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The Dark End of the Street
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Wikipedia article
"'The Dark End of the Street'" is a 1967 soul song, written by songwriters Dan Penn and Chips Moman and first recorded by James Carr.
History and original recording
The song was co-written by Penn, a professional songwriter and producer, and Moman, a former session guitarist at Gold Star Studio in Los Angeles and also the owner of American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. The song itself was ultimately recorded across town at Royal Studios, home of HI Records.
In the summer of 1966, while a DJ convention was being held in Memphis, Penn and Moman were cheating while playing cards with Florida DJ Don Schroeder,Guralnick, Peter (2002). and decided to write the song while on a break. Penn said of the song We were always wanting to come up with the best cheatin song. Ever.Gordon, Robert (2001). The duo went to the hotel room of Quinton Claunch, another Muscle Shoals alumnus, and founder of Hi Records, to write. Claunch told them, "Boys, you can use my room on one condition, which is that you give me that song for James Carr. They said I had a deal, and they kept their word. The song, lyrics and all, was written in about thirty minutes.Hoskyns, Barney (1998).
Soul artist James Carr, as promised, first recorded the song in late 1966, and it became his trademark song, reaching number 10 on 'Billboard Magazine's' Black Singles Chart, and crossing over to number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Six months later fellow soul singer Percy Sledge included his version of the song on his 1967 album 'The Percy Sledge Way', but it did not chart as high.
Influences
Van Morrison's song "Bright Side of the Road" includes the lyrics "From the dark end of the street, to the bright side of the road," which some people believe was influenced by Penn and Moman's song.
Cover versions
In the years since Carr's original version, many artists have recorded versions of the song. The following are the most notable releases:
* 1967 Prince Buster, single
* 1967 Percy Sledge, released on 'The Percy Sledge Way'
* 1968 Joe Tex, released on 'Soul Country'
* 1968 Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, released on 'Just the Two of Us'
* 1969 Flying Burrito Brothers, released on 'The Gilded Palace of Sin'
* 1969 Lee Hazlewood, Ann-Margret, released on 'The Cowboy and the Lady'
* 1970 Aretha Franklin, released on 'This Girl's in Love with You'
* 1972 Lee Moses, single
* 1972 Ry Cooder, released on 'Boomer's Story'
* 1974 Linda Ronstadt, released on 'Heart Like a Wheel'
* 1976 Richard & Linda Thompson, released on '(guitar, vocal)'
* 1982 Moving Hearts, released on 'Dark End of the Street'
* 1989 Deacon Blue, a live version B-side of their "Love and Regret" single
* 1989 Don Dixon, EEE
* 1991 The Commitments, released on "The Commitments Soundtrack"
* 1993 Gary Stewart, released on 'I'm a Texan'
* 1993 The Afghan Whigs, released as a b-side to the single, "Gentlemen" and the 1994 EP, "What Jail Is Like EP"
* 1994 Diamanda Gals and John Paul Jones, released on 'The Sporting Life'
* 1997 Gregg Allman, released on 'Searching for Simplicity'
* 1996 Kevin Mahogany, released on 'Kevin Mahogany'
* 1999 Elvis Costello, released on 'Kojak Variety' (2004 bonus disc version)
* 2004 Troy Cassar-Daley, released on 'Borrowed & Blue'
* 2005 Frank Black, released on 'Honeycomb'
* 2008 Eels, released on 'Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 19962006'
* 2008 Cat Power, released on Matador Records as part of the 'Dark End of the Street' EP
* 2016 The Hidden Cameras, released on Outside Music as part of 'Home On Native Land'
* 2016 Jimmy Barnes feat Dan Penn, released on 'Soul Searchin'
* 2019 June Tabor & Oyster Band released on 'Fire & Fleet'
* 2021 Dave Gahan / Soulsavers, single
References
Bibliography
* Gordon, Robert (2001). 'It Came from Memphis'. Atria.
* Guralnick, Peter (2002). 'Sweet Soul Music'. MOJO Books.
* Hoskyns, Barney (1998). 'Say it One Time for the Broken Hearted'. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
Category:Rhythm and blues songs
Category:1967 singles
Category:1967 songs
Category:Songs about infidelity
Category:Songs about streets
Category:Songs written by Chips Moman
Category:Songs written by Dan Penn
Category:Aretha Franklin songs
Category:Black Francis songs
Category:Eels (band) songs
Category:Eva Cassidy songs
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