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Author Topic: Fire & Rain  (Read 3198 times)

Dave W

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Fire & Rain
« on: October 05, 2012, 07:48:31 AM »
I read yesterday that R. B. Greaves of "Take a Letter Maria" fame died late last month. If you listened to pop music back then, chances are you remember the song. His followup was Fire & Rain, a few months before James Taylor released his single. It was also a hit but seems to be forgotten today. Even though JT wrote it, I always liked R.B.'s version better.

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the mojo hobo

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2012, 09:04:00 AM »
You probably like it better because the bass guitar is more prominant ;)

I think J.T's vocals are better, and the choir in R.B.G's version destroys the feeling of lonesomeness that is so evident in J.T's song.
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uwe

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2012, 11:55:59 AM »
I"m not gonna say that I liked the Blood, Sweat & Tears and Badlands versions too. That would get me killed here.
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Dave W

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2012, 07:27:54 PM »
Quote from: the mojo hobo on October 05, 2012, 09:04:00 AM
You probably like it better because the bass guitar is more prominant ;)

I think J.T's vocals are better, and the choir in R.B.G's version destroys the feeling of lonesomeness that is so evident in J.T's song.

You have a point about the bass and the choir. But Greaves had a soulful voice like Sam Cooke, who he was related to. I've never really cared for JT's voice.
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gweimer

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2012, 07:30:25 PM »
Quote from: Dave W on October 05, 2012, 07:27:54 PM
You have a point about the bass and the choir. But Greaves had a soulful voice like Sam Cooke, who he was related to. I've never really cared for JT's voice.

His voice is pretty vanilla.  Not enough soul, and not icy enough to be haunting like Willie Nelson.
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Dave W

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2012, 07:45:47 PM »
Willie's voice is icy and haunting? That's a new one to me.
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Highlander

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #6 on: October 06, 2012, 03:56:32 PM »
Chalk and cheese...

I listened to some of RBG's material and none of it struck a memory with me - presume he just did not make the UK market - I listened to a lot of the R&B material from that era...

I even have the songbook that features that tune and could play and sing it with my 12 string acoustic... Jackie's not a fan of "folk" and is not that keen on "bluegrass" (even if she comes from KY :o) but likes JT's version...

The reference to "flying machines in pieces on the ground" anyone...? ;)

ps... she's not a Willy Nelson fan either...
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Denis

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #7 on: October 06, 2012, 05:12:43 PM »
"Take a Letter Maria" is a wonderful song, and one I remember from childhood.
JT may be from North Carolina, where I've spent most of my life but I've never really cared for his music all that much. Personally, I liked "Two Lane Blacktop" better than all of his music.
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Dave W

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2012, 09:51:32 PM »
Quote from: HERBIE on October 06, 2012, 03:56:32 PM

The reference to "flying machines in pieces on the ground" anyone...? ;)
...

It's a reference to JT's first band in New York, the Flying Machine (not to be confused with the later UK Flying Machine who did Smile A Little Smile For Me, Rose Marie). And the Suzanne he mentions in the first verse was a girl who hung out with him when he was in that band. He found out she committed suicide, but not until several months after the fact. I'm not sure exactly what it's all supposed to mean.
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Highlander

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2012, 04:33:19 PM »
He wasn't that "stable" a personality at the time...

He discussed the meanings of the various parts of the song some years back and how it related to him and those around him...

Danny Kortchmar was also a member of that band - I still have Section LP's and a scarce solo LP that I should try and get on CD - last time I looked they weren't available...
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patman

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #10 on: October 07, 2012, 05:55:36 PM »
well...I love Willie, but..."Two Lane Blacktop" is my all-time favorite album...lives in the car permanently...played maybe once a week.

I do tax returns (at work) to Willie...go figure...

« Last Edit: October 07, 2012, 06:02:50 PM by patman »
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gweimer

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #11 on: October 07, 2012, 06:10:41 PM »
Here's my JT story - it was 1981 (maybe '80), and I was working in an Italian restaurant that did pizza delivery.  It's the kind of place that all good full-time musicians work during the week.  He was in town for a show, and apparently got the number of the place I worked from someone.  He called, I answered.  He was so screwed up, he could barely talk.  His entourage wanted us to drive 15 miles and bring food to them, because they were in no shape to come to the bar.
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nofi

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2012, 08:23:41 PM »
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patman

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #13 on: October 08, 2012, 05:07:06 AM »
I have to retract a statement...

"Two Lane Highway"  is the all-time favorite album...another beer-related operator error...
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fur85

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Re: Fire & Rain
« Reply #14 on: October 08, 2012, 05:12:57 AM »
Two Lane Highway by Pure Prairie League?
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