Here’s an excerpt about a pretty amazing song. I just posted on AL.com:
Living on free food tickets, Water in the milk, From a hole in the roof, Where the rain came through, What can you do? MmmWhat is it about this song?It’s called ‘Love of the Common People,’ first recorded in 1967, it has been recorded by many many artists — some quite big , yet it always seems to be flying under the radar.“I’ve heard that before. Who sings it?” is the reaction I get most often when I play it for someone.Maybe it was at a friend’s house? Or your parents played one of its abundant iterations. I’ve heard that song before. Who sings it?From country singers to reggae versions to punk and soul. Waylon Jennings, John Denver, Elton John and the Everly Brothers.
The album I picked up by mistake. I saw the name Hurley and thought it was this group I heard about called Michael Hurley and the Holy Modal Rounders.
This was more than 30 years ago in Birmingham, although I liked the record with its full-throated backing gospel choir. The music was soul-inflected gospel with a hint of country. For years I thought Hurley on my album “John Hurley Delivers One More Hallelujah’ to be a black man. Just based on his vocals, the hallelujah choir and there were no pictures on the album and no Internet to disprove my pre-judgement.
Like I said I enjoyed the album but I had hundreds of albums before boxing them up and embracing the digital age. So, to be honest about it, after three children three states and 100s of CD’s , I never heard about John Hurley again and forgot that album languishing in hap-hazard alphabetical order in about six boxes.
As those of you know who have followed my column , I am chronicling and reviewing my album collection on my site as I count down my 678 (and growing) number of albums.
This is to raise awareness for Lewy body dementia which is the second leading cause of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s. Please check out the About Me button on my blog for more on Lewy.
Moving, raising a family and all that put some pressure on my records to be sold, but I held on Alabama, Georgia, Florida, California and now back to Alabama.
Meanwhile back at the vinyl countdown. I had stored away my records for decades, became an early adopter of an iPod and Apple streaming music. But I always vowed that even if I have to wait to retirement I’ll get those records out and have a listening room (AKA ‘Man Cave”). This was an idea long before I became ill. The Lewy diagnosis just gave me a deadline about three years ago I started this blog, to have fun mostly but also to raise awareness to this crummy disease.
So back to Hurley. He resurfaced in my consciousness when I got down to the ‘H’s ( I am now on the ‘N’s in my alphabetical countdown.) I listened to the album again and was really impressed. So I did more research and found out he grew up in a poor neighborhood in Pittsburgh. He worked and lived in Nashville for a while . He and his songwriting partner Ronnie Wilkins had a big moment in Muscle Shoals when Jerry Hall asked them to do a song for Aretha Franklin. They came back with “Son of a Preacher Man,” a worldwide hit for Dusty Springfield. Aretha covered it later to good success but not as big as Springfield’s hit.
I knew that song well, sang it on the way to church on Sundays when it came on in the car. My attention then focused on a song that I heard so many accolades but was relatively unfamiliar with it. It was called ‘Living on the Love of the Common People.”
I found his first album ‘John Hurley Sings to the People.” That had the Common People song. I was blown away again. ‘Sweet Pain’ is another great song off of that album.
The Common People song was a simple tune and simple words that came together with the ability to pull tears out of your eyes, especially if you watch the video of the song put together by Hurley’s son from family pictures. I was happy to have found these records and so now I’m looking for his third and last album. In the record store recently I found Hurley but it was the same album I had for so many years: John Hurley Delivers One More Hallelujah. Only this one had a birthday wish written in ink on the cover by presumably Hurley himself. See the picture.
Here’s the Happy Birthday message on an album I bought by John Hurt. Hurt, a singer-songwriter, grew up poor in Pittsburgh. He wrote several major hits but died relatively unknown at age 45.
I would love to find more information about this. Who’s Mom? Is this indeed from John Hurley?
I have tried to reach Hurley’s son, Ron, to no avail at this point.
John died in 1986 at age 45 of liver failure and brain failure, according to Wikipedia.
Meanwhile, another clue appeared on the same YouTube comment section suggesting Hurley at one point or several points in his life stayed or lived in Birmingham.
Here’s a post on the YouTube thread posted eight years ago.
@ronhurley1961 John Hurley was one of the, if not the most talented people that I have ever known. I met him when I was 17 years old in Birmingham Alabam at Bob Groves recording studio. He was there recording a friend of mine named Mike Gunnels. He drove a red sports car and always wore sunglasses. He stayed at my house and honored me with his friendship. That was over 40 years ago and I miss him to this day. He recorded the album “Street Gospel” shortly after and it is still my favorite.
NOTE TO READERS: The commenter’s user name was WiseGuyDogs1 and 8 years was how long ago this comment was published. Also ‘Street Gospel’ was the same record as ‘John Hurley Sings for the Common People.’ Lastly Mike Gunnels was the leader of a band called Hard Times, which later changed its name to Rites of Spring. They were considered by my own anecdotal research to be the best band in Birmingham for a few years there in the 1960s. Attempts to reach Gunnels were unsuccessful.
Among those dozen or so who have covered the song are Waylon Jennings, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Young, the Everly Brothers, and the Four Preps.
END NOTE: Those familiar with www.myvinylcountdown.com know that I have been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a fatal disease which will likely kill me. Meanwhile, I have been reviewing my collection — I’m at nearly 400 reviewed now at my website. on my way to 678. I am going in alphabetical order (more or less).
@ronhurley1961 John Hurley was one of the, if not the most talented people that I have ever known. I met him when I was 17 years old in Birmingham Alabam at Bob Groves recording stuido. He was there recording a friend of mine named Mike Gunnels. He drove a red sports car and always wore sunglasses. He stayed at my house and honored me with his friendship. That was over 40 years ago and I miss him to this day. He recorded the album “Street Gospel” shortly after and it is still my favorite.
It looks like it says:
FIRST LINE: Nov –14–1973
SECOND LINE: Happy Birthday “Mom” <unsure of the last word on line 2>
THIRD LINE: All the best —
FOURTH LINE: and you have! < not sure about <have>
NOTE: This was updated July, 2020, to reflect that when I did the original post I did not know about his other two albums. I began to do a litte research on this native of Pittsburgh and session musician in Nashville, and some in Muscle Shoals as well. Since I wrote the original column, I launched an unsuccessful search for a friend or relative. He died too early in his 1950s (It appears that he also had a Birmingham link in that he did some recording here as well.) I’ve not found family or friends but I quit pursuing because I felt like I would leave them alone and if they wanted to talk, they would contact me). Any way bottom line. I liked the other two albums better than One More Hallelujah. I have upgraded Hallelujah from 3.5 to 4.0; and the other two I’m grading to 4.5’s each. He was not only a great songwriter but also a great country-blues singer. I mean great.
ALBUM: John Hurley Delivers One More Hallelujah (1971)
This gospel-soul singer is probably best known for co-writing the classic ‘Son of a Preacher Man’ with the famous line: ‘The only man who could ever reach me was the son of a preacher man.’
The song was originally written for Aretha Franklin but when there were some delays in getting the Aretha version done and published, Wikipedia says the song was considered too gospel for the particular album Aretha was working on.
Dusty Springfield recorded it, and it became a massive hit.
Hurley was a fine singer as well as a songwriter but he only put out three albums. He died at 45 from liver failure and cerebral hemorrhage, according to his Wikipedia page.
He wrote songs with Ronnie Wilkins, for a while in Nashville. Some who have covered his songs include The Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings and Wayne Newton.
The title song on the album I have is a full-throated gospel number that almost crosses over the gospel- secular divide with its chorus-backed soul belting of Hurley.
If you like soul or gospel, this is a strong consistent album, top to bottom by an artist who deserves a little more recognition. As oneYouTuber put it: “Another buried treasure. What an amazing, unjustly forgotten career.”
Footnote: I picked this from a used record bin thinking I was buying something from Michael Hurley and the Holy Modal Rounders which I had read about and was looking for the name ‘Hurley’ and just snagged it without remembering that it was the wrong first name. Glad I did snag it.
But still looking for that Michael Hurley record.
PPS: Larry Carlton plays guitar on this Hurley record.
A tidbit came to me before I could close out: In the 90’s, the reggae-American group Cypress Hill, sampled “Son of a Preacher Man,’ put it in a song called “Hits from the Bong.”
That added even more to a growing audience for that song, contributing royalties for the songwriters.
ALBUMS: Buddy Holly Lives — 20 Golden Greats (1978 compilation)
MVC Rating: 5.0/$$$$$
I used this formula in a previous review and it is simplistic. Great artists are more than the sum total of who they listened to. But my lttle equation is: Chuck Berry + Buddy Holly = Beatles. It’s not an equation of who is best, it’s an equation of influences.
I tried to mess around with the Rolling Stones which might be Chuck Berry + Howlin’ Wolf = Stones? Didn’t work for me really. The Beatles clearly were taking in everything Holly was doing. “True Love Ways,” sounds like the Fab Four.
Listen to ‘Rave On‘ with your eyes closed and you can practically see the Beatles up on stage singing that song. Same with ‘Words of Love.’
The Beatles named themselves in homage to the Crickets.
Of course most are familiar with the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. It was the Day the Music Died as proclaimed by one of rock’s great songs, ‘American Pie.’
You can get a modern version of Holly in Marshall Crenshaw — who seemed to channel Holly on some very good records in the 1980s. But had Holly lived, he would have probably been pioneering in a way beyond Crenshaw — like the Beatles were. Though intriguing, we’ll obviously never know what kind of music Holly would have brought us.
And with all due respect to Don McLean, musicians die, but the music, when it’s really really good, lives on.
I had forgotten how good this album is. Mostly instrumental, this album has Howe showing off a precise and beautiful touch on guitar and other string instruments. Songs are varied and probably would be labeled progressive rock like his band Yes. But much of it is jazzy folk and a little country (English style.
But that doesn’t aptly describe the variety and quality of the music . ‘Pennants’ opens it up with a riffy rock feel. ‘DIary of a Man Who Vanished’ is melodic and enduring. ‘Meadow Rag’ i s what it says it is and very well played. ‘Cactus Boogie’ is too what it says it is. These songs are so disparate yet they all seem so familiar, like they belong together.
On the gatefold, Howe shows off his instruments in photos. Quite a collection includes a Martin 0018, a Kohno Spanish guitar. a Gibson Les Paul, a Danelectro Coral Sitar Guitar and a Fender Telecaster , among others. Probably well over $100,000 or way more for these precious instruments.
Speaking of worth. I don’t know how rare this album is but the Howe album I have fetches $20 to $30 on Discogs. If I remember, I bought this one new in Athens, Ga. during my freshman year at UGA, 1979.
ALBUMS: Suddenly it’s The Hi-Lo’s (1957, Reissue 1981); Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians, Globe of Frogs (1988).
MVC Rating: Hi-Lo’s 3.0/$$: Hitchcock 3.5/$$
Robin Hitchcok’s Globe of Frogs
OK I am doubling up as I am wont to do every now and then. I’m finishing up the H’s in the next few posts. Continuing on my way to review and reminisce about my 678-record collection. I’m doing this alphabetically (more o r less) and I still have more than 400 to go.
I chose to review these together mainly because they were the next two alphabetically speaking. But it’s an interesting contrasting combination.
This is a review of a 1950’s vocal jazz group and an alternative psychedelic folk rock artist . What can you say about Hitchcock, an artist who opens his liner notes with words like: “All of us exist in a swarming pulsating world, driven mostly by an unconscious that we ignore or misunderstand.”
The Hi-Lo’s meanwhile in this 1981 reissue of a 1957 album are all about fresh faced optimism, suits and un-ironic bow ties. The four men sing in harmonies and seem happy warbling away at songs like ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ and ‘Stormy Weather. I listen to it when I want to go to something completely different in my collection. It’s surprisingly uplifting music.
If I were writing a traditional consumer guide I’d probably say ‘hey old folks check out the Hi-Lo’s they are like your old music. And say to the younger folks, dig the new Robyn HItchock album, it’s out of this world.
But I recommend the vice versa position. Kids meet the Hi-Los. Grown-ups see what psychedlic folk hipsterism is all about. (It’s not too bad, I promise — except ‘Devil’s Mask‘ — live from Athens, Ga., — might blow some minds.)
So with both albums from divergent styles you can still say about both of them: And now for something completely different.
ALBUMS: Bring the Family (1987); Warming Up to the Ice Age (1985); Riding with the King (1983); All of a Sudden (1982); Two-bit Monster (1980); Slug Line (1979).
John Hiatt with his voice evoking the best and, sometimes, worst elements of Dylan and Elvis (Costello?) is a major example of when songcraft rules. And in Hiatt’s case it does.
And then some.
John Hiatt
I hopped on for the ride with a cut-out, ‘Riding with the King,’ a talking boast of a song and album. On the cover Hiatt is sitting on a big bike (motorcycle).
“You May Already Be a Winner’ and ‘She Loves the Jerk’ are classic tracks here but the whole album is shot through with humor, mostly sardonic. Here’s “Winner’ about a poor sap who thinks he’s won a big contest.
I know you’re tired of the same old dress I know the car’s been repossessed I know this house is just a shack But there’s this love we cant hold back
Would you like a beer with your TV dinner? Oh, my darling, you may already be a winner
As you can see, I have six of Hiatt’s albums. That’s a lot for me to have of one artist.
As I’ve explained before, I am not a completist in my record collecting ventures, was always looking for new music. I do have on CD, ‘Slow Turning,’ which may be Hiatt’s best work. It came out in 1988 about the time CD’s were available to the masses. I have a lot of records up to about 1987 or 88, when CDs became the main vehicle. It was the Day the Music Died. Not really, I embraced digital formats and have only recently become enamored (my wife would say absorbed) with vinyl, probably because I had boxes filled with 678 records that I had put up for decades before my rekindled interest.
.In Hiatt’s discography, the 1987 ‘Bring the Family’ is still vinyl but one year later we have ‘Slow Turning.’
I think Hiatt is one of the top artists to come out of the 1980s — a decade that gets picked on a lot for rock music. But here’s lyrics from a rocker on the aforementioned ‘Bring the Family.’
Sure I like country music I like mandolins But right now I need a telecaster Through a vibro-lux turned up to ten
[Chorus:] Lets go to Memphis in the meantime baby Memphis in the meantime girl
A little postscript: I never got to see him live. Catherine did though. She was offered tickets to a show north of Orlando in early 1990s. I had to stay home on this last minute deal because of kids, girls night out it was. Catherine said he was great live.
There was a small piece of drama that night. Seems Hiatt had a stalker, a woman if my memory serves me was arrested for stalking Hiatt. Sounds like a John Hiatt song..
My memory of Eddie Hinton is a sad one. He was playing at the Nick in Birmingham, or was it the Wooden Nickel still in 1985?
The small Birmingham mainstay was sparsely crowded. The college kids and 20-somethings didn’t have a clue who Hinton was. A Swamper. A blues singer who sounded a little like Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett. A man with a fan club in Sweden but little recognition in his own state.
Near the end, he was picking up a few extra dollars mowing lawns.
My good friend, writer Tom Gordon, did an excellent piece for the Birmingham News dated April 4, 1985. The story was called ‘Rocker on the rebound.’ I wish I could link to it but can’t find it online. I have a coffee stained paper copy of the story that I keep in my Eddie Hinton album, ‘Very Extremely Dangerous.”
On this night in 1985, Hinton was attempting to make a comeback. I was there. And he was very, extremely drunk. Long before Janet Jackson had a wardrobe malfunction, Hinton had one on stage that night involving the fly on his pants.
Hinton’s album ‘Very Extremely Dangerous’
He wasn’t well, and the power of addiction was on vivid display. He died in 1995 at the age of 51. I do have the album. If you listen to a couple of cuts (on video below) you will understand why I call him one of the best blues singers most have not heard.
Gordon in his 1985 piece describes observing Hinton singing in a Decatur recording studio. Gordon writes:
Later, after an hour or more of recording, his face shiny with a thin film of sweat, Hinton seems almost sheepishly shy when someone compliments his singing.
“I try to put all my being into it,” Hinton says.
Writer Bob Mehr in the Chicago Reader wrote about how people were often shocked when learning he was white:
British critic Barney Hoskyns, writing in Soul Survivor magazine in 1987, called Hinton “simply the blackest white voice ever committed to vinyl.”
In fact, Hinton’s likeness was famously and intentionally left off the packaging for his debut LP, 1978’s Very Extremely Dangerous. Hoskyns was backstage after a mid-80s Bruce Springsteen concert, where a few members of the E Street Band were singing along to the record, and recalls their reaction when he told them Hinton was white: “They were as dumbfounded as I was.”
Hinton’s voice draws the attention, but it is his songwriting and guitar work that frequently earned him a paycheck. Elvis Presley’s “Merry Christmas Baby’ — that’s Hinton on guitar. He played guitar on albums by Boz Scaggs, the Staple Singers, and Percy Sledge. He has had his songs recorded by Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Cher and Greg Allman.
So he achieved some success. But it was his voice that truly set him apart. He just couldn’t bust through to the stardom his talent deserved.
Listen to his rendition of ‘Shout Bamalama’ and hear the man’s soul.
This blind Canadian guitarist died too soon, and I believe was underrated as a guitarist.
He died at 41 of cancer. As an infant he had a rare eye cancer which led to the removal of his eyeballs. He started playing guitar at 3 years old, putting it on his lap. It’s a method he used all his life.
His ballad-for-radio ‘Angel Eyes’ (written by John Hiatt) reached No. 5 on the charts in the late 80s. It was from the album ‘See the Light’ — the title song is the scorching closer of that album. ‘Angel Eyes’ is a better ballad-for-radio than Ian Hunter’s “Ships” which I just reviewed on MVC.
For good or ill, more people may remember Healey as the blind leader of a house band in a rought and tumble nightclub in the Patrick Swayze movie ‘Road House.’ Yep that’s Jeff, basically playing himself.
I think this movie role probably caused a lot of folks to miss the forest for the trees. He was exceptional with his laptop guitar playing and often expanded his music into the jazz and blues realm. But he didn’t make Rollihg Stone’s Top 100 guitarists, not necessarily a travesty, but an inexplicable oversight.
He has made other lists in the Top 10, however. And lists are lists — to judge for yourself, see the videos below:
Fun fact: He was a voracious collector of old jazz and blues records and played trumpet as well as guitar.
