Song Lyric Sunday – “Maybe Baby” – The Cars

Jim Adams has been giving us multi-word Song Lyric Sunday prompts for a while, so I was a little shocked to discover that this week’s prompt is one word: “Baby.” Of course, there is a Cars song for that. They recorded one I love, “Maybe Baby,” for their 1981 “Shake It Up” album.

You might think “Maybe Baby” is going to be a cover of Buddy Holly’s iconic 1957 hit, but you’d be wrong. The Cars’ song is a quirky Ric Ocasek original. I do think, however, that the song title is his sly tribute to Holly, just as his “Bye Bye Love” is (I believe) to The Everly Brothers, unless both Ocasek song titles are mere coincidences.

Following in the “coincidence” vein is this: Ocasek supervised the remastering of the 2017 release of an expanded version of the Cars’ 1980 “Panorama” album with bonus tracks. Among those is a “not previously released” song called “Be My Baby,” which is also sometimes referred to as an early version of “Maybe Baby.” Joke’s on us, peeps! They are exactly the same song, previously released in 1981. Word for word. Note for note.

Now, you may not know this, but Ric Ocasek could have been called a control freak. Nothing the Cars did — no album, cd, concert, tv appearance — occurred without Ric’s finger in the pie. Incongruously, he also enjoyed a good practical joke. Somewhere in the ether, I picture him still laughing at this one.

“Maybe Baby”
I heard stories about you
I’d like to think that they were true
I did not know you’d be like that
With those surprises under hat

Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby
Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby
Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby

When you dance between the stars
In the night late, sweet and dark
Turn them over one by one
You don’t need to jump the gun

Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby
Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby
Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby

When the night is feeling flush
And when the night is all a hush
Electric look, eclectic blue
Keep one dream that won’t come true

Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby
Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby
Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby
Be my, be my
Be my maybe baby

Maybe baby
Maybe baby
Be my, be my, be my
Be my maybe baby

Maybe baby
Maybe baby
You’re the one

Maybe baby
Maybe baby
Maybe baby
Be my, be my, be my
Be my maybe baby
Be my maybe baby

I heard stories about you
I’d like to think that they were true
Be my maybe
Be my, be my, be my, be my

Charlie Farren – “In My Movie”

More than anything else, Charlie Farren is a romantic. Yes, he is a hard rocker, who leaped out of Boston’s late-70s/early-80s club scene onto a national stage when he became the lead singer for The Joe Perry Project, Aerosmith’s co-founder’s side gig. He went on to form Farrenheit, a mid-80s MTV favorite, playing arenas throughout the country. But he’s a romantic rocker, putting his rockin’ life on the back burner for 22 years while he worked local IT jobs to support his wife and family. Nowadays he is a solo act, jamming occasionally with Joe Perry and frequently “special guesting” for REO Speedwagon, Three Dog Night, and, most recently, Jay Leno.

Now, I love all Charlie’s music — a bluesy, jazzy, rock’n’roll mix. Most of all I love his ballads. My current favorite, “In My Movie,” comes from the 2011 CD “FBI,” by Farren Butcher Inc., his collaboration with Jon Butcher, another product of Boston’s late ’70s music scene. I’ve had the CD and song on constant loop for the past week. Can’t get enough! Thought you all might like it, too.

Note: I borrowed this pic from one of Charlie Farren’s recent posts re his current America’s Special Guest tour. Don’t know who the photog was, but most of Charlie’s tour pics are credited to Jonathan Keating. Hope neither he nor Charlie mind my using it.

Song Lyric Sunday – “Don’t Tell Me No” and “Don’t Go To Pieces” – The Cars

The last time I featured a Cars song for Song Lyric Sunday was September 22, 2019. That’s too long ago. This week’s theme Did/Didn’t/Do/Don’t/Does/Doesn’t gives me the opportunity to remedy that oversight. Quite a few Cars songs would fit, but I’m featuring two of the best, both relatively-unknown: “Don’t Tell Me No” and “Don’t Go To Pieces.”

As with all Cars songs, Ric Ocasek wrote both, but “Don’t Go To Pieces” is one of the few Cars songs for which he shares co-writing credit with someone — Greg Hawkes, the Cars’ “jack of all trades,” whose contributions to the Cars included keyboards, synth, sax, percussion, and background vocals.

Both songs were released as singles, but neither charted. “Don’t Tell Me No,” the second single off the Panorama album, was released in November, 1980, with “Don’t Go To Pieces” on the B-side. “Don’t Go To Pieces” was released again in January, 1981, as the B-side of the third Panorama album single “Gimme Some Slack” (which also didn’t chart.) “Don’t Go To Pieces” did not appear on a Cars album until the Just What I Needed Anthology album in 1995 but was also included with the Panorama expanded edition released in 2017. Although commercially unsuccessful, both songs are cult-favorites in the Fanorama. (Considering how many times DGTP was released, I wonder if Ric Ocasek also had a soft spot for it.)

Both songs are showcases for Benjamin Orr’s vocal versatility. I’ll start with my fave:

“Don’t Go To Pieces”

What’s it gonna be?
Red jacket girl, lover, midnight spree
What’s it gonna be?
You look so imperial

What’s it gonna be?
You tried and you tried
But you couldn’t hook your shoelace
What’s it gonna be?
Know you got intention, difficult to see

You can make the switch
You can have your wish

What’s it gonna prove?
Turning all the dials, makin’ all the right moves
What’s it gonna prove?
It’s all so mystical

What’s it gonna prove?
You look so tacky in your chrome drip belt
What’s it gonna prove?
You’re ready to rage and startin’ to melt down

You can make the switch
You can have your wish

Don’t go to pieces, b-b-baby
Don’t go to pieces
Don’t go to pieces, b-b-baby
Don’t go to pieces

What’s it gonna show?
All left out and ready to go
What’s it gonna mean?
You feel like trash but you look so clean

What’s it gonna do?
All of them angels jealous of you
Where’s it gonna go?
Anyplace, faster pace, overcome the low blow

You can make the switch
(Ooo)
You can have your wish

Don’t go to pieces, b-b-baby
Don’t go to pieces
Don’t go to pieces, b-b-baby
Don’t go to pieces

Don’t go to pieces, b-b-baby
Don’t go to pieces
(Ooo)
Don’t go to pieces, b-baby
(Ooo)

(Ooo)
Don’t go to pieces
(Ooo)
Don’t go to pieces, b-baby
(Ooo)
Don’t go to pieces
(Ooo)

“Don’t Tell Me No“

It’s my party, you can come
It’s my party, have some fun
It’s my dream, have a laugh
It’s my life, have a half, well

Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no

Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no (I like it when you tell me slow)

It’s my transition, it’s my play
It’s my phone call to beta ray
It’s my hopscotch, light the torch
It’s my downtime, feel the scorch, well

Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no (don’t tell me no)
Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no, no (don’t tell me no)

Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no (I don’t like it when you tell me no)

It’s my ambition, it’s my joke
It’s my teardrop, emotional smoke
It’s my mercy, it’s my plan
I want to go to futureland, well

Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no, no (don’t tell me no)
Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no, no (don’t tell me no)

Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no (I like it when you tell me slow)

Don’t tell me no (don’t tell me no)
Don’t tell me no, no, no, no (don’t tell me no)
Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no, no (don’t tell me, I don’t want to know)

Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no, no (don’t tell me no)
Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no, no, no, ay (don’t tell me no)
Don’t tell me no (Don’t tell me no)
Don’t tell me no, no (don’t tell me no, no, don’t tell me no)
Don’t tell me no
Don’t tell me no (don’t tell me, you have to go, don’t tell me no)

Song Lyric Sunday -“Over Under Sideways Down” – Yardbirds

With this week’s Song Lyric Sunday theme being Around/Down/Sideways/Up, how could I pick any song other than “Over Under Sideways Down” written and performed by the Yardbirds (Jeff Beck / Chris Dreja / Jim Mccarty / Keith Relf / Paul Samwell-Smith). Released in 1966, the song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The only other thing I have to say is: enjoy this classic earworm!

“Over, Under, Sideways, Down“

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Cars and girls are easy come by in this day and age,
Laughing, joking, drinking, smoking,
Till I’ve spent my wage.
When I was young people spoke of immorality,
All the things they said were wrong,
Are what I want to be.

(Hey)
Over under sideways down,
(Hey)
Backwards forwards square and round.
(Hey)
Over under sideways down,
(Hey)
Backwards forwards square and round.
When will it end, when will it end,
When will it end, when will it end.

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
I find comment ’bout my looks irrelativity,
Think I’ll go and have some fun,
‘Cos it’s all for free.
I’m not searching for a reason to enjoy myself,
Seems it’s better done,
Than argued with somebody else.

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Over under sideways down…

Song Lyric Sunday –“I’ll Never Find Another You” — The Seekers

For the Song Lyric Sunday theme this week, Jim Adams gives us “Lost/Found/Hide/Seek.” One of my favorite songs from the mid ’60s covers two of those themes: “I’ll Never Find Another You” by The Seekers.

Researching for SLS always reveals information I hadn’t known. For example, I never knew The Seekers were an Australian folk/pop group. I also learned this song was written by Tom Springfield, English pop star Dusty Springfield’s brother. Released in 1964, “I’ll Never Find Another You” reached number 4 on the 1965 Billboard Hot 100 chart. American country singer Sonny James covered it in 1967; his version peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country chart.

“I’ll Never Find Another You”

There’s a new world somewhere
They call the promised land
And I’ll be there someday
If you will hold my hand
I still need you there beside me
No matter what I do
For I know I’ll never find another you

There is always someone
For each of us, they say
And you’ll be my someone
Forever and a day
I could search the whole world over
Until my life is through
But I know I’ll never find another you

It’s a long, long journey
So stay by my side
When I walk through the storm
You’ll be my guide, be my guide
If they gave me a fortune
My pleasure would be small
I could lose it all tomorrow
And never mind at all
But if I should lose your love, dear
I don’t know what I’d do
For I know I’ll never find another you

But if I should lose your love, dear
I don’t know what I’d do
For I know I’ll never find another you
Another you
Another you