How many singer/songwriters can say that Elvis Presley recorde… Read Full Bio ↴Biography
How many singer/songwriters can say that Elvis Presley recorded one of their songs and has a co-write with Bob Dylan?
In 1972, the legendary Ahmet Ertegun signed Danny O'Keefe to Atlantic Records, then teamed him with the incomparable producer Arif Mardin, resulting in his top-five Billboard hit "Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues." This was followed by the classic album Breezy Stories in 1973. Besides Elvis, many other artists including Jerry Lee Lewis; Willie Nelson; Chet Atkins; Waylon Jennings; Leon Russell; Charlie Rich; and Mel Torme went on to record this classic composition.
This tandem combined for three other D O'K classics during that decade: "Angel Spread Your Wings" also recorded by Judy Collins; "The Road" also recorded by Jackson Browne; and "Magdalena" also recorded by Donny Hathaway and Leo Sayer. These songs garnered heavy AM and FM airplay for Danny and were the building blocks for his distinguished performing and songwriting career.
Now, regarding the co-write with Bob Dylan: besides Danny's version, "Well, Well, Well" has been recorded by Mavis Staples; David Lindley; Maria Muldaur; The Blind Boys of Alabama with Ben Harper and by Bonnie Raitt on her VH1 special.
Other notable co-writes and covers of Danny's compositions include: "Quits," sung originally as a duet with Linda Ronstadt (Andy Williams; Chris Hillman and Gary Stewart); "Along for the Ride" (John Denver); "Souvenirs" (Jimmy Buffet); "Next To You" (Sheena Easton); "Never Got Off the Ground" (co-written with David Mallett and recorded by Alison Krauss and Molly O'Brien); "Into the West" (Tim O'Brien); "When You Come Back Down" (Nickel Creek and Tim O'Brien); and most recently, "Anywhere On Earth You Are" (Allan Jackson on his 2006 CD "Like Red On A Rose.")
Danny believes that music is a powerful means for sharing concern and motivating change on critical issues such as the preservation of "song" in the world. After becoming increasingly concerned with the decimation of songbirds and their habitat, Danny started The Songbird Foundation (www.songbird.org) which works with musical artists to publicize the issue of songbird species decline due to devastation of their habitat. Using his music to publicize and popularize the issue, Danny successfully encouraged other musicians to do the same. Bonnie Raitt, John Mayer, Jimmy Buffet, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nickel Creek, Jackson Browne and many others have responded by contributing public service announcements, perform benefit concerts and do their part to make audiences aware that to create a truly sustainable world requires changed patterns of consumption, especially with concern to aggressive sun-grown coffee in the rain forests of Latin America.
Danny's voice is a superb mixture blues and Americana; his songwriting speaks for itself.
Discography
1971 - Danny O'Keefe Cotillion Records
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun
1972 - O'Keefe Signpost/Atlantic
Produced by Arif Mardin
Contains the top-ten hit "Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues"
1973 - Breezy Stories Atlantic Records
Produced by Arif Mardin
Contains the single "Angel Spread Your Wings"
1975 - So Long Harry Truman Atlantic Records
Produced by John Boylan
Contained the single "Quits"
1977 - American Roulette Warner Bros. Records
Produced by John Court and Kenny Vance
1979 - The Global Blues Warner Bros. Records
Produced by Jay Lewis and Danny O'Keefe
1984 - The Day To Day Coldwater Records
Produced by Mathew McCauley and Tony Peluso
Contained the singles "Along for the Ride" and "Someday"
Both singles charted in the "20's" in AC charts
1989 - Redux Beachwood/Chameleon Records
(this is a re-release of The Day To Day with a new title and two new songs)
Contained the singles "Along for the Ride" and "Someday"
Both singles charted on AOR charts in the 20's
VH1 played the video of "Along for the Ride"
2000 - Runnin' From the Devil Miramar
January 25th, 2000
2003 - "Don't Ask" w/Bill Braun
Produced by Bill Braun
All songs written and performed by Danny O'Keefe and Bill Braun
Louie The Hook vs. The Preacher
Danny O'Keefe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some of my friends got down to Jesus
And some got down to God
He wasn't dead yet
He was just on the nod
Louie the Hook had a hunger way down in his soul
He'd bruises and he'd ulcers in places you can't guess
Safe to say that he'd made his play but Louis was a mess
Now Louie needed money in a very desperate way
He could feel his hour approaching, he was turning very grey
When down the road come a preacher hustlin' for the Lord
He laid his eyes on Louie but he did not speak a word
The Preacher looked at Louie and he broke out in a grin
I'd rightly say by your shade of grey, Baby, I know the fix you're in
Louie just kept a-staring thinking he'd hit the mark
I'll get on your wagon, Preacher, put the horse before the cart
The Preacher's eyes grew molten, he shouted to the Lord
" 'Fore I'm done he'll talk in tongues and he shall know the word"
But the Preacher had a silken suit and a new hog down the street
And rocks on every finger (he was cool, if not discrete)
So Louie eyed the Preacher looking deep into his soul
The way he's decked I'd reckon he's got a thousand dollar roll
The Preacher raged, the Preacher roared as Louie began to sweat
If Life is just a gamble he thought he'd lost the bet
When up jumped Louie shaking crying, "I have seen the light"
The Preacher he was chuckling he thought he'd won the fight
But Louie, quick as crystal, got the spirit to his feet
He passed the hat, grabbed fifty bucks and beat it on down the street
Some of my friends got down to Jesus
And some got down to God
He wasn't dead yet
He was just on the nod
The song "Louie the Hook vs. The Preacher" by Danny O'Keefe tells a story of two very different characters and their encounter. Louie the Hook is a troubled man with a hunger deep in his soul, desperate for money and at the end of his rope. The preacher, on the other hand, dons a silken suit, a flashy new hog down the street, and a thousand-dollar roll. When the preacher spies Louie, he sizes him up, knowing he's the perfect mark.
The preacher gleefully sets to work, believing he can convert Louie to Christianity, certain that he'll come away with the upper hand. But Louie is no pushover, and in the end, he outwits the silver-tongued preacher. Louie seizes the opportunity and grabs fifty bucks before escaping down the street, leaving the preacher behind with nothing but his misplaced pride.
This song is a poignant reflection on the hypocrisy and easy greed of some religious leaders, who often take advantage of those who are most in need. The song's lyrics convey a sense of cynicism and disappointment, but also a sense of determination and cunning, particularly when it comes to their encounter with the preacher.
Line by Line Meaning
Some of my friends got down to Jesus
Some of my friends turned towards Jesus for guidance and salvation
And some got down to God
Other friends found solace and faith in God
He wasn't dead yet
The person being referred to was still alive
He was just on the nod
But he was unresponsive, possibly due to drug use
Louie the Hook had a hunger way down in his soul
Louie had a deep longing or desire within him
He'd hit his destination if hell had been his goal
If Louie wanted to go to hell, he would have already arrived due to the terrible things he's done
He'd bruises and he'd ulcers in places you can't guess
Louie had visible and hidden injuries due to his rough lifestyle
Safe to say that he'd made his play but Louis was a mess
Louie had lived his life the way he wanted, but it hadn't necessarily worked out well for him
Now Louie needed money in a very desperate way
Louie was in dire need of cash
He could feel his hour approaching, he was turning very grey
Louie felt like his time was running out and he was getting old
When down the road come a preacher hustlin' for the Lord
Suddenly, a preacher appeared, trying to spread the word of God
He laid his eyes on Louie but he did not speak a word
The preacher noticed Louie, but didn't say anything initially
The Preacher looked at Louie and he broke out in a grin
The preacher smiled, possibly because he thought he could convert Louie
I'd rightly say by your shade of grey, Baby, I know the fix you're in
The preacher assumed that because Louie was old and in need of money, he was also in need of salvation
Louie just kept a-staring thinking he'd hit the mark
Louie thought the preacher was going to give him money or help him out
I'll get on your wagon, Preacher, put the horse before the cart
Louie agreed to listen to the preacher's message in exchange for aid
The Preacher's eyes grew molten, he shouted to the Lord
The preacher became very intense and called out to God
'Fore I'm done he'll talk in tongues and he shall know the word
The preacher was confident that he would be able to convert Louie and make him speak in tongues
But the Preacher had a silken suit and a new hog down the street
The preacher was wealthy and had an expensive motorcycle
And rocks on every finger (he was cool, if not discrete)
The preacher had a lot of flashy jewelry and was trying to look cool, but wasn't very subtle
So Louie eyed the Preacher looking deep into his soul
Louie took a good look at the preacher and tried to see what kind of person he was underneath the flashy exterior
The way he's decked I'd reckon he's got a thousand dollar roll
Louie guessed that the preacher had a lot of money on him
The Preacher raged, the Preacher roared as Louie began to sweat
The preacher became angry and loud when Louie wasn't responding like he wanted him to
If Life is just a gamble he thought he'd lost the bet
Louie felt like life was unpredictable and he had made a bad choice by listening to the preacher
When up jumped Louie shaking crying, "I have seen the light"
Suddenly, Louie had an epiphany and dramatically announced that he had found God
The Preacher he was chuckling he thought he'd won the fight
The preacher was pleased and thought he had successfully converted Louie
But Louie, quick as crystal, got the spirit to his feet
Louie acted fast and took the collection basket filled with money
He passed the hat, grabbed fifty bucks and beat it on down the street
Louie stole money from the collection basket and quickly left the scene
Contributed by Lila D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
52381a
Please post American Dream from this same album