I heard something on the '60s channel this past weekend that I had not been familiar with before, although the DJ insisted that it had charted back in ye day. This curiousity was Frankie Valli and the Fours Seasons singing Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice." It's a strange rendition of the song, with Frankie singing in a high falsetto that made him sound like the demon spawn of Tiny Tim and Dave Seville. It was cheery and nonsensical and the arrangement bore no discernable relationship to the lyrics. At times, Frankie made a sort of muted trumpet sound with his lips that the DJ identified as being him blowing Dylan a raspberry. I suspect that it was much more innocent than that, and was simply Frankie's attempt to channel "Sergeant Pepper." "Sergeant Pepperoni," if you will. (And you don't have to. It's not a rule.)
This was followed by The Byrds' time-honored rendition of "Mr. Tambourine Man," which hangs on Roger McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker and David Crosby's harmony. This is one of the Woodstock Nation's favorite sing-a-longs, up there with "Lord Won't You Buy Me a Mercedes Benz" and "Unchained Melody." My only question about it, and The Byrds themselves, is this: Why does Roger McGuinn always sing the lead when he's got Crosby standing there? Does this make any sense? I mean, McGuinn can ribbit along okay, but Crosby can flat-out sing. Would he have sawed away at a Suzuki method violin while Jascha Heifetz played the occasional eighth note? No wonder why Crosby moved on to--uh--what's their names.
4 comments:
I have a bridge for sale and an album you would be interested in. It's called something like Sebastian Cabot performs dramatic readings of Bob Dylan lyrics. "It Ain't Me Babe" was one highlight. There's a hard rain gonna fall when Master Cabot blows hard. Let Sebastian bring some life to your jingle jangle morning.
I've had the following running through my head during the past few weeks as I watch the criminal negligence of our bozos in power:
You walk into the room
With your pencil in your hand
You see somebody naked
And you say, "Who is that man?"
You try so hard
But you don't understand
Just what you'll say
When you get home
Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
Serg:
Believe it or not, I've actaully heard a portion of Mr. French reciting "It Ain't Me Babe." It's something you don't easily forget.
Do you, Mr. Jones?
There is a thread of wild abandon and total soul submersion that runs through all great rock and roll. If the Four Seasons ever caught a glimpse of that thread, I'm sure they took a pair of sicssors and neatly snipped it, right at the button.
James Tailor
It's funny, but my first song parody was of a song by the Four Seasons. When I was about five, I would sing "Big girls do cry/If their shoes are too tight."
From little acorns.....
Roy Acorn
Post a Comment