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TGIF Rock-n-Roll Oldies: Billy Swan- I Can Help 1974
Reaganite Republican ^ | October 1, 2010 | Reaganite Republican

Posted on 10/01/2010 3:29:20 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

This song went #1... and Swan recorded it in two takes -without overdubs- with an RMI organ that Kris Kristofferson and singer Rita Coolidge had bought for him as a wedding gift.


Billy Swan (dob 12 May 1942) is a multi-talented American musician, songwriter and singer, best known for the 1974 #1 single I Can Help.

Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Swan learned drums, piano and guitar at a very young age, then immediately took to writing songs.

The first big break came in 1962 when Clyde McPhatter recorded Lover Please, a song written by Swan. McPhatter's version quickly became a #7 pop hit. Swan moved to Memphis and for a time worked on Elvis Presley's Graceland estate.

He then moved to Nashville, which enabled him to write hit country songs for numerous artists, including Conway Twitty, Waylon Jennings, and Mel Tillis. In 1969, Swan first took on the role of record producer, producing Tony Joe White's Top Ten hit Polk Salad Annie.

Billy Swan also played bass guitar for Kris Kristofferson, and then signed a solo recording deal with Monument Records. His first album included the song I Can Help, a rockabilly number that topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and country charts in 1974, going-on to become a major international hit.

Swan recorded it in two takes -without overdubs- with an RMI organ that Kristofferson and singer Rita Coolidge had bought for him as a wedding gift.

Here Billy and the band perform their then #1 hit on The Midnight Special... I've adored this tune since the day it hit the radio, and a great live version here, a little more honky-tonk... they didn't lip-synch on these, a feature unique to that show:

Billy Swan: I Can Help 1974

[video]

More at Reaganite Republican


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: oldies; rock; rockabilly; swan
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Here's the clip on YouTube for those disinclined to visit my site [here]
1 posted on 10/01/2010 3:29:24 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: Reaganite Republican

That song didn’t just hit #1 for the week, either it was #1 ranked song by Billboard for the whole year.


2 posted on 10/01/2010 3:51:15 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: Reaganite Republican
It would sure do me good to do you good...let me help!
3 posted on 10/01/2010 3:54:36 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Dr. Sivana

What a talent- guy knew how to write a song


4 posted on 10/01/2010 3:57:01 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: Reaganite Republican

What was I doing the last time I heard Billy Swan sing that on the radio?

The video needs chicks though - so here is a flashback treat for your Friday.

1973 Pan’s People dancing to Gilbert O’Sullivan’s - Get Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOnbM7X4BYg


5 posted on 10/01/2010 3:57:54 PM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: Reaganite Republican

1974?

How about this magnificent pop gem?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIK5F4zRN0Y


6 posted on 10/01/2010 3:58:26 PM PDT by EyeGuy
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To: All

Or this incredibly beautiful song from Todd:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXq81-cGJr4


7 posted on 10/01/2010 4:01:15 PM PDT by EyeGuy
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To: EyeGuy

BIG Todd fan here


8 posted on 10/01/2010 4:08:05 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: Reaganite Republican

Cant believe it took me 35 years to find him perform this song live.

Peter Frampton Do You Feel Like We Do - 1975 FULL VERSION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7rFYbMhcG8


9 posted on 10/01/2010 4:14:11 PM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: Reaganite Republican

Thanks! Lots of other great clips at that youtube link—like Glen Campbell, Joan Baez, John Denver...


10 posted on 10/01/2010 4:16:16 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: NavyCanDo

I love it... I’ll try to trump you with a 20-year-old Peter Frampton in Humble Pie, lol:

Natural Born Boogie- 1969

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2009/12/saturday-night-rock-n-roll-oldies_26.html


11 posted on 10/01/2010 4:18:08 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: EyeGuy

When I think of 1974 these are the songs that immediately come to mind:

ELO - Can’t Get it Out of My Head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZGpoNWOsf4

Queen - Killer Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq4r8XPbTik

Kraftwerk - Autobahn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iukUMRlaBBE

Steely Dan - Rikki Don’t Lose that Number
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O2Tv_Hk71s

Golden Earring - Radar Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRZUTovxFC8

1974 was a heckuva good year for music.


12 posted on 10/01/2010 4:26:10 PM PDT by dfwgator (Texas Rangers - AL West Champions)
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To: dfwgator

Last Mick Taylor Stones album... It’s only Rock and Roll


13 posted on 10/01/2010 4:27:36 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican
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To: Reaganite Republican

And the album which later on became my favorite, although it would take a few years for me to discover it, Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway


14 posted on 10/01/2010 4:28:39 PM PDT by dfwgator (Texas Rangers - AL West Champions)
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To: Reaganite Republican

I’ll play that game

The Youngbloods - Get Together

(when protest music was cool)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4fWN6VvgKQ&feature=player_embedded


15 posted on 10/01/2010 4:35:51 PM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: dfwgator

The early 1970’s were an incredibly consistent and productive period; in my mind, with some exceptions, the best of rock, R&B, soul, fusion and pop was produced in those years.


16 posted on 10/01/2010 4:49:04 PM PDT by EyeGuy
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To: EyeGuy

It just seemed in those years there was constantly new ground being broken, new songs that sounded nothing like anything before.


17 posted on 10/01/2010 4:50:50 PM PDT by dfwgator (Texas Rangers - AL West Champions)
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To: Reaganite Republican
I understand that is ALL Todd on that marvelous track: vocals and instruments.

I would love to hear the perspective of an accomplished pro like TR, on the role of the Divine in the creation of great music.

Todd Rundgren is very talented, works very hard, and has numerous other high points in his career, but to me this song just shimmers with beauty and stands above them all.

Musicians? God? Maybe I DON'T want to hear what Todd has to say.... LOL

18 posted on 10/01/2010 4:54:18 PM PDT by EyeGuy
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To: dfwgator
“It just seemed in those years there was constantly new ground being broken, new songs that sounded nothing like anything before.”

####

Well said.

We could deal songs, across numerous genres, back and forth all night.

OK, I can't resist..... one more from perhaps my favorite soul album of all:

That great Philadelphia Sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzTeLePbB08

19 posted on 10/01/2010 4:57:51 PM PDT by EyeGuy
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To: Reaganite Republican
Can't talk 1974 without throwing some Soul into the mix!

#1 R&B hit, #8 Pop - Stevie Wonder - Living for the City

(The hit was the edited single version, I put the link to the full album version)

20 posted on 10/01/2010 5:24:29 PM PDT by Boogieman
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