Streets Of London...

Brian BBBB asked me if I had ever performed the Streets of London, a song that if I recall, came out in the 1940s or a bit later, but didn't become popular until the early 60s. I remember sitting on a wooden bar-stool in a honky-tonk bar in Baltimore, with an old Ibanez six string guitar, a 100-watt tube amp, Shure SM58 mic on a boom and a 3-inch thick loseleaf binder filled with lyrics and tabs. The smoke in the bar was so thick back then when someone opened the front door it looked like the building was on fire. Those were the days my friend.

I was asked by a lady from London to perform that song, one that I had never heard. She wrote down the words for me on a napkin, then found another musician that knew the song and learned it the following day. I played it every time she came into the bar, which was for about 7 years. One weekend, she didn't show, and I asked the barmaid, who was a good friend of hers where she was - she passed away that day. I performed the song later that night and found it nearly impossible to not break into tears - she was an incredible lady that have lived through WWII, and was a nurse in London when the Germans were bombing the city on a daily basis.

So here's my version of that song, Brian, which is probably not nearly as good as the original, but it has been more than 50 years since I last performed it. Ironically, I still get a bit emotional when I sing the song.

Streets Of London

Gary

Good job for an old dog!

Thanks guys, this old codger really appreciates your positive comments.

Gary

Lovely rendition of this beautiful song Gary, but a sad story to go with it unfortunately.It was a tremendous hit in the sixties here in Europe for Ralph McTell. You stayed quite close to that version, while I recorded it in 2005 on my Korg PA50 , opting for an entire different arrangement. You can find it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZvgawOFiB8

regards,
John

Enjoyed that Gary, definite strains of Roger Whitaker, just listened to his version and was surprised how thin his voice sounds in comparison to yours.

Col

Well played, but your arrangement doesnt give me the emotions i feel with the orriginal or even the dutch version of Guus Meeuwis... The simplicity of the orriginal version is what gives me the shivers every time i hear this song..

But i would love to hear you sing this song in the orriginal version as you certainly have a voice that can shine with the orriginal arrangement in all its simplicity..

John nice job well played, good vocal I enjoyed this version...... but,... wasnt a fan of the harmony parts Thanx for sharing.

Bachus,
As someone who almost solely plays at home and hardly ever gigs the challenge to me often is a complete overhaul of the original.In contrast with all those here on SZ that gig I do not have to offer the "feast of recognition ". ( my prhaseology really....). I absolutely agree that the original and also Gary's rendering is truer to the contents of this song, but when I did this it was a spur of the moment thing which almost turned it into another song imho. That is why, unlike Gary for example who says he cannot have enough styles in his collection, I often get down to the same or similar styles and tweak them intensly in a way to fit an arrangement of a song that I have in my head. I could give links and examples here but I do not want to go off topic really, which is STreets of London by Gary.

regards,
John

P.S. Donny, me I love the vocals. There was no vocaliser available to me at the time so after recording the song on my old Boss BR8 (zipdisk !!) recorder I added backing vocals track after track. Personallly I prefer it to the vocaliser stuff, though having just purchased a TC Voicelive ( the first edition) I may have to reconsider....

Great job, John, making it your song as well with an upbeat style. The only version I've ever heard was Raplh McTell's from back in the 60s, and of course the guy that taught me the song, which was quite similar. In most instances, I try to get as close to the original style as possible when I perform a song, mainly because that's what the audiences tend to expect.

Cheers,

Gary

Hi Gary and John

I have been off the air for 5 day's, no internet, during that time I purchased a new Rode NT-1 condenser mic just for recording and purely by coincidence I did a quick recording of "The Streets of London" just to give it a trial.

I wasn't sure whether to post it, not wishing to tread on anyone's toes but I suppose another version won't do any harm.

Anyway here it is, it is a bit slow comparing with the original but HEH nothing is perfect.

https://app.box.com/s/4kd2sujd1ec86clpo89l

Comment's regarding the new Mic would be helpful.

I think it still needs some tweaking on the mix, I'll have a go tomorrow.

Kind Regards

COl

Col, sounds great to me. The mic is clean and your voice is easily understood. Harmony sounds really good. Effects sound about right.

Cols version is beaut. Gary has changed the way it's sung and I like both. Well done to a beautiful song. I'm sure I have the music somewhere.
baz

Col Bravo my friend..that was the BEST recording from you so far!! & the most incomparable posted on SZ of this tune so far, clear well balanced, sweet harmony also! ....nicely done .......let me tell you that new Rode NT-1 condenser Mic is a winner for you buddy .....
I'd go back re-record everything from the past & more more more....

good luck.

Good one, Col. The harmonies are really great. Very smooth.

Gary

Hey Colin,

Very, very good my friend! You have definitely found your voice and are letting it shine through the mix instead of burying it behind the harmony. Remember last year around this time you posted John Lennon's "Imagine"? If you go back and listen to that recording and compare it to what you're doing now you should be very proud of yourself, my friend. Your vocals are coming across with confidence and are very easy to listen to. Keep up the good work!

By the way, was that the Roland? The guitar style sounded very good.

God bless,
Don

Colin......you're putting out some good stuff, so....my comment would be to "take some singing lessons."

But.......don't get your knickers in a twist until you read on.

You have an excellent voice....extremely soothing. I really like listening to your tunes. So......since you already have an "excellent voice" to work with, I would take that asset and improve on it even more. Learn to breathe properly and that will then help you to.......

STYLIZE A SONG: simply put.....hold on to some notes longer than others by using breath support.

And...interpretation.....focus on interpretation...very important.

Donny did a great job of "interpretation" on his version of Let Me Try Again (Frank Sinatra). I have it here if you want to listen to it.

Not sure if you're looking to improve or just want to belt out some songs here and there, but if it's the former, then consider the "singing lessons." Not everyone is given a good voice to work with like YOU have!

Mark

Gary (and others)......this will mean nothing to anyone but me, but I feel so strongly about the song: Streets of London, I wanted to say I'm glad you brought it to the table and I'm just as glad you guys have been talking about it lately.

Apart from it being a great tune to begin with it has many powerful memories for me. I haven't thought about the song for years now so it reminded me of a great period in my life.

It's really fascinating how one simple song like that can affect your emotions.

BTW....whoever mentioned Roger Whittaker recently opened up another memory for me. He sang: The Last Farewell. I don't think it was big over here, but it certainly was in England many years ago. Another "thank you" for a happy song remembrance.

I'm going to post a thread about that.

Mark

Last Farewell was pretty big here, but I loved the Elvis version.
Roger marketed his music on TV and was a huge success in that manner as far as I know.

I constantly get requests to perform The Last Farewll, everyone seems to think I sound a lot like Roger Whitaker. I posted my rendition here a couple months ago, at least I think it was here.

Gary

Mark: Thank you for "some" kind words you are 100% right and I am looking to improve in all area's playing, singing and recording. I certainly won't get my knickers in a twist as I fully appreciate any help I can get. I don't know if you have noticed but a lot of the criticism voiced on the forum tends to come my way and I feel that because of this I have improved quite a lot, still a long way to go.

I have considered taking singing lessons a couple of times but as I get older the embarrassment factor tends to take over, what's this old codger want singing lessons for

Needless to say I'll keep on trying. Listening back "The Streets of London" that particular song highlighted my breathing problems quite well the second version, being faster was a lot easier.

I fully appreciate your point about "Phrasing" Sinatra being the ultimate, much copied never matched.

All the best

Col

Hi Brian

Not complaining, if it wasn't for these lot shooting at me I'd still be loading with effects, doubling and using harmony all at once LOL

Thank you all

Col

Just back on a PC with speakers and trying to catch up with the latest postings ...
Three really good postings of this song, which I had never heard before ...
thanks, guys ...

Mark

Donny did a great job of "interpretation" on his version of Let Me Try Again (Frank Sinatra). I have it here if you want to listen to it.

I would love to hear it perhaps you could eMail it to me.

Thanks'

Col

Thanx Guys ....Let Me try Again is one of my favorite show stopper songs to perform. enjoy.