09-24-2019, 12:53 PM
YouTube comment thread:
This made for pleasant "background" listening for an evening of work, though the performances were too compelling to ignore (even with the slightly muffled audio) and I ended up taking lots of listening breaks! I think I haven't heard "Gimme that wine" in over 25 years, yet I still recalled some of the lyrics; I suppose the topic may not have aged well, but the lyrics are funny and Michael's performance is engaging. "Waitin around to die" was new to me. The performance of "Take five" is one of the best I've heard (by anyone, possibly excepting Al Jarreau's classic live version). I'd never heard "Wilson Girl" before; from the intro, we learn he (co)wrote it just two days prior! Warning to listeners that the end is cut off here.
Your song list reminded me that "In your eyes" was written by Crow Johnson. I wasn't familiar with her otherwise, and I'd wondered if there was a relation, so I did some digging, and evidently there's no relation (at least, not close). I found an excerpt of her version of the tune on CDBaby—a very different arrangement, with more of a bluegrass or country feel. I prefer Michael's version, but it was fun to hear Crow's version (and she has a nice voice).
Thanks for sharing this! —Tom
My reply:
Crow Johnson is AKA Amy Johnson. Former wife of MJ's brother, Paul. She also wrote MJ's Ridin' in the Sky, The Glory and Gypsy in the Photograph.
Tom:
Wow, thanks for that info! When looking at a bio on her, it didn't occur to me that "Johnson" was her married name. I just saw that she grew up somewhere other than Colorado, and figured they weren't brother & sister. Cool to learn of the connection. Also, "Ridin' in the sky" is one of my favorite MJ tunes; I didn't know she wrote it!
----------
This made for pleasant "background" listening for an evening of work, though the performances were too compelling to ignore (even with the slightly muffled audio) and I ended up taking lots of listening breaks! I think I haven't heard "Gimme that wine" in over 25 years, yet I still recalled some of the lyrics; I suppose the topic may not have aged well, but the lyrics are funny and Michael's performance is engaging. "Waitin around to die" was new to me. The performance of "Take five" is one of the best I've heard (by anyone, possibly excepting Al Jarreau's classic live version). I'd never heard "Wilson Girl" before; from the intro, we learn he (co)wrote it just two days prior! Warning to listeners that the end is cut off here.
Your song list reminded me that "In your eyes" was written by Crow Johnson. I wasn't familiar with her otherwise, and I'd wondered if there was a relation, so I did some digging, and evidently there's no relation (at least, not close). I found an excerpt of her version of the tune on CDBaby—a very different arrangement, with more of a bluegrass or country feel. I prefer Michael's version, but it was fun to hear Crow's version (and she has a nice voice).
Thanks for sharing this! —Tom
My reply:
Crow Johnson is AKA Amy Johnson. Former wife of MJ's brother, Paul. She also wrote MJ's Ridin' in the Sky, The Glory and Gypsy in the Photograph.
Tom:
Wow, thanks for that info! When looking at a bio on her, it didn't occur to me that "Johnson" was her married name. I just saw that she grew up somewhere other than Colorado, and figured they weren't brother & sister. Cool to learn of the connection. Also, "Ridin' in the sky" is one of my favorite MJ tunes; I didn't know she wrote it!
----------
Cindy McArthur, Webmaster