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Steely Dan - Reelin' In The Years

Steely Dan - Reelin' In The Years Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Can't Buy A Thrill
Released: 1972

Reelin' In The Years Lyrics

Your everlasting summer
You can see it fading fast
So you grab a piece of something
That you think is gonna last
But you wouldn't know a diamond
If you held it in your hand
The things you think are precious
I can't understand

Are you Reelin' In The Years
Stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears
Have you had enough of mine

Are you reelin' in the years
Stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears
Have you had enough of mine

You been tellin' me you're a genius
Since you were seventeen
In all the time I've known you
I still don't know what you mean
The weekend at the college
Didn't turn out like you planned
The things that pass for knowledge
I can't understand

Are you reelin' in the years
Stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears
Have you had enough of mine

Are you reelin' in the years
Stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears
Have you had enough of mine

I spend a lot of money
And I spent a lot of time
The trip we made in Hollywood
Is etched upon my mind
After all the things we've done and seen
You find another man
The things you think are useless
I can't understand

Are you reelin' in the years
Stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears
Have you had enough of mine

Are you reelin' in the years
Stowin' away the time
Are you gatherin' up the tears
Have you had enough of mine

Writer/s: DONALD JAY FAGEN, WALTER CARL BECKER
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Reelin' In The Years

This song is about recalling times with a girlfriend and a romantic breakup. It's one of the most popular Steely Dan songs, but also one of their least favorite. In Rolling Stone, September 17, 2009, Donald Fagan said, "It's dumb but effective." Walter Becker added, "It's no fun."

Steely Dan are known for their meticulous sound - every note must be perfect. This song is sometimes criticized for bringing on overly polished mainstream '70s music.

Elliot Randall, who was not a member of Steely Dan, stopped by on an invite from Skunk Baxter while they were recording this and ended up playing the guitar solo. This was one of the first of many times Walter Becker and Donald Fagen would use studio musicians, and by their fourth album, nearly every player was a studio musician. Randall also played on their albums Katy Lied and The Royal Scam.

The quadraphonic mix of this song has extra Elliot Randall guitar fills not heard on the familiar stereo version.

Randall's guitar solo earned high praise from Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. According to Classic Rock magazine (January 1999), Page has said it is his favorite guitar solo of all time.

Todd Rundgren - Marlene

Todd Rundgren - Marlene Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Something/Anything?
Released: 1972

Marlene Lyrics

Marlene
Marlene, you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen
Do you care for me at all
Marlene, I care for you
And I just don't care who knows it

And I guess that means that I love you
Marlene
Marlene, who'd believe that you're only seventeen
I'm in trouble if your folks get mean
And if they do
Then I don't care if they bust me

And I guess that means that I love you
I don't need no fantasies
Just one thing I need
I you could make it here, Marlene
Dear Marlene, Marlene
Marlene, when I think that it all is just a dream
I remember that your eyes are green
And mine are blue
They will always see each other

And I guess that means that I love you
I don't need realities
Just one thing I need
If you could make it here Marlene
Dear Marlene, Marlene
Marlene, I'm depending on you now
Marlene

Writer/s: TODD RUNDGREN
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Marlene

Todd Rundgren wrote this song about his girlfriend (some would say groupie) Marlene Pinkard. Later known as Marlene Morrow, she was Playboy's Miss April of 1974. The writer and photographer Paul Zollo discovered in 2006 that she was homeless, living on the streets of Hollywood, and using the name Persephone.

When Rob Steen asked Rundgren if we was still dating Marlene when he wrote this song, Rundgren replied: "It was just around the same time. There would have been a lot of miserable material about her had I not got out of that state of mind."

In the Something/Anything? liner notes, Rundgren wrote of this song: "A shiver and a sigh."

Nick Drake - Things Behind The Sun

Nick Drake - Things Behind The Sun Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Pink Moon
Released: 1972

Things Behind The Sun Lyrics

Please beware of them that stare
They'll only smile to see you while
Your time away
And once you've seen what they have been
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Your night or your day
Who'll hear what I say.
Look around you find the ground
Is not so far from where you are
But not too wise
For down below they never grow
They're always tired and charms are hired
From out of their eyes
Never surprise.

Take your time and you'll be fine
And say a prayer for people there
Who live on the floor
And if you see what's meant to be
Don't name the day or try to say
It happened before.

Don't be shy you learn to fly
And see the sun when day is done
If only you see
Just what you are beneath a star
That came to stay one rainy day
In autumn for free
Yes, be what you'll be.
Please beware of them that stare
They'll only smile to see you while
Your time away
And once you've seen what they have been
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Your night or your day
Who'll hear what I say.

Open up the broken cup
Let goodly sin and sunshine in
Yes that's today.
And open wide the hymns you hide
You find renown while people frown
At things that you say
But say what you'll say
About the farmers and the fun
And the Things Behind The Sun
And the people around your head
Who say everything's been said
And the movement in your brain
Sends you out into the rain.

Writer/s: NICK DRAKE
Publisher: A SIDE MUSIC LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Things Behind The Sun

This is a song about deception and how things are not always as they appear.

Drake wrote this at a time when he was indulging in a dangerous amount of drugs. The lyrics are a narrative of his thoughts at this time.

The Spinners - I'll Be Around

The Spinners - I'll Be Around Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Spinners
Released: 1972

I'll Be Around Lyrics

This, is our fork in the road
Love's last episode
There's nowhere to go, oh no

You made your choice, now it's up to me
To bow out gracefully
Though you hold the key, but baby

Whenever you call me, I'll be there
Whenever you want me, I'll be there
Whenever you need me, I'll be there
I'll Be Around

I, knew just what to say
Now I found out today
That all the words had slipped away, but I know

There's always a chance
A tiny spark remains, yeah
And sparks turn into flames
And love can burn once again, but I know you know

Whenever you call me, I'll be there
Whenever you want me, I'll be there
Whenever you need me, I'll be there
I'll be around yeah

Whenever you call me, I'll be there
Whenever you want me, I'll be there
Even if I have to call, I'll be there
I'll be around

Just call me at home, I'll be there
I'll never leave you alone, I'll be there
Just call out your name you know I know you know
I'll be around

Whenever you call me, I'll be there
Whenever you want me, I'll be there
Whenever you need me, I'll be there
I'll be around

Writer/s: THOM BELL, PHIL HURTT
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I'll Be Around

This song of devotion is heartbreaking on a deeper level. The lyrics, written by the aptly-named Phil Hurtt, find our hero unable to move on from a relationship that has ended. There is an air of desperation as he offers himself up to his lost love unconditionally. He might be bowing out gracefully, but he can't leave her behind.

It was The Spinners' producer Thom Bell who came up with the music and the title for the song. In our interview with Phil Hurtt , he explained: "When Thommy said 'I'll be around,' I started thinking about a scenario and a story. Thommy was telling me, 'Whenever you call me, I'll be there.' That's one of the things he did give me. And I'm thinking, okay, great. So the guy broke up and he wants her back, whenever you call me I'll be there, whenever you need me, I'll be there. So, okay, great. And then the next thing I know, this is our fork in the road. And that's the way it happens.

I'm just so proud and happy and blessed that that song has crossed over into that company of being referred to as 'classic.' You hear a great melody and a great idea for a song, and then all you've got to do is write the story. I mean, wow, what an opportunity."

The Spinners were signed to Motown Records in 1963, but were never one of the top acts at the label. In 1972, they moved to Atlantic Records, and recorded some unsuccessful session with producer Jimmy Roach.

Atlantic recorded some of their top R&B acts, including Archie Bell & The Drells and Dusty Springfield, at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. A top producer at Sigma was Thom Bell, so Atlantic sent him a list of their artists to see if there was one he would like to work with. The very last name on the list was The Spinners, which Bell had been listening to since the early '60s. He took them on and wrote the music to "I'll Be Around" for their first session at Sigma Sound. Bell needed lyrics for the song, but his usual writing partner, Linda Creed, was out of town. He tracked down a songwriter he had gone to high school with named Phil Hurtt, who agreed to compose the words, with instructions by Bell to fit them exactly to the melody. Hurtt delivered, and Bell recorded the song with the group for their first single. When Atlantic issued the single, "I'll Be Around" was the B-side of another song they cut with Bell, "How Could I Let You Get Away." When disc jockeys flipped it and played "I'll Be Around," Atlantic made it the A-side on future pressings, and The Spinners were off and running at their new label. The song was a #1 R&B hit, and led to many more hits, including "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" and "Then Came You."

The musicians on this track were the Sigma Sound Studios house band, MFSB, who scored a #1 hit with the
Soul Train theme song. Some of the musicians on this track were Norman Harris on guitar, Ronnie Baker on bass, and Earl Young on drums. According to producer Thom Bell, the musicians laughed at the arrangement because it was so simple. He says they had the track recorded in 40 minutes.

The lead vocals on this one were by Bobby Smith, who was an original member of the group. Philippé Wynne, who sang lead on some of The Spinners hits, was with the group at the time, but he did tenor backing vocals on this track.

Cover versions made the US Hot 100 in the each of the three decades after The Spinners first charted with the song:

In 1985, the Todd Rundgren -produced group What Is This? took the song to #62.

In 1995, a rap version by Rappin' 4-Tay with The Spinners hit #39.

In 2005, Hall & Oates' cover went to #97.

The song has also been liberally sampled. Examples included "Any Emcee" by Nine, "You Made Your Choice" by Papoose, and "Tru Homies" by TRU.

The Four Seasons - The Night

The Four Seasons - The Night Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Chameleon
Released: 1972

The Night Lyrics

Beware
Of his promise
Believe
What I say
Before
I go forever
Be sure
Of what you say

So he paints a pretty picture
And he tells you that he needs you
And he covers you with flowers
And he always keeps you dreaming
If he always keeps you dreaming
You won't have a lonely hour
If a day could last forever
You might like your ivory tower

But The Night begins to turn your head around
And you know you're gonna lose more than you found
Yeah the night begins to turn your head around

Beware
Of his promise
Believe
What I say
Before
I go forever
Be sure
Of what you say

For the words may come too easy
If you don't believe I'm leaving
And goodbye will come too quickly
If you really think he loves you
If you really think he loves you
You would give your love so sweetly
If that day could last forever
You would fall in love completely

But the night begins to turn your head around
And you know you're gonna lose more than you found
Yeah the night begins to turn your head around

But the night begins to turn your head around
And you know you're gonna lose more than you found
Yeah the night begins to turn your head around
And you know you're gonna lose more than you found
Oh the night begins to turn your head around
Yeah, the night, the night, the night, the night, the night, the night
Yeah, the night, the night, the night, the night, the night, the night
Oh the night begins to turn your head around

Writer/s: SEBASTIAN AKCHOTE
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

The Night

By the early 1970s The Four Seasons hits had dried up and the group signed to Motown with disastrous results. Even with the team of songwriter/producers Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio with lead singer Frankie Valli intact, the first album, Chameleon, tanked after it was released by the Motown subsidiary label MoWest. The release of a follow-up LP was canceled, but this song from the album found an audience in the UK when it was adopted by the British Northern Soul and Disco circuit. Originally released as a single only in Germany and the Netherlands, MoWest capitalized on the song's newfound popularity by releasing "The Night" as a single in the UK in 1975, where it went to #7 on the UK Singles Chart.

Bob Gaudio wrote this song with Al Ruzicka, who was added to the group as a keyboard player in 1972 and left later that year. The song finds Frankie Valli asking a girl to resist the charms of her Lothario.

The song was covered by B.E.F, a British production group that stands for British Electric Foundation, for their 2013 album Dark. Though their version didn't make the final tracklisting, it did inspire the name of their LP. The project's leader, Martyn Ware , told us that it was this song's dark lyrics that inspired the album title. "It's quite fast and Motown-y dance-able, I suppose, but the lyrics are really deep," he explained. "The verse is kind of half whispered. You've got this very kind of dance-y backing track going on, but he's going [singing] 'Beware of his promise, believe what I say, before you go forever, be sure what you say.' It's all about, 'Oh, I'm fu--ing up.' I've lost this woman. But watch out. The guy that you're with is a bastard."

This should not be confused with other Four Seasons nocturnally titled songs such as "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)," "Spend The Night in Love" and "Heaven Must Have Sent You (Here in The Night)."

In 1975, around the same time this song charted in the UK, Frankie Valli was enjoying chart success in the US with "My Eyes Adored You" (#1 in March) and "Swearin' To God" (#6 in July). This prompted Bob Gaudio to form a new version of the band around Valli, which signed a deal with Warner-Curb Records and released an album that year called "Who Loves You."

In our interview with Frankie Valli , he cited this song as an example of one that should have been a hit, but failed because of poor promotion. "There are some songs that were on albums that I felt could have been hits but record companies at the time didn't agree," Valli explained. "A good example is when we recorded an album for Motown Records and it was put out and nothing really happened. They really didn't promote it, and promotion is a very, very important part of it."

Bread - Everything I Own

Bread - Everything I Own Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Baby I'm-a Want You
Released: 1972

Everything I Own Lyrics

You sheltered me from harm
Kept me warm, kept me warm
You gave my life to me
Set me free, set me free
The finest years I ever knew,
Were all the years I had with you

And I would give anything I own
I'd give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give Everything I Own,
Just to have you back again

You taught me how to love
What it's of, what it's of
You never said too much,
But still you showed the way
And I knew from watching you

Nobody else could ever know,
The part of me that can't let go

And I would give anything I own,
I'd give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own,
Just to have you back again

Is there someone you know,
Your loving them so,
But taking them all for granted?
You may lose them one day
Someone takes them away,
And they don't hear the words you long to say

I would give anything I own,
I'd give up my life, my heart, my home
I would give everything I own,
Just to have you back again
Just to touch you once again

Writer/s: DAVID GATES
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Everything I Own

According to the book 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, at his father's funeral, a friend took David Gates aside and said, "Your dad was so proud of what you were doing." David agreed by replying, "My success would have been so special to him as he was my greatest influence. So I decided to write and record Everything I Own about him. If you listen to the words, 'You sheltered me from harm, kept me warm, gave my life to me, set me free,' it says it all."

In 1974 at the suggestion of his producer Lloyd Chambers, Jamaican singer Ken Booth recorded a smooth reggae cover version, which topped the UK charts. Booth sang "Anything I Own" instead of "Everything" but retained the original title, making it one of the few UK #1s not to have the actual title featured in the lyrics. In 1987 Boy George recorded his electronic dance-pop version, this time singing "Everything" not "Anything," and again it topped the UK charts.

Larry Knechtel played the part on the harpsichord during the chorus, and the kick drum was doubled to get a thicker sound.

The O'Jays - Sunshine

The O'Jays - Sunshine Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Back Stabbers
Released: 1972

Sunshine Lyrics

You`re the sweetest thing I know
You dim the rainbow`s glow
There`s no power on this Earth
To seperate us, baby

'Cause you are my Sunshine
You are mine, all mine

When it rains on my parade
You were there to light the way
You`re rare as a rose in winter
You`re more, more than I deserve

You are my sunshine
You brighten up my darkest day
You are mine, all mine
Baby, it`s you

Words like darling
Sweetheart, forever
Girl, it's you I`ll always adore
They only say I love you
But you mean so much more

'Cause you are my sunshine
You`re my sunshine, sunshine
Baby, baby, you are mine
You`re mine, all mine

Hey, you
You`re my sunshine
Sunshine, sunshine

You`re everything
I gotta love you sweety
Honey, baby
You are my sunshine

Writer/s: TUCKER, HANDEL/MORALES, DAVID/DUNBAR, SLY/RICKETTS, STANLEY
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Sunshine

Along with "Who Am I" and "When the World's at Peace," this was one of three songs that the team of Bunny Sigler and Phil Hurtt wrote for the Back Stabbers. Sigler and Hurtt worked out of Philadelphia International Records, writing, producing and singing backup for Joe Simon, Jackie Moore, The Stylistics and many other acts. In our interview with Phil Hurtt , he talked about writing the lyric for "Sunshine":

"A lot of times when I'm trying to come up with a lyric or a feel, I write something that I would like to say, something I'm looking for. I can go into my imagination and imagine this person, this woman in my own life, and what I would say to her. When I was in the service in Alaska I would write letters for my friends to their girls, and these guys would always receive these tremendous accolades for their letters I had written: 'Oh, my wife was so happy that I said that.'

So carrying that forward, when I started writing lyrics, I did the same thing. I'd go back into myself, my inner self, and imagine what I would say. So when I say, 'You're the sweetest thing I know, you dim the rainbow's glow. There's no power on this earth that would separate us,' that's where I am."

In 1974, a live version was released as "Sunshine (Part II)," which is the version that charted at #48 in America. It was extracted from their album The O'Jays Live in London.

Nick Drake - Pink Moon

Nick Drake - Pink Moon Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Pink Moon
Released: 1972

Pink Moon Lyrics

Pink Moon

The cryptic 2-minute title track of Nick Drake's third album, he got the name of this song from the Dictionary Of Folklore. It represents the blood-red color of the moon during eclipses.

Drake never had anything resembling a hit in America, but "Pink Moon" has become his most popular song in that country. This is due in no small part to its use in a 1999 commercial for the Volkswagen Cabriolet convertible, which show four young people driving under the moonlight. When they reach their destination - a party - they tacitly agree to keep driving. The ad, which was created by the agency Arnold Worldwide, sparked a resurgence of interest in the song and in Nick Drake.

The commercial was titled "Milky Way," and this song was not the first choice - "Under the Milky Way" by The Church was what they originally had in mind.

This song contains just Drake's voice, piano and acoustic guitar. These three elements are all that is heard on the entire album, as there were no outside musicians involved. In fact, the only man who seemed to know that Drake was even making an album was his producer/engineer John Wood, who recorded it.

Even then, Drake was being called "the great silent enigma of our time." His record company, Island, claimed that they had lost track of him, and only knew about the album when Drake walked into the office and delivered it.

Pink Moon would be Drake's last album; two years later he died after overdosing on antidepressant drugs in what was possibly a suicide. The singer was battling depression when he made this music, which is both melancholy and wondrous, providing an insight into his state of mind.

Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough

Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Best Of Lieutenant Pigeon
Released: 1972

Mouldy Old Dough Lyrics

Mouldy Old Dough

There are very few words in this song, mostly just "Mouldy old dough" repeated over and over.

Lieutenant Pigeon was a British group of Robert Woodward (piano), Steve Johnson (bass) and Nigel Fletcher (drums). Woodward's mother Hilda was a piano teacher, and she was also in the band. This is the only UK #1 to feature a mother and her son. The only father-daughter combination was Frank and Nancy Sinatra, who had a 1967 British #1 with "Somethin' Stupid."

In an interview with New Musical Express the band's drummer Nigel Fletcher explained: "Hilda's front room in Coventry was the scene of the crime. We didn't use the best equipment - it was recorded on a domestic machine. We find we get a better sound using the front room."

The single took 8 months to reach the top of the UK charts. Their only other British hit was the song's follow up "Desperate Dan."

Three Dog Night - Black and White

Three Dog Night - Black and White Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Seven Separate Fools
Released: 1972

Black and White Lyrics

The ink is black
The page is white
Together we learn to read and write
The child is black
The child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight
The beautiful sight

And now a child can understand
That this is the law of all the land
All the land

The world is black
The world is white
It turns by day and then by night
The child is black
The child is white
Together they grow to see the light
To see the light

And now at last we plainly see
We'll have a dance of liberty
The world is black
The world is white
It turns by day and then by night
The child is black
The child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight
The beautiful sight

The world is black
The world is white
It turns by day and the by night
The child id black
The child is white
Together they grow to see the light
To see the light

Writer/s: MITCHELL, RICHARD
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Black and White

An influential American folk singer named Earl Robinson wrote this in 1954 with lyricist David Arkin (who is the father of actor Alan Arkin). The song is about racism, and was inspired by a US Supreme Court ruling that segregation in public schools is illegal. The original folk song (but not Three Dog Night's version) includes the line, "Their robes were black, their heads were white" which refers to the judges.

The Jamaican reggae group Greyhound recorded this in 1971; their version made #6 in the UK. Greyhound went on to have two more hits: a cover of Henry Mancini's "Moon River" and another message song called "I Am What I Am," which was a plea for recognition in a white-dominated society.

When Three Dog Night recorded this, it came at a time when civil rights was a big issue in America. The message of racial equality was emphasized by their use of a children's choir in the repeated chorus during the closing moments of the song.

Other artists to record this include Gregory Isaacs, Freddie McGregor and Inner Circle.

Three Dog Night had three lead vocalists: Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron and Cory Wells. Hutton sang lead on this track.

Chicory Tip - Son Of My Father

Chicory Tip - Son Of My Father Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Son Of My Father
Released: 1972

Son Of My Father Lyrics

Mama said to me we gotta have your life run right
Off you got to school where you can learn the rules there right
Be just like your dad lad
Follow in the same tradition
Never go astray and stay an honest lovin' son

Son Of My Father
Molded, I was folded, I was preform-packed
Son of my father
Commanded, I was branded in a plastic vac'
Surrounded and confounded by statistic facts

Tried to let me in but I jumped out of my skin in time
I saw through the lies and read the alibi signs
So I left my home I'm really on my own at last
Left the trodden path and separated from the past

Son of my father
Changing, rearranging into someone new
Son of my father
Collecting and selecting independent views
Knowing and I'm showing that a change is due.
Son of my father
Molded, I was folded, I was preform-packed
Son of my father
Commanded, I was branded in a plastic vac'
Surrounded and confounded by statistic facts

Writer/s: BELLOTTE, PETER / HOLM, MICHAEL / MORODER, GIORGIO
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Son Of My Father

This was originally recorded by the Italian electronic music producer Giorgio Moroder. It was called "Nachts Scheint Die Sonne" in Germany. Moroder's original version was the first time that he used a synthesiser.

This was the first ever UK #1 to feature a synthesizer. The Moog synthesizer was played by engineer Chris Thomas, who went on to become a famous producer.

This was Chicory Tip's first and biggest UK hit. They went on to record 2 more Top 20 singles - "What's Your Name" and "Good Grief Christina."

Townes Van Zandt - If I Needed You

Townes Van Zandt - If I Needed You Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
Released: 1972

If I Needed You Lyrics

If I Needed You
Would you come to me,
Would you come to me,
And ease my pain?
If you needed me
I would come to you
I'd swim the seas
For to ease your pain

In the night forlorn
The morning's born
And the morning shines
With the lights of love
You will miss sunrise
If you close your eyes
That would break
My heart in two

The lady's with me now
Since I showed her how
To lay her lily
Hand in mine
Loop and Lil agree
She's a sight to see
And a treasure for
The poor to find

If I needed you
Would you come to me,
Would you come to me,
And ease my pain?
If you needed me
I would come to you
I'd swim the seas
For to ease your pain

Writer/s: TOWNES VAN ZANDT
Publisher: BUG MUSIC O/B/O KATIE BELLE MUSIC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

If I Needed You

Townes Van Zandt introduced the song with the following statement at a private concert in Houston: "It came to me in a dream. I was living in Tennessee with Guy and Susanna Clark, and I was asleep, and I had a notepad by my mattress - I had a mattress on the floor. I was dreaming that I was a folk singer, and this was the song I played, and I happened to wake up, write it down, and went right back to sleep. The next morning I woke up, went to the room with all the guitars, picked up a guitar and played it through. It never has changed."

One of Van Zandt's most romantic love songs, many will know the tune from Emmylou Harris and Don Williams 1981 duet version. Released as the first single from Harris' album Cimarron, it topped the Canadian country chart as well as reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

Guy Clark covered the song on his 2011 Songs & Stories album.

Actors Johan Heldenbergh and Veerle Baetens covered this as part of The Broken Circle Breakdown Bluegrass Band for the 2012 Belgian film The Broken Circle Breakdown.

Julia Roberts performed this in the 1998 movie Stepmom. It was also used in Off the Black (2006), starring Nick Nolte, and Crazy Heart (2009), starring Jeff Bridges.

In an episode of Austin Pickers in 1984, Van Zandt explained that he and the Clarks were all sick with the flu, which led to bizarre dreams like the one that inspired this song.

The Osmonds - Crazy Horses

The Osmonds - Crazy Horses Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Crazy Horses
Released: 1972

Crazy Horses Lyrics

There's a message floatin' in the air.
Crazy Horses ridin' everywhere.
It's a warning, it's in every tongue.
Gotta stop them crazy horses on the run.

[Chorus]
What a show, there they go smokin' up the sky, yeah.
Crazy horses all got riders, and they're you and I.
Crazy horses
Crazy horses
Crazy horses

Never stop and they never die.
They just keep on puffin' how they multiply.
Crazy horses, will they never halt?
If they keep on movin' then it's all our fault.

[Chorus]

So take a good look around,
See what they've done, what they've done,
They've done,
They've done,
They've done,
They've done.

Crazy horses.
Crazy horses.
Crazy horses.
Crazy horses.
Crazy horses.

Writer/s: OSMOND, ALAN RALPH / OSMOND, WAYNE / OSMOND, MERRILL DAVIS
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, MIKE CURB MUSIC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Crazy Horses

The song was written about Air Pollution - "Crazy Horses" represents automobiles - "horsepower" - that creates pollution in the skies from the exhaust.

This was written by Alan, Merrill and Wayne Osmond. They were the oldest of the group, who were all fathers.

This song was originally banned in South Africa because "horses" is a slang term for heroin there, so "crazy horses" was thought to be referring to drugs.

Yes - The Fish

Yes - The Fish Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Fragile
Released: 1972

The Fish Lyrics

The Fish

All five of the Yes band members contributed one track of their own design to this album. "The Fish" was created by Chris Squire using only the bass guitar. Steve Howe did "Mood For A Day" as a solo guitar piece. "Cans And Brahms" was not only arranged by Rick Wakeman, he played all the parts as well. Jon Anderson sang all the vocal parts in "We Have Heaven" himself. Bill Bruford created "Five Per Cent For Nothing," which was played by the entire group with percussion instruments. (thanks, Randy - Chicago Heights, IL)

The title comes from Chris Squire's nickname: he was dubbed "the fish" because of his tendency to take long baths. He also happens to be a Pisces.

The subtitle for this song is "Schindleria Praematurus," which is an obscure, neotenic marine fish from the Pacific ocean. "Neotenic" means the adult fish exhibits no adult characteristics, only juvenile characteristics. The story is that Chris Squire had the melody and wanted to sing the name of a fish that had eight syllables, and dispatched a roadie (Maybe Michael Tait) to find one. The best he could find had nine, which is why the last syllable kind of trails off.

This is an instrumental. The only lyrics (if you can call them that) are the repeated subtitle of the song - "Schindleria Praematurus, Schindleria Praematurus, Schindleria Praematurus." (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, WA, for above 2)

On the album, this segues directly from "Long Distance Runaround." Radio stations usually play the songs together.

The Supremes - I Guess I'll Miss the Man

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The Supremes - I Guess I'll Miss the Man Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: The Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb
Released: 1972

I Guess I'll Miss the Man Lyrics

I Guess I'll Miss the Man
I guess I'll miss the man
Explain it, if you can
His face was far from fine
But still I'll miss his face
And wonder if he's missing mine

He never smiled enough
But though his words were gruff
I liked his shy, sad glance
I never told him so
But then, I never got the chance

Some men are heroes
Some men outshine the sun
Some men are simple, good men
This man wasn't one

This man
Wasn't one

And I won't miss his moods
His gloomy solitudes
His blunt and thoughtless style
But please, don't get me wrong
He was the best to come along
In a long, long while

Writer/s: Schwartz, Stephen
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

The Stylistics - I'm Stone In Love With You

The Stylistics - I'm Stone In Love With You Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Round 2
Released: 1972

I'm Stone In Love With You Lyrics

If I could I'd like to be, a great big movie star
Overnight sensation, drive a big expensive car
I would buy you everything your little heart desires
These things I do, 'cause I'm Stone In Love With You

(Stone in love with you)

If I were a business man, I'd sit behind a desk
I'd be so successful, I would scare wall street to death
I would hold a meeting for the press to let them know
I did it all, 'cause I'm stone in love with you

(Stone in love with you)

I'm just a man, an average man
Doing everything the best I can
But if I could, I'd give the world to you

I'd like to someday be the owner of
The first house on the moon
There would be no neighbors, and no population boom
You might say that all I do is dream my life away

I guess it's true, 'cause I'm stone in love for you
I guess it's true, 'cause I'm stone in love with you
I guess it's true, 'cause I'm stone in love for you

Writer/s: CREED, LINDA / BELL, THOMAS / BELL, ANTHONY SALVATORE
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

I'm Stone In Love With You

The Philadelphia writer and producer Thom Bell wrote this song with his brother Tony Bell and lyricist Linda Creed. This song is about giving everything up for love, and it's a great example of how in the Soul music milieu, the word "stoned " often means "utterly devoted."

The Stylistics were formed in Philadelphia in 1968 by the members of two groups, The Percussions and The Monarchs. After local success with Sebring Records, they were signed by Avco, teamed initially with Thom Bell and later Van McCoy. During the early '70s, the band had 12 straight Top-10 hits, including "I'm Stone in Love With You," and also "You Are Everything," "Betcha by Golly, Wow," "Break Up to Make Up," and "You Make Me Feel Brand New." In the UK they were just as successful and they had a #1 hit in 1975 with "Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)." All of their hits were ballads featuring the soaring falsetto of Russell Thompkins jr.

In 1975, Johnny Mathis recorded this for his album I'm Coming Home, which was produced by Thom Bell. His version hit #10 in the UK.

This is one of many tracks recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia that helped define the "Philly Sound." A lot of it had to do with the studio house band, who were known as MFSB and had their own hit in 1973 with "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)." For more on what went on at Sigma Sound, and who the real background singers were, check out our interview with Phil Hurtt .

John Lennon - Listen, The Snow Is Falling

John Lennon - Listen, The Snow Is Falling Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: single release only
Released: 1972

Listen, The Snow Is Falling Lyrics

Listen, The Snow Is Falling

This was written by Yoko Ono , was produced by her, John Lennon and Phil Spector, and was released on the Apple label January 21, 1972 as the B Side of "Mind Train."

This was not though the first recording of the song; in his authorized biography of Al Stewart, Neville Judd reveals that it was actually recorded, apparently for the first time, in the basement flat at number 10 Elvaston Place. Al moved there on January 1, 1968, and no, his relationship with Yoko was strictly professional, by that time he had already hooked up with Mandi, the love of his life and the woman who nearly wrecked his head, until he met his future wife at the age of 42.

When Yoko recorded the 45, she sent him a copy.

The song opens with wintry sound effects, and has a Japanese feel to it, though it remains to be seen if this is for the obvious reason, accidental or perhaps even illusory. (thanks, Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2)

Yes - Five Per Cent For Nothing

Yes - Five Per Cent For Nothing Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Fragile
Released: 1972

Five Per Cent For Nothing Lyrics

Five Per Cent For Nothing

Yes drummer Bill Bruford wrote this instrumental about the management of the group. They get 5% for essentially doing nothing. (thanks, Mike - Mountlake Terrace, Washington)

Each of the five members of Yes contributed one track of their own design to this album. Bill Bruford created this, which was played by the entire group with percussion instruments. "The Fish" was created by Chris Squire using only the bass guitar. Steve Howe did "Mood For A Day" as a solo guitar piece. "Cans And Brahms" was arranged by Rick Wakeman, and he played all the parts as well. Jon Anderson sang all the vocal parts in "We Have Heaven" himself. (thanks, Randy - Chicago Heights, IL)

The liner notes for the album describe this song as "a sixteen bar tune by Bill Bruford, played twice by the group, and taken directly from the percussion line."

Yes - Cans And Brahms

Yes - Cans And Brahms Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Fragile
Released: 1972

Cans And Brahms Lyrics

Cans And Brahms

This song is made up of extracts from Brahms' 4th Symphony in E minor, Third Movement. It was arranged by keyboard player Rick Wakeman, who said the piece "was dreadful, but contractual hangups prevented me from writing an original solo track."

Wakeman was also recording as a solo artist at the time, but for a different record company (he was on A&M, Yes was on Atlantic). He did write an original piece for the album called "Handle With Care," but when legalities abrogated that effort, he did "Cans And Brahms" (credited to Johannes Brahms) for Fragile, and reworked "Handle" as "Catherine of Aragon" for his 1973 solo album The Six Wives of Henry VIII.

Each of the five members of the band contributed one track of their own design to this album. "Cans And Brahms" was keyboard player Rick Wakeman's contribution, and he played all the parts on the song. And the other four contributions: Jon Anderson sang all the vocal parts in "We Have Heaven," Bill Bruford created "Five Per Cent For Nothing" (played by the entire group with percussion instruments), "The Fish" was created by Chris Squire using only the bass guitar, and Steve Howe did "Mood For A Day" as a solo guitar piece. (thanks, Randy - Chicago Heights, IL)

James Taylor - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

James Taylor - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: One Man Dog
Released: 1972

Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight Lyrics

Do me wrong, do me right
Tell me lies, but hold me tight
Save your good-byes for the morning light
But Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

Say good-bye and say hello
Sure 'nough good to see you
But it's time to go
Don't say yes, but please
Don't say no
I don't want to be lonely tonight

Go away then, damn you
Go on and do as you please, yeah
You ain't gonna see me getting down on my knees
I'm undecided and your heart's been divided
You've been turning my world upside down

Do me wrong, do me right, right now baby
Go on and tell me lies, but hold me tight
Save your good-byes for the morning light, morning light
But don't let me be lonely tonight
I don't want to be lonely tonight
No, no, I don't want to be lonely tonight
I don't want to be lonely tonight

Writer/s: TAYLOR, JAMES V
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

This was the lead single from One Man Dog, a concept album about fame primarily recorded in Taylor's home studio. He explained to Mojo magazine July 2009: "I wrote a number of songs that talked about being uneasy about fame. There are things about it that are odd, and should be questioned."

This song finds Taylor asking a girl to spend the night to fend off his loneliness. He comes off a bit desperate and very capricious, at one point telling her that he's not going to beg, but then preceding to do so. It sounds a lot like the manipulations of an addict, which Taylor was at the time. The song was released the same year he married Carly Simon (they divorced in 1983).

The Isley Brothers covered this in 1973. Eric Clapton recorded it in 2001 for his album Reptile.

Jazz giant Michael Brecker is featured on tenor sax. He was a popular session player on many rock and pop songs in the '70s and '80s.

Taylor sang on a version that was included on Brecker's 2001 solo album Nearness of You: The Ballad Book. This version earned Taylor a Grammy win for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.