Listening To Lyrics

[Ady Croasdell]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

I really must listen to the words a bit harder. I love lyrics but I don't always hear them thoroughly, certain bits jump out at me but I doubt if I could sing any song right through (apart from Champion The Wonder Horse and the Cyril Lord carpet advert from the 60s).

[Guest REVILOT]

Struggling on the Cyril Lord. :}

All I can remember is the line

This is luxury you can afford The rest has been erased from my mind...

Actually I prefer the instrumental version.....

The male / female mix up is pretty common as is getting the lyrics wrong.

E.G.

I was recently asked to play "Cotton Picken Aint Nothin" by Carla Carlton.

[Ady Croasdell]

Struggling on the Cyril Lord. :}

All I can remember is the line

This is luxury you can afford The rest has been erased from my mind...

Actually I prefer the instrumental version.....

The male / female mix up is pretty common as is getting the lyrics wrong.

E.G.

I was recently asked to play "Cotton Picken Aint Nothin" by Carla Carlton.

Squash it, and it just springs back. Wash it and the colours stay fast etc.

I know its common but I must have played the thing 500 times! (TKOs not Cyril Lord)

[Guest REVILOT]

Squash it, and it just springs back. Wash it and the colours stay fast etc.

I know its common but I must have played the thing 500 times! (TKOs not Cyril Lord)

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh its all coming back to me now -

This is luxury you can afford by Cyril Lord "

Squash it, and it just springs back,

Wash it, and the colour stays fast,,

Give it the treatment, the family treatment,

Enkalon is made to last for years and years and years and years....

This is luxury you can afford by Cyril Lord

[Hornet]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

I really must listen to the words a bit harder. I love lyrics but I don't always hear them thoroughly, certain bits jump out at me but I doubt if I could sing any song right through (apart from Champion The Wonder Horse and the Cyril Lord carpet advert from the 60s).

i still know all words to waterfall & walk wih a winner but trying to type them in correct order takes at least 3 attempts

[Davetay]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

I really must listen to the words a bit harder. I love lyrics but I don't always hear them thoroughly, certain bits jump out at me but I doubt if I could sing any song right through (apart from Champion The Wonder Horse and the Cyril Lord carpet advert from the 60s).

I am always getting the lyrics wrong or the gender of the singer. Sing my own words in the songs.

Lou is always pulling me "what the hell are you singing again"

It was only when I went on you=yube to put up Eve Gallagher that I found out she was female.

Thinking about it the name should have give it away and like you said on re-listening it is obvious.

Edited January 24, 2010 by davetay

[Guest katep]

Me and my sister used to spend hours arguing about who was singing the right words.

My sister-in-law thought KD Lang's Constant Cravning was Can't stand gravy!

[Guest katep]

Does anyone else find that once someone tells you what they think the lyrics are, no matter how ridiculous you can't get them out of your head when you hear the song?

Touch of venus has never been the same since a friend sang Touch of penis!

[Gilly]

I remember some of the Yate lot,D WISE would sing instead of Manifesto he used to sing Shop at Tesco,it's always stuck in my mind.Went round to Val(chunky) and Elains the other night and this topic came up,i told him my old mate Kev Orton from B O T used to think PEOPLE THATS WHY was actualy PEOPLE EAT FLYS for years this had gone on bless him.

[Agentsmith]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

I really must listen to the words a bit harder. I love lyrics but I don't always hear them thoroughly, certain bits jump out at me but I doubt if I could sing any song right through (apart from Champion The Wonder Horse and the Cyril Lord carpet advert from the 60s).

ady lad, any chance of a "champion" karaoke from you then?...download please?...oh and ive always been puzzled about the lead vocal on the vonettes "touch my heart"...male or female or orville the duck?

rob.h

[Mick Howard]

There is a guy in Norwich called Paul Moore (quite a handy 'geezer' as it happens) and we used to sing his name in time with 'Hold On' by Judy Freeman back in the day and every time I hear it now even 30 years later I still can't help singing his name.

Go on, you know you want to.......

Mick

[Simon T]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

I did, until someone pointed out it was a female in a thread on here about the bootleg. I even thought "he" was singing 'Jame' and not Jane! Jame Gumb being 'Buffalo Bill' from Silence Of The Lambs?!

Still, for over 30 plus years I thought the lead of the Traditions – 'My Life With You' was a lass!

Edited January 25, 2010 by simon t

[Guest]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

I really must listen to the words a bit harder. I love lyrics but I don't always hear them thoroughly, certain bits jump out at me but I doubt if I could sing any song right through (apart from Champion The Wonder Horse and the Cyril Lord carpet advert from the 60s).

'Champion the wonder horse' as a 'live' six oclcock 'ender', sounds interesting.....on a long hot crazy summer night maybe? lol

Edited January 25, 2010 by chorleysoul

[Guest MOLLY]

Ady I remember an occasion not too long ago, when about 4am at the 100club Steve C and myself escorted you to Steve's car so we could listen more closely to the lyrics of your latest discovery Milton Bennett. Both of us were convinced that he sung "It's a reptile" ! , but he actually sings "It's a wreck child"

So from then on to us it became The Reptile Song. Which I'm sure you remember us asking you for it many times

Best

Molly

[Amsterdam Russ]

Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

Yup, must admit I did for a while!

One track that always me thinking something else is being sung is Bobby Banks - I'm a bachelor.

In parts it sounds like he's singing "I'm a bastard". This sentiment is echoed by the backing vocalists who for certain are singing out the words "great big bastard" with so much conviction that it would hard to disagree!

[Davetay]

I 'think' that l know all the words to 'I Walked Away' and 'Blowing Up My Mind'

....but for months l thought that 'Kiss Me Now,Don't Kiss Me Later' was 'I'm The California Instigator'

When I 1st heard Lou Courtney's "Trying to find my woman" me I was singing, trying to find a walrus.

For f**k sake way would anybody sing about a walrus.

Lou thinks we all need hearing tests, that or we are all wrong in the head.

[Ady Croasdell]

'Champion the wonder horse' as a 'live' six oclcock 'ender', sounds interesting.....on a long hot crazy summer night maybe? lol

Yes performed live at Clarkie's Function At The Junction circa 1983

[Ady Croasdell]

Ady I remember an occasion not too long ago, when about 4am at the 100club Steve C and myself escorted you to Steve's car so we could listen more closely to the lyrics of your latest discovery Milton Bennett. Both of us were convinced that he sung "It's a reptile" ! , but he actually sings "It's a wreck child"

So from then on to us it became The Reptile Song. Which I'm sure you remember us asking you for it many times

Best

Molly

Indeed and you did well to spot the true words, I'd have never have got them.

[Simsy]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

Chalky!

It's the only thing I've been able to correct him on in 5 years and he's younger than me..

Oh ps, Rachel will back me in confirming that Ruby Andrews definitely sings "such a tit head" right near the end of Just Loving You.

Edited January 25, 2010 by Simsy

[Guest smigger]

There was a thing on some German radio station not so long ago were people were asked to call in and nominate an "Agate Bauer"

(pronounce Agat d Bouwer) record.

The story behind it was that a woman called the station requesting "Agate Bauer". The DJ had no idea what she was on about and asked her to sing it. Turns out she wanted "I got the power" by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BRv9wGf5pk.

A couple of days ago the wife comes home work and tells me that her work mate was singing her little head off. The lyrics being "Peggy, Peggy Suuuuue". Turns out she meant "Beggin, beggin you" as in "Beggin" by Time Box.

True story.

[Guest mrs norman maine]

Can anyone confirm whether I'm hearing the lyrics in Ruby Winter's 'Better' correctly?

"Better to be an honest woman....than an expensive bitch". Or "beatcchh"even.

Things is, I'd expect the words to be "expensive pet" to rhyme with the previous line's "what he can get". And it would be in keeping with the spirit of the song. And "pet" is so much more ladylike.

This is the sort of thing that troubles me when I'm stuck at home waiting for the plumber to call for the nth time.

I also thought that the TKOs was a male vocal and that he was singing Jody, not Jane. 'Jody', as in a civvie who's not serving in the (Vietnam) War. That's the wrong end of the stick firmly grasped by me then.

[Anoraks Corner]

A friend of mine many years ago admitted that he thought Pookie Hudson sang, 'Oooh! It's destiny...' rather than 'Oooh! It gets to me...'

San Francisco TKO's...yes took a few listens to decide male/female lead...plus we had to wait a month between hearing it back in the day

Renaldo Domino usually fools a few folk too

[Steve Plumb]

Bill Wright - A man in love (and his handicapped son)

Sing that once when it's playing and you'll hear it EVERY time you hear it in the future, especially as the line after it is........................well I'd better not, I feel bad enough typing the first line in

Steve

[Steve Plumb]

..............or maybe Jackie Wilson singing 'I know I'm not in Asda' halfway thru 'I'm the one to do it'

This thread could run and run!

Steve

ps San Fran TKO lyrics...........she does actually sing 'Didn't I give you everything a woman could give' that sort of gives it away

[Carol Phyllis]

I always think of Peter Kay singing "corned beef" & every time I hear Eddie Bishop being played I have to sing it too

[Guest]

I always think of Peter Kay singing "corned beef" & every time I hear Eddie Bishop being played I have to sing it too

I will trawl out my faux pas again regarding lyrics , for those who do know it .......

Until corrected by my good friend Mr Rounce , I thought the guy singing lead on The Vibrations'

" Cause You're Mine " , sang " Paleface , Paleface " in the middle of it ......

Malc Burton

Edited January 25, 2010 by Malc Burton

[Diggin' Dave]

Never knew it was a girl singing! Always thought the singer was male and was trying to convince a lesbian girl to become heterosexual (In retrospect I guess I should've known better...)

[Guest Stretford]

Ady I remember an occasion not too long ago, when about 4am at the 100club Steve C and myself escorted you to Steve's car so we could listen more closely to the lyrics of your latest discovery Milton Bennett. Both of us were convinced that he sung "It's a reptile" ! , but he actually sings "It's a wreck child"

So from then on to us it became The Reptile Song. Which I'm sure you remember us asking you for it many times

Best

Molly

[Guest Stretford]

I know it's not Northern but years ago i used to think that desmond dekker sang " Me ears are alight" to the Israelites song.

[Mick Howard]

Can anyone confirm whether I'm hearing the lyrics in Ruby Winter's 'Better' correctly?

"Better to be an honest woman....than an expensive bitch". Or "beatcchh"even.

Things is, I'd expect the words to be "expensive pet" to rhyme with the previous line's "what he can get". And it would be in keeping with the spirit of the song. And "pet" is so much more ladylike.

This is the sort of thing that troubles me when I'm stuck at home waiting for the plumber to call for the nth time.

I also thought that the TKOs was a male vocal and that he was singing Jody, not Jane. 'Jody', as in a civvie who's not serving in the (Vietnam) War. That's the wrong end of the stick firmly grasped by me then.

It did sound like "bitch" but reckoned on "bet" when I had it but logically "pet" sounds more like it.

Always thought that Jerry Butler was singing "and you've got a great big car" in Moody Woman......

Mick

[Guest isis]

First time I heard "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid" I thought it was a man...asked who sung it "Ketty Lester" was the reply so for ages I thought there was two versions...one by Ketty Lester and one by this bloke I'd heard in a Little Anthony stylee

Edited January 28, 2010 by isis

[good angel]

We had a girl come up and ask for Pixie Pixie record ? It was Gonna Be A Big Thing.The Yum Yums.

And the Ostrich,record? It was The Hostage.Donna Summer.

Kev

[Richard Bayley]

This thread takes me back to my earliest misheard soul lyric........ why does Diana Ross sing "As I pee out my window" in the Supremes' "Reflections"?

TKO's a woman?

Must also admit that I thought that "You Had Me Fooled" was sung by a woman for ages - well, it could have been Danni Woods

[Guest soulpeeper]

Ive always enjoyed Jack Montgomery's classic " HERE BELOW"!

[Guest in town Mikey]

I still think that Marie Knight sounds like a fella on - thats no way to treat a girl.

Not that I'd tell her to her face mind.

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

sometimes i get confused with lyrics and still looking for lyrics to Girl Across the street

even Regie garner sounds like a girl even if he is male

[Guest Mark Holmes]

ady lad, any chance of a "champion" karaoke from you then?...download please?...oh and ive always been puzzled about the lead vocal on the vonettes "touch my heart"...male or female or orville the duck?

rob.h

Starting life as Kendra Spotswood in New Jersey, around 1963 she met a new next door neighbor, none other than Van McCoy! Van (21 years old) began working with Kendra (then 17) on songs that he was composing. He renamed her Kenni Woods and cut her first record in 1964. They collaborated on many other projects throughout the years (including a 45 released in 1967 credited as Sandi Sheldon...coming someday to this blog, as soon as I find a copy! It's a great one.)

On this storming track, what sounds like a girl group is actually Kenni duetting with none other than Van himself!

She also was a touring member of the Shirelles in 1964. So, interestingly enough, this record goes hand in hand with yesterday's entry!

from 1968...

THE VONETTES - TOUCH MY HEART

[Guest Mrs M]

ady lad, any chance of a "champion" karaoke from you then?...download please?...oh and ive always been puzzled about the lead vocal on the vonettes "touch my heart"...male or female or orville the duck?

rob.h

My better half Dave Molloy picked up Kendra Spotwood (aka) Sandi Sheldon from the airport with Richard Searling when she appeared last in the UK and she told him then that she sang lead on the Vonettes "touch my heart" and that the Vonettes should have been credited to the Vanettes and that the actual chorus part which sounds male is actually Van McCoy himsolf whom she was in a relationship with at the time. Hope this clears this up for you!!! Take care..

[Guest CapitolSC]

oh noooo was havin a nice morning listening to jackie wilson

now all i can hear in my head is champion the bloody wonder horse.

Cheers Ady

Al H:unsure:

[Guest ScooterNik]

I've mentioned this before, but for ages I was confused that 'Don't pity me' was actually 'dog piddly, dog piddly'. And the lyric to 'Moody Woman' always sounded like 'And you've got a great big arse'. But that probably says more about me than anything else.

[Prophonics 2029]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

I really must listen to the words a bit harder. I love lyrics but I don't always hear them thoroughly, certain bits jump out at me but I doubt if I could sing any song right through (apart from Champion The Wonder Horse and the Cyril Lord carpet advert from the 60s).

Wasn't until I got a copy for indoors did I realise what she was saying but never thought she was a man.

Must be one of those rare records that never fails, that you can play once a week and still get pleasure out of it.

[Len]

Ive always enjoyed Jack Montgomery's classic " HERE BELOW"!

"Oh Angelina, Oh Angelina" - "Hole in the middle, Hole in the middle"

"Touch me, Hold me, Kiss me, Touch me, Touch me" - "Taxi, Taxi"!

I think there's loads, glad we're all confessing to them as I think they're hilarious!

All the best,

Len.

"I am playing the right records, but not necessarily in the right order"

[Guest Geordie Soul Fan]

I know it's not Northern but years ago i used to think that desmond dekker sang " Me ears are alight" to the Israelites song.

Me Dad used to sing that when the Vitalite adverts used the tune, cracked me up every time. Again not Northern but when the French tune Voyage Voyage was out in the late eighties my mate thought it was a very Geordie 'Whey Aye Whey Aye'.

[Guest]

My daughter just pointed out that the lead singer of the San Francisco TKOs is female. On re-listening it's blatantly obvious. Did anyone else think it was a bloke singing?

I really must listen to the words a bit harder. I love lyrics but I don't always hear them thoroughly, certain bits jump out at me but I doubt if I could sing any song right through (apart from Champion The Wonder Horse and the Cyril Lord carpet advert from the 60s).

I was exactly the same with the San Francisco TKOs

I put it on a cd for a mate - he rang me up asking me what the fook the great female crossover track was

I told him he must have got mixed up - he assured me it was my cd

I felt a bit daft

its obvious when you listen to it properly

[Guest Paul]

I've always been heavily into lyrics and knew the words to thousands of songs.

But sometimes I knew every word apart from one. Just one damn word I couldn't work out what the hell it was.

So if I was prancing around my bedroom pretending to be Al Green, Levi Stubbs, Donnie Elbert or Tammi Lynn (without the dress of course) I would just guess one or two words sometimes.

Well, what else could I do??? It was either that or make a complete fool of myself on stage!

...err, did I say Tammi Lynn??? I meant Tommy Lynn, of course. He was one of my favourite singers.

Edited October 26, 2010 by Paul

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

There's a line in 'I Try' by Macy Gray (remember her?) that has always sounded to me like she's singing:

'I wear goggles when you're not here'...

...sadly this is not some kind of domestic sexual pastime on Ms. Gray's part. She's actually singing:

'My world crumbles when you're not here'...

...but I'll always hear the former whenever the record's played on the radio.

[Guest]

There's a line in 'I Try' by Macy Gray (remember her?) that has always sounded to me like she's singing:

'I wear goggles when you're not here'...

...sadly this is not some kind of domestic sexual pastime on Ms. Gray's part. She's actually singing:

'My world crumbles when you're not here'...

...but I'll always hear the former whenever the record's played on the radio.

Sorry my dear Mr Rounce , I prefer to think that this would be a normal every day practice / habit for Ms Gray , as it would be more memeorable for me than her recordings .

Malc

[Guest in town Mikey]

I've said this on other threads but for at least 20 years I'd sing along to Jerry Willliams - if you ask me - and when the line you're my alpha and omega is sung, I'd belt out - your my apple and an egger.

[Gene-R]

I always thought the Scouting For Girls track was:

She's slovenly,

She's slovenly......

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

I always thought the Scouting For Girls track was:

She's slovenly,

She's slovenly......

...You mean it's not?!