So, a few weeks back, I'm cleaning up the ESD index - and I noticed there's not ONE song by Manfred Mann in there! Now, I don't know how big they made it in the USA - but over here in the UK they had a string of hits between about 1964 and 1969.
So I thought, it's about sometime somebody did something about that.....
This particular song was, I think, their second #1 hit - I have fond memories of it being a big hit, though it wasn't #1 anymore, when England won the World Cup for the only time in our history. Strangers in the Night was, I think, #1 then - but I was never a fan of Francis Albert, that was more my mum's music. It features none other than the legendary Jack Bruce on bass guitar, must have been just before Cream were formed.
Anyway, this band was one of my fave bands of the whole era - maybe not as influential as The Beatles, The Stones, The Who or The Kinks, but right up there with the Hollies for great, catchy, singalong hit singles.
Here's a link to youtube - unfortunately, I can't find a clip of the band, but hey, the song's here.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSmhbjMwxt8
Pretty Flamingo - Manfred Mann
Intro - G / C / G / C/ G / C/ G
(C)On our (G)block (C)all of the (G)guys (C)call her fla(G)mingo,
(C)'Cause her (D)hair glows (G)like the sun,
(C)And her (D)eyes can (G)light the (C)sky, (G)
(C)When she (G)moves (C)she walks so (G)fine (C)like a fla(G)mingo,
(C)Crimson (D)dress that (G)clings so tight,
She's (C)out of (D)reach and (G)out of (C)sight, (G)
When she walks (C)by she (D)brightens up the (G)neighbourhood,
Oh every (C)guy would (D)make her his,
If (G)he just could,
If (D)she just would...
Some sweet (G)day (C)I'll make her (G)mine, (C)pretty fla(G)mingo,
Then (C)every (D)guy will (G)envy me
'Cause (C)para(D)dise is (G)where I'll (C)be (G)
There's a short solo here, on a flute or something - anyway, the rhythm
chords are the same as for the first line of the verse, repeated twice.
When I'm playing it on my own, solo, unaccompanied - sometimes all three
together! - I usually sing the sha-la-la bit from the outro....like this..
(C)Sha-la-(G)la, (C)la-la-la-(G)la, (C)pretty fla(G)mingo,(C) (G)
(C)Sha-la-(G)la, (C)la-la-la-(G)la, (C)pretty fla(G)mingo,(C) (G)
When she walks (C)by she (D)brightens up the (G)neighbourhood,
Oh every (C)guy would (D)make her his,
If (G)he just could,
If (D)she just would...
Some sweet (G)day (C)I'll make her (G)mine, (C)pretty fla(G)mingo,
Then (C)every (D)guy will (G)envy me
'Cause (C)para(D)dise is (G)where I'll (C)be (G)
Outro.....
(C)Sha-la-(G)la, (C)la-la-la-(G)la, (C)pretty fla(G)mingo,(C) (G)
(C)Sha-la-(G)la, (C)la-la-la-(G)la, (C)pretty fla(G)mingo,(C) (G)
There's a bit of ad-libbing over that, but I just repeat that a couple
of times and end it with a big strummed G chord......
It's a very easy rhythm to pick up - I'm not real good at writing out strumming patterns,
but for the intro it's something like
(G) D D (C) D U D U.......
BTW, anyone ever noticed a certain similarity between the intro to this, and the intro to "Angel Of Harlem" by U2?
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Nice one Vic,
its surprising how slow the actual song is from what I remembered. after looking at the chord changes I was thinking that they must be some pretty quick changes there, but after a listen on the youtube link its quite a relaxed song. Love the intro, isn't it strange how close it is to the intro to "Angel Of Harlem".
Good job Vic
Be excellent to each other & party on dudes!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=686668
Hey Vic,
Rod did this at the open mic last Wednesday, Brilliantly! I might add, even though he lost his plectrum midway through.
Well done Rodders
Chris
The guitar is all right John but you'll never make a living out of it! (John Lennon's Aunt Mimi)
Hey Vic,
Rod did this at the open mic last Wednesday, Brilliantly! I might add, even though he lost his plectrum midway through.
Well done Rodders
Chris
Ah, street cred points handed out there - but....what's a plectrum? What do you think your fingernails are for?
LOL - Nice one Rod!
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
I know what you mean Vic,
I never can get used to plecs, I always end up swapping back to the thumb and slipping the plec into my shirt pocket and forgetting it's there. Lost count of those that surface again in the washing machine.
All credit to Rod though he completed the song before picking it up off the floor.
Chris
The guitar is all right John but you'll never make a living out of it! (John Lennon's Aunt Mimi)
