Posted on 04/09/2020 4:20:06 PM PDT by lee martell
For some reason, I awoke with this song on my mind today. Before my eyes parted, I was listening to the piano introduction. "She's A Rainbow" was recorded in 1967 and released on the Rolling Stones album, "Satanic Majesties Request". It took me a while (years, in fact) to move past that name, one with 'Satanic' in the title. Eventually, I saw it as just a marketing ploy to grab attention from the Beatles' Sargeant Pepper Album. The Beatles album was filled with light ditties and toe-tappers. The Stones wanted to exhibit the other side of that coin. Friendly competition among professional musicians.
The song, "She Comes in colors/ she's a rainbow" is beautifully done, simply done. It's mostly refrain that is repeated throughout the piece connected by a few instrumental bridges. The 'verses' act as preludes to the refrain. Opposite of what usually happens in popular music.
The main pianist on this cut was the late Nicky Hopkins. Nicky performed for many top acts of the time, including The Stone, The Kinks, The Who and Jefferson Airplane. His work here is almost Mozart like in it's smooth, though intricate overall effects.
Brian Jones appears on the Mellotron. John Paul Jones provided the string arrangements. John Paul Jones later became part of Led Zepplin.
The song achieves an eveness, a timeless, trancelike density toward the middle. This is followed by deliberate efforts to lighten the mood, with notes being played out of time or off key towards the end. This is then followed by a chorus of altered voices singing "La-La-La" like little children.
The Stones used many different session pianists. Two others were Billy Preston, when a bluesy, or gospel sound was wanted. Another was Ian Stewart who was actually one of the co-founders of the group but pushed out by the manager. The manager didn't this Ian fit the image the rest of the group did. Ian provided several Boogie-Woogie sessions for the group as one of his specialties.
I loved reading that. It’s just a great happy song.
My favorite Webb composition is "Wichita Lineman" - a hugely underrated plaintive love song. When Glen Campbell recorded the song with his fellow "Wrecking Crew" band, he borrowed Carol Kaye's 6-string bass to play the solo.
Below, the great Carol Kaye who played on soooo many hits including the iconic bass opening of "Good Vibrations"
Thank you.
I’ll never have that recipe again, Oh Nooooooooooooo, Ohhh, Nooooooooo, Ohhh Noooooooo, Ohhhh Noooooo.
Lately in my head is Aretha Franklin - Think.
I think it’s the “Freedom” lyrics that are getting to me.
I’ve loved that song forever. My parents had the Richard Harris album when I was young. I also very much love Donna Summers’ version.
People either love or hate this song.
Good song. Added to my collection. Thanks. 8>)
A perfect fit for your situation.
Randy Newman is/was a very clever songwriter.
I think he wrote another song too.
It was called “Short People”. Boy, didn’t THAT cause some triggering, before we knew what that term meant.
Our freedom as private American citizens is under attack.
We will need to remain very watchful for the next few years to see who is using ‘The Virus’ as an excuse to control everything we do. That means people of both parties.
The first album my brother ever bought when was he was in 8th grade was the Stones “Goats Head Soup”.
Within an hour of my brother bringing it home and playing it, the song “Star, Star” came on. My dad heard it and within milliseconds he crunched it into nanoparticles and put it in the trash!
I appreciate that post, Robert.
Good God...where has the time gone?
Ohhh nooo.
Nicky Hopkins was also on piano. Lots of piano players
Mick really doesn’t care about brexit or any of that stuff-he doesn’t spend that much time in Britain or the other EU countries-he keeps primary residence in lower tax countries-he probably just thinks it is cool to be pro EU-his degree is in finance-not political science or history...
Grrrr-stop that-just stop it-I loathe McArthur Park with a passion and have since the 1st time I heard it-whiny, depressing tune-I’m going to listen to Zeppelin’s Black Dog to kill that earworm...
I’ve had that nonsense song “Brand New Key” stuck in my head a couple of times-no idea why except I used to sort of like it when it came out...
Yes. Great song. It’ll gitcha.
Never really liked the song, especially “the yeah, yeah, yeah”, chorus, sounded childish and so acid San Fran 67.
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