Thank you for uploading this recording. I have the sheet music but have not been able to play this song to its full measure. Thank you for bringing the words and music on the sheet to life.
If you don't understand what makes this song so great, you have nothing going on behind the eyes. If the guy had recorded it by himself and stashed it under his bed for 60 years, it would be considered a priceless piece of outsider art. But it was a massive hit, which is even more amazing.
Back then I had a guitar and for some reason I had this song down pat...I was living in Olney in Philly and sang it many times at parties or whenever we got together, hope some of that crowd are still alive and and remember when we were young and knew it all! Nothing like the "50's"!
The reason this record is so scratchy is because we must have played it a thousand times...then we flipped it over and played "You went away" another thousand.
Anyone who is a fan of such Rock hits as "Angel Baby" by Rosie and the Originals, "Susie Darlin'" by Robin Luke, "This Time" by Troy Shondell, "Sandy" by Larry Hall, and "Tell Him No" by Travis and Bob should thank Don Howard for accidently helping to introduce the "homemade factor" into Rock and Roll music. All he wanted to do was to tell his high school classmates in Cleveland of his affection for his new girlfriend by putting out a record. Suddenly teenagers all across the US who could relate to this awkward sounding seventeen year old (and, perhaps, to his girlfriend) had a hit all to themselves. And, for my money, this original version musically beats out many of the big budget cover versions because they miss the point. Sometimes all you have to do is sit someone in front of a microphone, turn the tape recorder on, and just let the magic happen.
It's not the same song! You can't copyright a song title. There are numerous DIFFERENT songs that share titles. I know of two "Personality"-s, two "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You"-s, two "Dream"-s, two "Feel Like Makin' Love"-s, two "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"-s, three "I Saw the Light"-s, and four (yes four) "Ebony Eyes" songs. Those are just off the top of my head. When you say "rendition" it's as if you are referring to the same song. No, The Cranberries "Dreams" is not a different "rendition" of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams," it's a DIFFERENT SONG. Comparing one to the other is as relevant as comparing it to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." How on earth could you have thought of this and the wonderful Edwin Hawkins song as one and the same, just because they have the same title? There's also a really obscure and rather dull song called "Oh Happy Day" from LIL ABNER (I was in the high school play). Do you consider that a "rendition" of the same song since it has the same title?
sqaat I know this isn't the same as the Edwin Hawkins Singers gospel song, but it's easily recognised because it has the same title as the more famous song. Whatever, this Don Howard offering is uninspired and trite, and it seemingly has none of the ingredients of a successful pop single, even from 1953.
@@timothythorne9464 No need to re-emphasize your take on the song, that was very clear. What's confusing is why you used the word "rendition" when you know it's a different song. If you were referring to "Feel Like Making Love," would it have made sense to say "Bad Company's rendition is nothing like Roberta Flack's" when they are two different songs, since one may be "easily recognised" by fans of the other?
@@timothythorne9464 I think this is from '51. The Four Knights did a more professional sounding version the following year in '52. Also available on youtube.
There is a hypnotic quality to the simple production of this recording. His voice shines, and it is mesmerizing.
This song was kind of a revelation when it came out. I listened to it endlessly. It was different. Maybe a premonition of rock 'n' roll?
hauntingly beautiful
Thank you for uploading this recording. I have the sheet music but have not been able to play this song to its full measure. Thank you for bringing the words and music on the sheet to life.
If you don't understand what makes this song so great, you have nothing going on behind the eyes. If the guy had recorded it by himself and stashed it under his bed for 60 years, it would be considered a priceless piece of outsider art. But it was a massive hit, which is even more amazing.
Back then I had a guitar and for some reason I had this song down pat...I was living in Olney in Philly and sang it many times at parties or whenever we got together, hope some of that crowd are still alive and and remember when we were young and knew it all! Nothing like the "50's"!
First time to hear this I like it! Yup the fifties was a great time :)
Fred, over a thousand hits...awesome!!!!
The reason this record is so scratchy is because we must have played it a thousand times...then we flipped it over and played "You went away" another thousand.
Just finished listening to your cleanup job...sounds good and much better than the MP3 I sent you. Thanks for posting.
Anyone who is a fan of such Rock hits as "Angel Baby" by Rosie and the Originals, "Susie Darlin'" by Robin Luke, "This Time" by Troy Shondell, "Sandy" by Larry Hall, and "Tell Him No" by Travis and Bob should thank Don Howard for accidently helping to introduce the "homemade factor" into Rock and Roll music. All he wanted to do was to tell his high school classmates in Cleveland of his affection for his new girlfriend by putting out a record. Suddenly teenagers all across the US who could relate to this awkward sounding seventeen year old (and, perhaps, to his girlfriend) had a hit all to themselves. And, for my money, this original version musically beats out many of the big budget cover versions because they miss the point. Sometimes all you have to do is sit someone in front of a microphone, turn the tape recorder on, and just let the magic happen.
I still use the first two sentences whenever everything goes right. Happ to recall the first version by Don Howard. Thank You RUclips
very very nice
Don was 18 y. old at the time of this masterpiece. In the pic there he looks 30 ... lol ... That's the 50s everything aged faster than a bullet shot.
Martin Block Of The make Believe Ballroom said on radio if this record hits #1 I’ll eat it
I guess he did it did make #1
The New York DJ's hated the song and him....I thought it was a nice poem - sung okay...screw the DJ's......
Walter H Harrison same thing is going around the SoundCloud rappers of today. Even the Beatles were scorned in the beginning. People hate new things.
And rightfully so. His guitar playing is worse than atrocious.
Pretty weak. No match for the Edwin Hawkins singers stirring gospel rendition.
It's not the same song! You can't copyright a song title. There are numerous DIFFERENT songs that share titles. I know of two "Personality"-s, two "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You"-s, two "Dream"-s, two "Feel Like Makin' Love"-s, two "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"-s, three "I Saw the Light"-s, and four (yes four) "Ebony Eyes" songs. Those are just off the top of my head. When you say "rendition" it's as if you are referring to the same song. No, The Cranberries "Dreams" is not a different "rendition" of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams," it's a DIFFERENT SONG. Comparing one to the other is as relevant as comparing it to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." How on earth could you have thought of this and the wonderful Edwin Hawkins song as one and the same, just because they have the same title? There's also a really obscure and rather dull song called "Oh Happy Day" from LIL ABNER (I was in the high school play). Do you consider that a "rendition" of the same song since it has the same title?
sqaat I know this isn't the same as the Edwin Hawkins Singers gospel song, but it's easily recognised because it has the same title as the more famous song. Whatever, this Don Howard offering is uninspired and trite, and it seemingly has none of the ingredients of a successful pop single, even from 1953.
@@timothythorne9464 No need to re-emphasize your take on the song, that was very clear.
What's confusing is why you used the word "rendition" when you know it's a different song. If you were referring to "Feel Like Making Love," would it have made sense to say "Bad Company's rendition is nothing like Roberta Flack's" when they are two different songs, since one may be "easily recognised" by fans of the other?
@@timothythorne9464 I think this is from '51. The Four Knights did a more professional sounding version the following year in '52. Also available on youtube.