OK. So I am in a business meeting in the Hilton Hotel Cardiff and my ears become aware that the muzak has become interesting, the song playing seems vaguely familiar and is actually a different version of Spyder Turner's classic. A good deal slower than Spyder but the production and the singer sound soulful enough (bearing in mind that I am trying to listen above the general hullabuloo and keep track of what my boss and colleague are on about). Who is this ?

OK. So I am in a business meeting in the Hilton Hotel Cardiff and my ears become aware that the muzak has become interesting, the song playing seems vaguely familiar and is actually a different version of Spyder Turner's classic. A good deal slower than Spyder but the production and the singer sound soulful enough (bearing in mind that I am trying to listen above the general hullabuloo and keep track of what my boss and colleague are on about). Who is this ?

Richard Wiiliams off his Quad Records album...

ktf tfk

I think its Richie Havens.

Or the original Richie Havens.

Great woodstock live version on you tube, more political than spiders version.

Edited January 28, 201312 yr by Prophonics 2029

Thank you tfk. Anybody have a sound file?

Ah ha!! I think it was the Richie Havens version that I heard today.

Amazing some of the tunes that end up played in these places. I was having lunch a few years ago in an Old Orleans restaurant in Cardiff and Mel & Tim 'Forever And A Day' came on.

I think its Richie Havens.

I like this.

Peter

I like this.

Peter

It has a certain charm. On 45 I think. Verve Folkways maybe.

ROD

PS Forecast more likely

It has a certain charm. On 45 I think. Verve Folkways maybe.

ROD

Cheers Rod

Might try and get one.

Peter

I'll probably be in a minority of one again and be accused of heresy......but always think this is so overrated...Spyder Turner....that is.....I just can't hear the 'class' everyone else seems to....'great voice'?....not to my ears....

I'll probably be in a minority of one again and be accused of heresy......but always think this is so overrated...Spyder Turner....that is.....I just can't hear the 'class' everyone else seems to....'great voice'?....not to my ears....

You Heresy!

Spyder is just a great dance record imo. Mm, don't mean just in a negative way - it's a great record full stop.

Peter

Edited January 28, 201312 yr by Peter99

Cheers Rod

Might try and get one.

Peter

I decided to give up on the little known fact that this record came out on a UK Verve Lp. Or so I thought. I haven't found one yet. Mind you, I haven't really tried that hard. Can anybody confirm that it DID in fact come out on a UK Verve Lp?

Anyhow, just a couple of weeks back, I decided to track down a copy on US Verve Folkways and already I've got competition. If you find two Pete, let me know and I'll do likewise.

Edited January 28, 201312 yr by denbo

I decided to give up on the little known fact that this record came out on a UK Verve Lp. Or so I thought. I haven't found one yet. Mind you, I haven't really tried that hard. Can anybody confirm that it DID in fact come out on a UK Verve Lp?

Anyhow, just a couple of weeks back, I decided to track down a copy on US Verve Folkways and already I've got competition. If you find two Pete, let me know and I'll do likewise.

Yes ok Den.

Thanks

Peter

I like this.

Seconded! Its definitely got charm, and being that Spyder's original was the last record on my deck before signing on tonight, its cool to hear the two paired.

the richie haven version actually pre dates spyder turners version by several months, written by gordon lightfoot, tho i never heard his version of the song.

the richie haven version actually pre dates spyder turners version by several months, written by gordon lightfoot, tho i never heard his version of the song.

Ay up Bri

Thanks for posting that up. So it is on a 45 then. Interesting.

Peter

sure it was listed for sale on here recently, about a ton i seem to recall :yes:

Richie Havens version fo me sheer class .

But can anybody confirm that it DID come out on a UK Verve Lp?

I'll probably be in a minority of one again and be accused of heresy......but always think this is so overrated...Spyder Turner....that is.....I just can't hear the 'class' everyone else seems to....'great voice'?....not to my ears....

I'm sure you're not alone there but maybe worth picking up a copy of his "Stand by me" LP with this track and a good few others. It's cheap still (I think) and might either convince you that you stick by your thinking or maybe might change your mind. A nice version of "I can't wait until I see my baby's face" too.

Edited January 28, 201312 yr by 71 Steve

But can anybody confirm that it DID come out on a UK Verve Lp?

Certainly on German Polydor. Not sure that I've ever seen a UK copy of "Mixed Bag". As mentioned above Havens' release predates Spyder Turner's (August 1966 as opposed to March 1967).

My Dad (RIP) used to love Richie Havens. He was on UK TV shows quite a bit in the past.

He also loved Lowell Fulsom, (also named Fulson). James Brown and Jimmy Smith too. A real kool kat my Dad on the quiet. :-)

Oh, and Mose Allison as well.

Certainly on German Polydor. Not sure that I've ever seen a UK copy of "Mixed Bag". As mentioned above Havens' release predates Spyder Turner's (August 1966 as opposed to March 1967).

Mixed Bag? Is that the title of the Lp?

Yup.

Just as a point of interest, there's a 45 by Marvin Henfield on the Proctor and Blue label which has a version on the B side. Quite a laid back rendition and is OK if a bit raw. (Marvin has a great voice imo).

I'll probably be in a minority of one again and be accused of heresy......but always think this is so overrated...Spyder Turner....that is.....I just can't hear the 'class' everyone else seems to....'great voice'?....not to my ears....

I am with Brooky on this one, but lets face it lads what with all the Detroit, Terra Shirma Studios, Mike Terry, Denis Coffey, Clay McCmurray stuff going on with this record it is tantamount to being a holocaust denier to say it is a decidedly average record (there, I've said it, call the motor city soul police).

Incidently reference G Lightfoot - the writer of the song I found this info.

Frosty

The title of a Gordon Lightfoot-composed song that he never recorded!(according to him when I spoke with him back stage at a concert in Cleveland a few years ago)...it was recorded by Ritchie Havens (on Verve-Forecast "Mixed Bag" LP and on 45) and by Spyder Turner on an M-G-M 45...if you don't know this song you MUST locate...is GREAT and I wish GL had recorded himself...he said he "never got around to it"...but I neglected to ask him how he thought Havens had heard it to know he wanted to record it?!?

There was a 1966 UK issue of Mixed Bag on Verve. One here on musicstack

https://www.musicstack.com/item/196411224

Hi Garethx, So this defo has "I Can't Make It Anymore" on it?

Should have Den.

This album was reissued on a number of occasions in both the US and Europe.

First in the wake of Richie Havens' appearance at Woodstock, so late '69, early '70; and then in '74. The 1970 reissue has a line of blurb about Woodstock and a slightly different cover layout. The seventies reissue has completely different artwork. All of them feature "I Can't Make It Anymore".

Note the 45 is on Verve Folkways. The album is on Verve Forecast, the label's name having been changed between the issue of the single and the album.

Mixed Bag? Is that the title of the Lp?

Just checked my copy its on us verve forecast title mixed bag, includes ICMIA

Its on Folkways and another Verve issue thats a bit harder to find, also the altetnative LP version.

Edited January 28, 201312 yr by Prophonics 2029

Should have Den.

This album was reissued on a number of occasions in both the US and Europe.

First in the wake of Richie Havens' appearance at Woodstock, so late '69, early '70; and then in '74. The 1970 reissue has a line of blurb about Woodstock and a slightly different cover layout. The seventies reissue has completely different artwork. All of them feature "I Can't Make It Anymore".

Note the 45 is on Verve Folkways. The album is on Verve Forecast, the label's name having been changed between the issue of the single and the album.

Interesting.

Spotted a UK release on MGM. Must be one of the mid 70s re-issues?

Richie Havens version fo me sheer class .

I'm with you on that. Top drawer tune!

I find it interesting that Canadian folk singer, Gordon Lightfoot would write a song that is so amenable to being fitted to the mid '60s Detroit sound. It sounds so unlike any other of his tunes. I like the Richie Havens version very much. I never played it, originally, just because it was by Havens. I could imagine Dennis Coffey listening to Havens' version and thinking "We could do something very nice with that song!" And so, now it's a classic Detroit Soul cut.

An old Soul in the City play for Martin Thomson - always ahead of his time......

There was a 1966 UK issue of Mixed Bag on Verve. One here on musicstack

https://www.musicstac.../item/196411224

Thanks ever so much garethx, I bought that Lp and I arrived home today to find it had arrived earlier in the week. I've just played it, the whole LP, and I'm absolutely chuffed with it ALL, not just the track this thread is all about. I'm off to play it again. Brilliant. Anybody who's not listened to an Lp by this guy, do yourself a favour and do so, he's awesome.

Several versions of this wonderful tune, the great Spyder Turner, excellent Richie Havens crossover version, and there is an obscure white group version on a Detroit label that appears on Ebay sometimes

and there is an obscure white group version on a Detroit label that appears on Ebay sometimes

Have this somewhere - it's not very good I don't think - the scan is not my copy it's from a quick google

Cheers

Richard

Edited February 2, 201312 yr by Premium Stuff

judge for yourself.....3rd place for this imho

Depends whether you lean towards Garage Dave with Fresh Air. Love the drums in this one, this is my youtube vid, I still have it if anyone wants to purchase it from me.

Bloody hell I can remember that you couldn't give Spyder Turners version away no matter how hard you tried back in the 70, I could never understand it, I love it.

Spot.

Bloody hell I can remember that you couldn't give Spyder Turners version away no matter how hard you tried back in the 70, I could never understand it, I love it.

Spot.

Absolutely right, I remember touting it around for years - no one would give it air time - or a second look.

Richie Havens better than Spyder Turner? Not for me

Great tune, love it!

I'll probably get burned as a witch for saying this , but i'm afraid it sounds like music they put on when you're in a lift xxx

I'll probably get burned as a witch for saying this , but i'm afraid it sounds like music they put on when you're in a lift xxx

Bagsy the stake next to you Di

Nice version by Richard Williams on his "Where Do I Go " album on Quad Records.

I mentioned the Marvin Henfield version earlier in the thread. Here's a pic of the label & note how his name has been spelled

.

Edited February 2, 201312 yr by tiberius

There's a Wiki page for the Mixed Bag album

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_Bag

I'll probably get burned as a witch for saying this , but i'm afraid it sounds like music they put on when you're in a lift xxx

Bagsy the stake next to you Di

burn them lol..........i like richie havens but spyders version will always be king

Bloody hell I can remember that you couldn't give Spyder Turners version away no matter how hard you tried back in the 70, I could never understand it, I love it.

Spot.

it was a bottom end chart record in the usa and theres millions of copies of it and the snobbery within the scene sadly held it back.....sound wise it should be the same price as johnny manships eddie parker

I'll probably get burned as a witch for saying this , but i'm afraid it sounds like music they put on when you're in a lift xxx

Burn her, Burn her.