Note that the track sequence on the cover is different from that on the label. It was the third of june, another sleepy, dusty delta day i was out choppin cotton and my brother was balin hay and at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house. Listen online and get new recommendations, only at. Cover versions of ode to billie joe written by bobbie. My father bough this album ode to billy joe old to billy joe back in 1967 and this album is one that i was always looking for which i just purchased from amazon. The hollies long cool woman in a black dress 1972 extended meow.
The single, released on july 10, 1967, was a numberone hit in the us within three weeks of release and a big international seller. Get the best deals on bobbie gentry vinyl records when you shop the largest online selection at. She was born roberta lee streeter to portuguese parents in chickasaw county, mississippi. That is the opening line of one of musics most discussed, examined and appreciated songs ode to billie joe, written and performed by bobbie gentry, who was born in mississippis. I wrote about this song, and bobbie herself, at length last year in my post bobbie gentry and the power of mystery but today i wanted to focus on how she has inspired the songwriting of so many others. In 1967 she became an overnight sensation with her release of ode to billie joe. Mississippi mystery the 50yearold enigma of bobbie. Inevitably, the title track dwarfed everything else by comparison, but a greater problem was that several of the other tunes recycled variations of the ode to. Bobbie gentry ode to billy joe main title 1976, vinyl.
Mississippi mystery the 50yearold enigma of bobbie gentry. Gentrys debut lp, which went to number one on the pop charts, was a promising but not wholly satisfying disc, with the singer penning all but one of the songs. Is bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe based on a true story. The same river where the famous and original reallife tallahatchie bridge mentioned in ode to billie joe was located. It was the third of june, another sleepy, dusty delta day i was out choppin cotton and my brother was balin hay and at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat and mama hollered out the back door, yall remember to wipe your feet. Bobbie gentry performs ode to billie joe live on the bbc in 1968. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Watch the music video and discover trivia about this classic pop song now. Gentry s debut lp, which went to number one on the pop charts, was a promising but not wholly satisfying disc, with the singer penning all but one of the songs. This recording is a cover of ode to billy joe as made famous by bobbie gentry this version is not the original version, and is not performed by bobbie gentry. Bobbie gentry sings ode to billie joe live on the andy williams show 1971 bobbie gentry. Offering the largest free online karaoke music database. Cover versions of ode to billie joe written by bobbie gentry.
Theres no chorus or relief to be found and the watson twins, who feature on the rest of the album, are absent. This turned out to be some of gentrys last work highprofile. Jul 27, 20 but if the details of the song are fact and bobbie gentry was in love with him, then i commend gentry for not only her poetic and musical talent but also her bravery in sharing her deeply intimate story. Trying to unearth the story behind the reclusive bobbie. This tale of starcrossed lovers involved in peculiar. Song information for ode to billie joe bobbie gentry on allmusic. Since its the 3rd of june i thought wed take a walk down to tallahatchie bridge and contemplate the influence of bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe on country music and beyond. It is a wonderfully compelling book and the best ive read in the series since television. It was released on august 21, 1967, by capitol records in 2007, the album was made available for digital download. Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe 1967, vinyl discogs. Bobbie gentry sings ode to billie joe live on the andy williams. Bobbie gentry born july 27, 1944 is an american singersongwriter.
Bobbie gentry sings ode to billie joe live on the andy. With her debut album, ode to billie joe, bobbie gentry knocked the beatles off the top of the charts and made herself a household name. It was the third of june, another sleepy, dusty, delta day i was out choppin cotton and my brother was balin hay and at dinner time we sto. I had read stories of her singing gospel late at night with elvis, but little else about. She shot to international fame in the summer of 1967 with the quirky and intriguing ode to billie joe, written by gentry and sung in her warm, captivating style. It was the third of june, another sleepy, dusty delta day i was out choppin cotton and my brother was balin hay and at dinner time we stop. Ode to billie joe singers secret life rolling stone. Was the third of june, another sleepy, dusty delta day i was out choppin cotton and my brother was balin hay.
There is a certain smoky quality that certainly personifies bobby gentry. Save gentry herself, the world gave not much thought to billy joe. She was a singersongwriter with a strong talent for folk narratives, but she had a husky, sexy voice and a predilection. The capitol years was the first cdera compilation to make a serious attempt at summarizing bobbie gentrys remarkable recordings for capitol during the late 60s and early 70s. Her father dismisses the tragedy because billy joe never had a lick of sense and that there are more urgent matters at hand like the fact five more acres of. Roberta lee streeter born july 27, 1944 in chickasaw county, mississippi, professionally known as bobbie gentry, is a former american singersongwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to write and produce her own material. My sincere regret is that i never purchased the album, merely the 45, which i still treasure. Be the first to ask a question about bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe. The 5th dimensions cover takes that reading a step further, turning the song into a oneact play, with different members handling the vocals of each character in the song. British guitarist analyses bobbie gentry live in 1968. Its a good song that tells an intriguing story, yes but bobbie gentry s ode to billie joe is also missing a key detail. The lyrics for ode to billy joe by bobbie gentry have been translated into 1 languages. Ode to billie joe is the debut solo studio album by bobbie gentry. Gentry was not in the film, but rerecorded ode to billie joe for the soundtrack.
Ode to billie joe is a song written and recorded by bobbie gentry, a singer songwriter from chickasaw county, mississippi. In 2008, australian label raven records released the album on cd, paired with 1969s touch em with love. Find bobbie gentry ode to billie joe lyrics and search for bobbie gentry. Ode to billie joe is the debut studio album by american singersongwriter bobbie gentry. Which may explain the enduring power of her ode to billie joe. Bobbie performing ode to billie joe live on the andy williams show th february 1971. The film was based on this song, with a fictionalized gentry named bobbie lee hartley played by glynnis oconnor. Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe 1967, scranton pressing. The song ode to billy joe by bobbie gentry was a big hit for many weeks in 1967.
Trying to unearth the story behind the reclusive bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe the singers silence amplifies the mystery behind the song that made her a star, now the subject of a book of. But if the details of the song are fact and bobbie gentry was in love with him, then i commend gentry for not only her poetic and musical talent but also her bravery in sharing her deeply intimate story. Sinead oconnor ode to billie joe bobbie gentry cover. The mystery created by bobbie gentry cast a spell over the entire country, and. Tara murtha examines that song and the rest of bobbi gentrys career in ode to billie joe, the latest release in the 33 series of books. New 33 book explores life of mysterious chanteuse bobbie gentry. Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe lyrics and tracklist. Unique countrypop singer of the 1960s and 70s who remains famous for her mysterious, bluesy ballad ode to billie joe. Ode to billy joe by bobbie gentry pass the paisley. It was produced by kelly gordon and arranged by jimmie haskell and shorty rogers. It was covered by wendy ellison mullen, erin hay, jesper thilo finn otto hansen sextet, melveen leed and other artists. As to what the girl that looked a lot like you and billy joe mcallister were throwing off the tallahatchie bridge has remained one of the open questions of pop music.
Vinyl 7 bobbie gentry ode to billy joe main title 1976, vinyl discogs. Trying to unearth the story behind the reclusive bobbie gentrys ode. Singer bobbie gentry is shown in the studio in 1967, left, and in a 1969. Learn to play guitar by chord tabs using chord diagrams, transpose the key, watch video lessons and much more. Ode to billie joe is a song written and recorded by bobbie gentry, a singersongwriter from chickasaw county, mississippi. One particular song really tugs at my heartstrings and that hurry tuesday child. Bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe 33 tara murtha on.
Its a good song that tells an intriguing story, yes but bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe is also missing a key detail. Her book, then, is a reporters quest that takes her across america to find people who knew gentry and. Inevitably, the title track dwarfed everything else by comparison, but a greater problem was that several of the other tunes recycled variations of the ode to billie joe riff. I remember thinking that the family was unwittingly callous. Check out ode to billie joe by bobbie gentry on amazon music.
In the case of bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe, we readers get a very well researched history about bobbie gentry including her reclusive way of living, the making of that hit song and then background rather than technical details about the album and then gentrys foray into directing. It was the third of june, another sleepy, dusty delta day i was out choppin cotton, and my brother was balin hay and at dinner time we stopped and walked back to. Jun 03, 2018 on the title track of rabbit fur coat gentrys influence is heard in the sparse, stark repetitive musical style. Ode to billy joe is the epitome of simple grace and musical elegance. How the singersongwriter who knocked the beatles out of the. Bobbie gentry sings ode to billie joe live on the andy williams show 1971 duration. Song information for ode to billie joe bobbie gentry on allmusic allmusic. Is bobbie gentry s ode to billie joe based on a true story. The mystery created by bobbie gentry in her debut single ode to billie joe cast a spell over. Ode to billie joe bobbie gentry song info allmusic.
Have been singing her music since i was 7 yes old to this day. Jun 03, 2016 bobbie gentry performs ode to billie joe live on the bbc in 1968. Gentrys southern gothic tale of doomed romance, ode to billie joe. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Her voice and guitar were likely recorded for her demo, which she did at a studio with a singer named bobby paris at the controls she did some work singing. Appropriately enough, their performance adds a new dimension to ode.
It was produced by kelly gordon and arranged by jimmie haskel and shorty rogers. Ode to billie joe is a critically acclaimed volume in bloomsburys 33 series by tara murtha. Was the third of june, another sleepy, dusty delta day i was out choppin cotton and my brother was balin hay and at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat. Bobbie gentry grew up in mississippi near the tallahatchie river. It is a wonderfully compelling book and the best ive read in the series since. There really was a tallahatchie bridge in greenwood, mississippi, but gentry made up the story. The song ode to billie joe was written by bobbie gentry and was first recorded and released by bobbie gentry in 1967. The enigma of this, her best known song, is nothing when compared to that of bobbie gentry in real life. The secret life of bobbie gentry, pioneering artist behind ode to billie joe how the singersongwriter who knocked the beatles out of the number one spot 50 years ago quietly revolutionized. Ode to billie joe by bobbie gentry on amazon music. Ode to billie joe is bobbie gentrys debut album, released in 1967. It was the third of june, another sleepy, dusty delta day i was out choppin cotton and my brother was balin hay and at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat and mama hollered out the back door, yall. One of these, a bobbie original called show off was an outtake from the ode to billie joe sessions. Dec 18, 2014 tara murtha examines that song and the rest of bobbi gentrys career in ode to billie joe, the latest release in the 33 series of books.
Vinyl 7 bobbie gentry ode to billie joe 1967, vinyl discogs. Like ode to billie joe, this is a singular song, delivered by a lone female voice. Her songs typically drew on her mississippi roots to compose vignettes of the southern united states. Record ode to billie joe by bobbie gentry singsnap karaoke. Bobbie gentry ode to billie joe lyrics genius lyrics. Bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe by tara murtha goodreads. A movie with the title spelled ode to billy joe was released in 1976. The ode to billie joe songfacts reports that this song tells the story of a guy who kills himself by jumping off the tallahatchie bridge. In 2000 a cd compilation called ode to bobbie gentry contained a couple of previously unreleased recordings, although they were not listed as such on the sleeve. The billboard book of number one hits, billboard publications, new york. Jul 27, 2016 the 5th dimensions cover takes that reading a step further, turning the song into a oneact play, with different members handling the vocals of each character in the song. Mississippi mystery the 50yearold enigma of bobbie gentrys ode to billie joe.