EXCELLENT!!, I was always torn between, Dusty Springfield and Scott Walker singing "If You Go Away!" same as these 2 different unique interpretations of the same song. I love both versions, The Mersey Beats certainly have the "cool" factor, Dusty has the voice,no doubt,still a classic song. What about The Crying Shames "Please Stay"? One of the ultimate 60's end of a dance finisher.Don't hear it anymore,anywhere.Heard The Drifters original, but pales against The Crying Shames version by a mile!
Chris C
· 1 year ago
Cheers for that one. Its great to hear them both alongside each other.
To me though Miss O'Brien wins on two accounts. Firstly, her voice is incredible so that is the the most important thing. And secondly, I think she is a lot nicer looking than The Merseybeats. That's just a personal choice I must add.
JimmyTheMod
· 1 year ago
chris agree miss o'brien is a nicer sight than the mersey's. she makes the most of what she has.... the voice distracts any physical characteristics.
Chris C
· 1 year ago
Totally agree about the voice Jimmy. I always thought that she had the perfect white soul voice. From the early to late 1960s some of the songs she sang were really brilliant, even if some were covers. I rarely ever rated a cover over an original, but the above one from Dusty Springfield is one of the few exceptions.
I also always loved the big panda eyed look sported by her; a classic Mod girl look.
Felonious
· 1 year ago
"Don’t hear it anymore,anywhere.Heard The Drifters original, but pales against The Crying Shames version by a mile!" I would have to disagree with you Charlie to the extent that I would say both The Bay City Rollers and The MacDonald Brothers have recorded better versions of Please Stay than the Cryan' Shames. I am not a fan of the heavily compressed Joe Meek sound and it is at its worse when he recorded The Cryan Shames. However they won out to get their version in the charts. It only got as high as # 26 but it was in the charts for a couple of months and was a steady seller for the next year or so. I'll say this for Joe Meek his adaptation and arrangement quickly became the way all groups had to play it in the sixties. I think it was the law that if a band did not play Please Stay as the last moonie the girls in the audience could legally lynch the band.
Apparently Ian Clews of the Pathfinders was pretty good at please Stay. How he could keep his face straight I don't know.
Here's Elvis singing Please Stay. It's a phone clip but check the arrangement.
Its kinda like a "signature" tune for the band, like Long John Baldry "Let The Heartaches Begin" or even Tom Jones "Green,Green Grass Of Home" these are the popular songs most people will remember about these singers or bands, its like if you say to someone, "Have you heard Jerry Butler's "Make It Easy On Yourself?" Most would probably say "No, but I have heard The Walker Brothers singing it!" Frank Sinatra detested singing "My Way" but he always sang it, they all at the end of the day, take the pay cheques. "Please Stay" will always be associated with The Crying Shames. Its the "PARTY" songs we all heard our aunties and uncles all sang when they were drunk Englebert Humperdincks "Ten Guitars" and Ned Millers "From A Jack To A King" Good parties eh?
Chris C
· 1 year ago
I know exactly what you mean about the parties that used to go on at relatives houses. I remember in my youth that these bashes seemed to go on for days on end. Brilliant drunken shambles that always included a sing song. I don't remember anyone being so drunk that they sang 'Please Stay' though Charlie.
All joking aside I don't remember exactly what songs were chanted, but I'm sure that 'Ten Guitars' was a standard.
N.G. MODS
· 1 year ago
A good party song when one was hauf cut was the Small Faces "Afterglow" great sing-a-long record as for "Please Stay" I'm sure I heard Berti Vogts singing it as I was leaving Hampden one Saturday afternoon haha
Chris C
· 1 year ago
You are probably right about wee Bertie NG. But I'm sure the Scotland fans sang back 'Go Now.' (not the Moody Blues, I know they did not do the original before anyone has a flakey)
Charlie
· 1 year ago
One of my relatives parties I remember them all singing along to "Bad Moon Rising" by "C.C,R" One of my uncles was singing "there's a bathroom on the right!" I was laughing my socks off! Even now when I hear the song I sing those words, another 2 party singalongs "Delilah" by Tom Jones and "Its Only Make Believe!" by Conway Twitty. Your right about the parties seemed to go on for days and days Chris, very good parties indeed!
Chris C
· 1 year ago
I had always thought that it was only our mob that was involved in such jiggery pokery. The parties were always at their best (or worst) at Christmas and New Year. Some of my uncles could drink all night, go to sleep for a few hours, wake up at about 7 and then start again. God only knows how they did it.
One of the more popular songs for our lot were the Neil Diamond one's like 'Cracklin Rosie.' Ah such memories of rubbish songs being sung.
N.G. MODS
· 1 year ago
Charlie, Jimmy whats happened too ma avatar ? also when will we be seeing that video footage I leant you ?
JimmyTheMod
· 1 year ago
N.G check your gravatar setting you havent selected a picture to display so it reverts to default.
Charlie
· 1 year ago
Another Neil Diamond party song "Sweet Caroline!" I still reel from being haunted by the awful "Glesga Country and Western" songs "The Blackboard Of My Heart" "She Wears My Ring" the endless Patsy Cline aunties wailing "Crazy for feeling so lonely!" Do you remember whenever you met an Auntie, they would kiss you with bright red lipstick on the cheek, then take a hanky out their pocket, spit on it!!! Then smudge the lipstick all over your face with said "wet hanky" Is that just a Glasgow thing? Spot on Chris about the uncles iron constitution for drinking all night at festive parties, God they were made of stern stuff, all of my uncles would have a fry up soon as their bleary eyes were half awake! Then back on the bevvy.Kinda strange how you miss those Frankie Millers "Darlin'" singalongs now and again.
Chris C
· 1 year ago
Either we are related Charlie, or you gate crashed some of my relatives parties during the 1970s. 'Sweet Caroline' was another standard to go with 'Cracklin Rosie,' and Frankie Millers 'Darlin' was never off at my auntie Maizies around 1978/79. There was also (I have to admit) some seriusly bad country and western stuff incuding a Patsy Cline LP with a blue cover.
As for my uncles ability to drink I think they put Shane McGowan to shame, and they did not take Lou Reed either.
Janny
· 1 year ago
Sacha Distel and Al Martino in our house - who could forget "Spannish Eyes" - still sends shivers down my spine when I hear it!
Charlie
· 1 year ago
Got to mention "Blanket On The Ground!" Billy Jo Speirs, a lot of duff country songs, my ma used to play some mad midland Country and Western kid on Cowboy band singing "Tequila Sheila" hours on end,that was my worse nightmare come true, apart from Engleberts "That Promise!" All my uncles all joined in with that one line ".....all because of the boy!" WHAT BOY? Nobody knew his name? But they all had a misty tear in their eye for that one line!! Mental,eh? Maybe I gatecrashed your parties Chris, who knows? Altogether now! "Darlin' feelin' kind a lonely!..." Here Jimmy we will need to do something on 2 of Glasgows finest Sons Frankie Miller and Alex Harvey. Who will ever forget Frankie Millers debut acting performance in Peter McDougalls "Just A Boys Game" "Your Teas Oot!" What chanters him and Alex "Scotlands Answer To Tommy Steele!" Harvey were! Class acts.
admin
· 1 year ago
You have all excelled at talking about everything but the subject hahahahhaha nice to know that your memories of you mum and dads parties are still vivid, not sure what dusty and the merseybeats have in common with it though.. Been away too long from auld toon I spose..
Chris C
· 1 year ago
I have to admit Janny that we were lucky enough to escape without any Al Martino. But I also have to say that it was played all the time at St Stephens primary school disco when ah were a bairn, so I did manage to have to endure it every week for a good while.
I am not a big Alex Harvey fan Charlie, but I do agree that Frankie Miller was great as the hard man in 'Only a boys Game.' That line 'McCafferty your teas oot' will go down as an absolute classic.
What all this has to do with Lusty Dusty and the Merseybeats is anyones guess Jimmy, Its just one of these posts that going slightly off track. For what its worth I still prefer Dusty O'Brien any day of the week to the Merseybeats.
Charlie
· 1 year ago
It's been a blast talking and sharing our memories on the parties, it will give other people tuning in too see us Glaswegians have a sense of "mad" humour, apart from that the Alex Harvey connection is the respect of a lot of Mersey bands had for him during the Alex Harvey Soul Band days of the early 60's, he was a part of the "Mersey Beat" scene.There was a programme last Friday on BBC4 "Rock Family Trees" detailing the History of The Mersey Beat, if anyone gets a chance to record it,sit back and enjoy this nostalgia drenched gem f a programme.
Chris C
· 1 year ago
I seem to remember somewhere far back in the distance of time talking about songs in Quadrophenia, and that is why the Dusty v The Merseybeats thing came up.
I have to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology to anyone who has read any of my crap about the less definable songs that are played in the film. I had said that he ska song being played in the background when Jimmy, Spider and Dave went to Brixton looking for Ferdy was 'Madness' by Prince Buster. I watched Quad again last night for the first time in years, and I am now sure (sort of) that the song is 'Blazing Fire' by Derrick Morgan, which does admittedly sound quite like the PB classic.
N.G. MODS
· 1 year ago
Charlie, I would like to add that I have Alex Harveys first LP on vinyl, do you want it recorded for the web site ? i did think he done a good version of "Agent 00 Soul" but what this has to do with Dusty and The Meseybeats is anyones guess !!!
Chris C
· 1 year ago
We could always open up a new discussion on Alex Harvey and The Merseybeats. Did Alex Harvey dress up as a clown in the 1960s ?
Felonious
· 1 year ago
How does one start a new topic like
Frankie Miller and the Stoics.
Frankie never recorded with the Stoics but they were sensational live. Find out more here
Jim Doris their guitarist wrote Oh me Oh My I'm a fool for you baby for Lulu. Her producer Jerry Wexler took it to Aretha and it appeared on her Young Gifted and Black Album. I think Irma Thomas did a version as well.
Charlie
· 1 year ago
No problem NG, would love to hear the album, thanks Felonius, for The Frankie Miller and The Stoics info,brilliant, there is more to these singers, so many bands were influenced,by these Scottish legends, we just want to give them the well earned respect they deserve. Cheers everyone for your input, priceless!!
admin
· 1 year ago
this thread confirms it for me that the glasgow boys were the niggers of the UK... we got soul and we have soul.... It also confirms that it is the reason why I have so much in common with all my jamaican and african mates.....
N.G. MODS
· 1 year ago
i've also got The Stoics 45 some rate it some dont, be your own judge ! we'll get it up on the site shortly
Chris C
· 1 year ago
Yellow card there for Jimbo.Your Jamaican and African mates may not be your mates much longer if you use the 'N' word again.
Janny
· 1 year ago
Well said Chris C!
Chris C
· 1 year ago
In admins defence I am absolutely sure there was no bad intent. Its just a word that we should be putting off limits. The only ones who should be able to use it (in any context) is black people, the same applies to pejorative words for Jews, Scots, Irish, or Asians.
I read a few years ago in a music article about the stick Elvis Costello received for using that word in 'Olivers Army' in 1979.At one point it was feared that he would have to cancel his U.S tour. And no one ever thought for a minute that Elvis Costello was a racist.
admin
· 1 year ago
its all about social position and as much as it has moved on, I recieved the same treatment many of my friends recieved, more qualified but under paid.
My Jamaican and African friends agree that they identify with the sentiment,
there is 2 levels of the N word and it depends on the context in which it is used, if used against a descriptive or limiting word it is wrong if used in combination with social standing it applies regardless of the race, its the struggle to be recognised. I have john lennon in my corner I know where am at.
John Lennon used the word in his song Woman is the Nigger of the World.
As for Elvis Costello he felt the wrath of his own people. the joke is that NIgga is the word used by blacks to determine status from origination often confused with the other N word for the unseen problem.
All Comments
To me though Miss O'Brien wins on two accounts. Firstly, her voice is incredible so that is the the most important thing. And secondly, I think she is a lot nicer looking than The Merseybeats. That's just a personal choice I must add.
I also always loved the big panda eyed look sported by her; a classic Mod girl look.
I would have to disagree with you Charlie to the extent that I would say both The Bay City Rollers and The MacDonald Brothers have recorded better versions of Please Stay than the Cryan' Shames. I am not a fan of the heavily compressed Joe Meek sound and it is at its worse when he recorded The Cryan Shames. However they won out to get their version in the charts. It only got as high as # 26 but it was in the charts for a couple of months and was a steady seller for the next year or so. I'll say this for Joe Meek his adaptation and arrangement quickly became the way all groups had to play it in the sixties. I think it was the law that if a band did not play Please Stay as the last moonie the girls in the audience could legally lynch the band.
Apparently Ian Clews of the Pathfinders was pretty good at please Stay. How he could keep his face straight I don't know.
Here's Elvis singing Please Stay. It's a phone clip but check the arrangement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqD4AQoU7bk
Felonious
All joking aside I don't remember exactly what songs were chanted, but I'm sure that 'Ten Guitars' was a standard.
One of the more popular songs for our lot were the Neil Diamond one's like 'Cracklin Rosie.' Ah such memories of rubbish songs being sung.
As for my uncles ability to drink I think they put Shane McGowan to shame, and they did not take Lou Reed either.
I am not a big Alex Harvey fan Charlie, but I do agree that Frankie Miller was great as the hard man in 'Only a boys Game.' That line 'McCafferty your teas oot' will go down as an absolute classic.
What all this has to do with Lusty Dusty and the Merseybeats is anyones guess Jimmy, Its just one of these posts that going slightly off track. For what its worth I still prefer Dusty O'Brien any day of the week to the Merseybeats.
I have to offer a sincere and heartfelt apology to anyone who has read any of my crap about the less definable songs that are played in the film. I had said that he ska song being played in the background when Jimmy, Spider and Dave went to Brixton looking for Ferdy was 'Madness' by Prince Buster. I watched Quad again last night for the first time in years, and I am now sure (sort of) that the song is 'Blazing Fire' by Derrick Morgan, which does admittedly sound quite like the PB classic.
Frankie Miller and the Stoics.
Frankie never recorded with the Stoics but they were sensational live. Find out more here
http://www.mccartneyt.freeserve.co.uk/stoics.htm
Jim Doris their guitarist wrote Oh me Oh My I'm a fool for you baby for Lulu. Her producer Jerry Wexler took it to Aretha and it appeared on her Young Gifted and Black Album. I think Irma Thomas did a version as well.
I read a few years ago in a music article about the stick Elvis Costello received for using that word in 'Olivers Army' in 1979.At one point it was feared that he would have to cancel his U.S tour. And no one ever thought for a minute that Elvis Costello was a racist.
My Jamaican and African friends agree that they identify with the sentiment,
there is 2 levels of the N word and it depends on the context in which it is used, if used against a descriptive or limiting word it is wrong if used in combination with social standing it applies regardless of the race, its the struggle to be recognised. I have john lennon in my corner I know where am at.
John Lennon used the word in his song Woman is the Nigger of the World.
As for Elvis Costello he felt the wrath of his own people. the joke is that NIgga is the word used by blacks to determine status from origination often confused with the other N word for the unseen problem.