#wayne carson

[kdo-three]

The Box Tops - The Letter (Stereo) (1967) Wayne Carson (AKA Wayne Carson Thompson) from: “The Letter” / “Happy Times”

Pop/Rock | Blue-Eyed Soul

Tumblr (left click = play) (320kbps)

Personnel: Alex Chilton: Vocals John Evans: Keyboards Richard Malone: Guitar Russ Caccamisi: Bass Danny Smythe: Drums

Strings and Horns Arranged by Mike Leach Produced by Dan Penn

Recorded: @ American Sound Studio Memphis, Tennessee USA 1967

Single Released: August 1967 Mala Records

Album Released: November, 1967 Bell Records

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Alex Chilton was 16 years old at the time of the recording. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ RollingStone magazine included the Box Tops original at number 372 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added it to the list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". In 2011, the single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

[eartrumpet]

Alex Chilton and The Box Tops perform the monster hit The Letter on Upbeat, 1967. Chilton was all of *16* years old at the time. And yet, Chilton had everything well in hand, vocally. As then studio associate Dan Penn recalls, "he picked it up exactly as I had in mind, maybe even better...a natural singer.” Written by Wayne Carson (who later penned Always on My Mind), this song---and its rendition by Chilton, et al---packs about as much Pure Pop Wonderment into a sub-two minute package as any in human history. Heck, widen the search to five minutes....still The Letter, and The Box Tops, would occupy at least a K2-like place in the PPW* pantheon (yes, this pantheon has a vertical aspect).

Here’s a live iteration from 1967, on The Bitter End. Chilton still checks in at 16. Not only is he completely in command vocally; his stage presence is chock full of winning ways, already, at this tender age. Below, I was going to insert one last performance, from 1991. But, no. The PTB have forbidden same. So: LINK. Alex has only improved with age; his phrasing, emphasis, everything. Hermph. (but WAIT!!! Perhaps yet another miracle have I wrought. We’ll see.) (Ha!! For now.)

[aboutpluckingtimes]

Joe Cocker - The Letter

https://youtu.be/PG1_LAAL4w0

[ginseng-music-blog]

Elvis Presley Part One:   The King was my first idol in life.  I spent my childhood studying him, how he moved, what he wore, how he held the stage, how he charmed and spoke to people.  He is the epitome of charisma.  I recorded this for the 40th anniversary of his passing. If only my quiff could match his. Ginseng [Part Two in September]

[lyricstranscribedfartooquickly]

The Box Tops – The Letter

gimme a ticket for an AEROplane. ain't got time to take a FAST train. LONELY AYADS RE GOONE, IMMA GOIN' HOOOME, my baby just werote me a lryyer. idon't care how much imoney i OGTTA spend, got to gert back to my baby again, LONELY DAYS ARE GONE, IMMA GOING HOME, my babby just wroter me a lewtter. WLEL SHE WROTE ME A LETTER, SAID SHER COULDN'T LIVE IWHTOUT ME NO MORE. KIXTEN MRISTER CZN'T YOU SEE I GOT OT BGERBT AKC TO MY BABY ONCE I';,M HOOME ,ANYWYA, igot a ticket for an AEROplane, ain't got gt ime to gtake a a FAT trtain MLOENYL DAYS ARE GONE, IMMA GON' HOME, my baby just wrote me a betlter. WELL SHE WROTE ME AL ETTE,R SAISD HSEO CUHLN'T LIVE IWHOUT M NEM NOM ROE,. LSITEN MR SCNA'T YOU SEE I GOT MY OGERT BAKC OT MY BABY ONCE OUI',M HOM,E NAYWYAYY, i got a ticket for a nAEIOROPlane, ain't got time to takr a a FAST ttrain ,LOENMLY TSYAS ATRE GONE, IMAM GOING HOME, my babby just wrote me aal erte.r nmy baby jsut wrote me a letter.

[perryface]

Songwriter Wayne Carson Dies At 72

[cbjustmusic]

To mark the passing of songwriter Wayne Carson, Willie Nelson performing his song “You Were Always On My Mind” at Farm Aid 2014.

[kowalskishish]

R.I.P. Wayne Carson.

What a song.

Part 2.