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.

Procol Harum: A Salty Dog

Recorded live in concert in Edmonton, Alberta on November 18, 1971, our Friday Flipside of Procol Harum’s “A Salty Dog” was the “B” side of their hit single “Conquistador.” Released in 1972 from the LP “Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra,” the studio version of “A Salty Dog” was the title cut of Procol Harum’s third album that was released three years earlier in 1969. As Gary Brooker recounts during his introduction of the song, it was the first song they had recorded with an orchestra.

In this live recording, the band was accompanied by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Of the six band members that are credited on this recording, only three had been with the group from the beginning. They included lead vocalist/pianist Gary Brooker, drummer B.J. Wilson, and lyricist Keith Reid. Organist Chris Copping joined the band when Matthew Fisher left the band. He was a member of the prequel to Procol Harum – The Paramounts, which contained Procol Members Brooker, Wilson, Copping, and former guitarist Robin Trower.

Largely influential on the album’s success, the “A” side “Conquistador” charted at #16 on the American charts. “Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra” was Procol Harum’s most successful album and was the only one to be certified gold by the RIAA. It also peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album chart. Live or Memorex, “A Salty Dog” is one my favorite recordings by the band.

Lyrics

'All hands on deck, we've run afloat!' I heard the captain cry
'Explore the ship, replace the cook: let no one leave alive!'
Across the straits, around the Horn: how far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course, and no one left alive

We sailed for parts unknown to man, where ships come home to die
No lofty peak, nor fortress bold, could match our captain's eye
Upon the seventh seasick day we made our port of call
A sand so white, and sea so blue, no mortal place at all

We fired the gun, and burnt the mast, and rowed from ship to shore
The captain cried, we sailors wept: our tears were tears of joy
Now many moons and many Junes have passed since we made land
A salty dog, this seaman's log: your witness my own hand

Ozzy Osbourne: Crazy Train

It’s TV Thursday and Honda took a classic Ozzy Osbourne song and made an amusing commercial for their Pilot SUV. I’ve been wanted to feature this since I saw the commercial the first time several weeks ago, but a good version of the ad had not yet been posted on YouTube. It is now.

My favorite parts of the commercial are the “Aye – aye – aye” and the kid with the cup doing the mock vibra-slap. Despite a lack of Top 40 action on the single (it didn’t even chart in the Hot 100), it is known by just everyone. The song and Ozzy, however, were embraced by Album Radio where “Crazy Train” peaked in 1981 at #9. Somewhere in my vast collection I have a copy of the single and the promotional picture disc.

Honda Pilot Commercial

Honda Pilot Extended Version

To tell you the truth, I liked the :30 second version better, but seeing the full version gives you an idea how a good editor can take a long version of an ad and squeeze it in :30 seconds.