Middle Aged Dummies - Artist - Round 5 - #2's have been posted. Link in OP. (37 Viewers)

[Charlie Steiner]

2. Forget Me Not (Bad English, 1989)

*Editor's note: In my hurry to post my write-up about the previous song, Best of What I Got, it was written by Waite, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon, and had its moment in the sun, as it was used over the closing credits of Tango and Cash.

Forget Me Not was written by Waite and Cain, along with professional songwriter/producer Mark Spiro. It was released as a single but failed to chart.

When the album came out, this song was the standout to me.

 

[Tau837]

Eric Clapton #2

Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight

"Wonderful Tonight" is a ballad written by Clapton and included on his 1977 album "Slowhand." It is a soft, romantic song that has become one of Clapton's most iconic tracks, known for its tender lyrics, gentle guitar work, and emotional depth. The song was inspired by Pattie Boyd, his girffriend at the time, who later became his wife. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.

Clapton wrote the song for Boyd while waiting for her to get ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly party. Boyd was taking a long time to get ready, and Clapton, feeling impatient, started to write the lyrics, which are a simple but heartfelt expression of admiration and love for her. The song captures a moment of genuine affection, and its simplicity and beauty have made it a timeless love song.

The lyrics focus on a moment of appreciation for a loved one. The song describes Clapton’s thoughts as he watches Boyd get ready, marveling at how beautiful she is. It’s a reflection on the joy of love and the way simple moments can become precious memories. For this reason, this became a favorite song for my wife and me, since I have always seen her the same way.

The guitar playing is subtle, gentle, and melodic, providing a soft backdrop to the lyrics. Clapton's use of chord progressions and fingerpicking gives the song a warm, acoustic feel, enhancing its romantic tone. The guitar solo toward the middle of the song is one of Clapton’s most tasteful and simple solos. It’s melodic, slow, and emotional, using slow bends and smooth vibrato to perfectly match the song’s mood.

For the countdown, I chose the live version from Clapton's "24 Nights" album. It features a more acoustic-oriented arrangement, with cleaner, softer tones from the guitar, allowing for the emotional quality of the song to shine through. The acoustic elements make the performance feel more intimate and personal, fitting the theme of the song.

The song's lyrical simplicity is one of its greatest strengths. It’s not a complicated song, but it captures the essence of a genuine, heartfelt moment. While the song is deeply personal, it also has a universal quality. The feelings of love, admiration, and appreciation it expresses are ones that nearly everyone can relate to, making it a timeless classic.

 

[Yo Mama]

Eric Clapton #2

Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight

"Wonderful Tonight" is a ballad written by Clapton and included on his 1977 album "Slowhand." It is a soft, romantic song that has become one of Clapton's most iconic tracks, known for its tender lyrics, gentle guitar work, and emotional depth. The song was inspired by Pattie Boyd, his girffriend at the time, who later became his wife. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.

Clapton wrote the song for Boyd while waiting for her to get ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly party. Boyd was taking a long time to get ready, and Clapton, feeling impatient, started to write the lyrics, which are a simple but heartfelt expression of admiration and love for her. The song captures a moment of genuine affection, and its simplicity and beauty have made it a timeless love song.

The lyrics focus on a moment of appreciation for a loved one. The song describes Clapton’s thoughts as he watches Boyd get ready, marveling at how beautiful she is. It’s a reflection on the joy of love and the way simple moments can become precious memories. For this reason, this became a favorite song for my wife and me, since I have always seen her the same way.

The guitar playing is subtle, gentle, and melodic, providing a soft backdrop to the lyrics. Clapton's use of chord progressions and fingerpicking gives the song a warm, acoustic feel, enhancing its romantic tone. The guitar solo toward the middle of the song is one of Clapton’s most tasteful and simple solos. It’s melodic, slow, and emotional, using slow bends and smooth vibrato to perfectly match the song’s mood.

For the countdown, I chose the live version from Clapton's "24 Nights" album. It features a more acoustic-oriented arrangement, with cleaner, softer tones from the guitar, allowing for the emotional quality of the song to shine through. The acoustic elements make the performance feel more intimate and personal, fitting the theme of the song.

The song's lyrical simplicity is one of its greatest strengths. It’s not a complicated song, but it captures the essence of a genuine, heartfelt moment. While the song is deeply personal, it also has a universal quality. The feelings of love, admiration, and appreciation it expresses are ones that nearly everyone can relate to, making it a timeless classic.

This was the song for our first dance at my wedding. I wanted it to be I Need Love by LL Cool J, but my wife thankfully won that debate.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#2 - Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness​

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Try a Little Tenderness

Otis Redding · Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul · Song · 1966

open.spotify.com

Comments sometimes from Wikipedia

JML Rank - #4
Krista4 Rank - #4
Uruk-Hai Rank - #3
Album - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, or simply Dictionary of Soul
Recorded - Sep 13 1966
Is this a Cover? - Yes
Songwriter - Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Harry M. Woods
Notable Covers - Bing Crosby 1933, Frank Sinatra 1946, Milton Berle 1957, Sammy Davis Jr 1958, Frankie Avalon 1959, Jacki Wilson 1961, Aretha Franklin 1962, Sam Cooke 1964, Percy Sledge 1966, Tom Jones 1970, Rod Stewart 1988, The Commitments 1991,

Comments - From wiki
The second single on this album, "Try a Little Tenderness", was written by English songwriter duo Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and American Tin Pan Alley songwriter Harry M. Woods in the early 30s, but it was not until February 1933 when bandleader and clarinetist Ted Lewis' version became a hit. The first version by a black artist was by Aretha Franklin, who recorded it in 1962 for her The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin.[5] Two years later, Sam Cooke recorded it as a part of a medley alongside Tin Pan Alley standard "For Sentimental Reasons" and "You Send Me" on his At The Copa. According to Cropper, Redding listened to the latter two songs but rearranged it with the help of pianist Hayes. Examples of what the latter arranged and introduced were the tree-part, contrapuntal horn line in the first seconds, which was inspired by Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" strings, and the cymbal break in the peak, which Hayes later featured on his "Theme from Shaft".[5]The song was recorded on September 13 and released on November 14, 1966, charting at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 4 on the Hot R&B chart. Parts of the song were later mixed in the Grammy Award-winning "Otis" by hip-hop artists Jay-Z and Kanye West.

In the 1991 Irish film, The Commitments, the band performs the song in the style of Otis Redding. The version by The Commitments reached No. 13 in the Irish chart.[10]

In 2015, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Next Up - Only one left. What will it be?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

For simey and Uruk:

Please Mom and Dad, stop fighting:

Article in Slate asks why so many people hate Billy Joel and reviews his new doc

https://archive.is/LCzHw

Money quote:

“McCartney gushes that Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” is the one song he most wishes he’d written, an admission that made me wonder if he could have used more time to think.”

I don't expect someone who hates him to write an objective piece, but I will check out the documentary after both parts are out.

I told Uruk before this started that I'm not a Billy Joel super fan, but I am a fan of his music and very familiar with it, especially his 70s and early 80s stuff, and I was considering doing him in the MAD, because he (Uruk) can't stand him. I also told Uruk there would be a no thumper rule, so he could say what he wanted. Anyway, I was hoping Uruk aka Billy Hai, would start to like BJ a little better, but I don't think that has become a reality. I tried! It has been interesting for me learning more about BJ the musician and person when looking up what he said about his songs, life, and stuff like that. I listened to his music a lot in the 70s and early 80s, and I enjoy revisiting it sometimes in my adult years, but I never realized the depth of his talent until doing this. He was the sole writer of his music and lyrics, and he had a knack for pumping out some great melodies. I think he has earned and deserved the numerous accolades he has gotten in his lifetime regarding his music. He mastered his craft, and he made a lot of people happy singing along and making memories to his tunes. They were all in the mood for a melody, and he got them feelin' alright.

I think I said a thousand or so pages back in this thread that - at this point - I'm mostly running jive when it comes to Billy Joel. I'm too old and broken up to spend much energy on a bit, though I tried to manufacture it for the first dozen or so songs simey listed. I got called mean-spirited by one poster and then the news came out about Joel's health condition, so I just bowed out of commenting on them.

I understand why people buy his records. Let's leave it at that.

 

[rockaction]

For simey and Uruk:

Please Mom and Dad, stop fighting:

Article in Slate asks why so many people hate Billy Joel and reviews his new doc

https://archive.is/LCzHw

Money quote:

“McCartney gushes that Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” is the one song he most wishes he’d written, an admission that made me wonder if he could have used more time to think.”

I don't expect someone who hates him to write an objective piece, but I will check out the documentary after both parts are out.

I told Uruk before this started that I'm not a Billy Joel super fan, but I am a fan of his music and very familiar with it, especially his 70s and early 80s stuff, and I was considering doing him in the MAD, because he (Uruk) can't stand him. I also told Uruk there would be a no thumper rule, so he could say what he wanted. Anyway, I was hoping Uruk aka Billy Hai, would start to like BJ a little better, but I don't think that has become a reality. I tried! It has been interesting for me learning more about BJ the musician and person when looking up what he said about his songs, life, and stuff like that. I listened to his music a lot in the 70s and early 80s, and I enjoy revisiting it sometimes in my adult years, but I never realized the depth of his talent until doing this. He was the sole writer of his music and lyrics, and he had a knack for pumping out some great melodies. I think he has earned and deserved the numerous accolades he has gotten in his lifetime regarding his music. He mastered his craft, and he made a lot of people happy singing along and making memories to his tunes. They were all in the mood for a melody, and he got them feelin' alright.

I think I said a thousand or so pages back in this thread that - at this point - I'm mostly running jive when it comes to Billy Joel. I'm too old and broken up to spend much energy on a bit, though I tried to manufacture it for the first dozen or so songs simey listed. I got called mean-spirited by one poster and then the news came out about Joel's health condition, so I just bowed out of commenting on them.

I understand why people buy his records. Let's leave it at that.

Like I said, just kidding.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#2 - Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Try a Little Tenderness

Otis Redding · Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul · Song · 1966

open.spotify.com

Comments sometimes from Wikipedia

JML Rank - #4
Krista4 Rank - #4
Uruk-Hai Rank - #3
Album - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, or simply Dictionary of Soul
Recorded - Sep 13 1966
Is this a Cover? - Yes
Songwriter - Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Harry M. Woods
Notable Covers - Bing Crosby 1933, Frank Sinatra 1946, Milton Berle 1957, Sammy Davis Jr 1958, Frankie Avalon 1959, Jacki Wilson 1961, Aretha Franklin 1962, Sam Cooke 1964, Percy Sledge 1966, Tom Jones 1970, Rod Stewart 1988, The Commitments 1991,

Comments - From wiki
The second single on this album, "Try a Little Tenderness", was written by English songwriter duo Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and American Tin Pan Alley songwriter Harry M. Woods in the early 30s, but it was not until February 1933 when bandleader and clarinetist Ted Lewis' version became a hit. The first version by a black artist was by Aretha Franklin, who recorded it in 1962 for her The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin.[5] Two years later, Sam Cooke recorded it as a part of a medley alongside Tin Pan Alley standard "For Sentimental Reasons" and "You Send Me" on his At The Copa. According to Cropper, Redding listened to the latter two songs but rearranged it with the help of pianist Hayes. Examples of what the latter arranged and introduced were the tree-part, contrapuntal horn line in the first seconds, which was inspired by Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" strings, and the cymbal break in the peak, which Hayes later featured on his "Theme from Shaft".[5]The song was recorded on September 13 and released on November 14, 1966, charting at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 4 on the Hot R&B chart. Parts of the song were later mixed in the Grammy Award-winning "Otis" by hip-hop artists Jay-Z and Kanye West.

In the 1991 Irish film, The Commitments, the band performs the song in the style of Otis Redding. The version by The Commitments reached No. 13 in the Irish chart.[10]

In 2015, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Next Up - Only one left. What will it be?

I bet if you asked 100 people who know this record if it was a cover, 99 would say "no".

 

[Uruk-Hai]

For simey and Uruk:

Please Mom and Dad, stop fighting:

Article in Slate asks why so many people hate Billy Joel and reviews his new doc

https://archive.is/LCzHw

Money quote:

“McCartney gushes that Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” is the one song he most wishes he’d written, an admission that made me wonder if he could have used more time to think.”

I don't expect someone who hates him to write an objective piece, but I will check out the documentary after both parts are out.

I told Uruk before this started that I'm not a Billy Joel super fan, but I am a fan of his music and very familiar with it, especially his 70s and early 80s stuff, and I was considering doing him in the MAD, because he (Uruk) can't stand him. I also told Uruk there would be a no thumper rule, so he could say what he wanted. Anyway, I was hoping Uruk aka Billy Hai, would start to like BJ a little better, but I don't think that has become a reality. I tried! It has been interesting for me learning more about BJ the musician and person when looking up what he said about his songs, life, and stuff like that. I listened to his music a lot in the 70s and early 80s, and I enjoy revisiting it sometimes in my adult years, but I never realized the depth of his talent until doing this. He was the sole writer of his music and lyrics, and he had a knack for pumping out some great melodies. I think he has earned and deserved the numerous accolades he has gotten in his lifetime regarding his music. He mastered his craft, and he made a lot of people happy singing along and making memories to his tunes. They were all in the mood for a melody, and he got them feelin' alright.

I think I said a thousand or so pages back in this thread that - at this point - I'm mostly running jive when it comes to Billy Joel. I'm too old and broken up to spend much energy on a bit, though I tried to manufacture it for the first dozen or so songs simey listed. I got called mean-spirited by one poster and then the news came out about Joel's health condition, so I just bowed out of commenting on them.

I understand why people buy his records. Let's leave it at that.

Like I said, just kidding.

No worries here, my friend. It's all good. I just was a little stung by another poster who didn't understand what I was doing.

 

[KarmaPolice]

#2 - Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness​

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

Try a Little Tenderness

Otis Redding · Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul · Song · 1966

open.spotify.com

Comments sometimes from Wikipedia

JML Rank - #4
Krista4 Rank - #4
Uruk-Hai Rank - #3
Album - Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, or simply Dictionary of Soul
Recorded - Sep 13 1966
Is this a Cover? - Yes
Songwriter - Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Harry M. Woods
Notable Covers - Bing Crosby 1933, Frank Sinatra 1946, Milton Berle 1957, Sammy Davis Jr 1958, Frankie Avalon 1959, Jacki Wilson 1961, Aretha Franklin 1962, Sam Cooke 1964, Percy Sledge 1966, Tom Jones 1970, Rod Stewart 1988, The Commitments 1991,

Comments - From wiki
The second single on this album, "Try a Little Tenderness", was written by English songwriter duo Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and American Tin Pan Alley songwriter Harry M. Woods in the early 30s, but it was not until February 1933 when bandleader and clarinetist Ted Lewis' version became a hit. The first version by a black artist was by Aretha Franklin, who recorded it in 1962 for her The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin.[5] Two years later, Sam Cooke recorded it as a part of a medley alongside Tin Pan Alley standard "For Sentimental Reasons" and "You Send Me" on his At The Copa. According to Cropper, Redding listened to the latter two songs but rearranged it with the help of pianist Hayes. Examples of what the latter arranged and introduced were the tree-part, contrapuntal horn line in the first seconds, which was inspired by Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" strings, and the cymbal break in the peak, which Hayes later featured on his "Theme from Shaft".[5]The song was recorded on September 13 and released on November 14, 1966, charting at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 4 on the Hot R&B chart. Parts of the song were later mixed in the Grammy Award-winning "Otis" by hip-hop artists Jay-Z and Kanye West.

In the 1991 Irish film, The Commitments, the band performs the song in the style of Otis Redding. The version by The Commitments reached No. 13 in the Irish chart.[10]

In 2015, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Next Up - Only one left. What will it be?

I bet if you asked 100 people who know this record if it was a cover, 99 would say "no".

At this point i just assume 1/2 the songs from the 60s and earlier are covers or written by others.