"Barbara Allen" is a traditional Scottish ballad considered the most widely collected song in the English language. The lyrics differ across the many versions but involve drinking, unrequited love, death and regret: a few of this blog's favorite subjects. This mix collects versions by Bradley Kincaid in 1928, Maxine Sullivan in 1940, The Everly Brothers in 1958 and Bob Dylan performing live in 1962.
"Pale Blue Eyes" is the achingly beautiful ballad Lou Reed wrote for his hazel-eyed first love Shelley Albin, for the eponymous 1969 Velvet Underground album. A previous mix featured that album version, this mix includes covers by Clem Snide, R.E.M., Paul Christopher and Joseph Arthur.
One other song repeats this week: the Dennis Wilson-written "Be Still" from the 1968 Beach Boys album Friends, with a cover from twenty years later by Scottish band Felt.
"Child Of The Moon" was recorded by The Rolling Stones between albums Their Satanic Majesties Request and Beggar's Banquet and straddles the line between the psychedelia of the former and the primitivism of the latter. It is said to be written by Mick Jagger for Marianne Faithfull. It never appeared on an official album and instead was the b-side to their 1968 single "Jumping Jack Flash".
Kwest Tha Madd Lad and Ahmad Lewis both recorded acclaimed mid-90s rap debut albums, then never released another official album again. The former's "125 Pennies For Sale" samples the blaxploitation track "It's A New Day" by Skull Snaps and the latter's "Touch The Ceiling" samples the 1979 funk track "Get Up To Get Down". Also sample related: Freestyle Fellowship's "Shammy's/ Heat Mizer" which borrows from Detroit Emerald's 1969 soul song "You're Getting A Little Too Smart".
The rest: a cover of The Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter" by Detroit with Mitch Ryder and Lou Rawls' cautionary "I'm Not The Staying Kind".
Barbara Allen (live) Bob Dylan
Pale Blue Eyes Clem Snide
Child Of The Moon The Rolling Stones
Gimme Shelter Detroit With Mitch Ryder
Be Still The Beach Boys
Pale Blue Eyes R.E.M.
Barbara Allen The Everly Brothers
It's A New Day Skull Snaps
125 Pennies For Your Thoughts Kwest Tha Madd Lad
Get Up To Get Down Brass Construction
Touch The Ceiling Ahmad Lewis
Barbara Allen Bradley Kincaid
Pale Blue Eyes Paul Christopher
You're Getting A Little Too Smart The Detroit Emeralds
Shammy's / Heat Mizer Freestyle Fellowship
Not The Staying Kind Lou Rawls
Be Still Felt
Barbara Allen Maxine Sullivan
Pale Blue Eyes Joseph Arthur
