ickmusic » Oldies

In Dreams

October 8th, 2008 by Pete

Deep within me, in my register of perfectly constructed love songs, Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams” ranks right near the top. In my four decades on earth, very few songs have managed to so profoundly move me, to elicit such emotion, as “In Dreams”.

The song is such a rich, unique tapestry of sounds - shifting from one distinct section to the next - that there’s something new to appreciate with each listen. It’s no accident. Most Western pop songs follow a relatively similar structure: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, verse, chorus. When Orbison was inspired to write “In Dreams”, he bucked the trend, writing five completely unique elements. Where most songs followed, ABABCAB, “In Dreams” was ABCDE.

“A candy-colored clown…”
“I close my eyes…”
“In dreams I walk with you…”
“But just before the dawn…”
“It’s too bad that all these things…”

All are different, and each builds exponentially in intensity. Orbison starts the song in a calm, reflective, low voice. By the grand finale - “Only in dreams, in beautiful dreams” - it’s a plaintive and desperate wail, in that gorgeous signature falsetto.

Purists will probably scoff at this, but I discovered the song not by hearing the 1963 original, but by hearing the T-Bone Burnett and David Lynch produced version that was recorded in 1987, and released on In Dreams - The Greatest Hits. The song had sort of a rebirth in 1986, when it was prominently featured in Lynch’s Blue Velvet, with Dean Stockwell’s creepy sing-along. The remake is the version I fell in love with, and the version I still listen to. The are some nuances that make it different from the original, and though I love both versions, I always come back to the newer version I originally fell in love with. I’ll take the criticism.

This is a song made for the broken hearted, the lovesick, the downtrodden. This is a song that almost makes you wish your heart were broken again, just to truly relate to the song again! But it remains powerful, even for the happily wed like me. Maybe because a lot of music is about reminiscing, and it brings me back to those times I could step into Orbison’s shoes…

Roy Orbison - In Dreams (mp3)

From:

And the original comes from:

Posted in Oldies | 3 Comments »

Elvis is Back!

January 8th, 2008 by Pete

Well, not exactly, but it is his birthday today. The King would have turned 73 today if he had managed to keep that ticker going. But he didn’t. Thankfully, we have the music (and the movies - can I get a Clambake!); and the music never gets old for me. There’s so much that I still haven’t heard.

This past week, I used my iTunes gift card to pick up Elvis is Back! It was his first studio release after returning from his stint in the U.S. Army, where he did his duty and managed to seduce a young Priscilla Beaulieu over in Germany.

In March 1960, Elvis and his gang hit RCA’s Studio B in Nashville. They recorded into April. Musicians included the usual suspects: Scotty Moore on guitar, D.J. Fontana on drums, Bob Moore on bass, and the Jordanaires providing their trademark vocals. Floyd Cramer also played piano on the album. He would hit it big that same year with an instrumental: “Last Date”. You know the tune…

Floyd Cramer – Last Date
So the resulting album from these sessions was Elvis is Back! Now, if you don’t care for Elvis’s music - particularly pre-Hollywood “early Elvis” - I don’t understand you. There’s something so appealing and universal about these songs, that voice. It’s always struck a chord with me, and it looks to have the same effect on my kids. They won’t shake their moneymakers to just any ol’ tune. But when the first chords of an Elvis song plays, their primal instinct is to move - to smile… It’s really a testament - not just to music in general - but to the timelessness of Elvis Presley in his prime.

Happy Birthday to the King!

Elvis Presley - Reconsider Baby (mp3)

Buy the remastered version of Elvis is Back! on

Posted in Oldies | 3 Comments »

Warmth of the Sun Giveaway

May 20th, 2007 by Pete

This Tuesday, Epic will release ‘The Warmth of the Sun’, a retrospective of three decades of Beach Boys music chosen by the Boys themselves - yes, even Brian Wilson (along with Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and Mike Love). To complement the release, there’s an 11-part series of free podcasts filled with interviews and quality Beach Boys tuneage being released over 11 weeks. You can subscribe to them in iTunes.

So naturally, it’s time for another Ickmusic give-it-away! A comment below puts you in the running. Pretty simple, hey? As always, points for originality. And extra points to anyone who can throw Brian Wilson and “warmth of the sun” into a limerick.

The Warmth Of The Sun (CD and Digital Album)
1. All Summer Long (new stereo mix)
2. Catch A Wave
3. Hawaii
4. Little Honda
5. 409
6. It’s OK
7. You’re So Good To Me (new stereo mix)
8. Then I Kissed Her (new stereo mix)
9. Kiss Me, Baby
10. Please Let Me Wonder (new stereo mix)
11. Let Him Run Wild (new stereo mix)
12. The Little Girl I Once Knew
13. Wendy (new stereo mix)
14. Disney Girls (1957)
15. Forever
16. Friends
17. Break Away
18. Why Do Fools Fall In Love
19. Surf’s Up
20. Feel Flows
21. All This Is That
22. ‘Til I Die
23. Sail On, Sailor
24. Cool, Cool Water
25. Don’t Go Near The Water
26. California Saga (On My Way To Sunny Californ-i-a)
27. California Dreamin’
28. The Warmth Of The Sun

Buy The Warmth of the Sun

Subscribe to the Podcast Series.

Check out the Beach Boys Official Site.

Posted in Giveaway, Oldies, Pop | 14 Comments »

Start your week right: The Shirelles

April 1st, 2007 by Pete

shirelles

Thanks again to David Johansen and his Mansion of Fun for continuing to introduce me to amazing new music, which in this case happens to be 44 years old.

The Shirelles: ~~Everybody Loves a Lover~~ (mp3)

Buy:

Posted in Oldies | 1 Comment »

‘56 Dells

June 15th, 2005 by Pete

It’s back to basics tonight as we go back before my time, when the doo-wop groups were arriving on the scene. The Dells came together in 1953 in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Two of the members, Johnny Funches and Marvin Junior, sat down and penned this great tune, which shot to the Top 5 R&B charts in 1956. Funches sings lead on this one. This song is one that I have loved since the first time I heard it in my early teens. My first job ever was at a frame shop in Racine, Wisconsin. The radio in the back room was perpetually playing the oldies station, and this was one of the great songs that caught my ear.

This is one of the most popular doo-wop ballads of all time, so this certainly isn’t an obscure tune. But someone out there will hear this for the first time, and be moved. Enjoy.

The Dells: ~~Oh, What a Night~~ (mp3)

Buy the Dells Anthology on Amazon.
Did you know the group’s personnel hasn’t changed since 1960? They were just inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year.

Posted in Oldies | No Comments »

Be Saved, Elvis Style

May 22nd, 2005 by Pete

Regardless of how religious you are, you can’t help but be a little moved by the power of the King in this outtake from ‘How Great Thou Art’. I picture a Southern Baptist church on a sunny Sunday morning (think the scene from ‘Blues Brothers’ with Elvis in James Brown’s place). Elvis and his boys amble up to the front of the pews, turn around, look sheepishly at the ground, clear their throats, and unleash upon the congregation this 2 minutes and 47 seconds of salvation…

Elvis Presley: Run On - Alternate Take (mp3)

Posted in Oldies | No Comments »

Toussaint Tuesday

May 10th, 2005 by Pete

Less than 2 weeks after I started this blog, I posted one of my faves by Toussaint McCall. Since my readership has increased a lot since those days waayyyyy back in December 2004, I felt it necessary to offer up this re-post.

Click here now to see my post on Toussaint’s classic: “Nothing Takes the Place of You” (mp3 link ~~here~~ for the exceptionally lazy, but if you’re gonna do that, I give you link here to check out the CD which is only available as an import in the U.S. , yes I’m rambling).

Posted in Oldies, R&B | No Comments »

Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair

March 30th, 2005 by Pete

I’ve had several searches today for Elvis’ “laughing” version of “Are You Lonesome Tonight”. I’m thinking it’s because Howard Stern played it a couple of times on his show this morning (once with Lisa Marie in the studio).

So here’s a re-post.

Posted in Funny, Oldies | No Comments »

Two for the King

January 7th, 2005 by Pete

I’d love to find out more info on this (e.g. where and when)… this is Elvis performing “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and experiencing a fit of uncontrollable laughter for most of the song. Quality stuff.

Elvis Presley: Are You Lonesome Tonight (the laughing version)(mp3)

Posted in Funny, Oldies | No Comments »

One for the King

January 7th, 2005 by Pete

Well before I plop myself in front of the TV this weekend, tune in to AMC, and watch some quality Elvis movies (GI Blues, Paradise Hawaiian Style, Girls! Girls! Girls! to name a few), I have to pay my respects to the King on his 70th birthday. Here’s a great blues tune recorded in 1960 after his return from the Army. ‘Reconsider Baby’ was composed and performed originally by Lowell Fulson in 1954 (that’s the fella pictured below).

Happy Birthday Elvis.