Last learned how to play piano as child, switching to bass as a teenager. He joined Hans-Gunther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946, when he was 17 years old. In 1948, he became the leader of the Becker-Last Ensemble, which performed for seven years. During that time, he was voted as the best bassist in the country by a German jazz poll for three consecutive years, from 1950-1952. After the disbandment of the Becker-Last Ensemble, he became the in-house arranger for Polydor Records, as well as for a number of European radio stations. For the next decade, he helped arrange hits for artists like Helmut Zacharias and Caterina Valente.
Last released his first album "Non-Stop Dancing" in 1965. The record of brief renditions of popular songs, all tied together by an insistent dance beat and joyous crowd noises. It was a hit and helped make him a major European star. Over the next four decades, Last has released over 190 records, including several more volumes of Non-Stop Dancing. On these records, he varies his formula by adding different songs from different countries and genres, as well as guest performers like Richard Clayderman and Astrud Gilberto.
Though his concerts and albums are consistently successful — especially in England, where he had 52 hit albums between 1967-1986, which made him second to Elvis Presley in terms of number of charting records — he has only had two hit singles with "The Seduction," the theme from American Gigolo (1980) and Biscaya from the album "Biscaya".
He has won numerous polls and prizes, for example Billboard magazine's "Star of the year" trophy in 1976, and has been honored for his lifework with the German ECHO prize in 1994.
The song "The Lonely Shepherd", written by Last and performed by Gheorghe Zamfir and the James Last Orchestra, was featured in the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill Vol. 1" (2003).
Personally, he divides his time between Florida and Germany. He gives much credit to his wife and son, who helps with the music.
Ballad Of The Easy Rider
James Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wherever that river goes that's where I want to be
Flow river flow, let your waters wash down
Take me from this road to some other town
All he wanted was to be free
And that's the way it turned out to be
Flow river flow, let your waters wash down
Flow river flow, past the shady trees
Go river go, go to the sea
Flow to the sea
The river flows, it flows to the sea
Wherever it goes that's where I want to be
Flow river flow, let your waters wash down
Take me from this road to some other town
The song, "Ballad of the Easy Rider" by James Last, is a ballad about a man who wants nothing more than to be free from the constraints of society and responsibility. He is drawn to the river, which is a symbol of freedom, and he wants to follow it to the sea. The lyrics "flow river flow, let your waters wash down" indicate that he wants the river to carry him away from his current life to some other place, where he can be free.
As the song continues, we learn that the man gets his wish, and he is able to escape his old life and find the freedom he craves. The lyrics "Flow river flow, past the shady trees, go river go, go to the sea" indicate that he is on his way, and nothing can stop him now. The repetition of "flow river flow" throughout the song emphasizes the idea of movement and the unstoppable force of nature.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the desire for freedom and the power of nature to provide it. The river is a symbol of both freedom and the unstoppable force of nature. The man in the song is able to find the freedom he craves by following the river to the sea, and the lyrics suggest that anyone who wants to be free can do the same.
Line by Line Meaning
The river flows, it flows to the sea
The natural force of the river carries it downstream to the vast ocean.
Wherever that river goes that's where I want to be
The singer desires to follow the path of the river to wherever it leads him.
Flow river flow, let your waters wash down
The singer appeals to the river to keep moving and washing down whatever comes in its way.
Take me from this road to some other town
The singer longs to escape from his current situation and explore new horizons.
All he wanted was to be free
The singer's main aspiration was to attain freedom and live life on his own terms.
And that's the way it turned out to be
The outcome of the singer's quest for freedom was indeed successful.
Flow river flow, past the shady trees
The singer observes the river as it flows through and around the surrounding trees.
Go river go, go to the sea
The singer encourages the river to keep moving forward towards its ultimate destination.
Flow to the sea
The singer reiterates his desire to follow the river's path towards the vast ocean.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Roger McGuinn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sandy Robertson
As an old rock journalist who used to disparage Last as a teenager but who found an MOR streak within myself, I have to say this is superb!
Arie Bergsma
Blijft weergaloos mooi.
Sam Beckwith
This is great!
All Things Last
Glad u enjoyed it :>
astore
In my opinion the best album by JL.
flavio serci
The best album by JL
パウロンc
この曲を小さい頃父のレコードで聴いていて雄大で広大なアメリカに憧れた。いつか私もバイクで走りたいと思った。高校生の頃映画を観てとんでもないラストにしばらく呆然とした…この曲はとにかくとてもカッコいい！すごいアレンジ！ジェームス・ラスト大好き💓♥️❤️
Peter Robert Bowers
This particular album ( With compliments). is another… in a long line of great recording’s by the famous James Last.
i do actually have the vinyl version of this. But it’s quite scratchy and clicky; so…very disappointing to listen too.
Fortunately now, for the first time ( back in 2019). it’s available on CD direct from the Polydor record company; as apposed to the spectrum CD version, that i don’t actually have anyway.
The last track on this album… entitled “Pearl fisher’s”. is the best sounding track I’ve ever listened too… with my amplifier with a built in CD player… coming straight from the horse’s mouth, as they say). Very lovely haunting music.
Sunday evening at 18:33H. 31st May 2021. U.K. 🇬🇧☘️ Southampton.
Slowly
Danke Hansi
Thomas Hoffmann 1
*****