Like so many other things, great songs stand the test of time. Sure, production techniques change and so do musical tastes but the good stuff stands. Percy Mayfield’s poignant blues ballad “Please Send Me Someone To Love” charted number one on the R&B charts in 1950 and has been covered by numerous artists such as BB King, Sade, Fiona Apple, Freddy (Freddie) King, Ruth Brown, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, Esther Phillips, the Animals, the Moonglows, Gladys Knight and many others. It has remained a standard in blues and jazz. Heck, even Dale Evans (Yes, the wife of Roy Rogers and a singer in her own right) did a good version of it. Bob Dylan has cited Percy as an influence on his songwriting. “Please Send Me Someone To Love” is a song of yearning but also about humanity and/or our lack of it. I’ve also always felt it was also about discrimination and our need for inclusiveness.
Mr. Mayfield also wrote numerous songs for Ray Charles including “Hit The Road Jack” — and while I could write a diary on Percy, I wanted to write a diary about songs that stand the test of time and also songs that make a statement socially - and I am hoping you will post some of your faves. So I will go with two by Percy, I’m also including Ray Charles “The Danger Zone” — which was the “B side” of “Hit the Road Jack.” Like “Please Send Me Someone To Love” — it is an eight bar blues ballad and written during the Cold War. I am proud to have called Mr. Mayfield a friend and honored to have performed guitar and recorded with him.
Another one of my favorite singer/songwriters is Steve Earle, whom like Percy, I also consider a musical genius. I also applaud his strong opposition to the death penalty and just think the world of him. And I also believe his songs have and will continue to stand the test of time. So please, post any of your faves!