Song of the Day Archives - Page 2 of 6

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

Singer-songwriter Mo Pitney performs an acoustic cover of Don Gibson’s classic song “If Hollywood Don’t Need You.”

You may never have heard of Mo Pitney or the Don Gibson record “If Hollywood Don’t Need You.” But if that is the case, and you love a great country ballad, you need to watch Pitney’s acoustic performance of the song alone with his guitar in the woods.

I recently discovered Pitney and his wonderful voice. So I only recently ran across this pandemic video he posted on Facebook in October 2020. The young Illinois native is early into what looks to be a promising career. The singer-songwriter has released two studio albums: Behind This Guitar (2016) and Ain’t Lookin’ Back (2020). Both are worth checking out for both Pitney’s voice and his songwriting.

This performance of “If Hollywood Don’t Need You,” with nothing but a guitar and the trees behind Pitney, reveals the depth of Pitney’s talents. He takes a great song, which has been one of his favorite songs since he was a kid, and he breaks your heart.

Don Gibson released his version of the song — also known with a parenthetical as “If Hollywood Don’t Need You (Honey I Still Do)” — in 1982. Originally appearing on Gibson’s album Listen to the Radio, “If Hollywood Don’t Need You” went to number one on the country charts for Gibson, who passed away in 2003.

Pitney made a video for the song back in 2016. But in this 2020 performance and video, the setting in the woods highlights the aching in the song’s tale. The singer professes his love in a letter to the woman who left him to pursue her dreams. He knows he has to let her go, hoping she makes “the big time” and that her dreams come true. But, he reminds her, if Hollywood doesn’t need her, he will be there waiting for her.

The song was written by Bob McDill. The songwriter wrote country classics, including Gibson’s “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” which we previously wrote about.

Here,”If Hollywood Don’t Need You” has several layers. On the surface, the singer is wishing the best to his former lover while letting her know he misses her. But underneath it all one may hear the words as an appeal asking her to return.

And no matter how you interpret the lyrics, there also is a cool reference to actor Burt Reynolds: “Oh, and if you see Burt Reynolds / Would you shake his hand for me? / And tell old Burt, I’ve seen all his movies.” Check it out.

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Adia Victoria: “Horrible Weather” (Song of the Day)

Singer-songwriter Adia Victoria added to the lists of wonderful songs about the weather when she released “Horrible Weather” on her 2016 debut album Beyond the Bloodhounds. Of course, like most songs referencing the weather, there is something else going on besides what is up in the sky.

In the song, Victoria sings about trouble coming her way. And that trouble is not really in the form of clouds, but in the form of a relationship.

Well the rain don’t fall, sun don’t shine;
At least your black thunder cloud is the same as mine;
It’s the horrible weather that ties me together to you.

Adia Victoria was born in South Carolina and currently records in Nashville. In 2019, she released the album Silences.

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

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)

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

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

( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Lazer Lloyd is Looking for “The Simple Life” (Song of the Day)

Lazer Lloyd is releasing a new single “The Simple Life.” The laid-back acoustic song is a breath of fresh air in our complicated world.

In the song, Lloyd sings about trying “to embrace the miracles of creation” over the distractions of mass commercialism (“keep me away from all the screens and telephones”). Like the title, the lyrics present a simple message, but a worthwhile message in these crazy days.

On singer-songwriter Lazer Lloyd’s website, he writes that he wants us to “ask ourselves what are really the important things in life. Because we are going to be inundated with so many things the world is going to convince us we need.” And he explains that the song asks us to “go back to keeping it simple which is family and friends, building our spirituality, physical health, our mental health and being balanced. Enjoying life, being in the moment and not getting carried away with the material world.”

We occasionally hear a similar message in other great songs. For example, the Shakers (and American composer Aaron Copeland) used “Simple Gifts” about the gift to be simple. In the 1970s, Dion beautifully sang about finding a “Sanctuary” in difficult times. More recently, Passenger warned us we needed to get away from our computers to “Scare Away the Dark.”

What the songs have in common is that the truth of the message is wrapped in memorable music too. And here, in addition to the important message, what makes “The Simple Life” work is Lloyd’s deep voice and the acoustic arrangement of a catchy tune.

All together Lloyd’s song is a “simple” but delightful contribution (and reminder) as we wonder through these modern times. Take a deep breath and let the song and Lloyd’s refrain wash over your troubles.

Lazer Lloyd, who has been described as “Israel’s hassidic blues rocker [who] reaches for the American heartland,” is releasing the single and official video for “The Simple Life” on March 6, 2020. The song will appear on Lloyd’s upcoming album, Tomorrow Never Comes. We will post the official video after it is released, but for a preview of the song, here is Lloyd performing the song.

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Lazer Lloyd: “Been Tryin’” (Song of the Day)

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

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)

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

( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Lazer Lloyd: “Been Tryin'” (Song of the Day)

Although born and raised in the United States, Lazer Lloyd moved to Israel in 1994 as a young man to continue his music career. Having played blues and rock, he became intrigued by similarities between the music he played and traditional Jewish music. Lloyd currently records music in a range of styles, including Americana, and AllMusic refers to him as “one of the best-known blues musicians in Israel.” Whatever you call it, the singer-songwriter makes great music.

Having played and recorded with several bands, Lazer Lloyd now records as a solo artist. One of my favorite tracks off his 2017 album Freedom’s Child is “Been Tryin’.”

Lloyd has a deep, soulful voice. In the video below, with just him and a guitar, the ache in the lyrics comes through.

Lloyd explains about the song, “There are no quick fixes not with our bodies nor our soul. That which comes in a flash can leave just as quickly. I don’t remember what I did wrong before writing this song. Maybe best to let it go.”

“Been Tryin” below was recorded in Kernersville, NC at JBS Productions.

Check out Lazer Lloyd’s latest release, a live album called Lazer Lloyd in the Zone. The album features some wonderful blues and rock songs, as well as powerful live covers of classics such as “All Along the Watchtower,” “Redemption Song,” and “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” The album released on Bandcamp on December 31, 2019, with a worldwide streaming release on January 20, 2020. Check it out.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

Lazer Lloyd is Looking for “The Simple Life” (Song of the Day)

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

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)

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

( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

CAAMP’s “Peach Fuzz” (Song of the Day)

Childhood friends Evan Westfall and Taylor Meier began playing coffee houses around Athens, Ohio in 2013. Out of their friendship and talent, they formed CAAMP with bass player Matt Vinson. One of the highlights from the band’s third album By and By, which was released in 2019, is “Peach Fuzz.”

“Peach Fuzz” has a laid-back groove, telling about young lovers hanging out. The band has a wonderful sound with strong acoustic guitars, nodding at times to alternative bands like Wilco. Westfall’s banjo and the group’s harmonies (and Meier’s smoky lead singing) add a dash of Mumford & Sons while also mixing in some sunny California and Midwestern folk-rock sounds.

The song “Peach Fuzz” begins:

I was in the corner,
Drinking from the punch;
Yeah you were in the kitchen,
Cuttin’ up a rug;
No need to complicate it,
I had fallen in love
With you, so underrated,
Something fillin’ up my lungs.

You may here the official release of “Peach Fuzz” here. Or check out below a live performance, featuring a guitar-jam finale, of CAAMP in Cecil, Denmark in May 2019.