Oh My Lover

Song: Oh My Lover
Artist: Chiffons
Written: Ronald Mack
Year : 1963
Album/Single: Laurie # LR-3152

Cobra's Version
Song: Oh My Lover
Released: May 1st, 2001
Album: Life, Love & Leaving

This weeks selection is from a band you may have actually heard of before (unlike a lot of the bands the Cobras have covered) - The Chiffons. Their biggest hit was "He's So Fine" and today's selection - "Oh My Lover" - was it's b-side. Interestingly enough, the producers of the record, the Tokens (of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" fame), felt that "Oh My Lover" should have been the A-side. Along with "He's So Fine", the Chiffons had other hits with "One Fine Day", "Sweet Talking Guy" and "A Love So Fine".

Both sides were penned by Ronald Mack, a young songwriter who had heard the Chiffon's singing in their high school cafeteria. He would not be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor, however, passing away later in 1963 from Hodgkin's disease. His estate, however, was able to double dip, after suing George Harrison claiming plagiarism on "My Sweet Lord". Ironically enough, the Chiffon's covered "My Sweet Lord" in a jazzy, lounge lizard fashion, in 1975.

Being a fan of the girl group sound, this is one of the few songs the Cobra's have covered that I knew before I heard the Cobra's version - "Bye Bye Baby" (Mary Wells), "Find Me A Home" (by Solomon Burke, though I was familiar with the Otis Redding version), "I'll Keep Holding On" (the Marvellettes, though I knew it from the Action's version), "Insane Asylum" (Koko Taylor), "It's Raining" (Irma Thomas), "Putty" (the Shirelles via the Yardbirds) and "Weak Spot" (Ruby Johnson). The rest of their songs have been a joy of discovery.

Lyrics:
(Oh, My Lover)
Oooohhhhoooohhhh
(Oh, My Lover)
(Oh, My Lover)
(I love you)

Oh, please (oh, my lover)
don't never ever say were through (oh, my lover)
for I feel attached to you (oh, my lover)
Can't you see I'm really in love with you ? (I love you)

My desire (oh, my lover)
is to be with you to the end (oh, my lover)
You and I are a perfect blend (oh, my lover)
Can't you see that we were meant to be more than just friends (I love you)

(Love is a wonderful thing)
Keeps those bells in swing
(As we walk down the aisle)
Once more those bells will ring

(Oh, My Lover)
Oooohhhhoooohhhh
(Oh, My Lover)
(Oh, My Lover)
(I love you)

I wonder (oh, my lover)
if he feels the same about me (oh, my lover)
Now that I see his face, I will weep (oh, my lover)
I know that I no longer should worry (I love you)

(Oh, My Lover)
Oooohhhhoooohhhh
(Oh, My Lover)
(Oh, My Lover)
(Oh, My Lover)
(Oh, My Lover)
(Oh, My Lover)

It's a quick, tight song, clocking in at a mere 1:48. The Cobra's version is much faster, getting the job done in 1:34. Perhaps they were able to cut the 14 seconds by not repeating the chorus (oh, my lover) after each stanza. Also, Rachel tweaked the third stanza of the third verse - "Now that I see his face, I will weep" - to something I can not make out, I think it is "Now that his feelings say I will be", but can't be sure. I'd be interested in your opinion as to what it is.

Download it now:
The Chiffons - Oh My Lover - 1963 - Laurie # LR-3152
Available on - "One Fine Day"

Buy "Life, Love and Leaving" by the Detroit Cobras

Insane Asylum

Song: Insane Asylum
Artist: Koko Taylor
Written: Willie Dixon
Year : 1968
Album/Single: Checker # 1191

Cobra's Version
Song: Insane Asylum
Released: January 6th, 2004
Album: Seven Easy Pieces


Today's selection is the longest song in the Cobra's catalog, clocking in at 4:16, well over their 2:21 average. It is a cover for Koko Taylor's 1968 duet with the songwriter, Willie Dixon. It was Dixon who discovered Taylor and brought her to Chess records in 1963. She hit it big in 1965 with another of composition of of Dixon's, "Wang Dang Doodle" - the last Chess release to hit the R&B top ten. She moved from Chess to Alligator records in 1975 but continued to make records in the Chicago, electric blues tradition. Check out her take of Bo Diddley's / Muddy Water's "I'm A Man" called "I'm A Woman" on her MySpace page ("MySpace, not just for kids anymore").

Lyrics:
(Willie Dixon)
I went out to the insane asylum
And I found my baby out there
I said please come back to me darlin'
What in the world are you doin' here?

Then the little girl raised up her head
Tears was streamin' down from her eyes
And these are the things
That the little girl said

(Koko Taylor)
When your love has ceased to be (Lord, have mercy)
There's no other place for me (Mmmm)
If you don't hold me in your arms (Oh child oh child)
I'd rather be here from now on
Some people have it halfway fair
Without your love I ain't nowhere

Oh I can't eat and I can't sleep (oh child oh child)
Lord I can't even live in peace (Mmmm)
Please take me baby for your slave (Oooh)
And save me from that early grave

Some people have it halfway fair
Without your love I ain't nowhere

(Willie Dixon)
And then sorrow struck my heart
Tears began to stream down from my eyes
The only woman that I ever loved in whole my life
Out here in a place in a condition like this
And I began to thinkin' about what
my mama told me when I was a little boy

She told me when I couldn't help myself,
to get down on my knees and pray
Then I fell down on my knees
And these are the words that I said

(Willie Dixon & Koko Taylor)
Save me save me save me babe,
Save me save me save me dear,
Whoa I don't know just how we made it
But I'm so glad our love is here
But I'm so glad our love is here
But I'm so glad our love is here...

(For the record, this is the first of the 9 posts so far in this blog, in which I was able to actually find the lyrics online rather than having to transcribe them myself.)

Greg Cartwright steps in as Willie Dixon to Rachel's Koko on the Cobra's version. Greg Cartwright, of course, is from Reigning Sound, previously covered in my "I'll Cry" post. Considering the shoes they are trying to fill, they rise to the occasion quit well. Not surprising, considering "insane Asylum" was a song she frequently sang to herself in her car, long before she sang professionally. Thankfully she took her act out of the car and shared her talents with us all.

All pictures previously used in the blog were
pictures I had taken myself. Today's
is not, but it was too delicious to pass up.
Click on it and you will go to the original site

Download it now:
Koko Taylor - Insane Asylum - 1967 - Checker # 1191
Available on - Koko Taylor

Buy "Seven Easy Pieces" by the Detroit Cobras

(Sorry I missed last week's post - I've been busy)

Cha Cha Twist

Song: Cha Cha Twist
Artist: Brice Coefield
Written: Hank Ballard
Year : 1960
Album/Single: Madison # 137

Cobra's Version
Song: Cha Cha Twist
Released: February 24th, 1998
Album: Mink Rat or Rabbit


While I can not find any specific information on today's selection, I have found some information on Brice Coefield.

Quite frankly, the man was involved with some legendary names in the music industry - "Bumps" Blackwell (songwriter and producer of Little Richard), Herb Alpert (co-founder of A&M records, legendary trumpet player), Lou Adler (producer for, among others, Sam Cooke, Mama's & Papa's, the Monterrey Pop Festival) & Phil Spector (I don't need to explain who he is, do I?). Draw your own conclusion as to why, with all these talented people around him, he wasn't more successful himself.

He started off in 1955 in Los Angeles with his cousin, Rip Spencer, in a variety of vocal groups. It was Brice's father who, through jazz pianist Lloyd Glenn, that put them in touch with "Bumps" Blackwell. Calling themselves the "Valiants", they actually were the first to release "Good Golly, Miss Molly", one of the songs Bumps had written (Little Richard had recorded it before them but the Valiants were the first to actually release it). It was the flip side of one of two records they would every have chart - "This is the Night" (#43 R&B / #69 Pop). The other chart success they enjoyed was as members of the Alley Cats with "Puddin N' Tain" - released in 1962 on Phil Spector's Phillies Label (Brice was a co-writer of the song as well).

This brief bio was culled from Marv Goldberg's excellent R&B Notebook - check it out for yourself.

Brice had 5 records released on the Madison label from 1960 to 1961. Four were as a member of the "Valiants", with today's record being released simply as "Brice Coefeild". Interestingly enough, despite the thoroughness of the aforementioned Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebook, there is no mention of this record. The song writing credits go to the legendary Hank Ballard (thought jazz keyboardist Les McCann sometime get's credit for writing it as well). I would have to assume it was recorded/released late in 1960, to capitalize on the success of Chubby Checker's massive hit earlier in the year - "The Twist" (which was also written by Hank Ballard!).

Lyrics:
(Cha Cha Cha) (Cha Cha Cha) (Cha Cha Cha)
Come on baby
Let's do the Twist
Come on baby
Let's do the Twist

You look fine, yeah
when you go like this

Tell me, baby
Have you seen my sis ?
Tell me, baby
Have you seen my sis ?

She knows how to rock
and do the Cha Cha Twist

Hully, hully gully
Slop and Madison, too
When you do the twist
to a beat like this
You can Cha Cha with your baby too

Your Papa's sleeping
and your Mama's not around
Your Papa's sleeping
and your Mama's not around

Well come over here, baby
we're gonna tear the house down

Hully, hully gully (shake your shoulders)
Slop and Madison, too (hit it)
When you do the twist
to a beat like this
You can Cha Cha with your baby too

Your Papa's sleeping
and your Mama's not around
Your Papa's sleeping
and your Mama's not around

Come on baby
we're gonna tear the house down

Eeyaa (?) Twist
Hey baby

The Cobra's take on "Cha Cha Twist" both speeds it up and rocks it up courtesy of classic Detroit garage guitar crunch. What's interesting on the original is all the stuff going on in the background - all the "Oooohhhhh Aaahhhh", "Cha Cha Cha" and "Wuh Wuh" vocals that run throughout the song. If you listen closely to the Cobra's version you will hear them doing similar things, but buried much deeper in the mix.

I understand this was used for a Diet Coke commercial a few years back. Never saw, but it had to be cool. They did shoot a video for "Cha Cha Twist" (their only video ?) with Meg White as "Little Red Riding Hood". Interestingly enough, it seems to be a different version of the song that was released on "Mink Rat or Rabbit".

Download it now:
Brice Coefield - Cha Cha Twist - 1960 - Madison # 137
Available on - nothing! I paid a guy $3.00 to rip it from his vinyl copy.

Buy "Mink Rat or Rabbit " by the Detroit Cobras

Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand

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 . . .

Download it now:
Hoagy Lands - Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand - 1964 - Atlantic # 2217
Available on - nothing! I paid a guy $3.00 to rip it from his vinyl copy.

Bonus - Download it now:
The Animals - Baby Let Me Take You Home - 1964 - The Animals
Available on "The Complete Animals"

Extra Bonus - Download it now:
Bob Dylan - Baby Let Me Follow You Down - 1962 - Bob Dylan
Available on "Bob Dylan"

Buy "Baby" by the Detroit Cobras

Stupidity

Song: Stupidity
Artist: Solomon Burke
Written: Solomon Burke
Year : 1963
Album/Single: Atlantic # 2196

Cobra's Version
Song: Stupidity
Released: May 1st, 2001
Album: Life, Love and Leaving


HEY ! EVERYBODY !

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".

Download it now:
Solomon Burke - Stupidity - 1963 - Atlantic # 2196
Available on "Home in Your Heart: The Best of Solomon Burke"
Buy "Live, Love & Leaving" by the Detroit Cobras

I'll Cry

Song: I'll Cry
Artist: Reigning Sound
Written: Greg Cartwright
Year : 2004
Album/Single: Too Much Guitar

Cobra's Version
Song: Tonight
Released: Never
Album: Peel Sessions 09.14.2004

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

Tonight, I'll cry, tonight
I'll cry, tonight, baby I'll cry

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

Tonight, I'll cry, tonight
I'll cry, tonight, baby I'll cry
I'll cry, tonight, baby I'll cry
I'll cry, tonight, baby I'll cry

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.

Download them now:
Reigning Sound - I'll Cry - 2004
Available on "Too Much Guitar"
Detroit Cobras - Tonite - 2004
From the Peel Sessions 09.14.2004

Hittin' On Nothin'

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.


Download it now:
Irma Thomas - Hittin' on Nothin' - 1963 - Minit # 666
Available on "Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans: The Irma Thomas Collection"

Buy "Mink Rat or Rabbit " by the Detroit Cobras