California High Rise
77 degrees in L.A. Sky is endlessssss!! Bright blue.
Tall, thin, Washington palms swaying, isolated, along the boulevard. And me? I’m singing “Good Time Charlie”.
—–
“Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues“ is a song written and performed by Danny O’Keefe.
It first appeared on O’Keefe’s self-titled debut album in 1971. The following year he re-recorded it (with a slower, more downbeat arrangement) for his second album, O’Keefe; this version was also issued as a single, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
It was covered by numerous artists, including Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Mike Farris and Elvis Presley.
Born in Spokane, Washington, in 1943. O’Keefe’s musical career has spanned four decades from his early days playing in the Minnesota coffee houses to his present station in the Seattle area. He is still very active both in the recording studio and on stage.
Career
O’Keefe is best known for his only hit single “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues“, which was released in September 1972, and reached #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and for “The Road”, covered by Jackson Browne on Running on Empty. “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues” stayed on the Billboard chart for 14 weeks and sold a million copies.[1] The gramophone record‘s sales culminated in a gold disc issued by the R.I.A.A. in June 1973.[1]
O’Keefe’s unique lyrical style and haunting melodies earned him a reputation as an important songwriter of his genre.[2] With Bob Dylan he co-wrote the environmental movement anthem, “Well Well Well”.[3]
In concert with his music and through his organization The Songbird Foundation, O’Keefe has been active in the environmental field, helping to develop public awareness of the effect that indiscriminate coffee-growing techniques have on the songbird population.
O’Keefe’s songs have been covered by numerous musicians, including Jackson Browne (“The Road”), Elvis Presley, Judy Collins, Leon Russell, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett, Alison Krauss, Ben Harper, Cab Calloway, Mark-Almond, Andy Williams, and others; in Italy his song The Road has been covered by Ron (singer), with Italian lyrics written by Lucio Dalla (and titled Una città per cantare).
Discography
- 1971 – Danny O’Keefe – Cotillion Records – Produced by Ahmet Ertegün
- 1972 – O’Keefe – Signpost/Atlantic Records – Produced by Arif Mardin. Contains the top-ten hit “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues”
- 1973 – Breezy Stories – Atlantic Records – Produced by Arif Mardin. Contains the single “Angel Spread Your Wings”
- 1975 – So Long Harry Truman – Atlantic Records – Produced by John Boylan. Contains the single “Quits”
- 1977 – American Roulette – Warner Bros. Records – Produced by John Court and Kenny Vance
- 1979 – The O’Keefe File – Warner Bros. Records – Promotional CD containing songs from previous LPs
- 1979 – The Global Blues – Warner Bros. Records – Produced by Jay Lewis and Danny O’Keefe
- 1984 – The Day To Day – Coldwater Records – Produced by Mathew McCauley and Tony Peluso. Contained the singles “Along for the Ride” and “Someday”; both singles charted in the “20′s” in AC charts
- 1989 – Redux – Beachwood/Chameleon Records – A re-release of The Day To Day with a new title and two new songs. Contained the singles “Along for the Ride” and “Someday”. VH1 played the video of “Along for the Ride”
- 2000 – Runnin’ From the Devil – Miramar Records – January 25, 2000
- 2000 – Danny’s Best 1970 – 2000 – Raven Records Australia – 2000
- 2003 – Don’t Ask w/Bill Braun – Produced by Bill Braun. All songs written and performed by Danny O’Keefe and Bill Braun
- 2008 – In Time – Bicamerical Songs – Produced by Mick Conley
References
- ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 318. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Nytimes.com
- ^ Billboard.com – Discography – Danny O’Keefe – Danny’s Best 1970-2000: Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues
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Filed under: Experiencing Retirement, Music Tagged: blues, Bob Dylan, Danny O'Keefe, Dwight Yoakam, Elvis Presley, emotion, Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues, Jackson Browne, Music, the blues, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson
