SONGWRITERS SINGING SONGS THEY WROTE VOL. 1
An out of work composer sees a sign in a fancy restaurant window that reads: “Pianist Wanted”. He goes in and asks to see the owner, who suggests he play something on the baby grand.
The proprietor can’t believe his ears as he listens to a breathtakingly beautiful song, played masterfully, & he exclaims: “That was wonderful!”
The composer beams & says: “I wrote it.” The owner asks: “What’s the name of that piece?” And the musician replies: “It’s called: ‘Fucking Your Asshole On The Kitchen Floor.’”
The restauranteur is taken aback, but asks his guest if he’ll play another number, & this one's even better than the first. Again, the owner responds enthusiastically.
“I wrote that one, too,” says the composer. “I call it: ‘Your Tits Are Juicy, & I Want To Bite Them.’”
The owner is so moved by the music that he has tears in his eyes, so he decides he doesn’t care what the songs are called. He hires the composer on the spot, on the condition that he does NOT share the song titles with his patrons. “The job pays $300 a night plus tips and, of course, you’ll have to wear a tuxedo.”
Thrilled to have employment, he agrees to the terms, but has to borrow a friend’s tux for the first night, & the pants are a little tight.
His debut goes splendidly, as the maestro plays original composition after original composition to the delight of the patrons, AND the proprietor. His tip jar is overflowing.
After a rather rigorous rendition, the owner of the restaurant notices the pianist’s trousers have torn. He runs over to the piano & says: “Do you know your pants are ripped, & your dick is hanging out?!”
And the pianist says: “Know it? I WROTE IT!”
Which is the actual title of today's share. I made fake cover art & supplied a fake title to the post, so I wouldn't telegraph the punchline of the joke.
Represented on Vol. 1 are Nashville greats Harlan Howard, Tom T. Hall, Mickey Newbury, Kris Kristofferson, & Willie Nelson. Country songwriters Townes Van Zandt, & Sonny Curtis provide their renditions of two of their most valuable copyrights. Cowboy Jack Clement was a Sun Records songwriter & producer who also recorded as an artist. Vol. 1 is the home of I Guess Things Happen That Way—a hit for Johnny Cash.
Some of the most successful rock songwriters are included, as well. P.F Sloan wrote Let Me Be for The Turtles, & Secret Agent Man for Johnny Rivers. Chip Taylor wrote Angel Of The Morning, & Wild Thing, which he tears into with the help of Carrie Rodriguez & Buddy Miller.
Songwriters Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart supplied several of The Monkees’ hits, and after their show was cancelled, they formed Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart with ex-Monkees Mickey & Davy.
We all know Del Shannon wrote hit after hit for himself, but he also wrote Peter & Gordon’s I Go To Pieces. Gary Valentine was a member of Blondie, and contributed (I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence Dear to their repertoire. The Cretones’ main songwriter Mark Goldenberg had two songs covered by Linda Ronstadt, but his band failed to turn that big break into chart success.
I always loved Eric Clapton’s version of May You Never from Slowhand, but composer John Martyn’s is hard to beat. The lone Motown songwriting great on this collection is Barrett Strong performing a showstopping version of his I Heard It Through The Grapevine Live At The Bottom Line.
The ACTUAL artwork is included.
