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jimct
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Joined: 07 April 2006
Location: United States
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Posts: 3906
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| Posted: 14 February 2014 at 3:25pm | IP Logged
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I have finally acquired a promo copy of this rather left-field, #11 BB
peaking, Nov. 1969 pop hit. Mainly just to confirm there was no
short/long DJ 45 configuration present, given its longish-for-the-era run
time, and even though I never remember hearing a shorter version on the
radio when it was current.
I can now confirm this fact. "Is That All There Is" appears on only one side
of my promo 45. And, like my stock 45, it is stereo, confirmed as Capitol
2602, and has both a listed and actual time of (4:19). Promo 45 deadwax:
"S-45-71710-A-1". Stock 45 deadwax: "S45-71710-W1 #5".
According to Lee's website (via Jerry Stoller's son, Peter) Lee had nailed a
"perfect take" of the song. But, alas, the sound engineer had forgotten to
turn the recorder on for the take! All told, after about 3 dozen takes, Lee
herself played on the title, and announced to the room, "That's all there is,
boys!", and called it a day. From there, at least a dozen edits were utilized
to create the final master, and is the reason cited for those who complain
about heavy tape hiss being present.
I believe this to be among the last big hits for the legendary songwriting
duo of Mike Leiber & Stoller, who also produced Lee's hit version. This
song had initially been released as an A-side in early 1968, as Epic
10297, by longtime NYC DJ "Dandy Dan" Daniel, who was on-air at WMCA
at the time. It stiffed out, although his station did chart it for three weeks
(even though the 45 wrongly spelled his name as "Dan Daniels".) For
anyone curious, his version can be heard on YouTube.
Although similar in song style, Daniel's lyrical delivery was far more stiff
and disconnected, and ended with a totally ineffective, forced, demented-
sounding cackle/laugh by him, repeated over and over. It fell totally flat.
This song was clearly meant to be sung by a woman, by a seasoned
recording artist used to both taking lyrics to heart, and bringing a song to
life. Its reflective tone was also crying out to be sung "straight", and not in
the quasi-novelty way that Daniel presented it. (Perhaps this wasn't
Daniel's fault, however, as Leiber/Stoller didn't produce his version.) I
wasn't a big fan of this song back in 1969, but I appreciate it far more
today. And that only increased 1000-fold, after hearing the original (with
all respect to one of the very best DJs ever - Dan was just out of his
element as a recording artist here, that's all.)
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Hykker
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Location: United States
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Posts: 1386
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| Posted: 15 February 2014 at 9:28am | IP Logged
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Quote:
This song was clearly meant to be sung by a woman,
by a seasoned
recording artist used to both taking lyrics to heart, and
bringing a song to
life. Its reflective tone was also crying out to be sung
"straight", and not in
the quasi-novelty way that Daniel presented it. |
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In the late 70s someone by the name of Christina Monet
recorded a punk-rock version of this, with some lyric
changes ("if that's the way she feels about it, why
doesn't she just slit her wrists and shut up"). Leiber &
Stoller were not amused, and from what I understand
issued a C&D on it.
Somewhere I have a dub of this from an acquaintance who
had an import single of this tune. It's a fun listen if
nothing else.
I was doing weekends at a small-market "all over the map"
station in 1969. First time I saw this single in the
studio my reaction was that the PD had gone too far this
time. A couple of plays and the song really grabbed me.
I was in college at the time, and when I heard my
classmates dropping the phrase "is that all there is?" I
knew it was a hit.
Edited by Hykker on 15 February 2014 at 9:33am
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ddipas
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Joined: 03 September 2019
Location: United States
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Posts: 5
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| Posted: 04 November 2022 at 8:13pm | IP Logged
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All three versions I have on CD have a dropout at 2:26. Her
line sounds like "with the most wonderful w[click]n in the
world."
My three CDs:
Peggy Lee - The Best Of Miss Peggy Lee (Capitol)
V/A - Free To Be, Vol. 5 (Capitol)
V/A - The Perfect CD-Collection - Exclusive World Stars
From The 70's 7 (Import)
Can anyone else confirm? Is there a version without the
dropout?
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davidclark
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Joined: 17 November 2004
Location: Canada
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Posts: 1099
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| Posted: 04 November 2022 at 11:03pm | IP Logged
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My versions - the original mix on many CDs (mine is from "Fever And Other
Hits") and a remix (source unknown) - have a clear "boy" at the point where
you mention a click.
Edited by davidclark on 04 November 2022 at 11:07pm
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Top 40 Music on Compact Disc : Chat Board
Topic: Peggy Lee - Is That All There Is
