With Elvis out of the way, we return to randomly selected lesser-known originals (or, in one case, near-original) of hits by The Animals, Rosemary Clooney (and Shakin’ Stevens), Captain & Tennille, Bob Seger and the Beach Boys. Please feel free to comment!
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Ashley and Foster – Rising Sun Blues (1933).mp3
Georgia Turner – Rising Sun Blues (1937).mp3
Woody Guthrie – House Of The Rising Sun (1941).mp3
Leadbelly – In New Orleans (1944).mp3
Bob Dylan – House Of The Risin’ Sun (1962).mp3
The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun (1964).mp3
Orchester Günter Gollasch - Es steht ein Haus in New Orleans (1973).mp3
The moment Hilton Valentine’s distinctive guitar arpeggio kicks off House Of The Rising Sun, the song is instantly recognisable. It is now The Animals’ song, even though not wildly dissimilar previous versions by folkie Josh White, Nina Simone, and Bob Dylan preceded that by Eric Burdon and pals. Burdon has said that White’s version inspired the Animals’ version, but at other times he has credited the English folk singer Johnny Handle for the inspiration. Dylan, for his part, was miffed that people thought that he had covered the Animals’ version. Ironically, fellow folk-singer Dave Van Ronk has accused Dylan of “borrowing” his arrangement.
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Stuart Hamblen – This Ole House.mp3
Rosemary Clooney – This Ole House.mp3
Shakin’ Stevens – This Ole House.mp3
The story goes that in 1949 actor and cowboy-country singer Stuart Hamblen was hunting with John Wayne in a remote part of Texas when they happened upon an abandoned, crumbling hut, miles from the nearest road. Intrigued, they entere
Also recorded by: Alma Cogan (1954), Billie Anthony (1954), Rex Allen & Tex Williams (1954), The Statler Brothers (1966), Les Humphries Singers (1971), Billie Jo Spears (1981), The Brian Setzer Orchestra (1998), Bette Midler (2003), Wenche (2005), Brenda Lee with Dolly Parton (2007) a.o.
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Willis Alan Ramsey – Muskrat Candlelight.mp3
America – Muskrat Love.mp3
Captain & Tennille – Muskrat Love.mp3
Popular music is not brimming over with songs about the romantic pursuits of rodents. Willis Alan Ramsey got his break as a 19-year-old in 1972 when he stayed in the same Austin, Texas hotel as Leon Russell and Gregg Allman. Precociously, he knocked on their doors, introduced himself, and impressed them so much that they invited him to record at their respective studios.
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Rodney Crowell – Shame On The Moon.mp3
Bob Seger – Shame On The Moon.mp3
Many of our performers of lesser-known originals never hit the big time, especially when they wrote the successfully covered song (which goes some way to explaining why their originals aren’t better known). Rodney Crowell isn’t one of them.
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The Regents – Barbara-Ann.mp3
Beach Boys – Barbara Ann.mp3
Barbara Ann became one of the Beach Boys’ biggest hits at the same time as the Beatles released Rubber Soul. For the Beatles, December 1965 was a new beginning; for the Beach Boys, Barbara-Ann bookmarked the end of their surf pop era, appearing on the covers album Beach Boys Party! (which included three versions of Beatles songs), as Brian Wilson was already preparing the massively influential Pet Sounds.
Also recorded by: Jan & Dean (1962), The Who (1966), Martin Circus (as Marylène, 1975), Vince Vance & the Valiants (as Bomb Iran, 1979 — John McCain’s favourite), Red Squares (1989), Blind Guardian (1991), Travoltas (2003)
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I knew that Crowell had written the Seger hit, but I’d never heard it before. Thanks for the opportunity.
And, is it just me, or does that picture of Rodney look a bit like Eddie Van Halen?
Thanks for The Animals – it’s sad that I didn’t already have it, but now I do. And I’m happy to have the Rosemary Clooney, too.
I love all your series, but this is probably the most educational.
Rodney Crowell’s ‘Shame On The Moon’ has been recorded by many artists apart from himself & Bob Seger – here’s a list of artists who have also recorded the song :-
Karen Brooks, Tanya Tucker, Mac Davis, Shanley Del, Eleanor McEvoy, Cali Carranza, Travellin’ Light,
Joshua (2 versions), Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan,
Randy Matthews, True North Bluegrass, Cornbread Red,
Bill & Terry Smith.
This is such a great series – thanks! W.
[...] Click here to go to AMDWHAH to check Bob Seger’s “Shame on The Moon”, Rodney Crowell’s original version of “Shame on the Moon”, The Animals cover of “House of The Rising Sun”, Bob Dylan’s “House of The Rising Sun”, America “Muskrat Love”, Beach Boys cover of “Barbara Ann”…plus more. [...]
[...] The Originals Vol. 22 we looked at The House Of The Rising Sun. In the interim, our friend Walter has sent me the first [...]