In praise of standards

[dellzeqq]

not the Conservative party type of standard, where you give tax breaks to married people and then shag the secretary, and not the Evening Standard. Nope - these standards are the type you sing. In the bath. Along with every other Tom Dick and Harry (not in the same bath at the same time, unless it's a barbershop standard). Songs that get picked up time and time again to be re-used and misused, and, sometimes, given new life.

I think standards are underestimated. The lyrics to Tom Rush's No Regrets might be sentimental, but they're crafted.

Goodbye dry eyes I watched your plane
Fade off west of the moon

So, in no particular order, these are my favourites. A distinct Sneaky Pete bias, but feel free to roam around the canon

Oh Lonesome Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzl3zw1a-
No Regrets
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7PuSl7AbUo

Angel from Mongomery
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkz0stvS9K8&feature=related

Wichita Lineman - this pylontastic one looks like it's for the boys
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QynK5IDalmA&feature=related

Light my Fire
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyEPQiiw8QI

 

[dellzeqq]

not the Conservative party type of standard, where you give tax breaks to married people and then shag the secretary, and not the Evening Standard. Nope - these standards are the type you sing. In the bath. Along with every other Tom Dick and Harry (not in the same bath at the same time, unless it's a barbershop standard). Songs that get picked up time and time again to be re-used and misused, and, sometimes, given new life.

I think standards are underestimated. The lyrics to Tom Rush's No Regrets might be sentimental, but they're crafted.

Goodbye dry eyes I watched your plane
Fade off west of the moon

So, in no particular order, these are my favourites. A distinct Sneaky Pete bias, but feel free to roam around the canon

Oh Lonesome Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzl3zw1a-
No Regrets
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7PuSl7AbUo

Angel from Mongomery
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkz0stvS9K8&feature=related

Wichita Lineman - this pylontastic one looks like it's for the boys
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QynK5IDalmA&feature=related

Light my Fire
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyEPQiiw8QI

 

[theclaud]

I'll second that. Although with some reservations, as the term has a subtly different meaning in the musical circles I tend to inhabit. The album formula of a couple of standards, a blues and an original or two might be magic in the hands of Cannonball Adderley (Stars Fell on Alabama, anyone?), but the same inspires trepidation when offered by the Ted C**t trio of Barnsley, and near nausea when another anonymous singer leans unsexily on the piano and insists on crooning A Foggy Day at the embarrassed pianist. Please, no!

 

[theclaud]

I'll second that. Although with some reservations, as the term has a subtly different meaning in the musical circles I tend to inhabit. The album formula of a couple of standards, a blues and an original or two might be magic in the hands of Cannonball Adderley (Stars Fell on Alabama, anyone?), but the same inspires trepidation when offered by the Ted C**t trio of Barnsley, and near nausea when another anonymous singer leans unsexily on the piano and insists on crooning A Foggy Day at the embarrassed pianist. Please, no!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Wichita lineman always creeps up on me when I'm travelling, when I'm driving late at night after a long business day knackered, when stuck in an airport or taxi-way desperate to get home after a week alone working on-site in strange land, alone in a hotel. Only then does its simplicity deliver its emotional impact. Genius.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Wichita lineman always creeps up on me when I'm travelling, when I'm driving late at night after a long business day knackered, when stuck in an airport or taxi-way desperate to get home after a week alone working on-site in strange land, alone in a hotel. Only then does its simplicity deliver its emotional impact. Genius.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Don Gibson wrote some great standards as well as 'Oh Lonesome Me' - 'I Can't Stop Loving You' was recorded in the same session, not a bad day's work. 'Sweet Dreams' is another of his best. I'm not grown up enough to be allowed youtube at work so I don't know who's recorded your version, as it's Sneaky Pete I'd guess 'OLM' is the Flying Burrito Bros version.

'Angel of Montgomery' is one of John Prine's finest - lovely song.

As FF says, Wichita lineman is a beautifully simple song - a Jimmy Webb classic.

Talking of Sneaky Pete there's not enough use of steel guitar these days, a fine instrument in the right hands.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Don Gibson wrote some great standards as well as 'Oh Lonesome Me' - 'I Can't Stop Loving You' was recorded in the same session, not a bad day's work. 'Sweet Dreams' is another of his best. I'm not grown up enough to be allowed youtube at work so I don't know who's recorded your version, as it's Sneaky Pete I'd guess 'OLM' is the Flying Burrito Bros version.

'Angel of Montgomery' is one of John Prine's finest - lovely song.

As FF says, Wichita lineman is a beautifully simple song - a Jimmy Webb classic.

Talking of Sneaky Pete there's not enough use of steel guitar these days, a fine instrument in the right hands.

 

[Kirstie]

I wish I knew what you were talking about...!

 

[Kirstie]

I wish I knew what you were talking about...!

 

[dellzeqq]

I did know somebody (we sort of fell out) who started a doctoral thesis on the History of Trotskyism and, halfway through, changed to 'The Songs of Jimmy Webb'.

 

[dellzeqq]

I did know somebody (we sort of fell out) who started a doctoral thesis on the History of Trotskyism and, halfway through, changed to 'The Songs of Jimmy Webb'.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I did know somebody (we sort of fell out) who started a doctoral thesis on the History of Trotskyism and, halfway through, changed to 'The Songs of Jimmy Webb'.

No re-writing required then and I bet you couldn't see the join!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I did know somebody (we sort of fell out) who started a doctoral thesis on the History of Trotskyism and, halfway through, changed to 'The Songs of Jimmy Webb'.

No re-writing required then and I bet you couldn't see the join!

 

[ChrisKH]

I wish I knew what you were talking about...!

I'm glad I'm not the only one.