chimesfreedom

Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)

Etta James took “Almost Persuaded,” the hit David Houston song, and made it her own.

The country song “Almost Persuaded” has been recorded by some great singers. Two of the greatest country singers of all time — George Jones and Tammy Wynette — each recorded wonderful versions. But Etta James, not usually thought of for country music, has the greatest version of the song.

“Almost Persuaded” was written by Glenn Sutton and the famous country producer Billy Sherrill. David Houston first released the song in 1966, and his version of “Almost Persuaded” was a number one country hit. It also was top 40 on the pop charts.

The song’s topic is somewhat unusual, as it is not celebrating love or reporting a heartbreak. In “Almost Persuaded,” the singer is married but finds an attraction to another. The singer considers having an affair, but ultimately sees the wedding ring and remembers to be faithful to his or her spouse.

In Houston’s version, the song is slow and sort of sad. In the version by Etta James, she takes the song and stretches out the anguish in the tale while also finding empowerment.

James released her version two years after Houston scored a hit, releasing her version of “Almost Persuaded” in December 1968.

What is interesting about the lyrics is the singer’s decision to be faithful is based on more than one reason. There is the obvious reason, that the singer does not want to lose the “sweet love” she has. But she also recognizes that cheating will change her.

And I was almost persuaded to strip myself of my pride;
Almost persuaded to push my conscience aside.

“Almost Persuaded” is a beautiful song, maybe the best one about struggling to be faithful to the one you love. Some have noted the song’s connection to gospel music, noting also that the title comes from a hymn from the ninth century, “Almost Persuaded” by Philip Bliss

Interestingly, the song started out as a B-side. When David Houston recorded a song called “We Got Love” as his A-side, he didn’t have a B-side song. So his producer Billy Sherill worked with Glenn Sutton to write the B-side song (although another source reports that the song was originally written for Charlie Walker). They came up with “Almost Persuaded.” But after the single was released, a DJ in Atlanta started playing Houston’s B-side and soon “Almost Persuaded” became the hit.

Sometimes a great song finds its own way. And sometimes a great song finds another great version in an artist like Etta James.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

Nina Simone: “To Love Somebody” (Cover of the Day)

Etta James and Dr. John on the Classic Heartbreak Song Written in Prison: “I’d Rather Go Blind”

Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)

Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)

Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)

Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”

( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Buy from Amazon

Elton John’s Tribute to John Lennon: Where is the Garden of the “Empty Garden”?

The “empty garden” of Elton John’s tribute to John Lennon originated from the location where the two had once performed together.

John Lennon was killed on December 8, 1980. In 1981, Elton John recorded a tribute song to Lennon that was released in 1982. John had been good friends with Lennon and initially balked at the idea of a tribute song. But he changed his mind upon seeing Bernie Taupin’s lyrics for “Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny).”

I had loved the song since its release. Although I was a little kid when the Beatles broke up, the Beatles had always been a part of my musical life. And in 1980 when I had just started college, Lennon’s death was a memorable marker in my life. I know it is a cliché, but I still remember where I was when I heard the news and who was with me.

The “Garden” is a Real Place

The lyrics to “Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)” incorporate images of a garden left behind by its keeper. Only recently, though, have I understood where Elton John’s and Bernie Taupin’s idea for the garden images originated. Their choice gives the song deeper meaning.

In the 2007 performance below from Madison Square Garden for Elton John’s 60th birthday concert, John explains the song’s reference to the “Garden.” He tells the audience that Madison Square Garden is the only place appropriate for the song, and it is the only place where he plays the song.

Upon hearing his comments, one better better understands the reference to an “empty garden.” Elton John and John Lennon had performed together at Madison Square Garden in 1974. It was one of Lennon’s final public performances.

Thus, when John sings about the “empty garden,” he imagines the emptiness of the great New York City performance venue without Lennon. From there, Taupin’s lyrics use the image to describe a living garden.

Since that performance, though, John has has not limited the song’s performance to Madison Square Garden. He has performed the song in many other locations.

The lyrics also make other clever references to Lennon. The chorus question of “can’t you come out to play” refers to Lennon’s song written for the Beatles, “Dear Prudence.” The opening line of that song asks “Dear Prudence, won’t you come out to play?”

“Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)” is far from Elton John’s best-known song. It is not even his most popular tribute song. He is more known for “Candle in the Wind,” his song for Marilyn Monroe that was later altered for Princess Diana. But “Empty Garden” remains one of his most heartfelt songs.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

The Timelessness of Elton John’s “Your Song”

Elton John Plays at Princess Diana’s Funeral

Rocket Man, Burning Out His Fuse Up Here Alone

John Lennon and Paul Simon Presenting Grammy for Record of the Year

The Latest and Last Beatles Song: “Now and Then”

Ringo Starr Records a John Lennon Song (with a little help from Paul McCartney)

( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Buy from Amazon

Chris Cornell and Yusaf / Cat Stevens Sing “Wild World” (Duet of the Day)

In 2016, Chris Cornell performed “Wild World” as a guest with Yusaf / Cat Stevens.

Chris Cornell, who was born on July 20, 1964, had one of the most recognizable amazing voices in rock music. He showed the range of his talents in his solo work as well as his work in the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. While the below performance with Yusaf / Cat Stevens may seem like an unusual pairing, together they create a sweet live version of Stevens’s “Wild World.”

Yusaf Islam, whose performance name used to be Cat Stevens and now also goes as “Yusaf / Cat Stevens,” released “Wild World” on his 1970 album Tea for Tillerman. The song about a lover leaving is one of both sadness and hope. The singer addresses a departing lover: “And it’s breakin’ my heart you’re leavin’ / Baby, I’m grievin’ / But if you wanna leave, take good care.”

But it is not an angry broken-hearted song. The singer wishes the former lover well (“I never wanna see you sad, girl”), while warning that you can’t get by with just a smile in the “wild world.”

Yusaf / Cat Stevens wrote “Wild World” about the end of a relationship with a woman. He has explained, “I was sending out a warning signal that even though things may look great…you have a lot of fancy clothes and whatever else you want out of life. But don’t forget there’s dangers, too. My message was to her, but also probably to myself, because I was now entering into a new phase of success.” In more recent years, he has noted that he always thought the original version of the song was “too commercial,” and even re-recorded “Wild World” in another version.

In this live performance from The Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, Chris Cornell lends his voice to capture both the joy and mournfulness of the song. Check out this October 6, 2016 performance, less than a year before Cornell’s tragic death on May 18, 2017.

Earlier in 2021, a Chris Cornell retrospective album of cover songs No One Sings Like You Anymore was released.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

Best Gospel Songs by Pop Singers 4: Morning, Flying & Mystery

Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson Put Johnny Cash’s Poetry to Music

Abraham and Thomas Lincoln: Sons and Fathers in History and Song

( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

It Was the Third of June, Another Sleepy, Dusty Delta Day

Bobbie Gentry begins her song “Ode to Billie Joe” by establishing the setting as June 3 in the American South.

Unless you are a big fan of Neil Diamond’s song “Desiree,” probably the first song that comes to mind regarding the date of June 3 is Bobbie Gentry’s classic song “Ode to Billie Joe.” The song opens with the line that sets the story in the American South in early June, after schools have closed but before the hottest days of summer have set in.

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day;
I was out choppin’ cotton, and my brother was balin’ hay;
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat;
And mama hollered out the back door, y’all, remember to wipe your feet;
And then she said, I got some news this mornin’ from Choctaw Ridge;
Today, Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge.

The Mysterious Song

Much has been written about the mysteries of both the singer and the song. Many have pondered why the song’s Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the bridge as well as what the narrator and Billie Joe had earlier thrown off the same bridge. Even a 1978 movie about the song focused on those mysteries. Perceptive music critics, though, have explained how the song is not about those questions but instead is about indifference to human suffering.

The real focus of the song is the narrator’s situation around the family dinner table. When Bobbie Gentry appeared on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967 (in the same episode where the network had censored a Pete Seeger song), the setting around her performance with mannequins around a dinner table highlighted that aspect of the song.

The Mysterious Singer

Bobbie Gentry eventually became a mystery herself. After a successful music career, several wonderful albums, television shows, and a successful business career, she disappeared. Many have tried contacting her, but she remains out of the public eye.

There are some excellent resources about the song and singer, including a wonderful episode of one of my favorite podcasts, Cocaine & Rhinestones. Another great source is Tara Murtha’s book Bobby Gentry’ Ode to Billie Joe in the 33 1/3 book series.

While recently reading Murtha’s book, I noticed a reference to a young Gentry being fascinated with Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged. While many folks while young become fascinated with Rand’s book and philosophy, many also later reject Rand’s ideas. But I could not help but wonder if Rand’s book, about a man named John Galt who disappears from the world, still had some effect on Gentry’s isolation from fame.

Gentry was extremely talented but often encountered hurdles to being able to make music the way she wanted. So one may imagine that she may have decided she did not owe her talents to the world.

Of course, we do not know, and in some ways her mysterious disappearance has made her more famous. While we may dream of her one day returning to share her music and voice with us, she owes us nothing. She already gave us so much, so the least we can do is be indifferent like the characters in “Ode to Billie Joe.” And the best we can do is to wish her well and to every happiness she deserves.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

Enjoy the History of Country Music with Cocaine & Rhinestones Podcast

The Mystery of Bobbie Gentry

This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 12, 2011)

Ayn Rand, Justice Thomas, & The Fountainhead

( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Buy from Amazon

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris Pay Tribute to Joan Baez

Emmylou Harris and Mary Chapin Carpenter performed three songs in honor of Joan Baez at the 43rd Kennedy Center Honors ceremony.

The 43rd Kennedy Center Honors paid tribute to Garth Brooks, Joan Baez, Dick Van Dyke, Debbie Allen, and Midori. CBS broadcast this year’s ceremonies, which were recorded during several weeks at outdoor events in light of the ongoing pandemic. But, after the event was completely cancelled last year, the show gave us a little hope for the future.

Among several highlights (and one of the hopeful moments), Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris appeared together to perform in honor of legendary folksinger and activist Joan Baez. The two sang “Diamonds & Rust,” “God is God”( written by Steve Earle), and “We Shall Overcome.” Check it out below.