The Special Years - Val Doonican - 1965

[ODH]

I've really taken to this WoMB (Week of My Birth) project, and the fest that it feeds into.  I still have at least another 6 tracks from the hit parade on the day I was born that I want to cover and I will continue with it after the end of the fest.  It's struck a chord with me.

And this wasn't one of the shortlisted tracks, either.  I'd skipped over the Val Doonican song when I'd scanned the list (I mean, Val Doonican?!), but the title made me go and listen to it.  And the lyrics brought a lump to my throat, having our own three year old daughter and all.  And I struggled to sing it for a while, not just because of the low notes.  I wanted to sing it myself (as opposed to giving it to our resident Irish baritone) because the lyric is quite personal.

Some of the lyrics betray values and attitudes that I imagine seemed old-fashioned even in 1965, and I hope that my daughter has more options open to her than just "From little girl to wife", but even though some of the lyrics are uncomfortable, I've overlooked them.

This is a sparse all-GarageBand track.  The drums are courtesy of Mason.  And those low notes were a struggle.  I sent it via Landr for mastering, which did make a difference to the mix.  Originally it was to be reinvented with layered and chorused guitars, then with an acoustic track, then I went for light touch.

[Hook]

I enjoyed this brother, that's some seriously low singing.
Rock on!

[Groundy]

This makes me feel old, I used to sing this to my girls when they were very young...They are now married with children of their own.
Nice cover Nick.....
Thanks for the memories....


Alex

[Redler]

Never heard the original. Nice performance and the upright bass sounds fab!!

I take my hat off, because you've done so good job by 'hunting' tunes from the week you were born!

[bruno]

cool and brave choice.
B

[ODH]

This makes me feel old, I used to sing this to my girls when they were very young...They are now married with children of their own.
Nice cover Nick.....
Thanks for the memories....


Alex

Thank you, Alex, it was worth making this song for that comment, to have sparked a memory

[thetworegs]

I miss Val at Christmas time ...the jumpers, the rocking chair the special guests .... great job this brought back some childhood memories...of course they were in Black and White
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lPSBax2QsE

[launched]

You've definitely made this one your own! Something about a tune that has meaning to you, makes it better.

[Mach]

Not familiar with this one until Trev played the video.
Cool Bass and low register singing mixes well.

Mach

[Pete C]

I remember having to watch the Val Doonican show as a kid - the only good bit was that he did a 'comedy' song like Paddy McGinty's Goat every week.  Wouldn't have recognised it was you with that low vocal ! Good on you for taking on your WOMB project - been checking out my birth year for a song to do and there's not a lot that inspires me.

Pete