I Got No Strings - Diana Ross & the Supremes

Here is another track from the unreleased Disney tribute album from DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES. This time it's the classic I've Got No Strings from Pinocchio.

This song has a bit of irony for Florence Ballard. But to understand this I must give you a bit of Supremes history.

In 1967 the Supremes' record label wanted to jump on the bandwagon of taking the name of the most popular member and giving it top billing. The Miracles had become Smokey Robinson & the Miracles a few years earlier and other groups were doing this too. This was done so that the label could demand more money for booking the act because they were booking two names instead of one!

At this time the Supremes were in the studio recording DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES SING DISNEY CLASSICS and playing shows under the new name. But Flo started showing up to gigs and sessions drunk and sometimes didn't show up at all. Was she upset that Diana was getting top billing? Was she worried that she would go solo and break up the group?

Pretty soon, the Supremes' manager asked Cindy Birdsong to fill in when Flo couldn't make the gigs and sessions. Soon after, Flo was given the boot and Cindy Birdsong became a permanent member of Diana Ross & the Supremes.

So you see, I've Got No Strings was one of the last songs the Flo Ballard recorded with the group. Soon after, her strings were cut and she was free to fly on her own! But it wasn't the life she expected. She released a solo album that bombed and soon fell into poverty and died in 1976 at the age of 32. It's a sad irony.

Half of the songs on SUPREMES SING DISNEY are Flo and the rest are Cindy after Flo was fired from the group. The personnel changes and everything surrounding what was happening with Flo are rumored reasons why this album was never released.

I've Got No Strings Diana Ross & the Supremes 1967

Orange Blossom Special - The Polyjesters

We continue Country Music Week today with a non-Disney cover from the Polyjesters. I'm not in the habbit of posting non-Disney songs but you'll see why I'm posting this one once you hear it.

Orange Blossom Special is a fiddle tune named after the Orange Blossom Special passenger train that ran in New York City in the early to mid 20th century. Now, before I get many comments about how this track is actually bluegrass, let me explain:

While traditional bluegrass music has roots in jazz, blues and folk, there was a movement in the 70s that introduced electronic instruments into the all acoustic genre creating what people call progressive bluegrass, or newgrass. This style has become popular amongst modern country artists and many have recorded bluegrass albums. Today's post is an example of traditional bluegrass while tomorrow's post will be more progressive.

But let's talk about this track for a bit. Orange Blossom Special was written in 1938 by Ervin Rouse and Robert Russell "Chubby" Wise and popularized by the grandfather of bluegrass, Bill Monroe. Johnny Cash has a version of it too on the album of the same name.

The POLYJESTERS have taken this song and have stuck in a few other songs just for fun. You'll hear Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (Mary Poppins), Be Our Guest (Beauty and the Beast), I've Got No Strings (Pinocchio), and Chim Chim Cher-ee (Mary Poppins) as well as the theme to James Bond.

Check out this other post for more info on the Polyjesters.

Orange Blossom Special The Polyjesters 2001

I've Got No Strings - Gypsy Kings

The GYPSY KINGS have been doing their thing since the early eighties and have made quite a career for themselves. They were the first group to take their Rumba Flamenca style and craft it for the pop world. The tight guitar playing and rhythmic tapping and hand claps are impressive when you hear them and even more impressive when you hear them live.

For the 1991 project, SIMPLY MAD ABOUT THE MOUSE, the Gypsy Kings took a crack at the famous Pinocchio tune I've Got No Strings. Lyrically, this song about freedom fits perfectly with the gypsy lifestyle and rhythmically provides the basis for a really good cover.

I love the chord changes they make, turning some major chords to minor to create some more intricate melodies. I also love the hand claps. It takes a special group of people to stay on time like that.

I've Got No Strings Gypsy Kings 1991