When I go down the YouTube Rabbit Hole I alway find new music that I wasn’t aware of. I discovered Morgan James that way. Gifted singer! I didn’t know “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” was written for Nina Simone–I only knew the hit version by The Animals.
And the same with Natalie Cole and Diana Krall singing “Better Than Anything,” a song by David “Buck” Wheat and Bill Loughborough from 1963.
Are you listening to any new singers?
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | I Put A Spell On You Written By – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins | |
| 2 | Little Girl Blue Written By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers | |
| 3 | Don’t Explain Written By – Arthur Herzog, Jr., Billie Holiday | |
| 4 | Be My Husband Written By – Andrew Stroud | |
| 5 | Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood Written By – Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus | |
| 6 | My Man’s Gone Now Written By – DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin | |
| 7 | Funkier Than A Mosquita’s Tweeter Written By – Aillene Bullock | |
| 8 | My Baby Just Cares For Me Written By – Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson | |
| 9 | Tell Me More And Then Some Written By – Billie Holiday | |
| 10 | Save Me Written By – Aretha Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, Curtis Ousley | |
| 11 | Trouble In Mind Written By – Richard M. Jones | |
| 12 | Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out Written By – Jimmie Cox* |
I like Diana Krall (aka, Mrs. Elvis Costello) and Natalie Cole. I don’t think I’ve heard of Morgan James, but will certainly add a song or two to my Spotify playlist—especially “My Baby Just Cares for Me”, which is my favorite Nina Simone song and of which I first became aware because of its use in a 1980s Chanel Number 5 commercial.
Deb, Nina Simone was an underrated singer. Morgan James channels Nina Simone. You might enjoy Morgan James sining “Maps”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gO_lxThc1M&list=RD8gO_lxThc1M&start_radio=1
No. I am not listening to new singers. The newest we added – several years ago now, prompted by Deb and John, was The Mavericks. Raul Malo can sing almost anything,
But as Patti can attest from our drive across Florida, we listen to Girl Groups and other oldies for the most part.
Jeff, I love Girl Groups, too! I’ll be posting about them next month. Sounds like you and Patti are having fun!
Yes, she knew the words to all the songs, even if she hadn’t heard them in 50 years.
Jeff, I heard those songs from the Sixties a hundred times as a kid…and I know the lyrics to all those great songs, too.
I discovered The Mavericks a few years ago when they popped up on YouTube. I was blown away by “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?”
Bob, The Mavericks are an underrated band who should have a wider audience. The Meyersons far big fans. I’ll have to check out their version of “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.”
John and the twins saw the Mavericks a few weeks ago in Baton Rouge, and they’ll be seeing them again in Biloxi next week. They’ve seen them so often, it’s getting into Dead Head territory, lol!
Deb, we have tickets to see them at the Beacon at the end of July. Can’t wait!
Deb, Buffalo doesn’t see to be on their tour schedule. But I do have some of the Mavericks’ CDs.
I only rarely hear new music at home, but sometimes I’ll hear it on Sirius in the car. And even in the car I mostly listen to old stuff. My interest in new music mostly died when rock was replaced by pop and hip hop. I did hear a terrific song by Lady Gaga, who I’ve never paid much attention to, during the Oscar telecast and am considering trying to find it.
Michael, you can find almost any song on YouTube.
Well, you’ve found another good one, George. Her voice is outstanding.
I was never a fan of the Animals. Knowing this was written for Nina Simone and hearing Morgan James sing it, it makes more sense.
Thanks.
Beth, I found Morgan James through serendipity. And, I’m glad I did. I’ve always liked “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” but I like it even more now that I’ve learned that it was written for Nina Simone.
Okay, I listened to her sing “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” and it was okay! She’s pretty and has a decent voice but my favorite rendition of that song is by Joe Cocker!
Bob, I’m a big Joe Cocker fan and I like his version of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” too!
Eric Burdon, on some interview program, noted that Nina Simone was more than incensed by the success of the Animals’ version when she met Burdon, and Burdon suggested that that very success probably helped sales of her original recording…something she thought about, and checked with her staff, and learned was the case. She was far more cheerful upon their next meeting. (The Animal’s versions of Dylan folksong rewrites outsold any of his recordings, as well, after all.)
I liked Burdon’s vocals and the rest of the band, but was particularly a fan of Alan Price’s keyboard work (and David Rowberry wasn’t too shabby, either, when Price left).
Todd, part of the problem was Nina Simone wasn’t getting the airplay that Eric Burton and The Animals did. Plus, fans of The Animals bought a lot more records than Nina Simone fans did.
Exactly…hence Burdon noting that the Animals’ version was only helping her version along…