Neil Sedaka "A Medley to Brighten Up Your Day"

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Tonight we get two Sedaka songs alongside the Minute Waltz by Chopin - remarkable how he can play to that degree with arthritis-riddled hands.

[Johnny2523]

here's the latest one.. beautiful

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Today's video includes I Belong to You (which I didn't know), Letting Go from "In the Pocket" and the beautiful "Leaving Game" from "A Song."

[YDKM]

Interesting....is that a large decorated double bass case behind him?

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Interesting....is that a large decorated double bass case behind him?

Yes, I'm not sure what that is! I preferred Basil. I'm sure that piano has gone out of tune in the last few days too!

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In fine form today...

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It’s the Robin Hood Foundation’s annual relief benefit on Monday, and with this being a New York event that predominantly features New York artists, Neil would have been a nice addition to what’s going to be a high-profile broadcast this Monday. The line-up is certainly stellar. But here’s hoping he does get a noticed some way and - as we’ve discussed - finds a bigger platform. Although it’s great that he’s finding an outreach and embracing social media, as we’ve also discussed. He’s just terrific.

He certainly has a core audience, with some of the videos have 18,000 Youtube hits, which is not bad in a matter of a few weeks. The big question is whether he'll stop once the lockdown is over in America, or whether he now has the bug. He certainly seems to be getting enjoyment out of digging some forgotten songs out of the trunk.

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There's no Neil at the weekends, but this song popped up on itunes today. One of my favourites.



Also, I came across this. It's 1965, so Elvis had Do The Clam, and Sedaka had...Do the Jellyfish. Which really does make you wonder if Elvis was as out of touch as we might think!

[YDKM]

Geez.. i was hoping the song would end with them all jumping in the pool!

[Johnny2523]

here's the latest!

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here's the latest!

Only just got around to this. I nearly forgot!

The Hungry Years is such a great song - it would have been a much better song for Elvis in the Jungle Room than Solitaire. I love Crossroads, too. It was on the British LP "Overnight Success," which I remember picking up second hand when I was about eighteen or so. The album was rejigged a bit for American and retitled "The Hungry Years," but I think the UK LP was better.

[YDKM]

Englebert did a good duet of "The Hungry Years" on his 2014 duets album with Neil.

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Englebert did a good duet of "The Hungry Years" on his 2014 duets album with Neil.

Yes. That's really nice.

[Johnny2523]

and hot of the press the latest one!

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and hot of the press the latest one!

Not had a chance to watch this yet, but am very much looking forward to Tillie the Twirler. The album it comes from is so very good, it's such a shame it's never been on CD - although Tillie has made it to one of the best-ofs.

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Englebert did a good duet of "The Hungry Years" on his 2014 duets album with Neil.

Yes. That's really nice.

I really like Frank’s version of The Hungry Years, although I think you may be less fond of his take on the song than I am. It would have been a good song for Elvis to record, all the same, but I like what he done with Solitaire and it’s quite clear that he was genuinely challenged by the structure of the song. And he did make an effort to negotiate an unusual melody for him.

Frank's seems somewhat under-rehearsed and with half the lyrics missing for some reason. It would have been a wonderful addition to Trilogy, though, had it got a full arrangement and a bit of time to learn it.

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and hot of the press the latest one!

Oh my, Little Brother was a bit of a mess! But he doesn't seem to care, which I think is rather endearing. These are even more fun now he's started talking more and doing introductions. I wonder how many of these songs he hasn't performed for years will go back into his set lists once he gets to perform again.

[Johnny2523]

And today's concert included ''Solitaire'' with a name check for Elvis

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And today's concert included ''Solitaire'' with a name check for Elvis

And the name check is rather convenient as Neil gets introduced by Elvis in one of the request box shows being discussed in All Elvis!

[YDKM]

Wow really good (especially Neil mentioning the best performers of "solitaire" and he was in good form too.) I would have liked fuller versions but still loved it. I agree that "The Hungry Years" would have been a great Feb 76' song!
Elvis introduced Neil at his August 19th 1975 dinner show. He is wonderful thanks Neil!

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After yesterday's repeats of songs from previous videos, we're back with the forgotten children today, with Neil concentrating on his country flavoured compositions. And it's good that he's now using the opportunity to plug some of his work on Spotify and Amazon - sadly the compilation he points to doesn't appear to be available in the UK, but it's good that it includes some of the Elektra tracks - none of the Elektra albums are out on CD, and never have been.

[Johnny2523]

Neil is early today with some more forgotten children

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Neil is early today with some more forgotten children

It's interesting which songs he has revived - I think we've had virtually all of the songs from the "Now" album from the early 1980s, and is probably the least satisfying album after the 1970s comeback up until that point. The songs often sound better with just the piano, though, and that makes me wonder if it's the early 1980s production that makes the album seem rather unsubstantial. And that front cover...yikes...

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[YDKM]

Gee Neil sure was in an emotional/melencholy mood this time around. 100% sincere though- nice he does songs i never knew.

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Gee Neil sure was in an emotional/melencholy mood this time around. 100% sincere though- nice he does songs i never knew.

There's a BBC documentary from a couple of years ago when he admits "I'm a cryer." He was it the other day during The Hungry Years too!