Eliza Doolittle Slept Here

Title: Hartford, Hereford, And Hampshire

Show Release Date: April 12, 2023

Blog Written: April 11, 2023

Albums Covered:

• Carole King - Tapestry
• Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
• Amy Winhouse - Back to Black
• Aretha Franklin - Amazing Grace

Hello everyone, and this will be the first time a blog is posted at the same time as a show.  So, it may require editing, updates, or just some good old fashioned fixing at a later date.

The good news, is that the editing is still fresh in my mind as I have just completed it and made my notes to what I want to say here.  There are more references and uses of songs that need to be addressed, and a lot has changed since the third show that I last posted about on this site.  But, follow us on Instagram and you will find out when we post about the older shows.

So, this is possibly the 43rd show we have recorded, and that includes any of our holiday specials or any other odd thing we did.  By the time I update the shows betwixt the third and this one, I should have the counts straight, so we will say 43 just to get through this post.

Unlike previous posts, I am going to drop references as they come up, so this may look a little different.  Much like the show, this site needs some tweaking on format and will absolutely change around as we go.

First, you might be wondering about the title of the show, even after you've heard the show, you may still be wondering about it.  Well, it is a lyric from the song "The Plains in Spain" from "My Fair Lady".  There is another hidden meaning, but I will come back to that at the end of this season, as all the titles have a running theme - which you may or may not have guessed.  The main reason for this lyric is that Scott makes a rather astute parallel of Amy Winehouse to Eliza Doolittle.  Absolutely fantastic.  So, I really wanted to use that bit.

Our first round matchup is between Carole King and Lauryn Hill (Tapestry #25, and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill #10).  We start with Carole an the many songs she has written for other artists in the Brill Building.  The Brill Building was discussed in an earlier show called Frank Sinatra: The Tenth Wonder of the World  where we discussed Laura Nyro. And take a look at the Wikipedia page showing all of the songs that Carole King has written and the artists that made them popular - she was even sampled by friend to the podcast, Kanye.  

In our discussion, we referenced the Rocky Horror Picture Show and its executive producer Lou Adler.  Lou is responsible for bringing the stage version to Los Angeles, giving us the cult classic film, and unfortunately he also gave its sequel that should have never been made.  But in case you are curious, the entire movie can be seen here from YouTube.  

You were warned, so send your complaints elsewhere.

There follows a short spot for the podcast Fancy Bread Miami - go check them out.  They are really great guys and their show is well done.

Next up is Lauryn Hill.  Dave brings up the lawsuit with musicians that played on the album that were not given and credit.  This article came out in August of 2018 discussing the lawsuit that took place.  We also make fun of how I totally mispronounced the OutKast's album title "Aquemini" in our episode entitled: Podcasting in the Name of.  

There is a joke about how many songs Michael McDonald is featured on, and my estimate is way off.  Check out this page to see all of his contributions.  Also take a look at James Taylor and Joe Walsh. 

The middle quiz game will get its own blog page.  Please watch this space for it.

The second round begins with Amy Winehouse and the brilliant reference to Eliza Doolitle - watch this clip below from the movie and it will all make sense.  And you have not heard Amy Winehouse speak, watch the next clip and compare.

There is a documentary film about Amy Winehouse, and I highly, highly recommend it.  It is tragic, but it is done very well.  It is called "Amy".  

We move onto Aretha and I mention the movie that goes along with this album is fantastic.  I could not find a clip of everything her father, but if you see the movie, you will hear his phenomenal, oratory voice and the love he has for his daughter.  Also, "The Old Landmark" was in the Blues Brothers film and the song is led by James Brown, and you can watch it here - I promise you, the best six minutes of your day!

Note: for our next show, I do say that we are going to cover Eric Church.  But, he was summarily voted off the island before the next show was recorded, and we failed to address it.

Thanks for coming out!

The albums, as described by ChatGPT:

Released in 1971, "Tapestry" is the second studio album by Carole King, a singer-songwriter and pianist. The album is a quintessential work in the singer-songwriter genre and became a huge commercial success. It features classic songs such as "It's Too Late" and "You've Got a Friend," which earned King several Grammy Awards. "Tapestry" is known for its introspective and heartfelt lyrics, King's soulful vocals, and her exceptional piano-playing skills, making it one of the most influential and enduring albums in music history.

Released in 1998, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is the debut solo album by Lauryn Hill, a former member of the hip-hop group The Fugees. The album masterfully blends elements of R&B, hip-hop, soul, and reggae, showcasing Hill's remarkable vocal abilities and insightful songwriting. It became a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards, including five Grammy Awards. The album's themes revolve around love, self-discovery, and social issues, and it remains a landmark record, highly regarded for its emotional depth and musical creativity.

Released in 2006, "Back to Black" is the second and final studio album by British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. The album is a fusion of soul, R&B, and jazz with a contemporary twist. It features Winehouse's powerful and distinctive voice, as well as her deeply personal and confessional lyrics. The record's themes explore love, heartbreak, addiction, and self-destructive behavior. "Back to Black" received widespread acclaim, earning several awards, and is considered one of the greatest albums of the 21st century, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.

Released in 1972, "Amazing Grace" is a live gospel album by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Recorded at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, the album captures Franklin's awe-inspiring performance, backed by a gospel choir and Reverend James Cleveland. The record showcases Franklin's exceptional vocal prowess and her deep-rooted connection to gospel music. "Amazing Grace" became one of Franklin's best-selling albums and is revered as one of the greatest gospel recordings of all time, highlighting her ability to stir emotions and touch the hearts of listeners worldwide.

Songs Used on the show:

• Background in the Title is called "Comedy Theme" by user Hagfilms at freesound.org
• "It's Too Late" - Carole King
• "Doo Wop That Thing" - Lauryn Hill
• "Me & Mr. Jones" - Amy Winehouse
• "The Old Landmark" - Aretha Franklin
• Background in the outro to the show is called "Touch Me There" - silly piano thing Cory put together