Favorite Johnny Rivers song

[Bossy Monkey]

Poll question: Favorite Johnny Rivers song

Ok, I'm all done apologizing for being old, but I will apologize for including "Come Home America," which nobody here has ever heard of. It was the B-side of the "Rockin' Pneumonia" single, which I bought when it came out. It was also the theme song for the '72 McGovern campaign, with the refrain: "Come home America/it's been a long, long time." Couldn't be more appropriate today. We all know that "Secret Agent Man" is going to win this thing; I figured I'd throw in one worthwhile unheard track to give Johnny his due as a politically hip individual.

Johnny did a lot of fine covers, I mean in addition to the ones listed below, but I tried to avoid tunes (such as the Motown ones) that are better identified with other artists. Couldn't resist "Help Me, Rhonda," though, sorry.

Doo doo doo wah, shooby dooby...

[CO Liberal]

1. "Summer Rain" Contains a Technical Error

It's in the refrain:

"All summer long we spent dancin' in the sand.
And the jukebox kept on playin'
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band..."

Back in the '60s, jukeboxes only played 45s. And there were no singles released off the "Sgt. Pepper" album.

Other than that, it's my favorite Johnny Rivers song.

[Bossy Monkey]

2. (Cue Johnny Carson voice:) I did not know that!

I mean, I was alive, awake, and alert in 1967, but being in kindergarten at the time, I wasn't too hip to such niceties. Boy, EMI must have been pissed (assuming that it was the Beatles who kiboshed the 45s); "When I'm 64" alone would have sold millions.

[arwalden]

13. What About Promotional Singles

DJ USE ONLY - NOT FOR SALE
PROPERTY OF CAPITOL RECORDS

[mac56]

3. I loved "Come Home America"!

Played that single till the needle wore through.

My own fave: "I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water".

[Bossy Monkey]

11. Yay! Somebody else remembers it! n/t

[Jax]

4. Love Johnny Rivers

all of his tunes, love his voice, the words and melodies, love his backup singers, the mix on his songs, like you posted the "shooby dooby doo wah's", the guitar.

Picked "Poor Side of Town". Great tune. (especially these days!)

Music of all kinds keeps me young, at least 'feeling' young!

Fun thread, thanks undisclosedlocation! :thumbsup:

Jax

[mac56]

5. His backup singers were the two women from the 5th Dimension.

He signed them to his label, Soul City, in the 60s. Marilyn McCoo :9 and I don't remember the other one.

[Lindsey]

6. I've ALWAYS loved "Poor Side of Town"

but I never hear it on the radio.

[Jax]

9. Marilyn McCoo??!!

Thank you for that tidbit there, had no idea!

Think the other was Florence LaRue(??)

5th Dimension was another group I enjoyed, still do. Great blend of harmony and voices.

Jax

[Jade Fox]

7. Mountain of Love! Sheesh!

[NightTrain]

8. Harold Dorman's original blows Johnny Rivers to shit!

Not that that was a major accomplishment, but the Dorman original is still a great record.

[Jade Fox]

10. WOW, never heard it, will have to check it out

Its such a great song just about anyone could make it soung good.
Did he write it?

[mac56]

12. Check out Nick Lowe's version of "Poor Side Of Town".

He claims he hadn't ever heard Johnny Rivers' version before he recorded it.

[Mixxster]

14. What?

No Seventh Son?

[TOhioLiberal]

15. Memphis...

Is my favorite.

'Memphis' by Johnny Rivers
Long distance information give me memphis, tennessee
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
She could not leave her number but i know who placed the call
My uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall

Help me information to get in touch with my marie
She's the only one who'd phone me here from memphis, tennessee
Her home is on the southside, high upon a ridge
Just a half a mile from the mississippi bridge

Help me information more than that i cannot add
Only that i miss her and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
Tore apart our happy home in memphis, tennessee

The last time i saw marie she was waving me goodbye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old, information please
Try to put me through to her in memphis, tennessee

The lyrics site I got this from had it as an Elvis Presley song. Have to check to see if he did a version of it...
Trekkerlass

[NightNurse]

16. Summer Rain

The SUMMER of :loveya: LOVE- 1967!:hippie: :hippie: :hippie: :hippie: