American Standard: The Surrey With The Fringe On Top | James Taylor
Вставка
- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- In 1943, Rodgers and Hammerstein teamed up to write, Oklahoma!, their first show together. For a song in act one, Hammerstein handed Rodgers lyrics whose words suggested to him a clip-clop...and inspired a melody that was based on the repetition of one note. The show became a hit, and so did the song. Eight years later, jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal turned that repeated note into a song on his 1951 debut album. Not to be outdone, Miles Davis who loved what Jamal had done, would go on to record it himself. Jazz vocalists covered it too including, Beverly Kenney and Blossom Dearie who took the clip-clop down to a slow tempo.
Written by Richard Rodgers / Oscar Hammerstein II
Available here: found.ee/JTAme...
It takes an extraordinary artist to re-imagine some of the most beloved songs of the 20th century and make them completely their own. Unlike most who have tackled similar material, American Standard’s beautifully simple, stripped-down arrangements are based on the 2-guitar collaboration of James Taylor and John Pizzarelli, rather than standard piano arrangements. James was determined to keep that sound at the center of the project, and the effect is mesmerizing.
LYRICS
When I take you out tonight with me
Honey, here's the way it's gonna be
You will sit behind a team of snow white horses
In the slickest gig you'll ever see
Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry
When I take you out in the surrey
When I take you out in the surrey
With the fringe on top
Watch that fringe and see how it flutters
When I drive them high steppin’ strutters
Nosy folks they’ll peek through the shutters
and their eyes will pop!
The wheels are yellow, the upholstery’s brown
The dashboard's genuine leather
With Isinglass curtains you can roll right down
In case there's a change in the weather
Two bright side lights winkin' and blinkin'
Ain't no finer rig I'm a thinkin'
You can keep your rig if you're thinkin’
that I'd care to swap
For that shiny little surrey with the fringe on the top
Now would you say the fringe was made of silk?
I wouldn't have no other kind but silk
Has it really got a team of snow white horses?
One's like snow, the other's more like milk
I can see the stars gettin' blurry
When we ride back home in the surrey
Ridin' slowly home in the surrey
With the fringe on top
I can feel the day gettin' older
Feel a sleepy head near my shoulder
Noddin', droopin', close to my shoulder
Till it falls kerplop
The sun is swimming on the rim of a hill
The moon is taking a header
And just when I'm thinking all the earth is still
A lark wakes up in the meader
Hush, you bird my baby's a sleepin'
Maybe got a dream worth a keepin'
Whoa, you team just keep on a creepin'
at a slow clip clop
Don't you hurry little surrey with the fringe on the top
#AmericanStandard #JamesTaylor #JT #SurreyWithTheFringeOnTop #JTAmericanStandard
🌟 FOLLOW JAMES ON SOCIAL 🌟
/ jamestaylor
/ jamestaylor_com
/ jamestaylor_com
🌐 VISIT THE WEBSITE 🌐
www.jamestaylo...
✉️ JOIN THE MAILING LIST ✉️
www.jamestaylo...
🎸 FREE GUITAR LESSONS BY JAMES 🎸
• Free Guitar Lessons
Triggered the inner innocence of joy and happiness of our childhood years - growing up listening to musicals like Oklahoma, Sound of Music.
Beautifully said! I grew up with Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, such wonderful, singable songs. Hearing them makes my heart happy, and I never get tired of them.
I Love musicals and always liked this song. A version by James Taylor makes this song more beautiful and it's so endearing when he sings it! A great treat!
Sure does bring back my kid in the 50's days. My parents loved Rogers & Hammerstein / Oklahoma. We had the well worn Oklahoma LP. JT has done these songs proud. Hellava job sir!
🤗 I wish I could see you this summer. 💛
The lyrics to this song are absolutely inspired and so perfect! And the melody is one that sticks to your brain long after the last note is played! Have always loved this song and love James' rendition of it. Thank you so much, James for keeping this music alive for generations to come to enjoy just as we did/do!!
Unique show tune by Rodgers and Hammerstein from Oklahoma. James would be an awesome "Cowboy Curly McLain". This song also was done by jazz artists like Miles Davis. Nice to hear this sweet guitar rendition from James Taylor.
Good voice. I remember Oklahoma with Shirley Jones and [I forget his name].
Gordon MacRae
I love this whole album! The intake of breath at the start, as on a few other songs here, would have been so easy to edit out. It was left on purpose, and I appreciate it. It gives that personal feel like he's here singing for us. Side note: my parents met Gordon MacRea at a bar in Arizona during the filming of the movie, so the soundtrack was part of my childhood. Love this song but my favorite was always Poor Jud Is Dead
Amazing great song love .
I love it. Thank you James and Kev
grazie grazie nuove canzoni per noi un abbraccio
Wonderful tune, wonderfully done. Thank you.
O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A!!! Blast from the wonderful past...
This song takes me back at (60 years old now) over 50 years ago. Here's part of my story.
I found an old record that my parents got when they saw the Original Broadway Production of Oklahoma. (In Kansas City I think).
My favorite song was I'm just a girl who can't say no. Followed by Oh what a beautiful morning, and The surry with the fringe on the top. Mr Taylor I am a big fan of your music, I especially liked the Flag album, I worked at San Quentin State Prison for some time and the song Sleep come free me was special to me because of all the inmates I met that no longer needed to be incarcerated. I also loved Company Man (reminded me of Joni Mitchels recording of Free man in Paris.) and the two songs you did for a PBS special Roll Brother Trucker, and as the Greatful Dead sang it was a long strange trip I would sing it loud a proud. (as a truck driver at the time, this song was special to me, and driving late a night I would broadcast portions of it over my CB). I also love the many trucker references in your songs i.e.
"...Now the first of Dec was covered with snow,
And so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston.
... with 10 miles behind me and 10,000 more to go"... and the song Millwork.
I'm thankful that you are giving these American Standards new life, helping me relive those carefree days of my childhood. You and Joni, and Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, CSN ect... wrote the sound track of my life, and you still are with American Standards. Your the best.
A Fan Bob Deskins. dB)>
U spoken and stirred the inner heartstrings of many JT fans in our 50s.
Your wife has a very nice voice for sure.anne Chu.
Top, James!
Caroline has a very pretty voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great song
It's 4:44 and a lark is waking up in the meadow . . .
Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio just played a track from AMERICAN STANDARD. I know (from a distance) their “programmer-extraordinaire” 'Jersey Lou' Simon and think this was his way of saying: THIS one's my favorite. Among the first we celebrated with Nancy at Sinatra Family - with this thought:
“Students of Broadway and the American Songbook describe Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! (with exclamation point) as a 'landmark' musical -- unlike anything that had gone before: the first to have songs that actually 'propel the plot' and advance the story line. Leave it to James Taylor to recapitulate this one and, to coin a phrase, "make it his own." The arrangement - the celestial guitar chords - are simply sublime! Performed slightly more slowly, almost out-of-tempo, so we can catch all the words: Wish the 'Kings of Broadway' could have heard THIS version of their song, whose melody is beloved by jazz artists - ever since Oscar Peterson showed them the way to this gem!
As it played on channel 71 a few minutes ago, I realized that, like an Oscar Peterson arrangement, every second note James Taylor plays on this one is a different chord. Jazz guitarists would be - must be amazed. Also James' delivery is exquisite: listen to the phrasing and timbre of his voice especially on words like these:
I can feel the day getting older, feel a sleepy head near my shoulder - noddin' droopin' close to my shoulder till it falls - kerplop! The sun is swimmin' on the rim of a hill, the moon is takin' a header; and just when I'm thinkin' all the earth is still . . . a lark wakes up in the mead'r . . .
Thanks for sharing, James Taylor. Celebrated this morning at Sinatra Family - Forum - "Siriusly Sinatra" - MY FAVORITE VERSION, YOURS TOO? sinatrafamily.com/forum/showthread.php/50225-My-Favorite-Version-%28yours-too-%29?p=1285852#post1285852
Super.
hello james, are you going to tour with your new album ??? we here in rio de janeiro would love it, a lot of peace and health for you ...
Yes he is and it was delayed due to COVID.
Post Modern... at it's Best....
I never knew his second wife could sing, but that is Kim singing with him.
Bravo!!! James: Who’s singing harmony with Kim?? Would it be Kate & Andrea???
It's James' wife Caroline -- multi-tracked! Thanks for the question, Cher Siegel. Just posted an appreciation of my own this day. -- Mark B of the frozen North
Uhuh!
Mmm interesting. Prefer you singing 'Fire and Rain' James