Jul 292014
I’ll be honest – I can’t say too much about this Mystery Date, but there are some tangents that can give the song a bit of context. But before we go there, take a listen and see if you can place the year and location. Shouldn’t be too hard to guess.
Have fun and enjoy!
Hmm. Has a definite “Ode to Billy Joe” Southern feel to it. So, I’ll say late 60s, recorded in LA. Or Memphis? No idea who it is, though.
I’m pretty sure you’re close on the date, Memphis is a better guess than L.A.
By LA I meant, of course, Lower Alabama.
The lead singer is having pitch problems (and it’s not Nico) so I’m guessing she is an actress or the wife of somebody famous. I’m not being sexist, but that’s the biz. What I’m getting at is that, singing is not her day job.
I also noticed she pronounces the words “told” and “fold” quite oddly.
Also, it’s recorded in mono if that helps anybody.
I was thinking the same way, cliff: actress, not singer.
It’s the kind of thing used during Mad Men closing credits, so I’d say late 60’s.
It is not an actress – and while she is not the wife of anybody famous, she is related to some famous people (but not household names, at least, in the past few decades). There may be a reason for the weird accent and there are definitely some pitch issues, that can’t really be denied. Still, I think the song has a certain charm and I like the way it builds.
So I don’t lead you on, however, I would be beyond surprised if anybody pulled the mockcarr option or actually identified this singer.
So, my guess is that Carroll Baker, after she took off to perform in movies in Europe in the 60’s, was hired to do a nice, sexy Americanish picture, so a western/southern thing was done and she sang on the soundtrack.
Ok, I posted this at the same time you responded, cher. However, I’ll still punt and guess that it’s an American singer who ended up in Europe at some point and recorded this song over there.
Hmmm…a murder ballad kind of thing. The sort of thing Johnny Cash would cover. Strangely, the scratches sound overlaid, added on as an effect.
The scratches are real and the singer and the song are American. This definitely comes from a music business environment where songs are pitched to, and recorded by, as many artists as possible, or at least as many needed to get a hit out of the tune.
Hoping we get an answer soon. I’ve listened to this a bunch of times, and all I am willing swear to is that it was recorded after Ode to Billy Joe. From cherguevarra’s clues I started wondering if it was a demo by some Brill Building songwriter like Cynthia Weil, but I can’t get anywhere with that.
I hope to get a chance to launch the reveal tomorrow morning or late tonight. If not, Sunday. Thanks for your patience.
Yes, I agree. “Billy Gentry: the Brill Building Warm Up Sessions.”
Thanks for proofing and formatting help, Mr. Mod!
I figured the pitch issues, which I noticed on the vocal and the horns, must be due to turntable/tape speed problems.