"Walk" songs

[Nikki Atkinson]

Not sure if anyone has suggested "Keep On Marching" by the Meters, and "Strolling" & "Walk, Don't Walk" both of which are by Prince & the New Power Generation on the "Diamond & Pearls" album. Incidentally, "Walk, Don't Walk" also has car horns in the background (I mention this because of a piece of music chosen by Damon Albarn, a previous ping-pong guest, featured car horns).

Also, can I get away with the George Perkins "Cryin' In the Street" in which he sees "..somebody marchin'.."?

[Charlie]

Also, can I get away with the George Perkins "Cryin' In the Street" in which he sees "..somebody marchin'.."?

Sure you can Nikki, and I'm going to play the Buckwheat Zydeco version of this great song tonight

[Alan Balfour]

Also, can I get away with the George Perkins "Cryin' In the Street" in which he sees "..somebody marchin'.."?

Sure you can Nikki, and I'm going to play the Buckwheat Zydeco version of this great song tonight

That's interesting. I have a Boozoo Chavis 1988 Maison du Soul LP (later reissued on CD by Sonet?) with an amazing song of that title which, from memory, has a reference to marching. The same song? Must give it a spin.

[Con Murphy]

George Perkins "Cryin' In the Streets"

This is one record that always makes my 'Desert Island Discs' list whenever that subject comes up. I like the Buckwheat version, but the original is unsurpassable IMO. And not only is the lyric appropriate, but the rhythm section feels like it's marching along as well. Another one to add to the Louisiana second-line rhythm mystery, given the subject matter and provenance of the song.

Can anybody clear up who the vocalists are? According to the sleevenotes to the unfortunately now-deleted Charly LP SSS Soul Survey, Frank Turner may be the lead vocalist. But I also remember reading that the falsetto sounds like Claude Jeter. All a bit obscure, I know, but if I'm going to be marooned with it I might at least know who I'm listening to.

[Guest]

Cryin' in the Street is a true classic. I seem to remember John Peel playing it on the day Thatcher was first elected.

Jamie

[NormanD]

George Perkins "Cryin' In the Streets"

I like the Buckwheat version, but the original is unsurpassable IMO. And not only is the lyric appropriate, but the rhythm section feels like it's marching along as well. Another one to add to the Louisiana second-line rhythm mystery, given the subject matter and provenance of the song.

Can anybody clear up who the vocalists are? According to the sleevenotes to the unfortunately now-deleted Charly LP SSS Soul Survey, Frank Turner may be the lead vocalist. But I also remember reading that the falsetto sounds like Claude Jeter. All a bit obscure, I know, but if I'm going to be marooned with it I might at least know who I'm listening to.

I hope I haven't lost you, Con, but are you talking about the George Perkins' original? Cryin' In The Streets (Part1) is credited to George Perkins & The Silver Stars (has anyone heard Part 2, by the way?), written by Sam Matter, Ted Harris and Kerry Porter.

Dave Godin's sleeve notes to Deep Soul Treasures (vol. 3), which has this gem, say: Originally issued on the small Gold label, it was picked up for national distribution by Silver Fox, and, in the climate of the times (1969) had to battle to get air play and attention. Although never issued in Britain, a steady stream of imported copies ensured that it went straight to the heart of all true Soul fans, and such is the enduring power and rightness of its message that the song was re-vamped very effectively by a group called Fir-Ya as "Cryin' In Iran" on Star Glow (which George Perkins co-produced), to counter the gung-ho macho stance that was used against the people of that unhappy country and, no doubt, it will serve equally as well for wherever's next. [written in 1998]

A couple of things I've read say that George (from Louisiana) had a background in gospel music, and The Silver Stars were his former musical colleagues. On the song he's the main singer dueting with Frank Turner as co-vocalist. Also (and sadly so predictably) he got stiffed out of any royalties.

I've also read that the song was recorded in a garage, using a biscuit tin for the drum.

Nice call, Nikki!

norman

[Con Murphy]

I hope I haven't lost you, Con, but are you talking about the George Perkins' original?

No you haven't and yes I am, Norman. Thanks for all that info, and that CD has gone to the top of my Amazon wish-list. It's about time I had the song on CD. Can we re-start the CD Circle once I have it...?

[NormanD]

Here's a few more for Compiler Ted:

Walking Revolution - Against All Authority
Wher'er You Walk - Handel
Walking Down The Line - Bob Dylan
Walkin' One And Only - Dan Hicks
My Walking Shoes - David Grisman, John Hartford, & Mike Seeger
Under The Boardwalk - Drifters
Walk Away Renee - Left Banke
Walkin' - Herbie Mann
I'm Walkin' To A Farm - Ivor Cutler
Taking A Walk - John Prine
Walking On Sunshine - Me First And The Gimme Gimmes
Walkin' In The Rain - Mickey & Sylvia
Crabwalking - Prince Jazzbo
Walkin On The Sidewalks - Queens Of The Stone Age
Walking In The Rain - Ronettes
Walk - Snuff
Ugly Man - Sylvia McNeil ("Gonna put on me walking shoes, and walk down the avenues...")

Many murder ballads start off with something like "I asked my love to take a walk...." (eg Banks of the Ohio). Not very nice, I'm sure.

norman

[Charlie]

Then there is that old Johnny Ray/Nat King Cole etc etc classic "Walking my baby back home".

yes, this has kept coming into my head since this thread started.

as I remember the words:

"gee but it's great after being out late, walking my baby home
wandering far over meadow and star (?), walking my baby back home"

and something about "and that's when I get powder all over my face"

you youngsters won't know what it was like when when kissing a girl was liable to leave you sneezing. Whatever happened to powder, and why did they pepper themselves with it?

-------

And this reminds me of of another two from the same period, 'Walking to Missouri' (not sure who by, was it a British singer called Tony Brent?) and
'Walking Shoes' by the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, with Chet Baker

[Alan Balfour]

Whatever happened to powder, and why did they pepper themselves with it?

How did that line in W C Handy's St Louis Blues go? "If it wasn't for the powder and that store bought hair...", but I digress and land myself on dangerous ground.

[will vine]

I hate to veer too far off the subject in question Charlie, but your recollection of those lyrics about powder. allows me to evoke, as accurately as I can remember, a Helen Shapiro song.."A Teenager's Blues"...I think..............."I finish up my Coke, and powder up my nose.." I was shocked to hear such stuff on Brian Matthews' Sound of the Sixties" one saturday morning.

[NormanD]

There's an old musical hall song / monologue by Billy Bennett, "My Mother Doesn't know I'm On The Stage", from the 1920's (?). It contains the immortal lines:

Sometimes she sees the powder on my clothing
And then it's such a nuisance to explain
If she thought that it was powder she'd go crazy
Of course, I have to tell her it's cocaine....

norman

[Dominic]

"Strolling" & "Walk, Don't Walk" both of which are by Prince & the New Power Generation

Made me think of Boomtown Rats' Rat Trap:

In this town Billy says "everybody tries to tell you what to do"
In this town Billy says "everybody says you gotta follow rules."
You walk up to the traffic lights,
Switch from your left to right
You push in that button, and that button comes alight
It tells you
Walk don't walk, Walk don't walk
Talk don't talk, Talk don't talk
Walk don't walk, Walk don't walk
Talk don't talk, Talk don't talk
Hey Billy take a walk, take a walk, take a walk
Billy take a walk, take a walk, take a walk
Billy take a walk, take a walk, take a walk,
Billy take a walk with me

[Nikki Atkinson]

I see someone mentioned Junior Parker earlier, which led me to think of another Jnr. How about the song "Walk in the Dark/ Night" also recorded by Junior Walker & the Allstars. I can't think whether it's "Walk in the Dark" or "..in the Night", can someone put me straight? Apologies if anyone has mentioned this one already.

[Al Souttar]

Some great suggestions above – a couple of songs by Jackson Browne (who’s been singing about the indecency of hunger/starvation in a rich world for decades) come to mind:

“Walking Slowâ€