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Wow! I could have sworn it was just yesterday that Marion
"Prof" Carpenter called me over to his recording studio in
Biloxi's historic Werlein's building to ask what I thought about a new
music track they had recently mastered and sold to
20th Century Fox label
(Actually, it was forty plus years ago). The "plug" side of
the record was a cover of a standard ballad,
"Unchained Melody", but I liked the flip side, a Jim
Weatherly original composition entitled
"When You Get What you Want, You Don't Want It
Anymore." |
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At that stage in his career, Jim Weatherly had an almost
Elvis-like resonance in his voice; not an imitation, just similar
tonal qualities. I had heard him performing with his band "The
Vegas" several times at some of Biloxi, Mississippi's famous beach
strip nightclubs (most of which have since been blown
away by 1969's Hurricane Camille.)
I also had a the pleasure of seeing a few of his exciting
performances as a star
quarterback for my alma mater's "Ole Miss
Rebels"; performances during which he set records and precedents, the likes of which
only an "Archie"
or an "Eli" would come along to tame.
Jim Weatherly's biggest records, however, would not
be set for more than a decade to come; but as a songwriter, and some
of those records just might never be broken.
Don't believe in the "overnight success" stories soaring around the
internet; In fact, there may have been times when Jim wondered
if his career would ever get the jumpstart it needed. |
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The last time I spoke to Jim Weatherly, was in 1970 when I was
working for Don Bustany and Casey Kasem on "American Top Forty"
We had just finished recording the weekly syndicated AT40 program, and my
Manager, Don Jaye, and I, stopped
off at The Safeway Supermarket in Hollywood at 3 A.M. What a time
and place to run into Jim and his wife. We were all pretty
exhausted from the long day, but we managed to chat briefly, mostly
about how tough the business was. At that time, Jim had accumulated
a few
minor credits, but in those dreary early morning hours, I doubt that any of us
envisioned
that he was poised on a springboard that was about to launch him
into immortality. Few songwriters have
been as prolific, or as successful, or as respected, as Jim Weatherly. Few ever will.
Since the 70s, artists have been scurrying to snatch up his material,
and except for a couple of chart records of his own, his creations
have mostly served to make a lot of other people famous, with more
than a few industry awards linked to his music.
But there is a dimension to
Jim Weatherly that remains virtually obscure: That southern crooner
voice, and his talented delivery. In case you've never really
listened, then it's time to experience what his songs are all about,
interpreted as only Jim
Weatherly himself can do. His albums, many still available, are
timeless, and filled with emotion. But brace your heartstrings
for a tug or two, as this brilliant artist glides you through his own
masterful interpretations of
some of his greatest songs. You're bound to agree that Jim is
much more
than a
brilliant songwriter; He is a profoundly talented performer. And
just as Jim Weatherly has been one of my favorites for nearly
half a century, he'll quickly become one of yours.
(See reviews of some his
albums and CDs by clicking on an image)
Visit Jim's Website at:
http://www.JimWeatherly.com |
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