And while we’re on Nina Simone, “Ne me quitte pas.”

The original “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was written in 1933. It’s a classic which has been covered by a ton of people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boulevard_of_Broken_Dreams_(Al_Dubin_song)
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I walk along the street of sorrow
The boulevard of broken dreams
Where gigolo and gigelette can take a kiss without regret
So they forget their broken dreams

–Nat King Cole, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (Al Dubin, Harry Warren)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vh7Qreygpk
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Nat King Cole was such a classy singer. Heavy smoker. Died of lung cancer in 1965.

The dancing on upbeat Lonely Boy reminds me of … me. I love dancing, and could easily have been dancing quite like that guy. Plus he has that Peter Norton kinda once rolled up sleeves, which I like.

Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was a huge fav of my kids when they were early teens, and watching Naruto anime – a few different Naruto videos use this song. (This link has the less-known to me official vid)

Didn’t know “Wilco” before, but his How to Fight Loneliness is cool.

Knew about Weezer, but recall Neo noting she’s not so up on modern music, so I can recommend trying all of these songs. This one’s off their 9th album.

My first HS girlfriend loved Neil Diamond, and Solitary Man had already been one of the ones I would sing.

Was wondering if any others would think of the Doors “People Are Strange” – another song I’d sing in fog around LA a few decades ago.

TOC:
‘Only The Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)’ By Roy Orbison
‘You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go’ by Bob Dylan
‘So Lonely’ by The Police
‘Space Oddity’ by David Bowie
‘Lonely Boy’ by The Black Keys
‘Lonely’ by Tom Waits
‘Eleanor Rigby’ by The Beatles
‘Pictures of You’ by The Cure
‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ by Hank Williams
‘Tired Of Being Alone’ by Al Green
‘Lonely Avenue’ by Ray Charles
‘The Loner’ by Neil Young
‘Are You Lonesome Tonight?’ by Elvis Presley
‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ by Green Day
‘How to Fight Loneliness’ by Wilco
‘Cactus’ by The Pixies
‘I Wish You Lonely’ by Morrissey
‘Lonely Girl’ by Weezer
‘Lonely People’ by America
‘Solitary Man’ by Neil Diamond

Griffin:

Actually, the Cowboy Junkies’ “The Trinity Session” album (all but one song) was recorded in a church with one mic and in one session. Back to basics.

According to the album sleeve notes: “the recording was not mixed, overdubbed or edited in any way.”

A very spare, pure sound. Which I found quite attrractive, because, for my taste, even in 1988, music had gotten way too overproduced and mucked about.

So I don’t mean the “thin” you seem to be talking about. The Junkies work slow, quiet and intimate. I can really sink into their music in a way I doubt I would with Hank Williams, even if he had had 1980s tech behind him.

Maybe give their version of “Lonesome” a try.

I certainly agree with those touting Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry. Got to be one of the saddest songs ever. I didn’t see anybody mention Kris Kristofferson’s Sunday Morning Coming Down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXSl-cuv_iE.

Elvis Live In Hawaii (1973)

‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itdSGRnjdFI

And as for Elvis, shouldn’t this be near the top of the list?

“Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?”

Well, Hank’s version was recorded in 1949 and almost all the hillbilly/country recordings from that era sound thin or sparse or whatever one wants to call it.

Most of these songs were recorded in one take and probably took like twenty minutes to record the version we have all heard which makes them even more amazing when you think about how multiple takes and multi track recording became the standard in the mid 1960s.

My road to Hank Williams was via the Cowboy Junkies and their hyper-slow-and-mournful version of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

–Cowboy Junkies, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJt9KFyJnbk

I confess I found Hank’s original a bit thin after cutting my teeth on the Junkies’ cover.

They also did a great “Sweet Jane,” which — to speak of wonders — even Lou Reed had to compliment.