Bill Sharkey: Live Cover Songs

I Started A Joke (Bee Gees, The, 1968-1969). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2022-02-18. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "I Started A Joke" was the Bee Gee's 7th top 20 hit in the USA landing at the #6 position (the highest position at this point in their career) on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968 (Whitburn, 2013). The song was written by the three Gibb brothers, Barry, Robin & Maurice, although Robin was the primary composer (beegees.fandom.com, 2022). Robin Gibb explained (beegees.com, 2022; Bee Gees Anthology, Hal Leonard [publisher], 1991) that the melody for the song came to him while being hypnotized by the rhythmic sound of the airplane engines on a British Airways Vickers Viscount 4-prop. He said that "The droning, after a while, appeared to take the form of a tune, which mysteriously sounded like a church choir" (p. 188) He continued that when the plane landed, he and brother Barry finished the lyrics in their hotel room. Of the lyrics, Robin once said that "This is a very spiritual song. The listeners have to interpret it themselves – trying to explain it would detract from the song" (Mail On Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey Lyrics: I started a joke which started the whole world crying But I didn't see that the joke was on me oh no I started to cry which started the whole world laughing Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said 'Till I finally died which started the whole world living Oh if I'd only seen that the joke was on me I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said 'Till I finally died which started the whole world living Oh if I'd only seen that the joke was on me Oh no that the joke was on me

From Me To You (Beatles, The, 1963/1964). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2022-02-14. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "From Me To You," written by Lennon & McCartney (songmeanings.com, 2022), was the Beatles' first 45 single released in the United States as the "B" side of "Please, Please Me," which was the "A" side of the record (beatlesbible.com, 2021; songfacts.com, 2022). "Please, Please Me" was the first song to be promoted in the US, but it did not originally chart in 1963; however, "From Me To You" was then pushed, and it hit the Billboard Bubbling Under chart at #116. The song was then re-released in 1964 when it rose to the #41 position on the chart (Whitburn, 2013); it did reach the #1 position on the UK charts (songfacts.com, 2022). "This was the first song to feature The Beatles['] falsetto "whoooo," which became a big part of many of their hits . . . Paul McCartney learned the "whoooo" from listening to Little Richard" (songfacts.com, 2022). According to beatlesebooks.com (2022), Lennon and McCartney wrote the song while on a bus from York to Shrewsury, England. They were reading a column in New Musical Express, "From You To Us," which featured a fan letter talking about how Cliff Richard was currently outshining Elvis Presley in the charts. They used the title of the column as the spark that led to "From Me To You." Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey Lyrics: Da da da, da da dumb dumb da Da da da, da da dumb dumb da If there's anything that you want If there's anything I can do Just call on me and I'll send it along With love, from me to you I've got everything that you want Like a heart that's oh so true Just call on me and I'll send it along With love, from me to you I've got arms that long to hold you And keep you by my side I've got lips that long to kiss you And keep you satisfied (woooo) If there's anything that you want If there's anything I can do Just call on me and I'll send it along With love, from me to you From me To you Just call on me and I'll send it along With love, from me to you I've got arms that long to hold you And keep you by my side I've got lips that long to kiss you And keep you satisfied (wooo) If there's anything that you want If there's anything I can do Just call on me and I'll send it along With love, from me to you To you To you To you

Anyway You Want It (Dave Clark Five (DC5), 1964). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2022-02-07. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Anyway You Want It," written by Dave Clark** (i.discogs.com, 2022; oktav.com, 2022), was the Dave Clark Five's 7th top 20 hit, all released in 1964, and rose to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (Whitburn, 2013). The DC5 performed "Anyway You Want It" and "Because" on the Ed Sullivan Show, Nov. 1, 1964, and again on Feb 14, 1965 along with "Everybody Knows" (metacritic.com, 2022). They performed on the Sullivan show 18 times, more than any other Rock, R&B, or Pop artist (pbs.org, 2014). In 2008, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "44 years after their debut performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964" (edsullivan.com, 2022). **However, according to Ron Ryan (himself), he was a co-writer for a number of songs, including "Any way You Want It" (richieunterberger.com, 2014). http://www.richieunterberger.com/.../the-dave-clark-five/ Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey Lyrics: Any way you want it You can call me any day, hey-hey-hey Any way you want it You can always hear me say, hey-hey-hey It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all) Any way you want it That's the way it will be You don't want money You don't want a diamond ring, hey-hey-hey You say you want my lovin' More than any other thing, hey-hey-hey It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all) Any way you want it That's the way it will be Any way, any way you want it That's all right by me Any way, any way you want it That's the way it will be Any way you want it You can call me any day, hey-hey-hey Any way you want it You can always hear me say, hey-hey-hey It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all) Any way you want it That's the way it will be Any way, any way you want it That's all right by me Any way, any way you want it That's the way it will be Any way you want it You can call me any day, hey-hey-hey Any way you want it You can always hear me say, hey-hey-hey It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all right) It's all right (it's all) Any way you want it That's the way it will be That's the way it will be That's the way it will be That's the way it will be

I'm Sorry (John Denver, 1975). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-01-22. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "I'm Sorry" was John Denver's 8th top 20 hit, his 4th #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1975 and his last top 10 hit (Whitburn, 2013). At the age of 53, Denver died as he crashed his homemade Long-EZ plane, near Pacific Grove, California October 12, 1997 (countrythangdaily.com, 2022). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey Lyrics: It's cold here in the city It always seems that way And I've been thinking about you almost everyday Thinking about the good times Thinking about the rain Thinking about how bad it feels alone again I'm sorry for the way things are in China I'm sorry things ain't what they used to be But more than anything else I'm sorry for myself 'Cause you're not here with me Our friends all ask about you And I say you're doing fine And I expect to hear from you almost anytime But they all know I'm crying And I can't sleep at night They all know I'm dying down deep inside I'm sorry for all the lies I told you I'm sorry for the things I didn't say But more than anything else I'm sorry for myself I can't believe you went away I'm sorry if I took some things for granted I'm sorry for the chains I put on you But more than anything else I'm sorry for myself For living without you

Let It Be Me (Everly Brothers, The, 1960; Betty Everett & Jerry Butler, 1964; Glen Campbell & Bobby Gentry, 1969; Willie Nelson, 1982). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-01-23. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Let It Be Me" was written by Gilbert Bécaud & Pierre Delanoë and originally recorded in French by Gilbert Bécaud in 1955, but titled "Je t'appartiens" (secondhandsongs.com, 2022). The first English version of the song (English lyrics by Manny Curtis) was recorded by Jill Corey with Jimmy Carroll & his orchestra in 1957 (mineral-sol.com, 2021); however, it was the Everly Brothers' version that made the song popular and hit the charts in 1960 rising to the #7 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it was their 8th top 10 hit on the chart (Whitburn, 2013). Other top 40 Billboard versions of the song include: Betty Everett & Jerry Butler (1964 #5); Glen Campbell & Bobby Gentry (1969 #36) and Willie Nelson (1982 #40) (Whitburn, 2013). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey Lyrics: I bless the day I found you I want to stay around you And so I beg you, let it be me Don't take this heaven from one If you must cling to someone Now and forever, let it be me Each time we meet, love I find complete love Without your sweet love what would life be? So never leave me lonely Tell me you love me only And that you'll always let it be me Each time we meet, love I find complete love Without your sweet love what would life be? So never leave me lonely Tell me you love me only And that you'll always let it be me

Where Were You When I Needed You (Grass Roots, The, 1966). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-01-24. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Where Were You When I Needed You" was the Grass Roots' first top 40 hit rising to #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966 (Whitburn, 2013). The song was written by the songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri (R. Unterberger, allmusic.com, 2022). The two decided to record some demo recordings of their music and eventually decided to be artists as well and called them selves the Grass Roots (as in the grass roots project) and recruited the San Francisco band the Bedouin to complete the band; their lead singer, Bill Fulton, sang lead for the song; be that as it may, the members of the Bedouin did not work out, so Sloan & Barri completed the rest of the songs for the first album themselves (songfacts.com, 2022). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey Lyrics: Don't bother crying, don't bother calling It's all over now, no use in stalling The love once I felt I don't feel anymore for you This time I'll even open the door for you You walked out when I was down Well, now I'm well off And look, look who's coming 'round Where were you when I needed ya Where were you when I wanted ya Where were you when I needed ya Where? You're looking good It's hard to fight it There's no use explaining I've already decided That living with you Is worse than without you I won't spend a lifetime a-worriying about you Things get rough and you disappeared Now I'm back on my feet And look, look who is standing there Where were you when I needed ya Where were you when I wanted ya Where were you when I needed ya Where? You were so young and you were so wild I knew you were nobody's innocent child The first day I saw you You really got to me I thought I could change you What good did it to me? Things got rough and you couldn't wait Now you're tripping back But babe, babe it's too late Where were you when I needed ya Where were you when I wanted ya Where were you when I needed ya Where?

That's My Desire (Dion & the Belmonts, 1959-1960, Sammy Kaye, 1947; Frankie Laine, 1946; Sensations, The, 1962). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2022-01-25. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "That's My Desire" is a song written in 1931 by Helmy Kresa and Carroll Loveday (song.of-the-day.com, 2022), and recorded and charted by a number of artists beginning with Frankie Laine (1946, #4) and Sammy Kaye (1947, #2), both on the Billboard Best Seller chart (Whitburn, 1998), while the Sensations reached #69 in 1962 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (Whitburn, 2013). The version here, by request, is Dion & the Belmonts doo wop rendition. Although their version did not chart, it was the "B" side of "Where or When," which rose to the #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959-1960 (Whitburn, 2013). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey #DooWoo Lyrics: To spend one night with you In our old rendezvous Cherie, I love you so That's my desire To hear you whisper low Just when it's time to go Cherie, I love you so That's my desire To sip a little glass of wine I'll gaze into your eyes divine To feel the warmth of your lips Pressing on my own To spend one night with you In our old rendezvous Cherie, I love you so That's my desire Ba da da Cheri, Cheri, woo woo woo woo Desire, desire woo woo woo woo Desire

Take It To The Limit (Eagles, The, 1975). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-01-18. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Take It To The Limit" was the Eagles 5th top 10 hit climbing to #4 in 1975 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (Whitburn, 2013). The song was written by Don Henley, Randy Meisner and Glenn Frey and sung by Meisner; according to Meisner, "The line 'take it to the limit' was to keep trying. You reach a point in your life where you feel you've done everything and seen everything - it's part of getting old. And just to take it to the limit one more time, like every day just keep punching away at it" (songfacts.com, 2022). Meisner left the band in 1977; he claimed he was extremely nervous about singing the song in concert, especially the high note at the end; band members insisted that he sing it which led to a fight and his decision to quit after the tour (A. Matyus, grunge.com, Aug 7, 2020). He was replaced by bassist Timothy B. Schmit of Poco fame (songfacts.com, 2022). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey #billsharkeydiscography

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is (Chicago, 1970). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2022-01-16. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" was Chicago's 4th entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart; the song reached the #7 position on the chart in 1970 (Whitburn, 2013). According to writer of the song Robert Lamb, "I was a teenager walking down the street in Brooklyn, New York where I grew up. I walked by a movie theater and there was an usher standing outside taking a cigarette break. I said to him, 'Hey man, what time is it?' and he said, 'Does anybody really know what time it is?' I remembered that when I was trying to write this sort of Beatle-esque shuffle and just explore the idea of 'Does anybody really know what time it is?'" (The Chris Isaak Hour, songfacts.com, 2022). This was the first song that Chicago recorded in the studio together (songfacts.com, 2022). The song is found on their first album when the band was called "Chicago Transit Authority" (chicagotheband.com, 2021); however, the the city of Chicago's "Chicago Transit Authority" objected to them using the agency's name, so the group shortened their name to "Chicago" (W. Ruhlmann, allmusic.com, 2022) to avoid possible legal actions (W. J. Wright, grunge.com, Mar 22, 2021). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey #billsharkeydiscography

King of the Road (Roger Miller, 1965). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2022-01-12. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "King of the Road" was Roger Miller's third top 10 Billboard Hot 100 song landing at the #4 position in 1965 (Whitburn, 2013) and hitting the #1 position on the Billboard Top Country Singles' chart (Whitburn, 1994). "During the summer, [Miller] was on the road outside of Chicago when he saw a sign that read ‘Trailers for Sale or Rent’. He began writing the first draft to “King of the Road”, though he got no further than the first verse. In Boise, Idaho, Roger noticed a hobo statue in an airport gift shop and bought it in hopes of finding inspiration for the rest of the lyrics;" the song took him six weeks to complete writing (rogermiller.com, 2022). Conversely, in 1969 on the Mike Douglas Show, Miller stated "I was doing a show in a place you have probably never heard of called Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and I saw a statue of a hobo in a cigar shop were I was staying. I purchased it and took it to my room and wrote the song" (songfacts.com, 2022). Be that as it may, at the 8th Annual Grammy Awards in 1965, Miller and his song walked away with the most awards: Best Country & Western Song award (Artist), Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Best Contemporary Song, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Country Song (Writer), Best Contemporary (R&R) Performance (Single), Best Contemporary (R&R) Performance (Male Vocal Performance) (awardsandwinners.com, 2022). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey #billsharkeydiscography Lyrics: Trailer for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes Ah, but, two hours of pushin' brooms Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road Third boxcar, midnight train, destination, Bangor, Maine Old worn-out suits and shoes I don't pay no union dues I smoke old stogies I have found - short, but not too big around I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road Every engineer on every train All of their children, and all of their names And every handout in every town And every lock that ain't locked when no one's around Trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes Ah, but, two hours of pushin' brooms Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road Trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes Ah, but, two hours of pushin' brooms Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road

Eight Miles High (Byrds, The, 1965). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2022-01-04. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Eight Miles High" was the Byrds' 6th Billboard Hot 100 charted release landing at #14 in 1966 (Whitburn, 2013). The single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (grammy.com, 2022). The song is also listed on the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" (everythingilluminate.wordpress.com, 2022). Some people believed that the song was about drug use; however, when Songfacts asked Roger McGuinn if the song was really about drugs, he said: "Well, it was done on an airplane ride to England and back. I'm not denying that the Byrds did drugs at that point - we smoked marijuana - but it wasn't really about that" (songfacts.com, 2016). The band members claimed it was inspired by a flight where singer Gene Clark asked McGuinn how high they were in the sky. McGuinn told him six miles, but changed the milage to eight miles for the song (songfacts.com, 2022). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #coversongs

(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me (Naked Eyes, 1983; Dionne Warwick, 1968; R. B. Greaves, 1970; Sandie Shaw, 1965; Lou Johnson, 1964). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2022-01-03. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me" was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and first recorded by Dionne Warwick as a demo in 1963 (Wikipedia, 2022); subsequently, Bacharach and David had much success with their song; multiple artists hit the Billboard chart with their covers of the song. The first to chart was Lou Johnson in 1964 hitting the #49 position followed by Sandie Shaw a year later peaking at #52. Warwick re-recoded the song, and her new version rose to #65 on the Billboard chart in 1968. Nonetheless, it was R. B. Greaves who broke through the top 40 with his version in 1970 rising to the #27 position; but it was Naked Eyes' rendition that was most successful scoring a #8 position on the chart in 1983 (Whitburn, 2013). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Beyond the Sea (Roger Williams, 1956; Bobby Darin, 1960). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-12-28. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Beyond the Sea" hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1956 with Roger Williams' instrumental version landing at the #37 position on the chart; Bobby Darin's vocal version was the most popular version and rose to the #6 position in 1960 (Whitburn, 2013). "Beyond the Sea" was based on the 1946 musical composition by Frenchman Charles Trenet, later with English lyrics by Jack Lawrence and first recorded in English by Harry James & His Orchestra with Marion Morgan on vocals in 1947 (pop-culture.fandom.com, 2021); but Benny Goodman's instrumental was the first to climb the US charts in 1948 hitting the #26 position (archive.org, 2021; Whitburn, 1986). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

'Till There Was You (Anita Bryant, 1959; Beatles, The, 1964; Eileen Wilson, 1950). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-12-26. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "'Till There Was You" was written by Meredith Willson and first recorded by Willson & his Orchestra with Eileen Wilson providing the vocals back in 1950; although the original title was "Till I Met You" (archive.org, 2021). Later, in 1957, Willson changed the title to "'Till There Was You" and included the song in his play "The Music Man" (songfacts.com, 2021). In 1959, Anita Bryant's version of the song was the only recording to hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart landing at the #30 position (Whitburn, 2013). The Beatles released their version of the song on their second UK album "With the Beatles" in 1963 and in 1964 on their first US album "Meet the Beatles!" (Whitburn, 2006; Wikipedia, 2021). The Beatles introduced the song to the young US audience on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964 as the second of five songs they performed (setlist.fm, 2021). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Colours (Donovan, 1965). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-12-18. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Colours" was Donovan's second entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart stalling at #61 in 1965 (Whitburn, 2013). Interesting that Donovan, or the record company, did not use his original 1965 recording of the song for his 1969 greatest hits album; instead, he/they employed Big Jim Sullivan to play guitar, John Paul Jones bass and keyboards, and Clem Cattini drums, and Mickie Most produced it (Wikipedia, 2021). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey Lyrics: Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair In the mornin' when we rise In the mornin' when we rise That's the time, that's the time I love the best Green's the colour of the sparklin' corn In the mornin' when we rise In the mornin' when we rise That's the time, that's the time I love the best Blue's the colour of the sky In the mornin' when we rise In the mornin' when we rise That's the time, that's the time I love the best Mellow is the feeling that I get When I see her, mm hmm When I see her, uh huh That's the time, that's the time I love the best Freedom is a word I rarely use Without thinkin', mm hmm Without thinkin', mm hmm Of the time, of the time When I've been loved Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair In the mornin' when we rise In the mornin' when we rise That's the time, that's the time I love the best

Devoted To You (Everly Brothers, the , 1958; Carly Simon & James Taylor, 1978). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-12-18. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Devoted To You" has been recorded by many artists, the best known is the Everly Brothers' version, which in 1958 rose to the #10 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (the flip side "Bird Dog," the A side, topped the chart), while Carly Simon and James Taylor scored a #36 hit with the song in 1978 (Whitburn, 2013). The song was written by Boudleaux Bryant who also wrote such memorable Everly Brother hits as "Bye, Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Bird Dog" (songfacts.com, 2021). "Devoted To You" was the Everly Brothers' seventh consecutive top 40 hit (of which 3 were #1s) in the span of just 13 months (Whitburn, 2013). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

That Thing You Do (Wonders, The, 1996-1997). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-26. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "That Thing You Do," written by Adam Schlesinger (a founding member of Fountains of Wayne who played bas and provided background vocals on the track) (songfacts.com, 2021), was the driving force behind the film of the same name and rose to #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1996 (Whitburn, 2013). The infectious song was recorded by studio musicians with Mike Viola (producer & member of The Candy Butchers) taking on the lead vocal (songfacts.com, 2021; Whitburn, 2013). During an interview with Dan MacIntosh of songfacts.com, Adam Schesinger stated that his publisher told him that those associated with the movie interested in a song "that sounds like early Beatles. And [the publishers] knew that that was an era that I liked a lot. So I just took a shot at it and got very lucky and they used the song" (Sep 20, 2011). The song was nominated for an Academy Award for 1997 Best Original Song (imdb.com, 2021). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

It's All Right (Impressions, The, 1963; Huey Lewis & the News, 1993). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-28. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "It's All Right" was the Impressions first top 10 hit rising to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963 (Whitburn, 2013). The song was written by group member and lead singer, Curtis Mayfield (songfacts, com, 2021). Group mate, Fred Cash, claimed that Curtis would create his songs based on side comments people around him would say; "It's All Right" arose from "A conversation between . . . Curtis Mayfield, baritone Sam Gooden, and tenor Fred Cash in between performances in Nashville . . . The trio had recently teamed up with producer Johnny Pate and were excitedly talking about future possibilities for The Impressions when Fred Cash exclaimed that "it's all right!" Mayfield picked up on the phrase and wrote this tune" (songfacts.com, 2021). Huey Lewis and the News also charted with their a cappella version of the song in 1993; their version rose to #37 on the Billboard Airplay chart and is found on the "B" side of of the single "Give Me The Keys" (Whitburn, 2013). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels) (Jim Croce, 1972). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-21. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels)" was Jim Croce's second release and second top 20 hit, landing at the #17 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972 (Whitburn, 2013). During an interview with Carl Wiser of songfacts.com (May 1, 2007), his widow Ingrid Croce told the story of how the idea for Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels) was developed. Jim was in the National Guard, one day "he was standing there in the rain at a payphone. And he was listening to these stories of all these [National Guardsmen], the 'Dear John' stories, that were standing in line waiting their turn in the rain with these green rain jackets over their heads . . . all of them in line waiting for their 3-minute phone call. . . . some of them were getting these 'Dear John' letters, or phone calls. I think that was the most important aspect of the song, because it was just so desperate. You know, 'I only have a dime' and 'You can keep the dime' because money was very scarce and very precious. . . . 'Operator, could you help me place this call?' I'm picturing Jim out in the rain and this long line of guys where they're really trying to reach somebody. It was hard to get through, so you always had the operator do it for you." Jim, himself, recalled that "There wasn’t a phone booth; [the phone] was just stuck up on the side of the building and there were about 200 guys in each line waiting to make a phone call back home to see if their ‘Dear John’ letter was true" (B. Stilwell, wearethemighty.com, Jan. 26, 2021). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey

Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter (Herman's Hermits, 1965). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-24. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" was Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits 4th USA release and their first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1965, spending three weeks at the top position (Whitburn, 2013). The song was written by Trevor Peacock and was first sung by Tom Courtenay in the 1963 British TV play "The Lads," which is where Peter Noone heard the song; interestingly, the song was never released as a single in Noone's home country (songfacts.com, 2021). Noone was only 16 year old when the song hit the #1 position (songfacts.com, 2021). In 1968, the song led to a movie of the same name in which Peter Noone and the rest of the Hermits performed and acted; the movie also featured another of HH's hits, "There's a Kind of Hush" (imdb.com, 2021). In the movie, Mrs. Brown is actually "a greyhound inherited from [Peter Noone's character's] now-deceased grandfather," which the Hermits are trying to enter into a dog race (imdb.com, 2021). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey #billsharkey

Two of Us (Beatles, The, 1970). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-09. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Two of Us" was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon/McCartney for the "Let It Be" LP that was released in 1970; the song was the opening track to the album (Whitburn, 2009). The original title for the track was "On Our Way Home" (beatlesebooks.com, 2021). It was during the "Two of Us" recording sessions that George Harrison decided to quit the Beatles; although he did eventually return (beatlesebooks.com, 2021). According to John T. Marck (iamthebeatles.com, 2021), the song was written about his wife Linda; although there is some speculation that the song was written about himself and John Lennon. On the album track, it is John Lennon who provided a bit of banter just before the track begins when he says in a comical voice "I Dig A Pygmy' by Charles Hawtry and the Deaf Aids, phase one in which Doris gets her oats" (songfacts.com, 2021). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Truckin' (Grateful Dead, The, 1971). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-11. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Truckin'" was the Grateful Dead's second entree onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart hitting the #64 position in 1971 (Whitburn, 2013). The song was a group project with Garcia, Weir, and Lesh providing the music, while Hunter provided the lyrics (D. Dodd, dead.net, Oct. 24, 2013). The song closed out the "American Beauty" album, which was released the previous year (Whitburn, 2009). The album cut was quite a bit longer than the single version performed here with a number of additional verses clocking in at 5:05 (allmusic.com, 2021; deaddisc.com, 2021). Truckin'" is an autobiographical picture painted by the band about their touring experiences (songfacts.com, 2021). “'Truckin’' was first performed on August 18, 1970, at the Fillmore West. The show opened with an acoustic set, and 'Truckin’" was their opening song (D. Dodd, dead.net, Oct. 24, 2013). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Smelly Cat (Phoebe Buffay, 1995). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-16. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Smelly Cat" was first performed by Phoebe Buffay at the Central Perk in 1995 during the 2nd season's "The One With The Baby On The Bus" episode of "Friends" (friends.fandom.com, 2021). The song was written by Lisa Kudrow, Adam Chase, Betsy Borns, and Chrissie Hynde (of the Pretenders) (A.Tyler, screenrant.com, Jul. 19, 2020). The song was originally written about a dog named Gouda, but eventually they thought it was funnier to be about a cat (A.Tyler, screenrant.com, Jul. 19, 2020). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Horse With No Name (America, 1972). Live performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-09. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Horse With No Name" was America's first released single, which wound up rising to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972 (Whitburn, 2013). Dewey Bunnell, the writer of the song, stated that “it was initially felt that A Horse With No Name was good but perhaps a little too quirky. At first it felt like a bit of a novelty song. It was a shock that it became so popular” (D. Ling, loudersound.com, Oct. 01, 2016). The song was originally called "The Desert Song," but when we would play it, people would say they liked the "Horse" song; so Ian Samwell, the producer, suggested the name change (P. Zollo, americansongwriter.com, 2019). Bandcamp Web Site: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey

Dead Skunk (Loudon Wainwright III, 1973). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2021-11-07. "Keeping the Oldies Alive" "Dead Skunk" was Loudon Wainwright III's only entry onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart reaching the #13 position in 1973 (Whitburn, 2013). Loudon released 24 studio albums (Whitburn, 2009) and has acted in numerous TV shows and a few movies (imdb.com, 2021). His first TV role was as Capt. Spaulding, a guitar player, on M.A.S.H (wikipedia, 2021). When asked about the possible meanings of the song, Loudon said "it was just about a dead skunk lying there in the highway" (London Times, Jul. 26, 2008). Bandcamp Webpage: https://billsharkey.bandcamp.com Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkey https://rumble.com/c/BillSharkeyDiscography Youtube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/billsharkey