Favorite 60s Goffin/King songs

So, did Elvis never record a Coffin-King composition?

 

'Let me get close to you' - Skeeter Davis (1964)

 

'I Can't Stay Mad At You' -Skeeter Davis (1963)

 

'So Much Love' - Ben E. King (1966)



Ben E. King - So Much Love

 

I really dig this one.

 

Was this written with the Everly Brothers in mind? Boy, it sure has their sound all over it - even some of the phrasing borrows heavily from Don.

 

My overall favorite is probably "Up on the roof" - man, what a song . . . sigh . . .

This is Gerry and Carole's demo, piano and vocal. I didn't know Gerry had such a great voice!

 

I've always felt that way too, although 1 critic suggested that CK taught Eva to sing it piece by piece, thus the similarity

 

This is most likely not Gerry Goffin singing. In the youtube comments, people are discussing if it is Rudy Lewis or Tony Orlando or somebody else.

 

The Crickets appear to have recorded 'Little Hollywood Girl' first on 19th March, 1962; the Everlys first recorded it in Hollywood shortly afterwards on 31st March; with a second version recorded by them in Nashville on 3rd April; although I believe the song remained unreleased by the Everlys in either version until the 1980s. Incidentally it was written by Gerry Goffin with Jack Keller (and not Carole).

 

Superb recording, thanks for introducing me to this!

 

Sure thing... Back in the mid-late 1980's, twenty plus years after the record's release, demand for this record was sky-high among 45 collectors. Lots of people were looking for it (including me) and it seldom showed up. Finally a friend (who already had a copy) found one and traded with me for it. But eventually the sustained demand led to someone issuing a repro (boot) of the original. Not sure how the repro sounds in comparison to the original, which has good fidelity.

 

'Wasn't It You' - the Action


other versions include Petula Clark; Billie Davis
Cover versions of Wasn't It You written by Gerry Goffin, Carole King | SecondHandSongs

 

'My Inspiration' - the Mad Lads (Stax/Volt; 1967)



previously recorded (in Sam Cooke style) by Big Dee Irwin as 'You're My Inspiration' (1963)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKUsWvl0wro&ab_channel=OkeSheMokeShePop

Big Dee Irwin - You're My Inspiration
The Mad Lads - My Inspiration

 

Can't forget "One Fine Day", classic girl group hit

 

Ha-ha. For years, I used to think that Carole King actually sang on the single; the part that goes "come ohn come ohn do the loco-motion with me" really sounds like King. But I've listened carefully to the only available footage of Little Eva singing live, and I admit it sounds close enough so it must be her singing on the record as well. Great 70-second clip - check out Darlene Love and the Blossoms singing backup.

 

Interesting...I have the Mad Lads record and didn't realize it was written by Goffin-King.

 

A good version! I never cared for Carole's own version - it's just "off."

I LOVE this version

 

That's a good one. I like all four of the versions I've heard. It's become one of my all-time favorites of theirs.

 

'The Time For Us' - Bobby Goldsboro


obscure G&K song, the only version apparently being this 1965 Bobby Goldsboro LP track, now included on the Ace Records CD "Something Good from the Goffin & King Songbook"
Bobby Goldsboro – Little Things (1965, Vinyl)
Something Good From The Goffin & King Songbook

 

Ripping up post-it note I made 30 seconds ago to check out the Monkees version of Wasn't Born to Follow...

 

hopefully that it because you've already listened to it !

 

'Don't Say Nothin' Bad (about my baby)' - the Cookies


the follow-up to 'Chains'

 

I tend to like him best as an actor, but will give Pete a chance.

 

They wrote a lot of songs for different artists, some didn't do well in the charts so we don't hear much of them.
Several were recorded by young black female groups.

I've a few in a vinyl jukebox.

Goffin's lyrics were often a bit chauvinistic, but that was pretty common amongst lyricists of the time.
Here's an example, writing for a different song composer, but arranged by Carole King,.

I'm everything a girl could be now, 36" 21" 35."

Great records.

I've got both of those in this jukebox.