Giant Donut Discs® – Julian Dawson (1988)
17. 7. 2010 | Rubriky: Articles,Giant Donut Discs
[by Ken Hunt, London]
Swing 51‘s Giant Donut Discs® column gathered musical snapshots from all manner of people. These were Julian Dawson’s GDDs as published in Swing 51 issue 13/14 with annotations and updates. This is one in our series of Donuts from the vaults. For information about Julian’s musical activities, visit his official website at the bottom of his Donuts. (And how frequently does a writer get to write that?) In April 2010 the German-language edition of his biography of the pianist Nicky Hopkins appeared. Its title is Nicky Hopkins – Eine Rock-Legende (Elke Heidenreich) – a justifiable title for a studio musician for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Kinks (whose 1966 album Face to Face included Session Man about him) and, transplanted to American soil, player with Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Steve Miller Band, Harry Nilsson, Jerry Garcia and Jefferson Airplane.
Streets of Arklow – Van Morrison
From Veedon Fleece.
Ken Hunt: This one needs little amplification. Track 4 of Van Morrison’s 1974 album for Warner Brothers.
Cash On The Barrelhead – The Louvin Brothers
Ken Hunt: In Britain it was getting easier to track down the Louvin Brothers’ recordings by the end of the 1980s. The US musician Gram Parsons’ influence was a big impetus in this respect.
End Of The Rainbow – Richard & Linda Thompson
Ken Hunt: The lyrics went, you may remember: “Life seems so rosy in the cradle/But I’ll be a friend I’ll tell you what’s in store/There’s nothing at the end of the rainbow/
There’s nothing to grow up for anymore.” Good bracing stuff.
Sources at www.richardthompson-music.com/song_o_matic.asp?id=52
Let’s Burn Down The Cornfield – Randy Newman
From 12 Songs.
Ken Hunt: Another of those pesky songs where the lyrics say it all.
I Found Out – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
Ken Hunt: It wasn’t the obvious track from Lennon’s first solo album – Mother and Working Class Hero copped the plaudits but choosing the obvious was never on the cards or in the game plan when inviting people to pick their Giant Donut Discs.
So What – Miles Davis
From Kinda Blue.
Ken Hunt: Jazz marbled people’s Donut choices from the off and that was fine and to be expected and encouraged. The general coverage of the magazine did not condition in any way what people picked.
Ain’t That Good News – Sam Cooke
Ken Hunt: The song originally appeared on Ain’t That Good News, the last album to be appear before Cooke’s death in December 1964. The album would subsequently be overshadowed by another song on it called A Change Is Gonna Come.
But Not For Me – Chet Baker
From the 1954 album, Chet Baker Sings.
Ken Hunt: More jazz. Chesney Henry ‘Chet’ Baker Jr. had died in Amsterdam in the Netherlands in May 1988 after falling from a hotel window. There is a plaque in his memory outside the Prins Hendrik hotel at Prins Hendrikkade 55 in Amsterdam. Corregium: the album was actually released in 1953.
All The King’s Horses – Aretha Franklin
Ken Hunt: A song combining nursery rhyme and fairy tale.
Tenor Madness – Toots Thielemans
From Toots Live.
Ken Hunt: Julian Dawson always had a thing about harmonica.
Julian is now resident at www.juliandawson.com
(c) 1989, rejuvenated 2010 Swing 51