HEART OF GOLD

JOHNNY CASH

SONGWRITER: NEIL YOUNG

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: UNEARTHED

LABEL: UNIVERSAL MUSIC

GENRE: FOLK MUSIC

YEAR: 2003

 

        John R. Cash(born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his career. He was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice, the distinctive sound of his Tennessee Three backing band characterized by train-like chugging guitar rhythms, a rebelliousness coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor, free prison concerts, and a trademark all-black stage wardrobe which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black".

     Born to poor cotton farmers in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash rose to fame in the burgeoning rockabilly scene in Memphis, Tennessee, after four years in the Air Force. He traditionally began his concerts by simply introducing himself, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash", followed by "Folsom Prison Blues", one of his signature songs. Alongside "Folsom Prison Blues", his other signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm", and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers like "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue", a duet with his future wife June called "Jackson" (followed by many further duets after their wedding), and railroad songs such as "Hey, Porter", "Orange Blossom Special", and "Rock Island Line". During the last stage of his career, he covered songs by contemporary rock artists of the time; his most notable covers were "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails, "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden and, "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode.

            Cash is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. His genre-spanning music embraced country, rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel sounds. This crossover appeal earned him the rare honor of being inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame. His music career was dramatised in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line.

        Unearthed is a box set by American country music singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. It was released by American Recordings on November 25, 2003, two months after Cash's death. The album was compiled by Cash and Rick Rubin, who also produced the set. It was certified Gold on December 2, 2004, by the Recording Industry Association of America. 

I want to live,

I want to give

I've been a miner for a heart of gold.

It's these expressions I never give

That keeps me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old.

It keeps me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old.

 

I've been to Hollywood

I've been to redwood

I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold

I've been in my mind, it's such a fine line

That keeps me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old.

It keeps me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old.

 

You keep me searching for a heart of gold

I've been a miner for a heart of gold.

And I'm getting old.

LEADER OF THE BAND

DAN FOGELBERG

SONGWRITER: DAN FOGELBERG

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: THE INNOCENT AGE

LABEL: FULL MOON RECORDS

GENRE: FOLK ROCK

YEAR: 1981

 

       Daniel Grayling Fogelberg (August 13, 1951 – December 16, 2007) was an American musician, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is known for his 1980s songs, including "Longer" (1979), "Same Old Lang Syne" (1980), and "Leader of the Band" (1982).

         "Leader of the Band" is a song written by Dan Fogelberg from his 1981 album The Innocent Age. The song was written as a tribute to his father, Lawrence Fogelberg, a musician and the leader of a band, who was still alive at the time the song was released. Lawrence died in August 1982, but not before this hit song made him a celebrity with numerous media interviews interested in him as its inspiration.

        Released as a single at the end of 1981, the tribute peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1982. It became Fogelberg's second #1 song on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, following his 1980 hit "Longer".

An only child

Alone and wild

A cabinet maker's son

His hands were meant

For different work

And his heart was known

To none

He left his home

And went his lone

And solitary way

And he gave to me

A gift I know I never

Can repay

 

A quiet man of music

Denied a simpler fate

He tried to be a soldier once

But his music wouldn't wait

He earned his love

Through discipline

A thundering, velvet hand

His gentle means of sculpting souls

Took me years to understand.

 

The leader of the band is tired

And his eyes are growing old

But his blood runs through

My instrument

And his song is in my soul

My life has been a poor attempt

To imitate the man

I'm just a living legacy

To the leader of the band.

 

My brothers' lives were

Different

For they heard another call

One went to Chicago

And the other to St. Paul

And I'm in Colorado

When I'm not in some hotel

Living out this life I've chose

And come to know so well.

 

I thank you for the music

And your stories of the road

I thank you for the freedom

When it came my time to go

I thank you for the kindness

And the times when you got tough

And, pap, I don't think I

Said 'I love you' near enough

 

The leader of the band is tired

And his eyes are growing old

But his blood runs through

My instrument

And his song is in my soul

My life has been a poor attempt

To imitate the man

I'm just a living legacy

To the leader of the band

I am the living legacy

To the leader of the band.

GIVE IN TO ME

GARRETT HEDLUND & LEIGHTON MEESTER

SONGWRITER: BILLY FALCON; ELISHA HOFFMAN & ROSE FALCON

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: COUNTRY STRONG

LABEL: CREEN GEMS

GENRE: COUNTRY

YEAR: 2010

 

          Garrett John Hedlund(born September 3, 1984) is an American actor, model and singer. His films include Troy(2004), Friday Night Lights(2004), Four Brothers(2005), Eragon(2006), Death Sentence(2007), Tron: Legacy(2010), Country Strong(2010), On the Road(2012), Inside Llewyn Davis(2013), Unbroken(2014), Pan(2015), Mudbound(2017) and Triple Frontier(2019).

         Leighton Marissa Meester(born April 9, 1986) is an American actress, singer, and model. She is best known for her starring role as the devious socialite Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl on The CW(2007–2012). She has also appeared in films such as Killer Movie (2008), Country Strong(2010), The Roommate (2011), Monte Carlo(2011), The Oranges (2011) and The Judge(2014). Meester made her Broadway debut in Of Mice and Men(2014). She portrayed Angie D'Amato on the ABC sitcom Single Parents(2018–2020).

          In addition to acting, Meester has ventured into music. After featuring in the top tem Billboard Hot 100 with single Cobra Starship's "Good Girls Go Bad", she released her solo singles under Universal Republic label "Somebody to Love" in 2009 and "Your Love's a Drug" in 2010. Meester has also recorded songs for various soundtracks. Her debut album, Heartstrings, was independently released in 2014. She has also modeled, having been the face of the Jimmy Choo, Herbal Essences, and Vera Wang brands.

          Country Strong is a 2010 American drama film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, and Leighton Meester. The film, about an emotionally unstable country music star who attempts to resurrect her career, was directed and written by American filmmaker Shana Feste. It premiered in Nashville, Tennessee on November 8, 2010, and had a wide release in the United States on January 7, 2011. This is the second film in which McGraw and Hedlund have worked together, the first being Friday Night Lights in 2004. At the 83rd Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Original Song("Coming Home").

I'm gonna wear you down

I'm gonna make you see

I'm gonna get to you

You're gonna give into me

 

I'm gonna start a fire

You're gonna feel the heat

I'm gonna burn for you

You're gonna melt for me

 

Come on, come on

Into my arms

Come on, come on

Give into me

 

You're gonna take my hand

Whisper the sweetest words

And if you're ever sad

I'll make you laugh

I'll chase the hurt

 

My heart is set on you

I don't want no one else

And if you don't want me

I guess I'll be all by myself

 

Come on, come on

Into my arms

Come on, come on

Give into me

 

I'll use my eyes to draw you in

Until I'm under your skin

I'll use my lips, I'll use my arms

Come on, come on, come on

Give into me

Give into me

Give into me.

RAIN

URIAH HEEP

SONGWRITER: HENSLEY KENNETH WILLIAM DAVID

COUNTRY: U. K.

ÁLBUM: THE MAGICIAN’S BIRTHDAY

LABEL: BRONZE RECORDS

GENRE: ROCK

YEAR: 1972

 

        Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969. Their current lineup includes lead and rhythm guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Dave Rimmer. They have experienced numerous lineup changes throughout their 52-year career, leaving Box as the only remaining original member. Notable former members of the band include vocalists David Byron, John Lawton, John Sloman, Peter Goalby, and Steff Fontaine, bassists Gary Thain, Trevor Bolder, John Wetton, Bob Daisley, Paul Newton, and John Jowitt, drummers Nigel Olsson, Lee Kerslake and Chris Slade, and keyboardists Ken Hensley, and John Sinclair.

       Uriah Heep are notable for being part of the early 1970s rock scene (along with other British bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple), and have been referred to as pioneers of the hard rock, heavy metal and progressive rock genres. The band has sold over 40million albums worldwide with over four million sales in the U.S, where its best-known songs include "Gypsy", "Easy Livin'", "The Wizard", "Sweet Lorraine", and "Stealin'". They also maintain a significant following and perform at arena-sized venues in the Balkans, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Finland and Scandinavia.

         Uriah Heep have released twenty-four studio albums (of original material), twenty live albums and forty-one compilation albums (including two greatest hits albums). Twelve of the band's studio albums have made it to the UK Albums Chart(Return to Fantasy reached Nº 7 in 1975), while of the fifteen Billboard 200 Uriah Heep albums, Demons and Wizards was the most successful (Nº 23, 1972). In the late 1970s the band had massive success in Germany, where the "Lady in Black" single was a big hit.

       "Rain" is a song by the English progressive rock/hard rock band Uriah Heep, which was originally released on their fifth studio album, The Magician's Birthday, in 1972. Though the song was never released as a single, it is one of the most well-known songs from the album. It was written by Ken Hensley, who also performed the keyboard/piano element of the song, with vocals by David Byron. It was the band's first song to utilize only the keyboards/piano and vocals with some additional bass guitar parts. AllMusic said the song was a "lovely piano ballad". Songwriter Hensley recorded a slightly different version for inclusion on his 1973 debut solo album Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf.

It's raining outside but that's not unusual

But the way that I'm feeling is becoming usual

I guess you could say

The clouds are moving away

Away from your days

And into mine

 

Now it's raining inside and that's kind of a shame

And it's getting to me, a happy man

And why should you want to

Waste all my time

The world is yours

But I am mine

 

Rain, rain, rain, in my tears

Measuring carefully my years

Shame, shame, shame, in my mind

See what you've done to my life

 

Rain, rain, rain, in my tears

Measuring carefully my years

Shame, shame, shame, in my mind

See what you've done to my life

See what you've done to my life.