Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Wednesday 45 Flashback: ‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy’

Not the classic Blood, Sweat & Tears version, but the Motown original. It came out 40 years ago, sung by the sweet Brenda Holloway. She also co-wrote it.

It was a minor hit for Ms. Holloway. Now it’s part of the American songbook.

“You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” has been recorded by some of the greatest singing stars of all time... Sammy Davis, Jr., Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Lou Rawls, Cher, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross.

Cheers to YouTube’s 45 king, The Artist Formerly Known as Spoonfedcornbread, for uploading this:

4 comments:

estiv said...

Alright, UBM, in response I am obligated to upload Brenda Holloway's "Together 'Til The End Of Time" for streaming on my blog. It was Al Kooper who suggested that his old bandmates in Blood, Sweat, & Tears should cover "You’ve Made Me So Very Happy." Kooper himself covered "Together 'Til The End Of Time" on the Live Adventures album. I'd love to know how Al Kooper became a Brenda Holloway fan, but he made me one too.

Undercover Black Man said...

^ Tasty.

Anonymous said...

I must confess, I was all set to make a snarky comment about how the BS&T version doesn't measure up to the original, in much the same way that Janis Joplin's version of "Piece of My Heart" isn't as strong as Erma Franklin's. I have to admit that, as soulful as Brenda Holloway's vocals are, the horn arrangement of BS&T is pretty awesome (Listen to it here). Imagine what this would have sounded like with the Dap Kings behind Holloway.

I also like the version by Lou Rawl's, which eventually made its way to De La Soul. Which in turns reminds me of 3rd Bass' use of BS&T on "Sons of Third Base."

Undercover Black Man said...

Pop View, welcome to my spot, and thanks for commenting.

I got nothing but love for David Clayton Thomas. BS&T's horn arrangements were the shit.