whistle Stop

You can't miss with the Everly Brothers (who did the best-known version of Let It Be Me). You might also consider their song Devoted To You.


03 Jun 05 - 08:42 AM (#1499092)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: Dave Hanson

Sorry I thought it sais duvet


03 Jun 05 - 12:15 PM (#1499260)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,Sidewinder.

I heartily recommend "WEDDING BELLS" or "IN SPITE OF OURSELVES" by John Prine (the latter featuring Iris Dement).

Regards.

Sidewinder.


03 Jun 05 - 12:34 PM (#1499279)
Subject: Lyr Add: CRYING IN THE RAIN (Everly Brothers)
From: Dave'sWife

Since someone mentioned 'Let it Be me'.. how about one that is infinitely more poignant and a great opportunity for a well-matched pair of voices:
Dave Edmunds and Nick Loew have a live recording of this that will break your heart - it's that lovely.


CRYING IN THE RAIN
Written By Carole King, Howard Greenfield
As recorded by the Everly Brothers, 1962.
I'll never let you see
The way my broken heart is hurting me.
I've got my pride and I know how to hide
All my sorrow and pain.
I'll do my cryin' in the rain.

If I wait for cloudy skies,
You won't know the rain from the tears in my eyes.
You'll never know that I still love you so
Though the heartaches remain.
I'll do my cryin' in the rain.

Raindrops fallin' from heaven
Could never wash away my misery,
But since we're not together,
I look for stormy weather
To hide these tears I hope you'll never see.

Someday when my crying's done,
I'm gonna wear a smile and walk in the sun.
I may be a fool, but till then, darling, you'll
Never see me complaining.
I'll do my cryin' in the rain.
I'll do my cryin' in the rain.
I'll do my cryin' in the rain.


Or.. in another thread, I recently mentioned a Waylon Jennings/Jesse Colter song called 'Storms Never Last'. This one is in a similar vein to 'A Kiss At The End Of The Rainbow' - it's wistful.

Storms Never Last
Bosse Andersson and Jesse Colter

Storms never last do they, baby?
Bad times will pass with the winds.
Your hand in mine steals the thunder.
You make the sun want to shine.

Oh, I followed you down so many roads, baby;
I picked wild flowers and sung you soft sad songs.
And every road we took, God knows, our search was for the truth.
And the storms brewing now won't be the last.

Female Singer:
Storms never last do they, fill-in-the -name of one-of-the-singers
Together:
Bad times will pass with the winds.
Your hand in mine steals the thunder.
You make the sun want to shine.

Male Singer:
Storms never last do they, fill-in-the-name-of-the-other-singer
Together:
Bad times will pass with the winds.
Your hand in mine steals the thunder.
You make the sun want to shine.

Repeat together:
Storms never last do they, baby?
Bad times will pass with the winds.
Your hand in mine steals the thunder.
You make the sun want to shine.

Written by Bosse Andersson and Jesse Colter.
(© Universal Songs Of Polygram.)
From "Music Man", © 1980, RCA.


03 Jun 05 - 12:44 PM (#1499291)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: PoohBear

The Little Things We Do Together by Stephen Sondheim

"It's not so hard to be married.
It's much the simplest of crimes.
It's not so hard to be married.
I've done it three or four times.

It's the little things you do together
Do together, do together,
That make perfect relationships.

Growing old and grey together,
Becoming a cliche together,
Withering away together,
That keeps marriage in tact."

PB


03 Jun 05 - 12:48 PM (#1499299)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: mg

you are the call I am the answer you are the wish and I am the way???

[THE CALL AND THE ANSWER]


03 Jun 05 - 01:25 PM (#1499331)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,cromdubh

Always thought Jim Croce`s "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" was a sweet love song which could easily be converted into a duet.


03 Jun 05 - 01:54 PM (#1499352)
Subject: Lyr Add: MY BABY'S GONE (Louvin Brothers)
From: Dave'sWife

and lest I foget to toss in my usual recommendation for a Louvin brothers song:


MY BABY'S GONE
Words and music by Hazel Houser
As recorded by the Louvin Brothers, 1958.

CHORUS: Hold back the rushing minutes; make the wind lie still.
Don't let the moonlight shine across the lonely hill.
Dry all the raindrops and hold back the sun.
My world has ended; my baby's gone.

1. The milkman whistles softly as he comes up to my door.
The mailman brings the letters by just like he did before.
They seem so busy all day long, as though there's nothing wrong.
Don't they know the world has ended? My baby's gone. CHORUS

2. I wake up sometimes in the night and realize you're gone,
And then I toss upon my bed and wait for day to come.
I try to tell my lonely heart it must go on alone,
But it cries: "The world has ended; my baby's gone." CHORUS


03 Jun 05 - 01:57 PM (#1499357)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: Matt_R

Check out "LOVE AT THE FIVE AND DIME" by Nanci Griffith with Darius Rucker


03 Jun 05 - 02:40 PM (#1499409)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: open mike

GULF COAST HIGHWAY by Nanci Griffith
is the ultimate duet, IMHO
http://www.coquet-shack.com/lyrics/Harris_Emmylou/Gulf_Coast_Highway_1844.php
http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.roughstock.com/cowpie/cowpie-songs/g/griffith_nanci/gulf_coast_highway.crd
this has been done by Emmy Lou Harris and Willie Nelson.


03 Jun 05 - 02:48 PM (#1499418)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: PoppaGator

Then, there's always Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt, Richard Farina & Mimi Baez, Ian & Sylvia (real-life models for Mitch & Mickey in A Might Wind), Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes, and many many others ~ depends upon your interests/styles/capabilities, etc., and those of your audience.

You've had a bunch of nifty suggestions; when you decide what to do and start working it up, please come back and let us know!


03 Jun 05 - 03:07 PM (#1499451)
Subject: Lyr Add: OH HAPPY WE (Richard Wilbur, L Bernstein)
From: GUEST,ClaireBear

For a different take on love duets, take a look at the marriage duet ("Oh Happy We") from Bernstein's Candide, lyrics by Richard Wilbur. It's got a beautiful tune, and oh, the words!

I grabbed these lyrics from a blog, so not sure they're accurate or complete, but they will give you the general idea:

(CANDIDE) Soon, when we feel we can afford it,
We'll build a modest little farm.
(CUNEGONDE) We'll buy a yacht and live aboard it,
Rolling in luxury and stylish charm.
(CANDIDE) Cows and chickens.
(CUNEGONDE) Social whirls.
(CANDIDE) Peas and cabbage.
(GUNEGONDE) Ropes of pearls.

(CANDIDE) Soon there'll be little ones beside us;
We'll have a sweet Westphalian home.
(CUNEGONDE) Somehow we'll grow as rich as Midas;
We'll live in Paris when we're not in Rome.
(CANDIDE) Smiling babies.
(CUNEGONDE
Marble halls.
(CANDIDE) Sunday picnics.
(CUNEGONDE) Costume balls.

Oh, won't my robes of silk and satin
Be chic! I'll have all that I desire.
(CANDIDE) Pangloss will tutor us in Latin
And Greek, while we sit before the fire.
(CUNEGONDE) Glowing rubies.
(CANDIDE) Glowing logs.
(CUNEGONDE) Faithful servants.
(CANDIDE) Faithful dogs.

(CUNEGONDE) We'll round the world enjoying high life,
All bubbly pink champagne and gold.
(CANDIDE) We'll lead a rustic and a shy life,
Feeding the pigs and sweetly growing old.
(CUNEGONDE) Breast of peacock.
(CANDIDE) Apple pie.
(CUNEGONDE) I love marriage.
(CANDIDE) So do I.

(CUNEGONDE, CANDIDE) Oh, happy pair! Oh, happy we!
It's very rare how we agree.
Oh, happy pair! Oh, happy we!
It's very rare how we agree.


03 Jun 05 - 05:43 PM (#1499610)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,SweetiePie

Actually, we really like the Jim Croce "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" so we are going to try that one as a duet...we'll let you know how it works out!

(We are not married yet, just old farts acting like teenagers in love)


03 Jun 05 - 06:41 PM (#1499679)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,mkebenn@work

Billy Ed's "JACKSON"


03 Jun 05 - 06:58 PM (#1499701)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: Peace

I saw the title of this thread. You will never guess what went through my mind?


03 Jun 05 - 07:36 PM (#1499748)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: The Fooles Troupe

'(HOW MUCH IS) THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?'

(listen to the first verse)


03 Jun 05 - 08:35 PM (#1499786)
Subject: Lyr Add: IF I NEEDED YOU (Van Zandt)
From: Dave'sWife

One last recommendation and then I'll give up trying to convince you to sing something other than what you have planned!


IF I NEEDED YOU
(Townes van Zandt)

If I needed you
Would you come to me
Would you come to me
For to ease my pain
If you needed me
I would come to you
I would swim the seas
For to ease your pain

Well the night's forlorn
And the morning's born
And the morning shines
With the lights of love
And you'll miss sunrise
If you close your eyes
And that would break
My heart in two

If I needed you
Would you come to me
Would you come to me
For to ease my pain
If you needed me
I would come to you
I would swim the seas
For to ease your pain

Baby's with me now
Since I showed her how
To lay her little
Hand in mine
Who would ill agree
She's a sight to see
A treasure for
The poor to find

If I needed you
Would you come to me
Would you come to me
For to ease my pain
If you needed me
I would come to you
I would swim the seas
For to ease your pain


(a nice recording of this is on Emmylou Harris' album CIMMARON which has been released on CD in the past few years)




As a harmony singer (who currently has no partner), I collect good duets. I have so many of them that I'd love to make you a CD or tape of any that you might like to hear and learn. Please PM me if you'd care to have such a tape/CD or series of tapes.


03 Jun 05 - 09:43 PM (#1499836)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST

Tom Russell and Iris Dement - LOVE ABIDES


04 Jun 05 - 04:37 AM (#1499980)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: GUEST,van lingle

This may be too late but "MIDNIGHT ON THE WATER" makes a great duet piece. The lyrics as sung by Kate Wolf should be in the DT but if not they were posted on a thread about this song version of an old waltz. I second "IF I NEEDED YOU" Emmylou Harris and Don Williams did a beautiful job on it.vl


04 Jun 05 - 07:43 AM (#1500020)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: CStrong

>>(We are not married yet, just old farts acting like teenagers in love)<<

Keep it up!


04 Jun 05 - 07:45 AM (#1500022)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: CStrong

...and consider Kris Kristofferson's "LOVING ARMS," covered of late by the Dixie Chicks, but originally a duet with Rita Coolidge.

It's a break-up tune, though.


04 Jun 05 - 09:42 AM (#1500057)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: Janie

"THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE"

"Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" (Leonard Cohen)

"MISSISSIPPI MOON" (Jimmie Rodgers)


04 Jun 05 - 11:21 AM (#1500109)
Subject: RE: I Need a Good Duet!!!
From: bbc

Two that I really love are on Priscilla Herdman recordings. On her "Forever & Always" recording, she sings "MUSIC TO ME" w/ Bill Staines. On her "Darkness into Light" recording, she sings "I REMEMBER LOVING YOU" w/ Bruce (Utah) Phillips.

best,

bbc