Today we conclude what inadvertently became rare singles week, with a track I first shared back in 2017.
Up top, we have Randy Newman's classic "Last Night I Had A Dream," a song I'll assume many are familiar with.
But how about the single version below? This version goes against everything Randy Newman stands for. In a ten year old interview with Newman, he talks about writing for an orchestra and shying away from electric instruments because even using a drummer "feels like cheating." Well, this 1968 version, sounding more like The Electric Prunes meet The Beatles in "Revolution" mode, is cheating like Bill Clinton on four Red Bulls.
If memory serves, I think I read another interview with Newman where he said he absolutely hated the single version.
I love it!
11 comments:
Love the single, love the Tom Jones Little Richard cover. Bravo, my friend!!! 😎
Hahahaha. It's really fun to hear and does work on its own. But I can see why he hates it. I think he'd feel ridiculous with a full band making that sound. It's just...it's just not him. He'd feel like a poser.
The single sounds like he’d gone to see The 13th Floor Elevators and been inspired.
- Paul in DK
I'll take the Sail Away version. The single is pretty wild, though.
Ha ha ha needed to hear this today...
Big Randy fan here. I've seen him 3 times so far, including a show at Variety Playhouse here in Atlanta on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 when he OPENED with this song - !
But man, that makes the rock arrangement added to Sounds Of Silence (without Paul/Art's knowledge/consent) seem tame.
Electric Prunes, on a buy-one-get-one-free-acid-deal-on-the-corner, baby.
I've loved this song for years - but may not have ever loved it at all if'n this were the version released on "Sail Away."
The album Sail Away and 12 Songs are def peak Newman. Both so great.
"Sail Away and 12 Songs are def peak Newman" and I'd add Bad Love- a great later career masterstroke.
His voice is surprisingly appropriate for this arrangement. I could listen to a whole album.
Gotta give a shout out to Good Old Boys too. Prime Randy for me.
"Marie!!" Just typing that breaks my heart.
You’re a flower, you’re a river, you’re a rainbow
Randy Newman is one of those artists I feel like I should love, who's in my wheelhouse in a lot of ways, but who has just never worked for me. Tom Waits and Lucinda Williams are two more. Maybe I just don't like gravelly voices? But then I dig Louis Armstrong and late period Dylan, so who knows. Anyway, I love this, so maybe time for me to give Randy another try. Thanks, Sal! (Like the vibe of the new Macca track, too.)
Bruce H.
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