David Bowie: Knock on Wood

Although Eddie Floyd co-wrote the song with Steve Cropper and released it originally in 1966, his version only topped the charts at only #28. Years later, Amii Stewart had a number 1 hit with song and I remember vividly playing this hit version at WAMX. Between those releases, David Bowie recorded a live version in 1974 from his LP “David Live.”

In the UK, the song was released as an “A” side with “Panic in Detroit” as the flip; however, in the US, “Knock on Wood” was released as a flip to “Young Americans” – “do you remember your President Nixon?” I really like Bowie’s treatment of this old Stax/Volt classic. If you are wondering who played the killer tenor sax parts, it was the great David Sanborn. I had a chance to meet Sanborn in 1982 when he opened for Al Jarreau in Pittsburgh. A real classy guy.

Other top musicians on this cut include Earl Slick on guitar, Herbie Flowers on bass, Michael Kamen on keys, and Tony Newman on drums. There were others, but those four along with Bowie and Sanborn make up the cast of the better known performers. I’m not sure why RCA didn’t pursue this as an “A” side in the US. It was top 10 hit in the UK and Norway and peaked at 4 in the Republic of Ireland. For our purposes, it is our Friday Flipside.

Neil Diamond: Thank the Lord for the Night Time

Well I can’t prove it, but I remember Neil Diamond’s “Thank the Lord for the Night Time” was used as a commercial bed – I am thinking that is was used for a credit card commercial a few years back. “Thank the Lord for the Night Time” was one of the many hit singles to come from Diamond’s second LP for the BANG label: “Just for You.”

As an aside, BANG was an acronym for the principle owners of the label that included Bert Berns, Ahmet Ertegün, Nesuhi Ertegün, and Gerald (Jerry) Wexler. In addition, their parent organization, Web IV Music, was an acronym of the original owners’ last names Wexler, Ertegün, and Berns. The IV was added as there were four partners. If you notice on the label, the address is the same as Atlantic Records – the company owned by the Ertegün brothers and where Wexler and Berns worked.

I love the production on this record - the rhythm guitar, the drums, the baritone sax, the handclaps, the occasional piano – well, just everything. Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, who were Brill Building song writers along with Diamond, produced the album.

When I think of Neil Diamond, I am reminded of one of my professors at Marshall University in the late 1970s. The late Dr. Craig Monroe would expound upon Diamond’s lyrical content; he was probably Diamond's number one fan. I’m not sure what Craig thought of this song, but I am sure that he liked it as well.

Being that today is Thanksgiving, it is fitting that it is our final “thanks” song for this week. “Thank the Lord for the Night Time” peaked on the US charts at #13 during the summer of 1967. Enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Willaim DeVaughn: Be Thankful For What You Got

Well it took some time to find a song that met the criteria of being a song of thanks and a one-hit-wonder, but have no fear as we dug into the vaults of Roxbury Records for William DeVaughn’s “Be Thankful for What You Got.”

DeVaughn who wrote the song in 1972 invested $900 of his own hard earned money and hired Philadelphia’s Omega Sound team, John Davis and Frank Fioravanti, and the MFSB band to create a hit record sound . . . and they did just did that. Roxbury Records picked up the option in 1974 and two million copies were sold.

While DeVaughn had another R&B hit with “Blood is Thicker than Water,” “Be Thankful for What You Got” was his only Top 40 hit. It charted at #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart. It’s good advice – “Be Thankful for What You Got.”

Led Zeppelin: Thank You

From the classic LP, “Led Zeppelin II,” “Thank You” was a song whose lyrics were penned by Robert Plant in honor of his wife Maureen. In fact, it was the first song that Plant authored the entire lyrics. Jimmy Page co-wrote the music.

It is one of Led Zeppelin’s more mellow songs and features Jimmy Page on lead and rhythm 12-string acoustic guitar. He is specifically playing a Vox 12-string acoustic, which was made in Italy by Eko under the Vox brand name.

Bassist John Paul Jones plays a Hammond organ on this track; however, in later concert performances he replaced the organ with a Mellotron. It’s a classic with some tasty acoustic guitar licks from Jimmy Page that helps round out our Thanksgiving week of music.

Lyrics

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
when mountains crumble to the sea, there would still be you and me.

Kind woman, I give you my all, Kind woman, nothing more.

Little drops of rain whisper of the pain,
Tears of loves lost in the days gone by.
Our love is strong, with you there is no wrong,
together we shall go until we die. My, my, my.
Inspiration's what you are to me, inspiration, look... see.

And so today, my world it smiles, your hand in mine, we walk the miles,
Thanks to you it will be done, for you to me are the only one.
Happiness, no more be sad, happiness . . . I'm glad.
If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.
If the mountains should crumble to the sea, there would still be you and me.

Natalie Merchant: Kind and Generous

We continue our Thanksgiving week of songs. From Natalie Merchant’s second LP “Ophelia,” “Kind and Generous” is often referred to by the hook of the song “thank you.” The video was shot in one day using the crew and performers of a traveling circus.

While the song did not chart in the “Hot 100” per se, it peaked at #18 on the Top 100 airplay chart, #15 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart, #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary Recurrents chart.

Bob Marley: Thank You Lord

To kick off the week of Thanksgiving, which occurs in the USA on Thursday, I thought I might use this little known Bob Marley recording of “Thank You Lord” for our Spiritual Sunday song.

While Bob Marley and the Wailers later re-recorded this tune, the original by Bob was recorded in the early 1960s. Since the original recording was not released in the US until many years later, I cannot seem to find an exact date of the original release. It’s a nice little song in the Ska/Reggae tradition. Enjoy.

Lyrics

Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.
Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.
Thank you, Lord, for ev'ry little thing.
Thank you, Lord, for you made me sing.

Say I'm in no competition,
But I made my decision.
You can keep your opinion.
I'm just calling on the wise man's communion.

Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.
Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.
Thank you, Lord, for ev'ry little thing.
Thank you, Lord, for you made me sing.

Sing along, sing along.
I don't fear their oppression,
Just to prove my determination.
I don't yield to temptation,
I have learn't my lesson in Revelation.

Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.
Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.
Thank you, Lord, for ev'ry little thing.
Thank you, Lord, for you made me sing.

Sing along, sing along.

Say I'm in no competition
But I made my decision,
Lord, in my simple way.
Comin', comin', comin', comin'.
I love to pray.

Thank you, Lord, for what you've done for me.
Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing now.
Thank you, Lord, for ev'ry little thing.

Ten Years After: I'm Going Home

Our Saturday Bubbling Under Song comes from the album “Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More.” The accompanying video of Alvin Lee and Ten Years After come from the motion picture. I remember seeing the movie in the mid 1970s and being fascinated by Alvin’s lightning fast fingers on his Gibson ES-335.

Besides Alvin Lee’s energetic performance, take notice of bassist Leo Lyons pyrotechnics and accompanying percussion on his Fender Jazz Bass. I didn’t remember this from the film and this is probably was because I was mesmerized by Alvin Lee’s technique and speed.


The song also interpolates “Baby Please Don’t,” “Whole Lotta Shaking Going On,” and “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Going Home” was recorded live on the evening of Sunday, August 17, 1969. Take a listen and watch this great performance by the classic Ten Years After.

Undead Version

A slightly different live version of the same song issued during the previous year on the LP “Undead.” This version provides a little more space for keyboardist Chick Churchill to contribute.