John William "Long John" Baldry (12 January 1941 – 21 July 2005) was an English musician and actor. In the 1960s, he was one of the first British vocalists to sing the blues in clubs and shared the stage with many British musicians including the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Before achieving stardom, Rod Stewart and Elton John were members of bands led by Baldry. He enjoyed pop success in 1967 when "Let the Heartaches Begin" reached No. 1 in the UK, and in Australia where his duet with Kathi McDonald "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" reached No. 2 in 1980.
Baldry lived in Canada from the late 1970s until his death. He continued to make records there, and do voiceover work. Two of his best-known voice roles were as Dr. Ivo Robotnik in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, and as KOMPLEX in Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars.
albums by Long John Baldry
Songs by Long John Baldry
From about the 10th time on that you've heard this song, you can really do without the long-winded intro, IMO. Maybe it never gets old for some folks tho. *shrug*
Bah! It's part of the song. Learn to live with it.
Some funny things used to happen to me
About 1956-57
At that time there was no blues scene
Or not really any kind of scene in London
I used to go out and play my guitar in the streets
And sing things with passing my hat down
I remember one particular night
I was playing the guitar in a little alleyway
Just off of Wardour Street in Soho
And I got busted by the police
This policeman come up and dragged me and my guitar
And my hat full of pennies off to the police station
Anyway, the next day
I had to appear in Marlboro Street Police Court
And it was quite a day
Police officer giving his evidence
I was proceeding in a southernly direction, mi-lord
When I heard strange sounds
Coming from Wardour Place, mi-lord
A sort of boogie woogie music was being played
On further investigation, I saw the defendant
Standing there with a guitar and an old hat
On the floor collecting pennies
Well, I decided that he was contravening
A breach of the peace there, as there was
A traffic jam about five miles long down Wardour Street
Wondering what all the fuss was about
So then I arrested the defendant
Ah, just one moment, officer
Well, what is this boogie woogie music
Here we're talking about?
"Oh, well, mi-lord", said the officer
Getting out his notebook, obviously
Been doing up his homework
It's a kind of jazz-rhythm music
Peculiar to the American-Negro
Oh, and what was the defendant doing
Playing this kind of music there in Wardour street?
Anyway I got off with a caution
A years conditional discharge
But I'll always remember that policeman
And his boogie woogie music
So don't try to lay no boogie woogie
On the king of rock and roll
Don't tell me nothing, don't lies, a woman
'Cause all you know I've told
Don't sell me no alibis, sister
'Cause all you've got I've sold
You better leave at a-midnight slinking
To the one who works it out
I don't want to hear no rackem-tackem squeaking
To go on and shut your mouth
And everything is gonna work out tight
If you ain't like you been told
Just don't try to lay no boogie woogie
On the king of rock and roll
Don't feed me no TV dinners
When you know that I'm used to steak
I don't need no rank beginners
When it's time to shake the shake
You better pull your thing together
'Cause you've been bested out
And if you feel that you just can't dig it
You know you don't know what it's all about
It ain't a matter of par convenience
That's gonna justify your soul
Just don't try to lay no boogie woogie
On the king of rock and roll
Don't try to lay no boogie woogie
On the king of rock and roll
You and I started to drive
So don't pull nothing on me
You didn't arrive til late '45
But your head's in '53
You got what it takes, give your heads a spin
Down by the lonely shack
But you come on just like a fool woman
In the back of a red Cadillac
You can't come across the Upsalquitch
Until you pay the toll
So don't try to lay no boogie woogie
On the king of rock and roll
Enough of your self-assessment. This song is great eh?
Shameful indeed
**
I see Hannio posted about about the Sugar Bear connection a while back too.
Speaking of "Sugar Bear", it's quite odd that there is no mention of LJB in Eltons self-indulgent drivel bio movie Rocketman. Elton got the ""John" from this man here. Not Lennon as the movie alludes.
Many years ago, I saw LJB in a pub, promoting his 'Baldry's Out' LP. Within a week of that show, I saw the Stones. Without a doubt in my mind, the LJB show blew the Stones's show right out of the water (and the Stones were GOOD!). One of the big concert surprises of my life.
LJB Gone to soon!
I've spent a bit of time on Wardour Street in London and can relate to the time honoured tradition of busking.
From about the 10th time on that you've heard this song, you can really do without the long-winded intro, IMO. Maybe it never gets old for some folks tho. *shrug*
You might prefer Marcel Marceau's greatest hits.
And the genesis of 'Don't Shoot Me...' - he had a regular gig at a club where brawls were not not just commonplace but de rigueur. If things got really hairy, Reg would climb out the nearest window until the ruckus died down. Entertaining book.
c.
agreed, another great example of why I listen to RP.
Indeed. There was a time, long past, when WMMS was an actual radio station. Certainly not the best, but this was one of the frequently played songs of the era. Commercial station, but not like the past several decades which have been an endless wasteland searching for justification other than making as much money as is possible in the shortest time possible. Who would have seen that that period in time was only a brief flash? At the time it seemed a positive force.
**
I see Hannio posted about about the Sugar Bear connection a while back too.
From about the 10th time on that you've heard this song, you can really do without the long-winded intro, IMO. Maybe it never gets old for some folks tho. *shrug*
Yes, for folks who enjoy a piece the way the artist wanted it delivered. *eye roll*
It's part of the song as far as Long John was concerned. And a very fun part at that. Bill seems to like it.
Quit your whinging.