50S AND 60S HIT SONGS WHERE THE SINGING OR PLAYING IS DEFINITELY OUT OF KEY

[Silkie]

I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight (or as has been said, "It's Gladys Nighttime" with not much longer would it be there) ;D.

 

[hornet61]

.........definitely outta key here

Green Door - jim Lowe
Two doors Down - dolly parton
let lock the door and throw away the ____ - Jay and the Americans.

 

[gr8oldies]

Which "Two Doors Down"? I remember the original softer LP version and a more rocked out 45.

 

[hornet61]

.........definitely outta key here

Green Door - jim Lowe
Two doors Down - dolly parton
let lock the door and throw away the ____ - Jay and the Americans.

Which "Two Doors Down"? I remember the original softer LP version and a more rocked out 45.

My feeble/demented attempt at humor......all door songs(no key/outta key).....Sorry

 

[gr8oldies]

Ok...extra dense tonight

 

[Silkie]

Carly Simon's cover over on her own "You're So Vain".

 

[Silkie]

According to historical notes which are unconfirmed for accuracy, “Angel Baby” was recorded in a two-track studio located in the corner of an abandoned aircraft hanger in San Marcos, California. Rosie’s sax player, Alfred Barrett, could not show for the session and the sax work was instead laid down by Tony Gomez, the group’s bassist. Noah Tafolla, an original “Originals” band member, and later married to Rosie, taught the sax part to Tony (who had played horn in high school.)

Whether off key or just the result of poor quality recording, “Angel Baby” was a smash hit for Rosie and the Originals after the master was picked up by Highland Records and promoted on air by Alan Freed at KDAY. Rosie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the “one hit wonders” category in 1995.

There are numerous recorded tracks from the 50s, and indeed from earlier years, which were recorded in venues other than “state-of-the-art” studios with less than professional quality recording equipment by artists and musicians who, while not polished in performance by today’s standards, laid the groundwork and footprint of what we now know as Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, and Doo Wop.

For those audiophiles who desire pure tonal quality and absolute pitch in their listening pleasure, I suggest staying away from early Rock ‘n’ Roll. R&R was meant to “move your soul” and not to be judged by its inability to reach a perfect fifth in the second bar of the chorus.

The following 45 rpm might qualify: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rwKCYat2o8&feature=related

 

[GridLeakBias]

According to historical notes which are unconfirmed for accuracy, “Angel Baby” was recorded in a two-track studio located in the corner of an abandoned aircraft hanger in San Marcos, California. Rosie’s sax player, Alfred Barrett, could not show for the session and the sax work was instead laid down by Tony Gomez, the group’s bassist. Noah Tafolla, an original “Originals” band member, and later married to Rosie, taught the sax part to Tony (who had played horn in high school.)

Whether off key or just the result of poor quality recording, “Angel Baby” was a smash hit for Rosie and the Originals after the master was picked up by Highland Records and promoted on air by Alan Freed at KDAY. Rosie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the “one hit wonders” category in 1995.

There are numerous recorded tracks from the 50s, and indeed from earlier years, which were recorded in venues other than “state-of-the-art” studios with less than professional quality recording equipment by artists and musicians who, while not polished in performance by today’s standards, laid the groundwork and footprint of what we now know as Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, and Doo Wop.

For those audiophiles who desire pure tonal quality and absolute pitch in their listening pleasure, I suggest staying away from early Rock ‘n’ Roll. R&R was meant to “move your soul” and not to be judged by its inability to reach a perfect fifth in the second bar of the chorus.

The following 45 rpm might qualify: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rwKCYat2o8&feature=related

Now this one, Silkie, rates very high on the "absolute painful-to-listen-to" chart. Must have been recorded on a $12.95 Realistic portable one-track with a very old external carbon mic. Ouch. :'(

 

[FRR]

According to historical notes which are unconfirmed for accuracy, “Angel Baby” was recorded in a two-track studio located in the corner of an abandoned aircraft hanger in San Marcos, California. Rosie’s sax player, Alfred Barrett, could not show for the session and the sax work was instead laid down by Tony Gomez, the group’s bassist. Noah Tafolla, an original “Originals” band member, and later married to Rosie, taught the sax part to Tony (who had played horn in high school.)

Whether off key or just the result of poor quality recording, “Angel Baby” was a smash hit for Rosie and the Originals after the master was picked up by Highland Records and promoted on air by Alan Freed at KDAY. Rosie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the “one hit wonders” category in 1995.

There are numerous recorded tracks from the 50s, and indeed from earlier years, which were recorded in venues other than “state-of-the-art” studios with less than professional quality recording equipment by artists and musicians who, while not polished in performance by today’s standards, laid the groundwork and footprint of what we now know as Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, and Doo Wop.

For those audiophiles who desire pure tonal quality and absolute pitch in their listening pleasure, I suggest staying away from early Rock ‘n’ Roll. R&R was meant to “move your soul” and not to be judged by its inability to reach a perfect fifth in the second bar of the chorus.

This is great information. Any of us that love old rock and roll really dig details like this. And you are right; rock "moved our soul", and not many cared if it was 'perfectly pitched"
[/quote

 

[Silkie]

Now this one, Silkie, rates very high on the "absolute painful-to-listen-to" chart. Must have been recorded on a $12.95 Realistic portable one-track with a very old external carbon mic. Ouch.

But it's a great little tune.

 

[GridLeakBias]

Now this one, Silkie, rates very high on the "absolute painful-to-listen-to" chart. Must have been recorded on a $12.95 Realistic portable one-track with a very old external carbon mic. Ouch.

But it's a great little tune.

So true.

The kids on Bandstand probably would have said this: "It has a great beat and it's easy to dance to. We give it an 85."
8)

 

[hornet61]

The all time winner for being most out of key both vocally and instrumentally for the longest period in any one song goes to Angel Baby-Rosie and the Originals. This song made my dog vomit.

This is a classic,especially considering ages of the group(great vocals by a very young Rosie), recording conditions(as correctly reported by GLB). John Lennon called this his favortite song and mentioned this on his "Menlove Ave" LP.......Along with "Earth Angel" by the Penguins.."Angel Baby" are the two most requested songs in LA ever.........somehow I put more credence in John Lennons' words than...........

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

Rosie, in various interviews, admitted the song was a piece of crap and that she could sing much better than her performance in
Angel Baby.

 

[hornet61]

Rosie, in various interviews, admitted the song was a piece of crap and that she could sing much better than her performance in
Angel Baby.

she's going to be at a record convention in three weeks , I'll ask her that. I have versions by Kenny Vance, Jeanette Juarado (The Movie My Family), Judith Muro, Kyra, Stefani and John Lennon ..........they all replicate the song exactly as "the Originals" note for note.

 

[semoochie]

On a related note, how about atrocious grammar, such as, "Those Oldies-But-Goodies REMINDS Me of You"?

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

How about Barbara George saying, "I don't want to be hurted anymore", in the song "I know".

 

[firepoint525]

On a related note, how about atrocious grammar, such as, "Those Oldies-But-Goodies REMINDS Me of You"?

On the John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band version (from Eddie and the Cruisers), the title of that one is listed with the grammar correct, but with the lyrics sung as you posted them here. ??? Thanks for a great memory. I pulled that one out and listened to it.

Another one with bad grammar is the "Theme from Mahogany" by Diana Ross with its lyric, "Do you know where you're going to?"

And Steve Miller, in "Take the Money and Run," rhyming "Texas" with "facts is," which is also another example of subjects and verbs not agreeing. He also rhymes "El Paso" with "hassle."

 

[semoochie]

We could get 600 pages on poetic justice. It's the ones that actually hurt, when you listen that give me pause to reflect!

 

[GridLeakBias]

A notable grammar "ouch' is the Bob Wills/Texas Playboys hit of yesteryear, which was revived a few years back and became a hit for the country group, Asleep At The Wheel:

"Dance With Who Brung You" - Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys

1st line: You gotta dance with who brung you,
2nd line: Dance with who swung you.
Makes sense, would of been a real pain trying to rhyme "brought". Second line could have used "caught" or "fought" or "bought" or "taught" or "shot" (by stretching some). But then, syntax would have suffered. I prefer "brung". 8)

 

[firepoint525]

A few lines from Brooks and Dunn's "Hard Workin' Man:"

"I'm a hard workin' man,
I wear a steel hard hat,
I can ride and rope, hammer and paint,
Do things with my hands that most men cain't!"

Yes, they actually rhymed "paint" with "cain't!"

I believe Shania also covered "Dance with the One that Brung You" (or a very similarly titled song) on her self-titled major label debut album.