Song:Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand Artist: Hoagy Lands Written:Bert Russell / Wes Farrell Year :1964 Album/Single: Atlantic # 2217
Cobra's Version Song: Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand Released: January 18, 2005 Album: Baby
I have not found out much about Hoagy Lands. Born in New Jersey in 1936, he was 28 when today's selection was released. It was the flip side to what is considered his finest release - "Baby Come On Home" (having heard both sides I much prefer today's selection - the B-side). Hoagy recorded sides for many different labels but this was the only one released on Atlantic. Not sure why it's his only Atlantic release, since he often was produced by Bert Berns, and Berns did a lot of work for Atlantic (he took over as lead producer and songwriter from Jerry Lieber / Mike Stoller in 1963).
Which brings us to the next point. Not only did Bert Berns produce the song, he also co-wrote it. His middle name is "Russell" and often used the alias of "Bert Russell" for his song writing credits. But then again, Bert Berns didn't really write it (very Led Zepplinish of him to take credit, however). It was 'adapted' from a folk-blues song covered by Bob Dylan eponymous first album, credited to Eric Von Schmidt, Dave Von Ronk & the Reverend Gary Davis. Eric Von Schmidt claims to have nicked it from a Blind Boy Fuller song called "Baby, Let Me Lay It On You". Who knows where he got it from. Maybe he wrote . . . somebody had to! As far as the Cobra's version is concerned, however, it is obviously a take on the Hoagy Lands version.
The song was also covered by the Animals in 1964. They changed the name - "Baby Let Me Take You Home" - and lyrics a bit. They also blues'd it up a lot, skipping the a cappella intro. I suspect it was out of the range of the growl of Eric Burdon vocals. They did add a very cool 'bump & grind' in the middle, however.
Lyrics: I've seen a lot of pretty girls In my time I never really paid them any mind
And baby when I saw you Somehow I knew That you were the loving kind
Baby, let me hold your hand Baby, let me hold your hand Let me feel it right there and I'll take you anywhere If you only let me hold your hand (Oh, my hand is right there if you take me anywhere you know, baby you can hold my hand)
Baby, let me be your man Baby, let me be your man Let me hold you real tight Let me love you all night I just want to be you man (that's all, baby)
(You can hold me real tight You can love me all night Oh yeah, you can be my man)
Now I want you to listen to me (looky here):
Now I want you to be a full time love 'Cause the kind of love I got for you is really strong
Now these arms are made for just your size So get home, baby, where you belong
Now you know I don't mind (??? unintelligible) when a kings a leave flirt (??? unintelligible) Every man has to go through some of that
But I'm here to let you know personally, baby exactly where it's at
Baby, let me take you home Baby, let me take you home Oh, the walk will do you good You know'll talk the way I should
(Oh you talk the way you should and the walk will do me good Come baby, you can take me home)
Come home, baby (Come home, baby) Come home, baby (Come home, baby) Come home, baby (Come home, baby) . . . Now, if you try to follow these lyrics with the Cobra's version you'll get lost. Not only do they change the gender, but they reworked the lyrics quite a bit, to their advantage. To me, the most interesting part of the Hoagy Lands version is the guitar intro after the a cappella intro. Reminds me of Jackie De Shannon's "When You Walk In The Room". But since I can play the guitar, what the hell do I know.
It is one of two songs on "Baby" with "baby" in the title ("Baby Help Me"). Must be where they came up with the title . . .
Today's selection is a dance number by the King. No, not that King, the real King. King Solomon. Solomon Burke.
"Stupidity" was the flip side to "Can't Nobody Love You" (a classic country soul ballad) in 1963. It followed a couple of Burke's biggest hits - "Just Out of Reach" and "Cry To Me". Solomon was signed to Atlantic Records to replace Ray Charles, who had just left the label. Big shoes to fill. But then again, Solomon is a big man. Solomon's success was credited for keeping Atlantic afloat in this period.
Solomon was originally a preacher in Philadelphia, which no doubt influenced and assisted in the shouted introduction to today's selection. Apparently, the Stupidity was intended to be a dance, something along the links of "The Swim", "The Duck", etc. I don't suspect it was very successful.
Lyrics: Hey! (Hey!) Everybody! (Everybody!) All around the world Every boy and girl Taking lessons from me Do The Stupidity
My Momma she says it's silly My Poppa says "you look like a fool" But, baby, I don't mind the criticism Because were doing it every day in school
Come along with me See how much fun it can be While watching me, baby Do The Stupidity
My Momma she says it's silly My Poppa says I look like a fool But, I don't mind the criticism Because were doing it every day in school
Come along with me See how much fun it can be Watch it on TV Oh, baby, thats The Stupidity Solomon's version is a full fleshed out R&B dandy, complete with rolling keyboards a wailing horn arrangement. The Cobra's version, of course, replaces all that with with their classic garage guitar crunch.
Solomon is still recording these days. I have yet to hear his last album - "Nashville" - but can highly recommend his 2002 album - "Don't Give Up On Me".
A little change up for this week's post - it was never released by the Cobras. They did perform it during their second Peel Session, September 14th, 2004.Rumor has it that the Cobra's took a shot at recording this in the studio as well but weren't happy with the results. I find that hard to believe since they nailed it on Peel. The Reigning Sound have quite a few ties with the Cobra's. The founding member, Greg Cartwright, was a member of the Oblivians, whose song, "Bad Man" was covered by the Cobra's as "Bad Girl". Greg Cartwright also co-wrote "Hot Dog" with Rachel & Mary. Carol Schumacher, the Cobra's current bassist, was also a member of Reigning Sound.
Lyrics: I saw you out on there on the dancing floor You were romancing with another boy Now don't you call and say you'll be my friend In fact, don't you ever call me again, all right
Now don't you hand me no apology 'cause they don't mean a damn thing to me I'm hurting, baby, can't you see
You think he'll love you like I once did Oh baby who are you trying to kid? And when you realize what you have done Oh baby, I'll have some fun, tonight
Now don't you hand me no apology 'cause they don't mean a damn thing to me I'm hurting, baby, can't you see
Tonight, I'll cry, tonight I'll cry, tonight, baby I'll cry When you said you'd never let me go then you turned around and hurt me so Well you said you never set me free Oh baby I guess some things got to be
I saw you out on there on the dancing floor You were romancing with another boy Now don't you call and say you'll be my friend In fact, don't you ever call me again, all right
Now don't you hand me no apology 'cause they don't mean a damn thing to me I'm hurting, baby, can't you see
Musically, both versions are similar. I have to give the edge to the Cobra's version, if only for the call and response during the chorus. When I first heard it I assumed it was a lost classic from the Shangri-La's. It has that whole bad ass girl thing going on. Which is ironic, since Greg Cartwright subsequently went on to assist Mary Weiss, the lead singer from the Shangri-Las, on her solo project. Check it out for yourself on her MySpace page.
Song:Hittin' On Nothin' Artist: Irma Thomas Written:Naomi Neville (Allen Tousaint) Year :1963 Album/Single: Minit # 666
Cobra's Version Song: Hittin' On Nothin' Released: February 24th, 1998 Album: Mink Rat or Rabbit
Today's selection is from the sweet soul queen of New Orleans - Irma Thomas. Irma is probably best known to most as the original artist for the song "Time Is On My Side" which, of course was later covered, with much success, by the Rolling Stones. She has many other great songs just as great as "Time Is On My Side", though I do recommend searching her version out. The Cobras obviously think highly of her as well, since they have covered 4 of her songs to date ("Break A Way", "Cry On", "It's Raining" and of course "Hittin' On Nothin'") with seemingly a fifth coming on the forthcoming "Tied & True" album - "The Hurt's All Gone". In fact, they have joked about being just an Irma Thomas/5 Royales cover band.
Today's song was written by Naomi Neville, which is a nom de plume for the great Crescent City producer / songwriter / piano man Allen Toussaint. Toussaint's talents has touched many a great song, from Ernie K-Doe's "Mother In Law", Lee Dorsey's "Working In A Coal Mine" and "Ruler of My Heart" which was 'adapted' by Otis Redding as "Pain In My Heart" (which was also covered by the Rolling Stones). Naomi Neville was apparently his mother's maiden name.
Since we seem to have a Rolling Stones theme happening here I'd like to point out that today's song is the perfect companion piece to their "Under My Thumb". That songs misogynistic undertone is completely matched by the misandristic tone here. Odd, considering it was written by a guy . . .
Check out the lyrics for yourself :
Lyrics: You can keep your sweet talk, keep your lies Keep all of your promises save that jive
You ain't hittin' on nothin' unless you got something for me
You know you promised me diamonds, I'll never forget I ain't seen hide nor hair of a diamond yet
All I get is (talk, talk, talk) Get your papers and (walk, walk, walk) You ain't hittin' on nothin' unless you got something for me
You know you promised me a mink coat, for my birthday I ain't seen mink, rat or rabbit Make it any old way
I'm tired of your (talk, talk, talk) Hit the road, Jack (walk, walk, walk) No no more talk (talk, talk, talk) Get your bags and walk (walk, walk, walk)
You ain't hittin' on nothin' unless you got something for me
Hey, Hey You ain't hittin' on nothin' unless you got something for me
Ah-Huh You ain't hittin' on nothin' unless you got something for me
Hit the road You ain't hittin' on nothin' unless you got something for me
Hey, Hey You ain't hittin' on nothin' unless you got something for me
The Cobra's version follows the above lyrics almost perfectly, with one interesting change. Rachel twists the mink, rat or rabbit" lyric to "mink, rabbit and rat". Why is that so interesting? The name of the album the Cobra's released it on was "Mink Rat or Rabbit". They did not twist the actual title of the song like they have been known to do (unless you came across the song via the Sympathy For The Record Industry compilation "Alright This Time Just The Girls" on which it was titled as "Ain't Hittin' On Nothin'"). Givin the number of apostrophes it would have been easy to do.
The interesting thing about the original is that it is a guitar based song, from a writer primarily known for his keyboard work. Check out the very Beatlesque guitar solo, which, considering it was a year before the Beatles crossed the pond, if very interesting indeed.
today's selection was released. It was the flip side to what is considered his finest release - "Baby Come On Home" (having heard both sides I much prefer today's selection - the B-side). Hoagy recorded sides for many different labels but this was the only one released on Atlantic. Not sure why it's his only Atlantic release, since he often was produced by Bert Berns, and Berns did a lot of work for Atlantic (he took over as lead producer and songwriter from Jerry Lieber / Mike Stoller in 1963).
