For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday Jim’s post Bayou Sound invites us to play some swamp rock. I’ve always understood this term to mean music from the southern US states, as typified by the likes of Tony Joe White, and when I checked on Wikipedia he was mentioned as being one of the originators who gave the genre its name. I only know one song of his, and it would be such an obvious choice that I’m not going there. The article also mentions Creedence Clearwater Revival as being prominent, but though many of their songs have that bluesy feel to them and mention things like ‘Bayou Country’ they are from California. I wanted something more ‘native’ and was pleased to see a band included that I like and who come from there – well, half of them, anyway. Delaney Bramlett was born and raised in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, before moving to Los Angeles to further his musical career. There he met and married Bonnie Lynn O’Farrell, and together they became Delaney and Bonnie. They were known for attracting a range of stellar names to play and tour with them, as you may notice from this, a song I bought way back when:

The lyrics are quite brief:

Been out on the road ’bout six months too long.
I want you so bad, I can hardly stand it.
I’m so tired and I’m all alone.
We’ll soon be together and that’s it;
I’m comin’ home to your love.

Hitchhiking on the turnpike all day long.
Nobody seemed to notice, they just pass me on by.
To keep from going crazy, I got to sing my song.
Got a whole lot of loving and baby that’s why
I’m comin’ home to your love.

Coming home.
Coming home.
Coming home.
Coming home.

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Bonnie Lynn Bramlett / Eric Clapton

Comin’ Home lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

You’ll see that Eric Clapton co-wrote Comin’ Home with Bonnie, and may well have noticed him sharing lead guitar duties with Delaney in the video. It was released in March 1970 on a live album, On Tour With Eric Clapton, which had been recorded the previous December during a gig at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, London – possibly the only good reason for visiting Croydon (I know, I’ve been there). The album reached #29 in the US and #39 in the UK. This track was released as a single in December 1969 and got to #84 in the US and #49 in Australia, but didn’t make the UK charts despite my purchase. I guess I’m just not influential enough! The band apparently didn’t like the photos that were taken at the gig and refused to have any of them for the album sleeve, so instead they used a shot apparently taken by their manager, Barry Feinstein, when he was acting as photographer for a Bob Dylan tour in 1966. Those feet you can see hanging out of the car window are allegedly Dylan’s – who am I to disagree?

I called this piece ‘A Pair of Bramletts‘ for two reasons. Firstly, there are two of them, and secondly, I’m playing you two of their songs. A studio version of Comin’ Home was included on the album D&B Together, in March 1972. This turned out to be their final album before they divorced – ironic title, or what! That album also included this song:

And the lyrics:

Long ago, and, oh, so far away
I fell in love with you before the second show
Your guitar, it sounds so sweet and clear
But it’s just the radio, and you’re not really here

Don’t you remember, you told me you loved me baby?
You said you’d be coming back this way again baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh baby
I love you, I really do

Loneliness is such a sad affair
And I can hardly wait to be with you again
What to say to make you come again?
Come back again and play your sad guitar

Don’t you remember, you told me you loved me baby?
You said you’d be coming back this way again baby
Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh baby
I love you, I really do

Source: Songlyrics.com

Songwriters: Delaney Bramlett, Leon Russell

The album peaked at #133 in the US, but Wikipedia doesn’t note any of its tracks being released as singles. I guess that – with their marriage falling apart – touring to support the album wasn’t an option and their record company didn’t want to spend much on promotion. A shame, really, as this is a remarkably good, soulful piece of singing. The song is called Groupie (Superstar), which feels right for a lament yearning for someone who passed through and with whom the singer fell in love. I first heard this as the B-side to my copy of the Comin’ Home single, and felt that I had purchased a pair of gems. It has been covered several times, and you may well know the version by The Carpenters, who took the naughty word out of its title so as not to damage their pristine image, and got a huge hit with it – #2 in the US in 1971, and #18 in the UK. Like everything they did, it is beautifully sung, and completely lacking in any heart, soul or feeling. You really do need to go with the Bonnie Bramlett version, I think, as her vocal simply oozes all of those. Just an afterthought, but I wonder if the guy who was Comin’ Home was returning to his Groupie (Superstar)? A nice thought, perhaps.

I’m looking forward to hearing what others are playing for this theme, and hoping to find some new music. I wonder if everyone else will avoid Polk Salad Annie too? See you again for Tuesday Tunes 😊🎶