In recent weeks, I’d been pushing JVG a little too far with my interpretations of his themes – so I needed one to be bang on. In a ‘postal’ theme – The Box Tops’ ‘The Letter’ seemed a selection that might placate the ire of JVG.
I’d always thought Alex Chiltern wrote this song – turns out he only sang it for The Box Tops. The Letter was written by a career songwriter, Wayne Carson, who also had a hand in ‘Always On My Mind’.
During our conversation on the day, turned out that both JVG and I are big fans of the Big Star song, ‘Thirteen’. Alex Chiltern did indeed co-write ‘Thirteen’. What a song – never get sick of it…
Of course Joe Cocker also recorded a famous rendition of ‘The Letter’. Our version is more in the style of The Box Tops.
Violin – Greg Field; Bass and BVs – Nathan Farrelly; Lap steel – Ed Bates; Accordion and BVs – Dave Evans; Vocals & Guitar – Dan Warner
The Letter
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