Time
I had a song in my head, “Time on My Hands,” which was overtaken by another great song, “Time Waits for No One,” when I decided that I would make a theme CD with an assortment of songs whose titles start with the word “time.” All of these songs are favorites of mine.
- “Time” (Tom Waits) One of Tom Waits’ many beautiful ballads that just wait to be covered by a voice more pleasant than the songwriters’ voice. (But I have to say that Tom’s version from the Rain Dogs album is very nice.) It’s nice and simple, and the word “time” is repeated twelve times in each chorus.
- “Time” (Sly Stone) This ditty from There’s a Riot Goin’ On sounds especially loose. Just Sly letting his mind wander and his voice explore. A great mood song that suits the title.
- “Time After Time” (written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne in 1947) This song has become a jazz standard and there are many wonderful versions. Frank Sinatra sang it in the movie It Happened in Brooklyn. Chet Baker does a typically wistful version.
- “Time After Time” (written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman) This eighties megahit for its co-writer Cyndi Lauper has been covered many times. My own favorite version is that of Cassandra Wilson.
- “Time After Time After Time” (Jack Clement) A novelty song if there ever was one, it features crazy country singer/producer Clement loopily crooning the words “time after time after time after time…” ad infinitum, across a simple 3/4 piano backing. I love it; most everyone else I play the record for can’t stand it.
- “Time Was” (The Flamingos) This low-key harmony beauty was recorded by The Flamingos in 1959 and became a minor hit for them in 1961.
- “Time is Tight” (Booker T. & the MGs) Booker T. Jones and his group wrote this classic instrumental, which I prefer to their monster hit “Green Onions.” Buckwheat Zydeco does a nice squeezebox version.
- “Time is on My Side” (The Rolling Stones) An early hit for The Stones (1964), this easy-going rock tune was written by Jerry Ragovoy, who also wrote “Piece of My Heart” jor Janis Joplin.
- “Time Waits for No One” (written by Charles Tobias and Cliff Friend in 1944) There’s a version by Helen Forrest that was a minor hit, but the version I love (and can’t seem to locate) was by The Ink Spots.
- “Time on My Hands” (written by Harold Adamson, Mack Gordon, & Vincent Youmans, 1930) Another jazz standard, this song was in the musical Smiles and the movie Look for the Silver Lining. There are two versions I especially love: the thirties close-harmony version by The Boswell Sisters and the elegant saxophone version of Ben Webster.
Out o’ time. Gotta go.
As you know, making thematic CDs is a favorite way of mine to put songs together, so I couldn’t resist a few additional “Time” songs.
“No Time” by Guess Who
| Posted 1 year, 5 months ago1) “Comes a Time”, by Neil Young and sung with Nicolette Larson is a song I enjoy hearing any time
2) “Time”, by Pink Floyd was overplayed in the ’70s, but what an alarm clock!
3) “The Last Time”, by The Rolling Stones had that great guitar riff by Keith Richards.
4) “Time of the Season”, buy the Zombies – Rick Argent’s voice always sounded vey mysterious to me when I heard it as a kid.
5) “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, by Roberta Flack – what a voice!
6) “Time Loves a Hero” by Little Feat – one of my favorites by them.
7) “Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?” by Chicago
9) Time Out Of Mind” by Steely Dan
10) and last but certainly not least…”Been a Long Time”, by Harmony Guy himself. I found myself singing that good-un to myself in the back yard just the other day.
Good time & good “time” songs all. Others I thought of on my second tier would include Bob Wills’ “Time Changes Everything,” the Motown hit “I Ain’t Got Time,” and the great novelty TV theme “It’s About Time.” Hard to top that one.
| Posted 1 year, 5 months ago