Song Lyric Sunday – Goodbye to Linda

 This week the theme is to find any song by a musician or songwriter that died this year. Thanks to Jim and Clive.

 Linda Ann Fredericks (27 September 1950 – 3 May 2023), better known as Linda Lewis, was an English singer, songwriter and musician. She is best known for the singles “Rock-a-Doodle-Do” (1973) and her version of Betty Everett’s “The Shoop Shoop Song” (1975). Her discography includes solo albums, Lark (1972), Not A Little Girl Anymore (1975), Woman Overboard (1977), and the later Second Nature (1995), which became successful in countries such as Japan. Lewis also provided backing vocals for other artists, including David Bowie, Al Cooper, Cat Stevens, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Rick Wakeman, Rod Stewart, Joan Armatrading and Jamiroquai.

Linda Lewis died at her home in Waltham Abbey on 3 May 2023, at the age of 72.

This was her highest chart entry in the UK (number 15) and it has a special place in my heart, as it was a song that both my g/f at the time (also called Linda) really liked.

https://youtu.be/Rz4JCk-PMXI?si=Js6mii7O4MEbPZa6

When you come out, says go
I’m out of breath for you
I run to your bus stop
Trying hard to look cool

‘Cause I got a crunch for you, baby
I filled it with butterflies
Yes, I give up my lunch for you, baby
If you just give me the eye

I wanna rock with you
Rock-a-doodle do
Rock-a-doodle do
Rock-a-doodle do
Rock-a-doodle do

Popped a buttoned satin and jeans
You’re always be in my dreams
You’re next to ecstasy
Why don’t you notice me?

Keep right here in my hut, papa say
You’re no good riff and rough
Bet’cha know I’m a tear away
As far as I concern you’re far out

I wanna rock with you
Rock-a-doodle do
Rock-a-doodle do
Rock-a-doodle do
Rock-a-doodle do

You say the way that you’ll ever start
To be my steady
I’m ready to be your regular sweetheart
Rock-a-doodle do (Rock me)
Rock-a-doodle do (Don’t shock me)
Rock-a-doodle do
Rock-a-doodle do

‘Cause I got a crunch for you, baby
I filled it with the butterflies
Yes, I give up my lunch for you, baby
If you just give me the eye

I wanna rock with you
Rock-a-doodle do
Rock-a-doodle do (Rock, rock)
Rock-a-doodle do (Rock, rock)
Rock-a-doodle do (Rock, rock)
Rock-a-doodle do (Rock, rock)
Rock-a-doodle do
[fade]

Source: LyricFind

Written by Linda Ann Fredericks (Linda Lewis)

Mixed Music Bag – Week 44

The final MMB post of the year which is also week 4 in D for December.

The Damned are an English punk band formed in London in 1976 by lead vocalist Dave Vanian (David Lett), guitarist Brian James, bassist (and later guitarist) Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns), and drummer Rat Scabies (Christopher Millar). They were the first punk band from the United Kingdom to release a single, “New Rose” (1976), and also first to release a studio album, Damned, Damned, Damned (1977), and tour the United States. They have nine singles that charted on the UK Singles Chart Top 40. It’s amazing that three of the original members are now back together again (with former member Paul Gray on bass) after several line-up changes.

I managed to see the band live back in 1977 (original line-up) and it’s one gig I’ll always remember. The support band were The Adverts, who were also great but most of the crowd couldn’t take their eyes off bass guitarist; Gaye.

Is she really going out with him?

I got a feeling inside of me
It’s kind of strange, like a stormy sea
I don’t know why, I don’t know why
I guess these things have got to be

I gotta new rose, I got her good
Guess I knew that I always would
I can’t stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town

See the sun, see the sun, it shines
Don’t get too close, or it’ll burn your eyes
Don’t you run away that way
You can come back another day

I got a new rose, I got her good
Guess I knew that I always would
I can’t stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town

I never thought this could happen to me
This is strange, why should it be?
I don’t deserve somebody this great
I’d better go, or it’ll be too late

I got a feeling inside of me
It’s kind of strange, like a stormy sea
I don’t know why, I don’t know why
I guess these things have got to be

I got a new rose, I got her good
Guess I knew that I always would
I can’t stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Brian James

Song Lyric Sunday – It’s Christmas time

Thanks this week to Jim for the prompt and Clive for the theme for SLS, which is of course ‘a favourite Christmas song’.

I have always liked the music of The Pretenders, especially their first two albums. Lead singer Chrissie Hynde has such a unique voice. Although this Christmas song is often re-released each year, it never gets played on the radio as much as others. It was first released in the UK in 1983 and is the second single off the band’s third Learning To Crawl album. The song is about two long-distance lovers who miss each other at Christmastime.

He’s gone two thousand miles
Is very far
The snow is falling down
Gets colder day by day
I miss you

The children were singing
He’ll be back at Christmas time

In these frozen and silent nights
Sometimes in a dream, you appear
Outside under the purple sky
Diamonds in the snow sparkle

Our hearts were singing
It felt like Christmastime

Two thousand miles
Is very far through the snow
I’ll think of you
Wherever you go

He’s gone two thousand miles
Is very far
The snow is falling down
Gets colder day by day
I miss you

I can hear people singing
It must be Christmastime
I hear people singing
It must be Christmastime

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Chrissie Hynde

2000 Miles lyrics © Peermusic Publishing

Mixed Music Bag – Week 43

Part 3 of the December MMB to find a band or solo singer whose name starts with the letter D

This week I have chosen one of my all-time favourite singles by the band Mink DeVille.

Spanish Stroll is a 1977 single by Mink DeVille, off their debut album Cabretta (Mink DeVille in the U.S.). It features a spoken word section by bassist Rubén Sigüenza during the break, adding a Latin flavor to it. Willy DeVille (real name; Billy Borsay) was the cool lead singer and was often mistaken as Mink DeVille (of which was the actual band name). He sadly died of pancreatic cancer on August 6, 2009, at the age of 58.

“Spanish Stroll” reached #20 on the UK Singles Chart; it was to be DeVille’s only record ever to chart in the UK. In addition, the song went to #3 in the Netherlands and #25 in New Zealand.

Hey Mr. Jim I can see the shape you’re in
Finger on your eyebrow
And left hand on your hip
Thinking that you’re such a lady killer
Think you’re so slick!
Alright

Brother Johnny, he caught a plane and he got on it
Now he’s a razor in the wind
And he got a pistol in his pocket
They say the man is crazy on the West Coast
Lord there ain’t no doubt about it!
Well allright

Sister Sue tell me baby what are we gonna do
She said take two candles,
And then you burn them out
Make a paper boat, light it and…. send it out
send it out now..

Spanish Stroll
Spanish Stroll
Spanish Stroll

Hey Rosita! Donde vas con mi carro Rosita?
tu sabes que te quiero
pero ti me quitas todo
ya te robasta mi television y mi radio
y ahora quiere llevarse mi carro
no me haga asi, rosita
ven aqui
ehi, estese aqui al lado rosita
Spanish Stroll

Mira aqui!

Hey Johny! Yeah, tenth street Johny
We’ve been looking for you man
Everybody told me you had moved uptown
Hey! you wanna go for a ride
I’m going uptown myself
For what?

Yeah, ain’t it right?
Yeah, one time for Tito Puente, one time
Are you ready?
Yeah, of course we cannot leave out, Mr Ray Baretto
Are you ready?Are you ready?Are you ready?

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Willy De Ville

Spanish Stroll lyrics © Raleigh Music Publishing LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Song Lyric Sunday – John, Paul, George and Ringo

The theme of SLS this week is to find a song that made the Top 40 in 2023. Thanks once again to Jim Adams for the prompt.

On 10 November 2023, The Beatles returned to the top of the UK Singles Chart with their ‘final single’, “Now And Then“. The song, begun as a home demo by John Lennon in 1977 and was completed thanks to the use of AI. It became their 18th UK number-one single, 60 years after they first topped the chart with “From Me To You” in 1963, making this the longest gap between an artist’s first and last number-one in UK chart history. The Beatles also became the act with the longest gap ever between UK number-one singles, as they last reached the top with “The Ballad of John And Yoko” 54 years earlier in 1969, thus overtaking Kate Bush’s 44 years between “Wuthering Heights” (1978) and the re-issue of “Running Up That Hill” (2022). The “Now And Then” single earned 78,200 chart sales, including 48,600 sales comprised of physical sales and downloads in the first week, making it the fastest selling song of the year.

Written by John Lennon

The lyrics are in the video, of which I hope you all can see.

Mixed music bag – week 42

Part 2 of the December MMB to find a band or solo singer beginning with the letter D

This week I’ve chosen a track by the British electronic music band Depeche Mode, who are one of the band’s that I’ve followed since the very early days. “Walking in My Shoes” was released on 26 April 1993 as the second single from their eighth studio album, Songs Of Faith And Devotion (1993). The song reached number 14 on the UK Single Chart and matched the success of the previous single “I Feel You” on the US Modern Rock chart, where it reached number one. SOFAD is also my favourite album by the band (so dark and raw) but there are many close seconds. The accompanying music video (based on the 7 deadly sins?) for “Walking in My Shoes” was directed by Anton Corbijn (pronounced: Corbin) who has worked on several other Depeche Mode videos and albums as well as many other bands.

(note: video does contain a few seconds of nudity)

I would tell you about the things they put me through
The pain I’ve been subjected to
But the Lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush

Now I’m not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You’ll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes

Morality would frown upon
Decency look down upon
The scapegoat fate’s made of me
But I promise now, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn’t have been purer
My case is easy to see

I’m not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I’ve been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You’ll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

Now I’m not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

You’ll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
You’ll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Martin Gore

Walking in My Shoes lyrics © Emi Music Publishing Ltd

Song Lyric Sunday – Take One

For today’s SLS, Jim Adams has asked for songs that were recorded in one take by the band.

“Paranoid Android” is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead, released as the lead single from their third studio album, OK Computer (1997), on 26 May 1997. The lyrics were written by singer Thom Yorke following an unpleasant experience in a Los Angeles bar. The song is over six minutes long and contains four sections. The name is taken from Marvin the Paranoid Android from the science fiction series The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

“Paranoid Android” charted at number three on the UK Singles Chart, Radiohead’s highest-charting position in the UK to date.

Please could you stop the noise?
I’m tryna get some rest
From all the unborn chicken
Voices in my head

What’s that? (I may be paranoid, but not an android)
What’s that? (I may be paranoid, but not an android)

When I am king
You will be first against the wall
With your opinion
Which is of no consequence at all

What’s that? (I may be paranoid, but no android)
What’s that? (I may be paranoid, but no android)

La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La, la

Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking, squealing, Gucci little piggy

La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la

You don’t remember, you don’t remember
Why don’t you remember my name?
Off with his head, man, off with his head, man
Why don’t you remember my name?
I guess he does

Ah, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh

Rain down, rain down
Come on, rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height, height
Rain down, rain down
Come on, rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height, height

that’s it, sir, you’re leaving
The crackle of pigskin (rain down)
(Come on rain down) the dust and the screaming
The yuppies networking
The panic, the vomit (from a great height)
The panic, the vomit (from a great height)
God loves his children
God loves his children, yeah

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Philip James Selway / Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood / Edward John O’brien / Thomas Edward Yorke / Colin Charles Greenwood

Paranoid Android lyrics © Warner/chappell Music Ltd


I’ve included another version which is similar to the original until the horns kick in. The whole of OK Computer done in a reggae style is really very good.

https://youtu.be/GJbHUVxVZ9k?feature=shared

Thursday inspiration

I thought I’d join Jim Adams’ Thursday inspiration posts and link my post to his instead of just making comments on it.

I’m not a big fan of Van 🙂 I guess if you only have one of his album’s it has to be ‘Moondance’?
‘Wild is The Wind’ is a song recorded by many artists, including Johnny Mathis (from the 1957 film of the same name), Nina Simone and George Michael. I really like this version by Billy MacKenzie (late singer of the Associates). That note he holds near the end is amazing.

Thursday Inspiration #236 Wild Night is Calling

Note – Not all the full lyrics are used in certain versions.

Love me, love me, love me, love me
Say you do
Let me fly away
With you
For my love is like
The wind
And wild is the wind
Wild is the wind

Give me more
Than one caress
Satisfy this
Hungriness
Let the wind
Blow through your heart
For wild is the wind
Wild is the wind

You
Touch me
I hear the sound
Of mandolins
You
Kiss me
With your kiss
My life begins
You’re spring to me
All things
To me

Don’t you know you’re
Life itself

Like a leaf clings
To the tree
Oh my darling,
Cling to me
For we’re like creatures
Of the wind
Wild is the wind
Wild is the wind

You
Touch me
I hear the sound
Of mandolins
You
Kiss me
With your kiss
My life begins
You’re spring to me
All things
To me

Don’t you know you’re
Life itself

Like a leaf clings
To the tree
Oh my darling,
Cling to me
For we’re like creatures
In the wind
And wild is the wind
Wild is the wind

Wild is the wind
Wild is the wind
Wild is the wind

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dimitri Tiomkin / Ned Washington

Wild Is the Wind lyrics © Reservoir Media Management Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

Mixed Music Bag – Week 41

It’s the first Tuesday in December, so that means it’s part one of a group or solo singer with the letter D at the start of their name.

Doves are an English indie rock band, formed in Manchester in 1998. The band is composed of twin brothers Jez (guitar, vocals) and Andy Williams (drums, vocals), and Jimi Goodwin (lead vocals, bass, guitar). Additionally, the band employs Martin Rebelski as a touring and session musician on keyboards. The band released five studio albums between 2000 and 2020, three of which reached #1 on the UK album charts. A compilation album, The Places Between Us – The Best of Doves, was released in April 2010.

Prior to forming Doves, the Williams brother and Goodwin formed the dance-oriented band Sub Sub, in 1991. releasing their first single “Space Face” in the same year. In 1993 they released “Ain’t No Love (Ain’t No Use,” which reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart. In February 1996, the band’s studio caught fire and burned down, leading the band members to abandon Sub Sub and went on a different direction with the band, Doves.

Lost Souls (2000), The Last Broadcast (my favourite from 2002 and has the single ‘Pounding’ on it), Some Cities (2005), Kingdom Of Rust (2009), The Universal Want (2020) are the five studio albums Doves have released to date.

I can’t stand by, see you destroyed
I can’t be here and watch you burning
You lie for a moment, you lie as a decoy
Does it matter if I give in easy
So why is it so hard to get by?

And I said
We so down
But it’s now or never, baby
We don’t mind
If this don’t last forever
See the light
But it won’t last forever
Seize the time
Cause it’s now or never, baby

Let’s leave at sunrise
Let’s live by the ocean
I don’t mind if we never come home at all
Let’s steal the morning and
Set in motion
In and out of love and institutions
Cause I know this can’t last for long

And I said
We so down
But it’s now or never, baby
We don’t mind
If this don’t last forever
See the light
But it won’t last forever
Seize the time
Cause it’s now or never, baby(yeah)

See there we so down we share
See there we so down we share

So why, is it so hard to get by?
And I say I

We so down
And this can’t last forever
We don’t mind
Cause it’s now or never, baby

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Andy Williams / Jez Williams / Jimi Goodwin

Song Lyric Sunday – Album closures

This week the theme is to find a song that made a great closing track on an album. Thanks once again to Jim Adams for the prompt.

I’ve chosen ‘Crime Of The Century’ by Supertramp. It’s from the album of the same name and I never get tired of hearing the track. In fact I like the whole album. It was released in 1974 and featured the hit single; ‘Dreamer’.

Now they’re planning the crime of the century
Well, what will it be?
Read all about their schemes and adventuring
Yes, it’s well worth a fee

So roll up and see
How they rape the universe
How they’ve gone from bad to worse

Who are these men of lust, greed and glory?
Rip off the masks and let’s see
But that’s not right, oh, no, what’s the story?
But there’s you and there’s me

That can’t be

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Richard Davies / Roger Hodgson

Crime Of The Century lyrics © Almo Music Corp., Universal Music Publishing Ltd., Delicate Music