Prompted by a reference to a U.S. showing of the
movie Gloomy Sunday ( Germany 1999) - which features
Elvis` version of the title song - I found myself
looking up the details of Elvis` recording of it.
A commentary on the 1994/2003 re-issues of Trust -
where it was released - says this -
'GLOOMY SUNDAY
Although Elvis' studio recording of this song
associated with Billie Holliday was released for the
first time on the Ryko CD, a live performance of the
same guitar-and-vocal arrangement from June 1, 1981
had previously been available on the video Fundamental
Frolics. The studio version was recorded at September
Sound Studios in Huddersfield in March 1981 ( after a
gig , the original sleevenotes tell me)
However looking up the March 1981 gig listing
on John E`s site I cannot find a Huddersfield date.
Perhaps someone here with a better grasp of U.K.
geography could look through this list and tell which
town played in was nearest to Huddersfield -
1981-03-01 St.Austell, Coliseum
1981-03-02 Exeter, University concert
1981-03-03 Bristol, Colston Hall concert
1981-03-04 Birmingham, Odeon concert
1981-03-05 Wolverhampton, Civic Hall concert
1981-03-07 Bradford, St.Georges Hall concert
1981-03-08 Manchester, Apollo Theatre concert
1981-03-09 Edinburgh, Playhouse concert
1981-03-10 Glasgow, Apollo concert
1981-03-11 Newcastle, City Hall concert
1981-03-13 Lancaster, University concert
1981-03-14 Bridlington, Spa Hall concert
1981-03-15 Liverpool, Empire Theatre concert
1981-03-16 Sheffield, City Hall concert T
1981-03-18 Brighton, Centre concert
1981-03-19 Hemel Hempstead, Pavilion concert
1981-03-20 Hanley, Victoria Hall concert
1981-03-22 Leicester, De Montfort Hall concert
1981-03-23 Derby Assembly Rooms concert
1981-03-24 Cardiff, Top Rank Suite concert
1981-03-25 Guildford, Civic Hall concert
1981-03-27 London, Hammersmith Odeon concert T
1981-03-28 London, Hammersmith Odeon concert
1981-03-29 Ipswich, Odeon concert
1981-03-30 Oxford, New Theatre concert
1981-03-31 Southampton, Gaumont
Costello/Gloomy Sunday - when exactly did he record it?
-
AlmostBlue
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2004 1:49 am
- Location: Berkeley, California
Amazing song, written by the Hungarian Rezsô Seress in 1933. (he jumped to his death in 1968) Supposedly some in Hungary took their lives after hearing the song, or at least ledt part of the lyrics as suicide notes... but it is actually not a depressing song, when heard in whole. It was Hal Kemp who was the first with an english translation in the US in 1936, and then Billie Holiday who made it popular with her cover in 1941. The BBC nammed it as too depressing.
Well, "depressing" is a word I avoid in describing a great work of art, which is what I think the song is. But it is, really, really sad and poignant -- and for part of the song the singer does consider suicide to join his lost love. Sure, it has that "dreaming" bit, but like the "it was just a dream" ending of a movie, I'm not sure it really rings true.
Let's just say it's not a song I'd play for someone near the edge....
Let's just say it's not a song I'd play for someone near the edge....
http://www.forwardtoyesterday.com -- Where "hopelessly dated" is a compliment!
there's a website somewhere about the song.
the 'dreaming' verse was added to make it more upbeat.
otherwise, it's just totall gloom all the way.
ah, the website: http://www.phespirit.info/gloomysunday/
my personal favorite version:
the smithereens. hmmmmmmmmmmm. i could listen to it over and over for days. and i have. and i'm still here.
could be the medication though. keeps me happy! wheeeeeeeee!
the 'dreaming' verse was added to make it more upbeat.
otherwise, it's just totall gloom all the way.
ah, the website: http://www.phespirit.info/gloomysunday/
my personal favorite version:
the smithereens. hmmmmmmmmmmm. i could listen to it over and over for days. and i have. and i'm still here.
could be the medication though. keeps me happy! wheeeeeeeee!
... name the stars and constellations,
count the cars and watch the seasons....
count the cars and watch the seasons....
the literal english translation, from the website listed above
It is autumn and the leaves are falling
All love has died on earth
The wind is weeping with sorrowful tears
My heart will never hope for a new spring again
My tears and my sorrows are all in vain
People are heartless, greedy and wicked...
Love has died!
The world has come to its end, hope has ceased to have a meaning
Cities are being wiped out, shrapnel is making music
Meadows are coloured red with human blood
There are dead people on the streets everywhere
I will say another quiet prayer:
People are sinners, Lord, they make mistakes...
The world has ended!
____________________
my, that's, uh, heavy.
yeeesh.
It is autumn and the leaves are falling
All love has died on earth
The wind is weeping with sorrowful tears
My heart will never hope for a new spring again
My tears and my sorrows are all in vain
People are heartless, greedy and wicked...
Love has died!
The world has come to its end, hope has ceased to have a meaning
Cities are being wiped out, shrapnel is making music
Meadows are coloured red with human blood
There are dead people on the streets everywhere
I will say another quiet prayer:
People are sinners, Lord, they make mistakes...
The world has ended!
____________________
my, that's, uh, heavy.
yeeesh.
... name the stars and constellations,
count the cars and watch the seasons....
count the cars and watch the seasons....
and, one more set, where the title 'gloomy sunday' comes from:
(again, english translation from hungarian original)
Gloomy Sunday with a hundred white flowers
I was waiting for you my dearest with a prayer
A Sunday morning, chasing after my dreams
The carriage of my sorrow returned to me without you
It is since then that my Sundays have been forever sad
Tears my only drink, the sorrow my bread...
Gloomy Sunday
This last Sunday, my darling please come to me
There'll be a priest, a coffin, a catafalque and a winding-sheet
There'll be flowers for you, flowers and a coffin
Under the blossoming trees it will be my last journey
My eyes will be open, so that I could see you for a last time
Don't be afraid of my eyes, I'm blessing you even in my death...
The last Sunday
(again, english translation from hungarian original)
Gloomy Sunday with a hundred white flowers
I was waiting for you my dearest with a prayer
A Sunday morning, chasing after my dreams
The carriage of my sorrow returned to me without you
It is since then that my Sundays have been forever sad
Tears my only drink, the sorrow my bread...
Gloomy Sunday
This last Sunday, my darling please come to me
There'll be a priest, a coffin, a catafalque and a winding-sheet
There'll be flowers for you, flowers and a coffin
Under the blossoming trees it will be my last journey
My eyes will be open, so that I could see you for a last time
Don't be afraid of my eyes, I'm blessing you even in my death...
The last Sunday
... name the stars and constellations,
count the cars and watch the seasons....
count the cars and watch the seasons....
--- Mark writes to listserv -
> > Perhaps someone here with a better grasp of U.K.
> geography could look
> through this list and tell which town played in was
> nearest to
> Huddersfield -
>
> John,
>
> Your thirst for knowledge never ceases to amaze me.
> Huddersfield is in the
> People's Republic of West Riding in Yorkshire which
> would make the Bradford
> gig the closest geographically. The other Yorkshire
> gigs on your list are
> Bridlington and Sheffield, but they're not as close.
> Derby is also a
> possibility, but would seem doubtful as they had a
> long journey down to
> Cardiff scheduled for the next day and a trip to
> 'Uddersfield would be a
> bit of a detour.
>
> Quiet day in the shop, is it?
>
> Mark
>
>
Yep - VERY quiet.
Bradford was also suggested by someone on the
Fan Forum so - sound the trumpets! - it can be
determined that Gloomy Sunday was recorded late on the
evening of March 7 1981 .
Now to check the weather data for that day and location....
> > Perhaps someone here with a better grasp of U.K.
> geography could look
> through this list and tell which town played in was
> nearest to
> Huddersfield -
>
> John,
>
> Your thirst for knowledge never ceases to amaze me.
> Huddersfield is in the
> People's Republic of West Riding in Yorkshire which
> would make the Bradford
> gig the closest geographically. The other Yorkshire
> gigs on your list are
> Bridlington and Sheffield, but they're not as close.
> Derby is also a
> possibility, but would seem doubtful as they had a
> long journey down to
> Cardiff scheduled for the next day and a trip to
> 'Uddersfield would be a
> bit of a detour.
>
> Quiet day in the shop, is it?
>
> Mark
>
>
Yep - VERY quiet.
Bradford was also suggested by someone on the
Fan Forum so - sound the trumpets! - it can be
determined that Gloomy Sunday was recorded late on the
evening of March 7 1981 .
Now to check the weather data for that day and location....