BUDDY BUIE: MUSIC OF MY LIFE
My name is Perry Carleton Buie. Since I was a child, I've been called "Buddy" and that's the name that I prefer. Invariably, when I meet someone new, they say,"What do you do for a living?" and I go, "Well, I'm a songwriter and a record producer." and they say,"Anything we might know?" and I say, "Well, maybe," and they say,"Could you hum a few bars?"
That's one of the reasons I made this compilation. The primary reason is for my kids and grandkids, my family. This is the only time my music has been compiled like this. Here's "Spooky", circa 1967.
SPOOKY
In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin' kind of groovy,
I call you up and ask you if you want to go and meet and see a movie,
First you say no, you've got some plans for the night,And then you stop, and say,
"All right."
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you.
You always keep me guessin',
I never seem to know what you are thinkin'.
And if a fella looks at you, it's for sure your little eye will be a-winkin'.
I get confused, 'cause I don't know where I stand,
And then you smile, and hold my hand.
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you.
Spooky!
If you decide someday to stop this little game that you are playin',
I'm gonna tell you all what my heart's been a-dyin' to be sayin'.
Just like a ghost, you've been a-hauntin' my dreams,
So I'll propose... on Halloween.
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you.
Spooky, Spooky,Spooky,Oh-whoa, all right,I said Spooky!
"Spooky" was recorded by Dennis Yost & the Classics IV. http://crystalhorizon.com/Classics_IV/Main.htm
It was written by myself, J.R. Cobb http://www.alamhof.org/cobbjr.htm , Mike Shapiro and Harry Middlebrooks. I know that's a lot of writers but it was an unusual collaboration. Originally a jazz instrumental, later J.R. Cobb and I wrote lyrics and changed the arrangement to make it more appropriate for a pop song and it was one of our biggest hits.
My friend and partner, Paul Cochran http://paulcochran.com
discovered Dennis Yost & the Classics IV in Jacksonville, FL. They came to Atlanta; were signed by Bill Lowery. http://www.lowerymusic.com/index_001.htm
Joe South http://www.learnlink.emory.edu/~libmlm/joesouth.html
was their producer. He became ill and by default I was declared their new producer.
Dennis Yost hated the way that I wanted him to sing the song. He said,"It makes me sound like a sissy."
So I wanted him to sound real seductive and sexy, you know [singing] "In the cool of the ending," that kind of deal and he went back to Bill Lowery in the office and says, " I'm not recording that song that way! It makes me sound weird. Makes me sound like a sissy!"
Bill said,"Hey man, you do it your way and then you do it Buddy's way and we'll see which one came out best" and it went on to be our first huge record.
"Traces of Love" is the next song. It is the 34th most performed song in the BMI catalog. To put that in perspective: #1 is "Yesterday" and #49 is "My Way". It has truly become a standard.
TRACES OF LOVE
Faded photograph
Covered now with lines and creases
Tickets torn in half
Memories in bits and pieces
Traces of love long ago
That didn't work out right
Traces of love
Ribbons from her hair
Souvenirs of days together
The ring he used to wear
Pages from an old love letter
Traces of love long ago
That didn't work out right
Traces of love
With me tonight
I close my eyes and say a prayer
That in her heart she'll find
A trace of love still there
Somewhere, ooooh, oh
[Instrumental Interlude]
Traces of hope in the night
that she'll come back and dry
These traces of tears
From my eyes
Whoooa, oooh, oh, oooh
"Traces" was written by J.R. Cobb, Emory Gordy http://tonysheridan.com/html/tcb.html and me. Emory played bass on the record and arranged it. He later became famous for being Elvis Presley's bass player and he was married and still is married to Patty Loveless who he produced and who he's still producing great songs in Nashville.
seated:Billy Joe Royal; standing left to right: DOWN IN THE BOONDOCKS composer and album producer Joe South, Tommy South, Fred Weller, Emory Gordy, Ricky Knight
My inspiration for the song was Gloria Jane Seay, who later became and still is Gloria Jane Buie.
Buddy and Gloria
The Atlanta Rhythm Sectionhttp://atlantarhythmsection.com/
was the next big project after the Classics IV.
Atlanta Rhythm Section, 1970- photo courtesy of http://paulcochran.com
Barry Bailey, Paul Goddard, Dean Daughtry, Robert Nix, J.R. Cobb, Rodney Justo
Our first Top 10 Song was "So Into You" written by Robert Nix http://alisonheafner.biz/, Dean Daughtry and myself. Robert was the drummer in the band and Dean was the keyboardist. They both were former members of the Candymen, the band I put together for Roy Orbison http://www.orbison.com/ .
THE CANDYMEN, photo courtesy of http://paulcochran.com
L. to R.- Dean Daughtry, Robert Nix, John Rainey Adkins, Rodney Justo, Bill Gilmore
Here's "So Into You"
SO INTO YOU
When you walked into the room
There was voodoo in the vibes
I was captured by your style
But I could not get your eyes
Now I stand here helplessly
Hoping you'll get into me
I am so into you
I can't think of nothing else
I am so into you
I can't think of nothing else
Thinkin' how it's gonna be
Whenever I get you next to me
It's gonna be good
Don't you know
From your head to toe
Gonna love you all over
Over and over
Me into you, you into me
Me into you,I'm so into you
I'm so into you...When you walked into the room
There was voodoo in the vibes
I was captured by your style
But I could not get your eyes
Now I stand here helplessly
Hopin' you'll get into me
I am so into you I can't get to nothing else
I am so into you, baby I can't get to nothing else, no, no, no
Come on baby
I'm so into you
Love the things you do
Listen, baby You're driving me crazy
Come on baby I'm so into you
Love the things you do
"Imaginary Lover" was another song I wrote with Robert Nix and Dean Daughtry. The was Atlanta Rhythm Section's second Top 10 record.
IMAGINARY LOVERImaginary lovers
Never turn you down
When all the others turn you away
They're around
It's my private pleasure
Midnight fantasy
Someone to share my Wildest dreams with me
Imaginary lover
You're mine anytime
Imaginary lover, oh yeah
When ordinary lovers
Don't feel what you feel
And real-life situations lose their thrill
Imagination's unreal
Imaginary lover, imaginary lover
You're mine anytime
[Instrumental Interlude]
Imaginary lovers never disagree
They always care
They're always there when you need
Satisfaction guaranteed
Imaginary lover, imaginary lover
You're mine all the time
My imaginary lover
You're mine anytime
My cowriters are one of the primary reasons for the success I've enjoyed. The first was John Rainey Adkins http://www.alamhof.org/adkinsjr.htm from my hometown Dothan, Alabama. He was a guitar hero of mine when we were in high school. He was the first person that I told that I was gonna be a songwriter that didn't snicker and say,"Sure." We'd sit in my '55 Chevrolet in front of his house on Main Street; I'd sing my ideas a cappela and he'd pick them out on his guitar. Without him, I might still be working in my family's business, Buie's Restaurant.
J.R. & Buddy back in the Sixties
J.R. Cobb was the guitarist in the Classics IV. He bought into my dream in 1966 and we're still cowriters. "Stormy" and "Everyday With You Girl" are two more songs we wrote for Dennis Yost and the Classics IV.
J.R. and Buddy in 2005
STORMY
Stormy you are the sunshine, baby, whenever you smile
But I call you stormy today
All of a sudden that ol’ rain is fallin’ down
And my world is cloudy and gray
You’ve gone away
Old stormy stormy
Old stormy stormy
Old stormy stormy
Old stormy stormy
Yesterday’s love was alive, the warm summer breeze
But like the weather you changed
Now things are dreary, baby, windy and cold
And I stand alone in the rain
Callin’ out your name
Stormy stormy
Stormy stormy
Come back to me stormy
Stormy stormy
Bring back that sunny day
Guitar solo
Yesterday’s love was alive, the warm summer breeze
But like the weather you changed
Now things are dreary, baby, windy and cold
And I stand alone in the rain
Callin’ out your name
Whoa! stormy
Stormy, come back to me stormy
Stormy, come back to me stormy
Come on home! stormy
Bring back that sunny day
EVERYDAY WITH YOU GIRL
Everyday with you girl it's sweeter than the day before
everyday I love you more and more, more and more and more
They say that all the days must come to an end
but girl it isn't true each day with you I fall in love again
Everyday with you girl it's sweeter than the day before
everyday I love you more and more, more and more and more
And when I don't sleep at night time tomorrow's would I wake awl
'cause everyday with you girl it's sweeter than the day before
Everyday with you girl it's sweeter than the day before
everyday I love you more and more, more and more and more
And when I don't sleep at night time tomorrow's would I wake awl
'cause everyday with you girl it's sweeter than the day,
it's sweeter than the day, it's sweeter than the day before
All my life I've believed you should do all you can do to achieve your goals but at the end of the day, when I've done my best, I've always said, "I've done all I can do today. I'll worry about it tomorrow."
Well, Robert Nix and Dean Daughtry shared that philosophy and in 1978, we wrote this song for ARS.
NOT GONNA LET IT BOTHER ME TONIGHT
I picked up the paper this morning
And read all the daily blues
The world is one big tragedy I wonder what I can do
About all the pain and injustice
About all of the sorrow
We're living in a danger zone
The world could end tomorrow
But I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
Tomorrow I might go as far as suicide
But I won't let it bother me tonight
Life on the street is a jungle
A struggle to keep up the pace
I just can't beat that old dog eat dog
The rats keep winnin' the rat race
But I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
The world is in an uproar and I see no end in sight
But I won't let it bother me tonight
I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
Tomorrow I might go as far as suicide
But I won't let it bother me tonight
Lord, Lord, Lord
We got nothing but trouble
I've done all I can do today
So bartender pour me a double, right now
But I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
The world is in an uproar and I see no end in sight
But I won't let it bother me tonight
I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
No I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight
Tomorrow I might go as far as suicide
But I will not let it bother me tonight
In 1994, J.R. and I wrote a song called "Rock Bottom". I did the demo on the Atlanta Rhythm Section in an attempt to instigate a comeback for the band. This was not the first time I've done that. I've done it a couple of times.
Hey, I might do it again!
Tony Brown, President of MCA, liked the idea but for whatever reason, he never offerred us a deal. I was disappointed but I got a phone call from him about a month later and he said,"Hey man, sorry we couldn't make a deal on ARS but I'm cutting Wynonna Judd and she wants to cut the song. Will it be alright if I cut it?"
Well, I was very excited even though I was very disappointed that is wasn't a hit for the Atlanta Rhythm Section, I was very excited Wynonna http://www.wynonna.com/ was cutting it. Well, she did and it was a huge record for her. She does it everynight at her concerts and she says,"Here's my theme song,'Rock Bottom' " and that makes us very proud.
ROCK BOTTOM
When you hit rock bottom
You've got two ways to go
Straight up
And sideways
I have seen my share of hard times
And i’m letting you know
Straight up
Is my way
Things are tough all over
But i've got good news
When you get down to nothing
You've got nothing to lose
I was born naked
But i’m glory bound
And a dead end street
Is just a place to turn around
(chorus)
When the sky is the limit
Up on easy street
Rock bottom
Ain’t no place to be
Rock bottom
Ain’t no place for me
When the law of the jungle
Is the law of the land
Good luck
Stayin alive
I keep a clinched fist under
This hat in my hand
‘cause only the strong survive
Things are tough all over
But i've got good news
When you get down to nothin? you've got nothin to lose
Anyway, rock bottom
Is good solid ground
And a dead end street
Is just a place to turn around
When the sky is the limit
Up on easy street
Rock bottom
Ain’t no place to be
Rock bottom
Ain't no place for me
My heroes in music were Johnny Mercer, all of the Tin Pan Alley writers, Bert Bacharach, Hal David, Roy Orbison, Chips Momanhttp://homepage.ntlworld.com/peter.lewry/chipsinterview.html .
Chips Moman produced Elvis' "Suspicious Minds" and "Ghetto". He and Bobby Emmons wrote "Luckenbach, Texas". He produced Willie's "You Were Always On My Mind"; Waylon, Cash, Kristoferson. He's just a legendary producer.
In 1966, I got a phone call in the middle of the night. It was Chips Moman. He said, "Buddy, I cut 'I Take It Back'!"
I was really excited. It sounds a little dated now but then it was a work of art to me.
My friend and cowriter J.R. Cobb and I were writing this song and J.R. said to me,"Are you aware that what you are singing is 4:4 time in the verse and 3:4 time in the chorus. You're changing from 4:4 to 3:4."
I said,"I didn't notice it but I like it."
And J.R. said,"I like it too." So that's the way we wrote that song.
It was our first national hit and our first BMI award winner.
I TAKE IT BACK
Spoken: Here he comes now. I've got to tell him somehow.I could put it off till later but it's best I do it now.
Baby listen to me there is something I must try to say
I've put it off so long but I've decided that today is the day
My love for you is dying
Oh no, please don't start crying
I take it back
I didn't mean it
Please forget the things I said
I take it back
I'm sorry
I must have been out
Of my head
Spoken: He's such a man. It must have hurt him a lot if he let me
see him cry. But I must try again...this time I'll say goodby.
Baby you've been good to me you've always been the best you could
So try to understand me now the way you've always understood
I can't go on another day
Oh please, don't look at me that way
I take it back
I didn't mean it
Please forget what I just said
I take it back
I'm sorry
I must have been out
Of my head
Spoken: Sometimes it's better to be loved, than it is to love.
I failed to mention that the last song "I Take It Back" was sung by Sandy Posey http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palladium/9229/sposey.htm.
In 1970, I opened Studio 1. My partners were J.R., Bill Lowery, and Paul Cochran. Rodney Mills, who's been the engineer on practically every record I've ever produced, designed it. Rodney later on produced .38 Special, The Doobie Brothers and Gregg Allman.
One of the first sessions in Studio 1, other than ARS, was the B.J. Thomas http://www.bjthomas.net/
sessions. "Most of All" was written by J.R. and me. "Mighty Clouds of Joy" was written by Robert Nix and me.
An interesting bit of trivia that surrounds this B.J. Thomas story is that Steve Tyrell http://www.stevetyrell.com/03/index.html was B.J. Thomas' manager in 1970. Today he's one of the top jazz and standards singers in the world. From manager and promoter to artist is quite an unusual transition to me. Here is B.J. Thomas
B.J. Thomas with his band when they played The Bitter End in New York City
l. to r.: Rodney Justo http://www.teddwebb.com/showcase/where_are_they_now/rodney_justo.html, David Adkins, John Rainey Adkins, B.J. Thomas, Jimmy Dean, Charlie Silva, John Stroll http://yourmusicconsultants.com/
MOST OF ALL
Hello darlin', my it's good to hear you.
I'm at the railroad station in St. Paul.
How are all the folks I'd love to see them
but girl, I'd love to see you most of all.
Well I been staring at the rain and I been thinking,
ever since the train left Montreal,
you know I thought I'd always love this life I'm living,
but now I know I love you most of all.
Many times before I know I swore that
I'd come home to stay ,
but it always seems foolish dreams and trains got in my way.
Tomorrow there'll be snow in Minnesota,
but I won't around to watch it fall,
no I'll be headed for an old familiar station,
just hoping you still love me most of all.
And girl you know I love you most of all.
I miss you baby
Most of all.
I miss you baby, most of all.
MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY
Those old bad dreams
been sleeping in your head.
Those old dark clouds
been hanging around your head.
But all your hard times
will vanish in the wind.
When the mighty clouds of joy come rolling in.
Ohhhh, Holy Jesus
Let your love seize us.
Oh, let us find sweet peace within .
Hallelujah !
Happiness begins,
when the mighty clouds of joy come rolling in.
Those old storm clouds
are slowly drifting by.
And those old raindrops
are fading from your eyes.
And oh, Mr. Sun,
gonna shine on us again.
When the mighty clouds of joy come rolling in.
Ohhhh, Holy Jesus.
Let your love seize us.
Oh, let us find sweet peace within.
Hallelujah !
Happiness begins,
When the mighty clouds of joy come rolling in.
Holy Jesus
Won't you let your love seize us
Let us find sweet peace within
Hallelujah!
Happiness begins,
When the mighty clouds of joy come rolling in.
By 1980, The Atlanta Rhythm Section was coming apart at the seams. Robert Nix left the group and was replaced by Roy Yeager. The band and I were at each other's throats. We were having trouble with our record label, Polygram, and decided to leave them. They sued us. We won and signed with CBS.
These next three songs were born during that turmoil.
"Do It Or Die" was written by Ronnie Hammond http://www.rockforever.com/singers/hammond/hammond.html, J.R. Cobb and myself.
DO IT OR DIE
Don't let your troubles make you cry
Don't waste a moment wonderin' why
When ev'rything goes wrong
You have to go on
And do it or die
Do it or die now
Stand your ground
Don't let your bad breaks go gettin' you down
Even when times get rough
And you've had enough
You still gotta try
Do it no matter what the people say
They don't even know you
Die before you let them stand in your way
(Don't you know that)
You should know that life is a gamble all along
Winners or losers you keep rollin' on
So go on and roll the dice
You only live twice
So do it or die
"Alien" was written by Steve McRay, Randy Lewis and me. Those guys were from the Mose Jones Band http://www.java-monkey.com/remember-mose.htm, the great Atlanta band.
ALIEN
The sun just went behind a cloud again
Down crowded streets he walks alone
He's a stranger out of place
A number not a face
And all day long, all day long
(CHORUS)
He's feelin like an alien
Feelin like he don't belong
Have mercy, cried the alien
Help him find his way back home
The feelin that he feels he can't explain
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, they're all the same
He's lost and all alone
A heart without a home
Standin like a statue in the rain
(CHORUS)
Now, now and then we all are aliens
Feelin like we don't belong
Have mercy, cried the alien
Help him find his way back home
Feelin like an alien
Hes feelin like he don't belong
Have mercy, cried the alien
Help him find his way
Help him find his way
"Homesick" was written by J.R. and me.
HOMESICK
Guitars ring in the dead of night
Sing the blues, sounds all right
Makes you homesick
Listen close to the guitar man
A native son in a foreign land
The boy's homesick
He's homesick
Homesick
For things back home
Homesick
For home sweet home
Yeah he is
Where were you in '69?
Smoking dope and drinking wine!
Just an outlaw, yeah
Distant drums beat an old refrain
Shakes your feet, pounds your brain
Like a buzzsaw
It's alright
In the darkness down the hall
Blacklight posters on the wall
Jimi Hendrix
Someone's lost in yesterday
Hazy dreams of Monteray
And Woodstock
He's homesick
For days gone by
Homesick
Kiss the sky
Don't ya know the boy's homesick
Yeah take him home
Listen to him
Bobby Goldsboro and I went to high school together. He and John Rainey Adkins were leaders of the Webs. Eventually Bobby left the band and started a solo career. Jack Gold of United Artists took an interest in Bobby. He and I went to New York and Bobby signed an artist deal with U.A. and I was offered a writer's contract for $75 a week.
Here I was fresh out of Dothan, Alabama, staying in a cheap motel off of Broadway. Anybody that knows me, knows that food is very important to me. I would pass, uh, I would pass a deli and press my nose up against the glass knowing that I couldn't afford what I saw.
I was hungry and I was homesick and I wrote the song "GEORGIA PINES" from my heart.
When I got home, John Rainey and I finished it.
Later, my friend, Wilbur Walton, and I put together THE JAMES GANG and Wilbur's version of "GEORGIA PINES" is near and dear to my heart to this day.
Hey, Roberto. Here's an old photo that was on my wife's computer that I thought you might be interested in having. It's a picture of the James Gang in one of our more sober moments, obviously. That is me in the lower left corner, most certainly holding a Bud which you can't see. That is Fred Guarino, our drummer, holding a cheap picture he removed from the wall of this motel, wherever it was. Under him is Johnny Mulkey, guitarist, Bubba Lathem (piano player) pretending to talk on the phone, and that is Wilbur Jr holding a lamp on his head. Yes, a lamp on his head. As you can see, our primary interest from the beginning was elevating the standards of Southern Rock and Roll. Well, that and rendering motel rooms unoccupiable for some time after we went to the next town. Don't give Holiday Inn, Inc., my address.
Jimmy Dean http://www.ircusa.com/jdean/
GEORGIA PINES
The trees grow tall where I come from
Their leaves are green and fine
I grew up in a one room shack
In a field of Georgia pines
I was young and I grew tired
Of that one room shack
So I went a wandering
And now I wanna go back
Georgia Pines, Georgia Pines
How I miss that home of mine
Up here in the city
Just a wastin' my time
There ain't nothing green
But the rich man's money
The buildings are so tall the sun can't shine
Oh, how I wanna go back
To my Georgia Pines
I remember long ago
Blue eyes and golden hair
When I get home, I'll make her mine
Oh God, please let her be there
Georgia Pines, Georgia Pines
How I miss that home of mine
Up here in the city
Just a wastin' my time
There ain't nothing green
but the rich man's money
The buildings are so tall the sun can't shine
Oh, how I wanna go back
To my Georgia pines
Studio 1 became like an artist colony. You'd find Al Kooper, Lynyrd Skynyrd, B.J. Thomas, Billy Joe Royal, :38 Special and countless other artists other than ARS hung out there. All the local bands who wanted to be a part of it hung there; 24 hours a day, it was rockin'.
There was a little restuarant in Doraville called THE CLOCK. Robert Nix and I would go there at night before sessions and drink coffee until we go a buzz on and finish the songs we were working on. One night we went there and Barry Bailey had been working on a melody that we liked and he and I sat down;Robert and I sat down in a booth and started talking because the melody was like [singing] da dat tah tah dah tah dah and somehow I just blurted out,"Doraville, a little country in the city." and Robert said,"That's it!" So we started writing it and almost finished it that night. We went back and showed Barry what we'd done and Barry played it on the guitar and made some changes and it became like an anthem for us and a very identifyiing song for the Atlanta Rhythm Section. "Doraville" became the signature song for the band in the '74; 1974 period; was very big all of the South; never made that big of a splash nationally but was one of the songs that propelled us forward.
Here's "Doraville"
DORAVILLE
(CHORUS)
Doraville, touch of country in the city
Doraville, it ain't much, but it's home
Friends of mine say I oughta move to New York
New York's fine, but it ain't Doraville
Every night, I make a living making music
And that's all right to folks in Doraville
Yeah, hey hey
Ooh, hot time in Dixie, hey
It's funky but i'ts pretty
Sweet Georgia
Yeah, hey hey
Ooh, hot time in Dixie, hey
Come on down and visit, you'll dig it
Red clay hills, rednecks drinking wine on Sunday
Behind their field getting down in Doraville
(CHORUS)
It's all right
It's all right
Doraville
Doraville, it's all right, it's all right, it's all right
Doraville
Doraville
