Mickey Newbury R.I.P.

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by BradOlson, Sep 30, 2002.

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  1. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven Thread Starter

    SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) — Mickey Newbury, who wrote Kenny Rogers' first hit and arranged "American Trilogy" as performed by Elvis Presley, died Sunday of emphysema. He was 62.

    Willie Nelson, Joan Baez, Don Gibson and B.B. King all recorded Newbury songs. His most recognizable was "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," a psychedelic pop song that was a No. 5 hit for Kenny Rogers & The First Edition in 1968.

    Other Newbury songs include "Funny, Familiar, Forgotten Feelings" (recorded by Gibson), "Sunshine" (recorded by Ray Charles), "Here Comes the Rain Baby" (recorded by Eddy Arnold) and "She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye" (recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis).

    Newbury recorded for several record labels during his career, most successfully for Elektra, which released "An American Trilogy" in 1971 and scored a Top 40 hit. The innovative arrangement of "Dixie," "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "All My Trials" became a staple of Presley's show.

    Newbury was born in Houston, and Rogers was one of his childhood friends. His family loved country music, but Newbury's first musical love was doo-wop, and in his first band he sang tenor on songs like "Earth Angel."

    Newbury moved to Nashville after serving in the Air Force and became friends with other then-struggling songwriters like Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Roger Miller. Together they added the poetic influence of Bob Dylan to the country music musical stew.
     
  2. Beagle

    Beagle Senior Member

    Location:
    Ottawa
    This is very sad news. Mickey had such a distinctive melancholy voice. I was fortunate enough to recently find original Elektra LP's of 'Frisco Mabel Joy and It Looks Like Rain.
     
  3. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven Thread Starter

    I agree with you on his voice and I love his songwriting as well. A great talent that will definitely be missed.
     
  4. Ed Bishop

    Ed Bishop Incredibly, I'm still here

    :( Sorry to hear of Mr. Newbury's passing. Although, in his way, not far from the talent of, say, Gordon Lightfoot--both pretty much played in the same musical ballpark and got their real start when high profile acts began to record their songs--Newbury won't get the same long obits or respect, simply because he never quite had enough of a presence as an artist in his own right; a shame, but maybe that was his nature. Anyway, "An American Trilogy" was a gem, but Newbury never did have any more major hit singles; that was a loss because without the hits so many of his albums remain forgotten except by his deepest enthusiasts. As for "Just Dropped In," I've long thought of that one as no small irony, in that it a)put Newbury's name on the popular map, yet b)the First Edition hit was--although not everybody got it at the time--a blatant parody of psychedelia, yet memorable enough to make the top ten(it's really more in line with the spirit of PP&M's "I Dig Rock & Roll Music" than to anything else of its time). Yet it works well AS psychedelic pop, obviously unintentionally, given the rest of the First Edition/Kenny Rogers canon(not to mention Rogers' own, before AND after this recording). But you take success where it comes, and, in-joke or not, it sold a million and certainly helped Rogers' career, if not Newbury's. I still get a kick out of it, but for some reason I think Stan Freberg might be proud of the concept, though the execution was too much of a mimic to make the parody obvious.
    Anyway, farewell, Mickey; so many hardly knew ye. Do you suppose a few inquisitive souls will track down some of your best and listen now? Let's hope.:cool:
     
  5. Ed Bishop

    Ed Bishop Incredibly, I'm still here

    No sooner did I post than I just remembered: FRISCO MABEL JOY, Mickey's best-selling Lp, was also released in the quadraphonic format. Who owns the rights to this material I'm not sure; FRISCO was reissued for CD on a small label, rather than Elektra, who first put it out on vinyl back in late '71. I have the quad 8-track, and while I no longer have a player, I remember it was very nicely mixed. Would be great to hear again in multi-channel, but who would put it out?:cool:
     
  6. Casino

    Casino Senior Member

    Location:
    BossTown
    Sad news indeed. Frisco Mabel Joy is one of my favorite albums - just superb all the way through. There are other albums you can say that about - but not many. "How Many Times," a tune from that album, is a particular favorite of mine - impeccable arrangement.

    I also have other albums: Heaven Help the Child, I Came to Hear the Music, Lovers, and His Eye is on the Sparrow. Obviously, I've been a longtime fan of Mickey.
     
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