The one thing that seems so difficult to pin down about the song is its origin. Who definitively wrote the words, the chords and the melody cannot be actually be identified from the potted history presented on Wikipedia.

I plan to try and find and listen to the various recordings to make up my own mind, but perhaps, as they imply, the song developed through the ages, each new performer adding their own touches. What is evident to me just from the number of goes at it is that it’s a great and a lasting song.

The arrangement most folks probably know the best was done by the Animals, and it’s one fine piece of work, arguably the best. Although the songwriting credit and royalties go entirely to keyboardist Alan Price, according to singer Burdon, “this was simply because there was insufficient room to name all five band members on the record label, and Alan Price’s name was first alphabetically”. That version was performed by the Animals who were [at the time] Eric Burdon (vocals), Bryan Chandler (bass), Alan Price (keys), John Steel (Drums), and Hilton Valentine (guitar).

Nina Simone’s version isn’t bad either – like she could perform anything badly! And I was surprised to note she recorded her version before The Animals, too. But most surprising to me after I investigated a couple of leads from the Wikipedia article – was my own response to a very evocative version I’d never heard before. I shouldn’t have been surprised, considering this is Bob Dylan we’re talking about. It is worth a listen.

However, his fantastic performance aside, that Dylan credited himself with writing the song raises the context of questionable ethics as apparently Dave Van Ronk argued that he first wrote the altered chords we know today, and that Dylan had copied his version which Van Ronk had performed many times by the early sixties. Not knowing the details of this dispute I cannot comment but it isn’t first tale I’ve heard of Dylan “stealing” someone else’s ideas. It doesn’t change the generally accepted observation that in his own right he is one of the best songwriters we’ve ever known, but it does disappoint.

Dylan didn’t win in the money stakes on this song, though. If you ask about the publishing rights to the song itself, it is EMI Publishing, and royalties do indeed just go to Alan Price. That to me seems unfair. His organ performance on the Animals’ version was undoubtedly very very good, but there’s more to that version than the keyboards.

The House of the Rising Sun

Why the f&*^ did we let this happen? [this is a rhetorical question]

New Porsche hybrid.

Thought I’d put a post up for anyone who wants to share their playlist.

Mine is here.

I’m sure I’ve even blogged about the total godsend of the Return of the Wispa at some point, such is my love of the chocolate… no hiding the fact.

Just… bugger it, I hate to generalise, but Americans just can’t make chocolate! I went on holiday there once. Great place. But something about the use of sugar cane – or their recipe is just a bit wrong? Has anyone in the UK actually ever chosen to buy themselves Galaxy chocolate rather than being given one as a gift that was bought on special?

So, that’s it, my blog on the subject. It strikes fear and sadness into my brown chocolatey heart to contemplate a world where all the good things – the quality, the subtlety and the history deeply ingrained into the great recipes and the great trade secrets – get lost in the mire of corporate profit.

Those damned Americans, they took away my oat krunchies, now they threaten my Wispas. What next? James Bond? Oh yeah… too late.

Long live the Cadbury chocolate bar as it currently stands, and a warning to Cadbury – your brand is respected and loved for a reason. Do not succumb to greed.

Over 10 years ago Rolling Stone magazine called this artist “classy and promising”.

A final note about this album. It is entirely self-made with the exception of two guest tracks.

You can preview the entire album for free here

Lyrics for the album are here

The is the first track taken from the forthcoming Duncan Alex album Early Days.

You can listen to a preview of the entire album Early Days is also available for your listening pleasure free here! Of course, the first album Beyond the Gift is available on iTunes.

A candid and moving tribute to MJ from Lisa Marie Presley, who strikes me as a very real person

What Michael Jackson Did on His Last Day

More than 1 million seek tix Jackson memorial

No Celebrity Supernova Burned Brighter Than Jackson At the Peak of his Career

Deformed by Surgery. Warped by Fame. The Sad End of an American Icon

Michael Jackson is dead – first story I read

Michael Jackson Leaves Behind Two Unfinished Albums

Michael Jackson’s Missing Music: More to Come?

‘Endless’ unreleased music in Jackson’s vaults

Cause of death and Demerol OD?

LAPD: Michael Jackson’s drug history to be probed

Police searching for Michael Jackson’s doctor

Good story

Stars speak out

Another story

Loyal Japanese fans

Where is Janet? and what she said about her bro back along

Online traffic spiked and all about how the internet crashed

About drugs

Best collection of thoughts I’ve found so far

Story

Quotes about his death

Another story

Time article on “The Death of Peter Pan”

Pay tribute to MJ

Video news

Jackson’s Millions

Michael Jackson’s Mysterious Medical Past

Michael Jackson’s ‘Final Curtain Call’ and links

Tehran Tweets: Mourning Michael Amid the Crisis

Yes – there’s Oat Crisp – I know, believe me, I know!

A couple of years ago PepsiCo (who own Quaker) took Oat Krunchies away and replaced them with Oat Crisp (in a nicer-looking packet). Now, to explain: Oat Crisps appear to be virtual carbon copies of Oat Krunchies, except for – as far as I can tell – a significant reduction in the receipe’s salt content.

But if that’s all that has changed, damnnit, that salt made all the difference! It may also be that there’s some malt missing, or they’ve used a different malt. Who knows?

But the flavour now is a disappointment. The flavour of old was simply delicious. There was nothing to compare.

Why is it “they” always find out which are life’s truely mass-market culinary delights, and either take them away or just change the receipes? “They” did it with Wispa, but bless them they brought that beauty back. And I have thanked Cadbury many times over with my wallet.

PepsiCo listen up! I hereby pledge that if you make ‘em, I will buy ‘em in great quantities:

So, bring back old-style recipe Oat Krunchies!

Anyone with me?

Next page to this is a massive pic, thanks to NASA!

For Duncan Alex music and music videos from FREE to 45c see here.