And a tardy Old School Friday to you too. The theme this week, or last week as it is now Sunday, was Greatest of All Time. I’d like to think myself competent enough to make that choice, I’m not. I’ve got too little behind me, and the years to come may alter even my perception of music.
When people hear “great”, in any given genre of music, the usual suspects are always moping around the top of the list. I’ll skip those for now, and suggest something great, and for all time, but maybe forgotten when asked to make a list.
Still Bill, Bill Withers 1972 album, not the documentary film that premiered at the South by Southwest Film Fest in March, is one of my favorite oldie CD’S.
Of Course it includes Lean On Me.
Ain’t No Sunshine, from his 1971 album Just As I Am, has been covered like a “stands a test of time” song should be covered, by well over a hundred artists, that we know of, from Joe Cocker, Jose Feliciano, Eva Cassidy and Leonard Cohen, to Eminem, Al Jareau, David Cassidy, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Michael Jackson, and Tracy Chapman and Buddy Guy,
OSF sponsored by Conversations With Marva and Mrs Grapevine
The players:
Electronic Village | Kim | Kevin — A Slant Truth | Marcus LANGFORD | iriegal | John | CC Groovy | Kreative Talk | Regina | Vivrant Thing | AJ | Beleiver 1964 | SJP | BklynQueen 86 | Hey Shae | Malcolm
Tags: Music, old school friday, Pop Culture
I wondered where he went. He disappeared from the scene, but those songs didn’t. The Eminem version is more like a distortion. Not a bad one, but still a distortion.
The best of all time is impossible to choose, people have gone to war over lesser questions.
jacob’s last blog post..Players Underway
“people have gone to war over lesser questions.” Yup, the energy people put into defending their musical choices is amazing.
Excellent choices. Very memorable.
That Ain’t No Sunshine is really sad, and unfortunately I’ve successfully removed all traces of human emotional sentimentality years ago.
If I re-wrote that song my lyrics would be:” Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone, but dammit I sure feel much more free.
It’s not warm when she’s away because I get to keep the thermostat back at 69 where it should stay.
Bennet’s last blog post..Life = 1.0 × 10¹ººΩ
This place is full of cynics, welcome.
You have me thinking about music, always one of my favorite subjects. Growing up in the 60’s, well yes my taste and even perception has changed but I always find myself coming back
I hated Stevie Wonder when we were both 12. Ten or so years later Innervisions was one of my favorite albums. I had grown up enough to appreciate him.
You picked wonderful songs. “Lean on Me” always makes me cry. My sentiment comes out when I hear music and I think music’s a good place to keep it
Agree with Jacob that wars have been fought over less important matters
pia’s last blog post..I grow flowers
He was right on that. I’ve never understood people who can live without music though.
I’m with Bennett, let it rain. ;)
Great songs but you’re right, I don’t see him on very many lists. Popularity breeds contempt. Ain’t No Sunshine has been covered so much you think he’d be at the top of at least one list.
Wars have been fought for less is right.
john’s last blog post..Michael Steele – Making Sense Again. Or Not
There are too many lists as it is, I think it significant not to be one them.
Music — a worthier cause for war than religion or politics any day.
Nice easy listening, Ain’t No Sunshine, a great piece of work.
indeed it is
Jose Feliciano’s version is cool. The songs are definitely “off all time”. I had no idea there were so many version. Wiki lists over a hundred, can’t find them all but they are listed there.
jake’s last blog post..Duke – Syracuse, Virginia – Cornell, Rachel Alexandra
Tracy Chapman/Buddy Guy version is great.
I always enjoy your picks, as more times than not they seem to be songs I enjoy but haven’t thought of in a long time. And I often haven’t heard the versions you choose. So, not bad for someone with “too little behind” her :)
Bone’s last blog post..Destin ’09
Well I study hard for my old school Friday’s, I’m glad you enjoy them. ;0
Cooper has a “little behind” her? uhhh… okay. I miss all the fun.
I kinda prefer Mr. Armstrong and his version of “what a wonderful life” to something as sad as Withers. But his stuff is still better than that melancholic crap called country.
And then there’s the song I always sing when I cannot find something at the groceria… Clash’s “Lost in the Supermarket.” A great tune without it ever intended to be that way. And much better than “muskrat love.”
sauerkraut’s last blog post..Post No. 500 coming right up… then… should I cool it or should I blow?
Eh it’s not that wonderful a life all the time, sometimes the ecstasy is in the agony.
Love that Clash song.
I don’t care how many times it gets covered, nobody does Ain’t No Sunshine like Bill.
Oh — and I meant to tell you, I loved your comment on my Blind Date post. Yours and Silverneurotic’s made me laugh out loud. Thanks for adding your bit of humor to a comedy already in progress.
quilly’s last blog post..Healthy is as Healthy Tastes
sadly I wasn’t joking. ;) You posts crack me up anyway so at least one of us is funny.
You’ve been slacking off — disappearing on Friday and not returning until Sunday, what next May Day in October? There Ain’t No Sunshine when your gone gal pal.;)
One of those songs you forget about until you hear him sing it, and then it’s an ah ha.
say what?
You haven’t heard then?
Sunday is the new Friday, and they haven’t decided as to whether May will be in October or September.
ahha
funny coming from someone who posts sparsely if at all.
both great classics Cooper :)
been listening to Seasons In The Sun — Terry Jacks which has the same nostalgic feeling..
I know this is morbid but they would make great funeral songs…
gosh!!! I must be getting old ;)
laketrees’s last blog post..laketrees has a new URL
I could dedicate Lean On Me to various people in my life for various reasons. That song will always be relevant. Great choice!