Love the soulful harpsichord that opens this track from the only album ever recorded by John Randolph Marr:
“Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham“
John Randolph Marr
(1970)
Such a memorable title for a tune few people have ever heard of – and yet this song has been recorded by Artie Christopher (1968); Kin Vassy; Gainsborough Gallery; Larry Henley & The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (1969); Nancy Sinatra; Eve; Mac Davis; Blue Cheer; Juicy Lucy; Goodness & Mercy; Nick Anthony & Smokestack Lightnin’ (1970); Dave Kelly & Max Merritt and the Meteors (1971); The Platters (!) & Bobby Whitlock (1972); John Dummer’s Oobleedooblee Band (1973) – and, more recently (2013), The Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Therefore, it would seem that I am the one who’s rather late to the game.
Would you believe Nilsson produced this funky thing?
Such an obvious A-side – particularly given the many cover versions – and yet Warner Brothers felt it unworthy of even the flip side of the only single issued from this album.
How amusing/annoying to discover that the 8-track version of this album would cleave the song into two parts, hence, the forced fade at the end of part 1, at which point the 8-track would audibly “click” over to the next track of tape, followed then by the fade in of part 2 — in no way dishonoring or degrading the musical experience for the listener whatsoever.
I gladly thank A Light in the Attic for bringing this song to my attention.
Funky16Corners nobly attempts to nail down who recorded the original version.
Did You Know?
Randy Marr
Louis Prima’s former guitarslinger
LINK to Country Funk +/- Soul
