The Philosophy of Modern Song
By Tony Attwood
Having looked at a song from Bob Dylan’s “Philosophy” volume which I had never heard before (Keep my Skillet Good and Greasy) I’ve now gone to one that I can immediately hear in my head “Don’t let me be misunderstood”.
This was written by Bennie Benjamin, Horace Ott and Sol Marcus, and Dylan cites this version in his book – this is the original version, performed considerably more slowly than many later versions.
The credit that should have gone to Horace Ott, however, was given originally to his wife, Gloria Caldwell, because of a dispute between the two rival performance rights organisations in the United States. Horace Ott was a member of the BMI, which meant he was required not to work with a member of ASCAP (of which Bennie Benjamin was a member). Sol Marcus also co-wrote “I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” with Benjamin, Seiler, and Eddie Durham.
Horace Ott worked a lot as an arranger, including on the song “You Don’t Have to Be a Star”, which was a major hit in 1976 for Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr
(ASCAP stands for American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. BMI stands for Broadcast Music Inc).
Bennie Benjamin also wrote “I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire”…
Now the point about all these links is that these are songs that everyone from the era would have known – they became absolute standards endlessly performed by bands across the USA, Canada and the UK. So, yes, this was a very talented team working on one song.
And to come back to “Please don’t let me be misunderstood” – this was first recorded in 1964, and was covered later by the Animals, Santa Esmeralda, and Elvis Costello. And the point here is that the song endlessly appealed to different groups within society and ultimately different generations, each of whom felt that they were being dismissed from the mainstream. Indeed, it is worth noting (in case you are not familiar with the work of Nina Simone – and forgive me if you feel that everyone is familiar with her work) that Nina Simone (who passed away in 2003) was a black artist. This song appeared on her first album “Broadway Blues Ballads” in 1964.
Which now leads me on to the fact that Horace Ott wrote the melody and the lyrics to the chorus after he had had a falling out with his girlfriend. In some reports, it is suggested that he then needed help completing the song, which is why his co-writers were brought in. Thus the song, although perhaps not intended as a civil rights anthem, became just that, although of course it has for many, a very personal meaning concerning relationships.
The Animals recording of the song was something of a surprise – I’ve included this from the Ed Sullivan Show. And that is interesting too, with regard to this being a Bob Dylan site, in that when Bob was asked to perform on the Ed Sullivan show in May 1963 he opted to play Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues, which just before broadcasting CBS said could not be performed as the TV station could be sued. Bob refused to perform another song. Sullivan was very critical of the TV network’s stand..
The Animals’ version of “Misunderstood” was a hit in 1965 both in the UK and North America, and was a hit in multiple other countries from Sweden to Australia often in different styles…
So what is there in this song that gives it a place in Bob’s book? I’d say it has everything. The message of the title was very central to the thinking of many younger people at the time, the melody is singable by everyone, and the song has that repeated descending chord sequence which allows it to fit into every arrangement…. and all that is just for starters.
And as you are still with me at this point (thanks for that) may I invite you back to the first recording at the top of this article. That’s the one Bob nominated, and although the other versions are fun – this original really gives an extra feeling to the lyrics, that I imagine attracted Bob to the song.
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(The titles of songs reviewed in this series at the end of this article are now in alphabetical order, not in the order of publication. That makes it easier for me even if no one else.)
- Cheaper to Keep Her
- Detroit City
- Don’t let me be misunderstood
- Dirty Life and Times
- Detroit City
- Dirty Life and Times
- I’ve always been crazy
- Keep my Skillet Good and Greasy
- My Generation and Desolation Row
- Old Violin by Johnny Paycheck
- Please don’t let me be misunderstood
- Pump it up
- Strangers in the Night
- Take Me from This Garden of Evil
- There stands the glass
- Waist Deep in the Big Muddy
- Where or When