Not in Nottingham - Music Aeroplane



One of my favourite Disney songs is the heartfelt ballad Not in Nottingham from Robin Hood. It is such a touching, poignant scene and Roger Miller's soothing vocals and fancy guitar work brings it home for me.

I don't know what it is about this song but not many people cover it. A few covers I have are by indie acoustic acts, which is perfect for them due to the acoustic nature of Roger Miller's music.

MUSIC AEROPLANE is the one-man act of David Rabideau from Missouri. His version of Not in Nottingham is short and sweet with a nice echo solo between himself and his guitar. It falls apart a bit at the end, but it is a nice version, none the less. He has made this track a free download at last.fm.

Labels: acoustic, music aeroplane, music aeroplane demos, not in nottingham, robin hood

  ¶ 9:17 AM 1 Comments Links to this post

  When You Wish Upon a Star - Jason Mraz
To conclude When You Wish Upon a Star Week I have posted a live cover that Jason Mraz Live performed at Java Joe's on April 20, 2002 in Ocean Beach, California.

Jason uses this song as a vehicle for improv with his buddies Bushwalla and Gregory Page. While it is fun to listen to, this cover may be for Mraz enthusiasts only.

When You Wish Upon a Star Jason Mraz 2002

Labels: acoustic, jason mraz, pinocchio, when you wish upon a star

  ¶ 4:53 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  When You Wish Upon a Star - Chet Atkins
For this month's installment of When You Wish Upon a Star Week, I've posted a cover of the classic Pinocchio tune by a classic guitarist.

CHET ATKINS, also known as Mr. Guitar, began his career as a musician of the string variety by playing ukulele, fiddle and then guitar, all before he was ten years old.

He grew up playing the guitar through the 30s and 40s and started performing in 1946 as part of Red Foley's country dance band. His guitar playing soon became very popular and he signed a deal with Steve Sholes of RCA Records to start recording records.

In 1957, Steve Sholes got a bit too busy producing and promoting an artist called Elvis Presley. Sholes couldn't keep up with the other branches of the label so Sholes put Atkins in charge of his Nashville branch. This was the beginning of Atkins' long career as a record producer. Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton are just a few of the names Atkins brought to the label.

It was around that time that Atkins started designing his own line of electric guitars with Gretsch. Atkins' guitars were the number one reason Gretsch could compete with the big names like Fender and Gibson. The Chet Atkins Country Gentleman was used by many musicians including Elvis Presley.

Atkins retired in the 70s after becoming dissatisfied with the way new executives ran RCA and the new ways his guitars were being made. He signed with Columbia and started making guitars with Gibson.

This beautiful cover of When You Wish Upon a Star is from PICKIN' MY WAY, an LP released by RCA in 1970. It is the perfect example of the awesome abilities Atkins possessed.

When You Wish Upon a Star Chet Atkins 1970

Labels: acoustic, chet atkins, folk, pickin my way, pinocchio, when you wish upon a star

  ¶ 12:23 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  Give a Little Whistle - Michelle Shocked
In 2005, MICHELLE SHOCKED released three albums at the same time! One of the albums, GOT NO STRINGS is composed of her interpretations of her favourite Disney songs. Today I'm posting her version of Give a Little Whistle from Pinocchio. GOT NO STRINGS is arguably the favourite of the three albums, and with good reason. Her arrangements are unique and they are fun to listen to! Give this whole album a listen to if you can. It is filled with good music.

I find it a bit hard to classify this album in a genre. It's a bit country, a bit jazzy, a bit folky and bit bluegrassy. This is part of the reason many people like Shocked and her albums. It is diverse enough to reach a wide variety of people but still stays true to the style that she has created.

Give a Little Whistle Michelle Shocked 2005

Labels: acoustic, give a little whistle, got no strings, michelle shocked, pinocchio

  ¶ 1:27 PM 3 Comments Links to this post

  Under the Sea - Kevin Davis and Jason Lamb
Hey, Ray here from Cover Me. Kurtis was nice enough to let me take the helm – an appropriate metaphor for today’s song – and I hope to return the gesture soon.

As a kid, The Little Mermaid was the Disney movie I hated. It had too much girl-whining and hair-combing for a seven-year old boy who is far more interested in a pirate’s sword or a dwarf’s axe than a redhead’s clam-shell bra. However, there was one song I’d rewind the tape for again and again, a song probably thrown in the movie just to give all us Y-chromosome children something to enjoy, Under the Sea. Ariel doesn’t sing a word and any ideas about boy-girl romance (ew, cooties!) are miles away. Practical issues such as breathing didn't enter my mind as, hearing how much fun the ocean's depths sounded, I planned my move there.

Turns out though the song doesn’t need Sebastian the crab’s faux-Jamaican accent or careening steel drums to be effective, as evidenced by Kevin Davis and Jason Lamb’s guitar and harmonica rendition. A songwriter from southern Illinois, Davis is a little-known, record-label-less gem of a performer, using simple instrumentation and straightforward singing to focus on the melodies. It’s a technique that lends itself to great covers like this one: just enough instrumentation to make it interesting, but not to distract from the great lyrics and vocal presentation. Add in Lamb’s harmonica wailing in the background on this one and you’ll see just why it’s hotter under the water.

Under the Sea Kevin Davis and Jason Lamb 2006

Labels: acoustic, jason lamb, kevin davis, little mermaid, under the sea

  ¶ 11:04 AM 3 Comments Links to this post

  Pooh Bear Medley - Tommy Emmanuel & Amanda
Hi everyone! Jamie here from Fong Songs guest-posting for a third time at the gracious invitation of Kurtis. Today I've got a Winnie the Pooh cover for you. Meanwhile Kurtis is moonlighting over at Cover Lay Down today with even more Pooh covers from a folk perspective. To complete the round of coverblog musical chairs, Cover Lay Down's Boyhowdy has taken over Fong Songs for the day.

While on my recent trip to China, I found this 1999 CD (not a bootleg!) called DUETS: A FAMILY CELEBRATION featuring Australian artists performing Disney covers with "their children, parents, or siblings". I am unfamiliar with the artists involved, but maybe you'll recognize them: Monica Trapaga, Joe Camilleri, Martin Plaza, Vika & Linda Bull, Red Symons, Debra Byrne, and Grace Knight. Guitarist TOMMY EMMANUEL, who carries the title of "Certified Guitar Player" as dubbed by Chet Atkins, sings a quaint version of the Winnie the Pooh theme with a couple surprises.

Simply dubbed Pooh Bear Medley, the liner notes describe the song as "Up, Up and Away / Winnie the Pooh". I figured Up, Up and Away was from one of those recent Pooh feature films that seem to crop up every couple years. The song kicked off and seemed oddly familiar, though I couldn't quite place it. Then as the chorus hit I realized with joyous wide-eyed wonder that he was in fact singing the theme song to the television series The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. You know "Pooh Bear, Winnie the Pooh Bear, wherever you go, won't you take me please...". The show originally ran from 1988 to 1991, just long enough to bury itself in my subconscious at an early age. The theme was written by Thom Sharp and Steve Nelson, though oddly I can't find any mention of it being called "Up, Up and Away" anywhere other than this CD. Tommy also covers the original theme song and interspersed throughout is his daughter Amanda reading excerpts of Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. Enjoy!

Pooh Bear Medley Tommy Emmanuel & Amanda 1999

Labels: acoustic, duets a family celebration, folk, many adventures of winnie the pooh, new adventures of winnie the pooh, tommy emmanuel, winnie the pooh

  ¶ 9:14 AM 6 Comments Links to this post

  Not in Nottingham - Watkins Family Hour
Disney's epic retelling of the man (fox?) who stole from the rich and gave to the poor hit the big screen 34 years ago on this day! That is why I am honoring Robin Hood with a special live song that was recorded in the Largo night club in California.

Not in Nottingham is the most touching song and the most touching scene in the movie. The song is set in the dungeon of Nottingham Palace where the sheriff has imprisoned all of the locals who can't pay the taxes. Roger Miller's character, Alan-A-Dale, is one of the prisoners and it is here that sings of how there is no hope in Nottingham.

The WATKINS FAMILY HOUR is Sean and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek who play local shows with special guests as the other members of the band. They bring a caring touch to this sad song with a bit of optimism in their voices that is a bit uplifting. But it still brings a tear to my eye when I remember those poor, poor animals.

Not in Nottingham Watkins Family Hour 2006

Labels: acoustic, folk, not in nottingham, robin hood, watkins family hour

  ¶ 4:10 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

  I Wan'na Be Like You - Gabriel Rios
Although born in Peurto Rico, GABRIEL RIOS started off his music career in Belgium when he decided to be a professional singer/songwriter instead of a painter at a local art school.

After a playing in a few bands he decided to go on his own and in 2004 he recorded his first album, GHOSTBOY. Then in 2005 Rios recorded EN VIVO, a live album that included a version of the Jungle Book's monkey song, I Wan'na Be Like You.

His take on the song is an interesting one. Acoustic guitar and vocals only. No flashy swing music or back up singers. His arrangement is fun and his guitar work is really good. I like how he interacts with the guitar solo by singing and playing together.

I Wan'na Be Like You Gabriel Rios 2005

Labels: acoustic, en vivo, gabriel rios, i wan'na be like you, jungle book, rock

  ¶ 1:46 PM 0 Comments Links to this post