The Terry Jacks version has too scant a production and his vocals are too far forward in the mix, making an already maudlin song melodramatic and overwrought. This version makes a simple song sound better with the elaborate arrangement, because if the lyrics slap you in the face, the song becomes way "over the top".
@yandrsupreme Well put..but I think this poem (song) is more than simple... Terry also left out the cheating wife (man, a.m. radio wouldnt play anything that was a bit controversial back then)...Terrys version also had sped up vocals to boot.. Terry had a major hit, these guys went nowhere with this song!...Life isnt always fair,,, Tommy
@beeto11 if your talkin about when the studio added the G-E-C-D chords to Terrys version, thats because they allways added a dance felling to music like this in the 70s because of disco... your struture on Jacks version is about dance.. same like a song like Macarthur Park, when Donna Sommer does it, its stuctured.., when Richard Harris does it ( the right way),its a poem come alive..thats why the Fortunes do this song the best...we dont need DA DO DA DUM.....Tommy
@beeto11 to make the singer sound better? comeon man.. you must be a Poppy Family fan (Jacks group). Rod Allen ,the fortunes singer, didnt need no help...Terrys version is sped up even man, he couldnt do that live..this version is around 67, Jacks was around 74 ,& you can hear dance structure in alot of pop music at that time because of the disco crossover effect..(ie..Rolling Stones), & Zeps, Dyer Maker),, as far as the chords go, Jacks version goes da do da dum thruout the song,the fortunes
@tommieparch I've spent too much time on this already. Yes, This arrangement is made so the VOCALIST will have his voice make the song....instead of the melody making the song.
It's more orchestrated. da do da dum ???? whatever dude. have a good one.
@beeto11 part 2! the fortunes didnt use that because they played it close to the poem were it came from...by the way ,Jacks g-e-c-d- could also be g7 am c d.., pending which sheet music you wanna use....Tommy
wat een goed nummer blijft het.alleen de hoes heb ik nog.....de single die destijds 3,75 kostte.ben blij dat ik dit nummer weer terug zie! bedankt you tube! ben er heel blij mee. het was een van mijn eerste singles die ik kocht.maar ja de tijd gaat verder....te vlug vind ik en andere denk ik ook. groetjes van Christo.
having listened to this for the first ever time.....i actually prefer terry jacks....oooops
link5456769 1 month ago
The Terry Jacks version has too scant a production and his vocals are too far forward in the mix, making an already maudlin song melodramatic and overwrought. This version makes a simple song sound better with the elaborate arrangement, because if the lyrics slap you in the face, the song becomes way "over the top".
yandrsupreme 2 months ago
@yandrsupreme Well put..but I think this poem (song) is more than simple... Terry also left out the cheating wife (man, a.m. radio wouldnt play anything that was a bit controversial back then)...Terrys version also had sped up vocals to boot.. Terry had a major hit, these guys went nowhere with this song!...Life isnt always fair,,, Tommy
tommieparch 1 month ago
What a few chords will do.....Jacks version follows a natural progerssion .
That makes the song sound better. As far as music structure goes of course.
beeto11 4 months ago
@beeto11 if your talkin about when the studio added the G-E-C-D chords to Terrys version, thats because they allways added a dance felling to music like this in the 70s because of disco... your struture on Jacks version is about dance.. same like a song like Macarthur Park, when Donna Sommer does it, its stuctured.., when Richard Harris does it ( the right way),its a poem come alive..thats why the Fortunes do this song the best...we dont need DA DO DA DUM.....Tommy
tommieparch 4 months ago
@tommieparch On this version they have Am and various other arrangements on the chorus
that makes this song to make the singer sound better. Jacks version is 1St, 2nd 3rd and nothing else.
The changing of keys has nothing to do with dance etc. on the Jacks version.
Not sure what you're talking about with GECD. This version is on G major, but it has no E.
I'm confused.
beeto11 4 months ago
@beeto11 to make the singer sound better? comeon man.. you must be a Poppy Family fan (Jacks group). Rod Allen ,the fortunes singer, didnt need no help...Terrys version is sped up even man, he couldnt do that live..this version is around 67, Jacks was around 74 ,& you can hear dance structure in alot of pop music at that time because of the disco crossover effect..(ie..Rolling Stones), & Zeps, Dyer Maker),, as far as the chords go, Jacks version goes da do da dum thruout the song,the fortunes
tommieparch 4 months ago
@tommieparch I've spent too much time on this already. Yes, This arrangement is made so the VOCALIST will have his voice make the song....instead of the melody making the song.
It's more orchestrated. da do da dum ???? whatever dude. have a good one.
beeto11 4 months ago
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@beeto11 lol ,you have a good one too...tommy
tommieparch 4 months ago
@beeto11 part 2! the fortunes didnt use that because they played it close to the poem were it came from...by the way ,Jacks g-e-c-d- could also be g7 am c d.., pending which sheet music you wanna use....Tommy
tommieparch 4 months ago
like said 3 mo ago. this is the song people should know.. not terry jacks.. i guess thet marketed terrys lame version better...tommy
tommieparch 7 months ago
wat een goed nummer blijft het.alleen de hoes heb ik nog.....de single die destijds 3,75 kostte.ben blij dat ik dit nummer weer terug zie! bedankt you tube! ben er heel blij mee. het was een van mijn eerste singles die ik kocht.maar ja de tijd gaat verder....te vlug vind ik en andere denk ik ook. groetjes van Christo.
124christo 7 months ago 4
the french original by Jacques Brel from Belgium (with french lyrics), called "Le moribond
However..The Fortunes' version is superbe!!
wimvanwinsen 9 months ago
the real version indeed!!!
wimvanwinsen 10 months ago
its ashame people that like this song, dont know this version, but know the very fraudulant terry jacks crap!
tommieparch 10 months ago 2
@tommieparch
I like (almost)every version of this song..
PeterVerzijl 3 months ago
@tommieparch
I like (almost)every version of this song..
Even the Terry Jacks version.
PeterVerzijl 3 months ago
B E A U T I F U L ! ! !
NBDekker 10 months ago
I miss that voice... One of your youngest fans!
jeroenslaghout 10 months ago
Wonderful! Rod Allen RIP
Pedy1968 1 year ago
Probably their best song, one of the better of the sixties. Oh yes, i was in love at that with Maria but it failed.
CuypersHarry 2 years ago