Mockin' Bird - The Early Years vol 2 [244]

It's a bit of a downer this week, as Nick, Sam & Martin get together to talk about at least one hosts' least-favourite Tom Waits song so far. We have a discussion about the success and failure of simplicity in music, as well as some of the complex history of the 1960s calypso hit Yellow Bird.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Mockin' Bird, The Early Years vol 2, Tom Waits (1993)

Yellow Bird, Cherokeely Swings, Keely Smith (1962)

Choucoune Story and Song, With English Translation of Lyrics By Dr. Dady Chery
Mockin Bird, Step Right Up - Waits Tribute, Tindersticks (2004)

Blackbird, The Beatles/The White Album, The Beatles (1968)

Choucoun, Meringue & Konpa (Haiti 1952-1962), Emerante de Pradines (c. 1951)

Chaucoun, single, The Tarriers (1958)

Yellow Bird, Calypso Holiday, The Norman Luboff Choir (1957)

… and on the topic of bird songs, Martin wanted to give honorable mention to Skylark, Laughing on the Outside, Aretha Franklin (1963)

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Ol' 55 - The Early Years vol 2 [243]

Nick returns for a second week’s chat with Sam and Martin about classic cars (and their parking logistics), the evolution of Ol’ 55 (from Early Years to Closing Time to The Eagles), as well as the role of the car in rock and roll (as well as American culture in general). Note: Sam refers to a car advert using the Joplin song as Porsche, when it's actually BMW - video below.

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Ol' 55, The Early Years vol 2, Tom Waits (1993)

Mercedes Benz, Pearl, Janis Joplin (1971)

Ol' 55, VH1 Storytellers via YouTube, Tom Waits (1999)

Mercedes Benz advert feat. Janis Joplin, via YouTube (1995)

BMW advert feat. Janis Joplin, via YouTube (1998?)

YouTube channel of Tom Carroll, the filmmaker behind Nick's neighbour's classic car collection documentary. At the time of broadcast, this film is being held back for release at film festivals; we will update the show notes as and when it becomes available.
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Hope I Don't Fall in Love with You - The Early Years vol 2 [242]

For the first track from this second half of our 2-volume Early Years season, Martin and Sam are joined by Nick White from KCRW's Lost Notes to talk about this laid-back version of a Closing Time classic, including comparison to the early work of an icon of punk. 

Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Hope I Don't Fall in Love with You, The Early Years vol 2, Tom Waits (1993)

Love Comes In Spurts, Spurts: The Richard Hell Story, The Neon Boys (1973/2005)

Love Comes In Spurts, Spurts: The Richard Hell Story, Richard Hell & The Voidoids (1976/2005)

Tears in Heaven, Rush Motion Picture Soundtrack, Eric Clapton (1992)

(I Just) Died In Your Arms, Broadcast, Cutting Crew (1986)

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