Artist: John D. Loudermilk
Author: John Loudermilk
Label: Columbia
Year: 1959
John D's related to the christian Louvin Brothers, more enclined to the Salvation Army (where he learned to play music), not so much to the psychedelic hippie bands who passed his tune around. Inspired by a bad neighborhood in his birthplace East Durham, NC. It's called Marvin's Alley nowadays. Loudermilk who used to deliver telegrams in the fifties was afraid to enter there. His own original was only a hit in Brisbane, Australia, as B-side of Midnight Bus (see there).
Covers:
Frank Ifield [first cover (Columbia)]
Nashville Teens [produced by Mickie Most]
Dick Rivers [in French]
Jefferson Airplane [turned it into a rock standard]
Fredericks-Goldman-Jones [live]
Rhythm Kings [with Bill Wyman]
Freek de Jonge [as Schilderswijk]
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)