Claudine Longet Singing, "I Think It's Going to Rain Today"

She was pretty handy with a gun too!

Here's here big hit "Happy Talk"

^Oh, dear.

^ I like blue

OP's song is dreadful.

She was only in for Andy's TV Specials...

Here's how that song should actually sound.

Let Dusty wash that French dreck out of your ears.

Try this on for size.

For the UMPTEENTH time, the phrase is "I HAVE sufficient," not "I've had sufficient."

I have sufficient.

R9, R10 is triggered.

"I am capable of conjugating my own verbs."

Oops! He's just been accidentally shot by Claudine Longet!

This was probably the song that Claudine performed best - because it's a children's lullaby and didn't require much of her...

Obviously, Longet wasn't a talented singer, but, when it came to talent at creating the contemporary standard for notoriety as fame, I give her all the credit in the world.

I happen to think she intentionally caused the death of Sabich, but, the jury convicted her of negligent homicide.

That she eventually married her attorney, who , when they met, was married to somebody else, puts the most outlandish plot of "Dynasty" pale in comparison.

^ Ryan Murphy is furiously copying your post for his next Netflix pitch meeting!

"She was famous, and no one has ever old Claudine's story!"

I grew up in Colorado, and in the 1970s, her murder trial was THE story on all the local stations.

Well, let Ryan Murphy make the movie about Claudine Longet.

I won't have that kind of sinful filth on MY Great American Family (aka Gay As Fuck) network!

P.S. Are there any nice young Christian girls here who might be interested in bearding for my son?

Casting call for Claudine Longet, Andy Williams, and Spider Sabich.

The role of Spider will require full frontal.

Cannot believe she got off.

She shot her husband and got away with it. She just shot him. you hear that, RJ Wagner? "the dinghy was bangiing against the hull"...grow a pair

Claudine cheated on Andy Williams with his good friend Bobby Kennedy during his 1968 campaign for POTUS.

R20, Boyfriend, not husband.

She sounds just like Janet Jackson.

I think Claudine was trying to do the Astrud Gilberto thing, she just wasn't very good at it. She also made a pass at being an actress, but the only thing I've seen her in is Blake Edwards' The Party, where she kind of has a distracting (or adorable, depending on your point of view) speech impediment.

Can Marion Cotillard do a whispery, lisps, baby voice?

R25, Joey Heatherton could.

[quote]Here's how that song should actually sound.

[quote]Try this on for size.

Dusty, as usual, is wonderful.

But I prefer the Judy Collins version. Her interpretation is simple and straight forward. The orchestration here is gorgeous.

Nina Simone is sloppy and indulgent. Nails screeching on a blackboard.

^ Mannered and emotionless.

Not even at the level of Claudine Longet, who at least had some novelty by breathy singing like she’s having an asthma attack while showcasing a speech impediment.

Nina Simone is the definition of mannered.

Bette Midler also did a surprisingly good version on the Beaches soundtrack.

Oscar Pistorius should have used the Claudine Longet defense.

I seem to remember the boyfriend as one hot piece of ass. I wanted his ski pole deep inside of me.

R13, I sang it better.

R32, Yes, please.

Streisand showing restraint, with songwriter Randy Newman on piano.

Claudine Longet taught Janet Jackson how to whispercoo.

Dusty Springfield's version is the best, followed by Bette Midler's rendition.

Agreed r37.

Claudine makes Jane Birkin sound like Whitney Houston

The SNL "Claudine Longet Downhill Skiing Championships" skit was a masterpiece.

R40 I remember Claudine Longet's lawyers threatened to sue SNL over the skit, and the next week, producers had to apologize for the skit. It's never aired again and it can't be found anywhere.

R24 beat me to it. For you youngsters who have no idea who Astrid Gilberto is - video attached.

I don't know if Claudine Longet thought she could sing like Gilberto so much as that's who they were marketing her after. Singers and actors didn't control their careers so much in those days.

R41, they try to keep it down, and it keeps sneaking back.

I can't stopping thinking about Spider's big thick ski pole now...

I'm not really a Barbra fan, but I have to admit her version is pretty good - an unusually simple performance from her that fits this song.

Claudine should have been arrested for her horrendous performance of this song alone.

Uh-oh! Uh-oh! It looks to me like he’s been accidentally shot by Claudine Longet!

Bette's performance is solid - not as good as Dusty or Barbra's - but a strong showing.

It's an interesting song - it doesn't require a lot of vocal range or strength, but it does require a very specific interpretation by the singer.

Normally, I'm a big fan of Nina Simone, but Nina's version just doesn't quite capture the melancholy-spirit of the song.

Randy Newman's - the song writer's version.

Did Claudine ever shot any of her other lovers?

Another performance by Tom Odell...

OMG, oh no, no - it looks to me like Odell’s been accidentally shot by Claudine Longet!

Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Spider Sabich.

I voted “Whore" in honor of my late mother, who would always mutter that word during Claudine’s bits during the Christmas specials.

I’d watch the shit out of a Claudine Longet series!

[quote]Casting call for Claudine Longet, Andy Williams, and Spider Sabich.

Ryan Reynolds as "Andy Williams"

Who showed up every day for Claudine's trial as I recall.

Kevin Spacey’s remarkable comeback performance as Andy Williams.

Kevin Spacey will play the part just to have a go at the young actor who plays Spider.

Sabich was ruggedly appealing, no pretty boy.

I'd cast along the lines of Joel Edgerton.

Longet? Felicity Jones resembles Longet, so, I'd go with Jones. Talent is incidental.

I like Midler’s version. and I can’t stand her. But she’s good at these melancholy songs. I always thought her “superstar” was the best, way better than Karen Carpenter’s. And “Hello in There”….

She and Andy Williams were married. They divorced, but Williams always cared about her. During the whole Spider Sabich scandal he stuck by her the whole time. I never thought she was much good looking or talented but obviously men saw something in her. One of her lovers was the very hot Ben Murphy. Anyway, it was a shame she got a slap on the wrist for killing Sabich. She deserved a lot more jail time than 30 days.

I could hear the accusatory voice of r52’s mother muttering WHORE through the entire clip at r54.

Straight men probably thought the French accent and her prettiness made her alluring in that not-the-girl-next-door way.

I can see that being the case.

Williams paid her legal bills AND escorted her to court every day.

I’ll say one thing for Claudine’s singing, it was very distinctive. Her version of “Love Is Blue” worked. She was quite beautiful. Amazing how she completely dropped out of sight.

I also like her “Meditation.”

^ Thank you for weighing in, Claudine!

Bette Midler did the best version.

[quote]I remember Claudine Longet's lawyers threatened to sue SNL over the skit, and the next week, producers had to apologize for the skit. It's never aired again and it can't be found anywhere.

That's not true. When E! reran hour long episodes of Saturday Night Live, they showed the skit. That's where I first saw it.

[quote]Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Spider Sabich.

While we would all welcome Taylor-Johnson's full-frontal audition, I'm thinking of someone with a more Scandinavian look.

Brad Pitt is too old even for the sun/ski-weathered Spider.

Alexander Skarsgård doesn't really have Sabitch's manly Big Dick Energy.

[quote]I'd cast along the lines of Joel Edgerton.

Edgerton's hot but he's a little too old too

Here’s the video.

How about one of those Hemsworth brothers for Spider?

^ Oh Yes!

Boy, that sure was back in the days when comedy pushed boundaries. I happen to like subversive comedy, but that one leaves a bad taste. If I had been one of the players, I don’t think I could’ve brought myself to do it.

^ Mary!

I thought it was one of the funniest bits they’ve ever done.

The Gary Gilmore Christmas medley was ten times worse.

You can hear the audience groaning and booing.

[quote]Claudine makes Jane Birkin sound like Whitney Houston

Claudine makes Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval sound like Beverly Sills!

R68, good researching. I was looking but it isn’t easy to find. SNL could be wicked at times back then, more like MADTV.

The video was way up at r43.

The lack of effective link previews is a drag. They worked much better on the legacy site.

She was as useless as Arlene Francis and Susan Richardson rolled into one.

[quote]She was as useless as Arlene Francis and Susan Richardson rolled into one.

I beg your pardon?

My ears were burning!

Astrid Gilberto made singing off-key fabulous.

The first singer that brought Randy Newman songs to public's attention was Liza Minelli. See her self-titled 1968 album.

"The Debutante's Ball", "Happyland", "So Long Dad".

^ Oh and "Love Story".

I love that album. Pre-Cabaret Liza was pretty wonderful.

Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson Sings Newman from 1970 is one of my favorites. Nilsson excels at bittersweet and melancholy lyrics.

Why couldn’t she have sung “I Don’t Think It’s Going To Rain Today”?

^ The same reason she couldn't sing,

"Don't move into the Bramford, Ro"

"It's full of witches, you know"

Personally, I'd love to see her version of Neutron Dance.

I offer for your consideration, Norah Jones' cover:

A solid performance, maybe a little overproduced, but Jones has a good vocal style and she captures the sad/slightly hopeful essence of the song.

[quote]A solid performance, maybe a little overproduced, but Jones has a good vocal style and she captures the sad/slightly hopeful essence of the song.

What is this...I make love to the microphone, ne pas?

It's kind of amazing how many people have done this song over the years. As far as Dusty/Newman songs go, though, I don't think anything will ever top "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore." That song cemented my eternal love for Dusty in Memphis.

[quote]The first singer that brought Randy Newman songs to public's attention was Liza Minelli. See her self-titled 1968 album. "The Debutante's Ball", "Happyland", "So Long Dad".

Actually, British singer/songwriter/keyboardist Alan Price, formerly of The Animals, had a big hit with Randy Newman's "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear". Alan's version was out the same year Liza recorded Randy's songs.

Apparently, Randy seemed to be doing quite well as a songwriter in 1968.

Is it racist to say her accent sounds Asian in OP ‘s vid?

Up until last year (thanks to DL) I always thought she shot Jean-Claude Killy.my parents used to mention it & I swear there was an SNL skit in the early days of the show.

After listening to all these versions, I find myself thinking it (or the accompaniment) (or something) is tonally similar to Tom Waits’ “Martha”

Mama Cass did a great version. Too lazy to post.

BTW, Andy Williams was gay.

Thanks R95. Enjoying my evening port 🤗

[quote]r27 Nina Simone is sloppy and indulgent. Nails screeching on a blackboard.

That really isn’t a nice thing to say.

Don’t you dare criticize her “Pirate Jenny”!

I only know her name from SNL original cast reruns.

Anyone remember the jokes?

Claudine sounds like special needs.

[quote]She was quite beautiful. Amazing how she completely dropped out of sight.

Not really so amazing. Who would want to be associated with her after what she did? Any prospective employers would have been afraid of being accidentally shot.

SNL jokes were along the lines of Claudine "accidentally shot him for the third time".

Claudine tried a comeback with "I Shot the Sheriff", but most radio stations refused to play her version.

[quote]She was as useless as Arlene Francis and Susan Richardson rolled into one.

How very dare you! Arlene is a DL icon! And she was a star of the legitimate theater!

After her time with Andy, she wanted straight dick.

The B-side of Claudine's comeback single was Cher's "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)".

So many covers of that song...which Randy has said is not one of his favorites of his own songs. I'm sure he's happy for the royalties, though. I like this one too.

Longet sings a far more obscure number from the Randy Newman songbook. This is the song I think of first when I hear her name, because of the skiing and cocaine elements of her later notoriety.

Spider was sporty and masculine but there are really only a few pictures where he is handsome. Mostly he looked like a dork.

Interesting that Claudine was about as talentless as Herb Albert 's wife Lani Hall. He discovered them both.

Wasn't Lani Hall part of Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66? Those records still hold up.

Lani Hall talentless? I don’t think so.

Lani Hall was actually discovered by Sergio Mendes, not Herb Alpert, who Lani is still married to.

"Hall's first public appearance occurred in 1965 at The Centaur, a coffee house in Old Town, Chicago. She was heard by Brazilian pianist and bandleader Sérgio Mendes, who was on tour in Chicago. He first heard her perform at a benefit at Mother Blue's, another club in Old Town.

His group, Brasil '65 was disbanding, and he invited Hall to come to Los Angeles to be the lead singer of his new project, Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66. As she was only 19 and still living with her parents, she agreed only after Mendes met her father and obtained his blessing, and six months later, the group signed a contract with A&M Records.

Unlike the previous incarnation, Brasil '66 was an instant success – making a significant impact on the charts with its first single, a version of the Brazilian song "Mas Que Nada". Much of the song's appeal was due to Hall's distinctive, multi-tracked vocals and Herb Alpert's expertise as producer."

Her influence is bigger than you'd imagine. She and the other breathy talk singers of her era.

Julee Cruise brought it back and then it's never gone out of fashion in indie and art rock.

Whatever. Claudine and Lani, 2 forgotten singers who worked with Herb.

Rather than art rock, I should say electronica. Especially downtempo.

Andy Williams stood by Claudine because, as he said, she was the mother of his children.

My family would always watch The Andy Williams Show Christmas specials. My father thought Claudine was pretty in a foreign and exotic way. My mother would wonder how they were going to find some way to work Claudine into the act. We kids would imitate Claudine’s accent, especially from her performance of “My Favorite Things” with “wheeeskers on keeetens”.

WHY IS SHE SCREAMING ??? singing isn't SHOUTING, Claudine

Her voice fit her waifish French gamine aesthetic. Not for me at all but I can see why it worked for her somewhat. It's interesting she didn't take off as a ye ye singer in her native country. She sounds like a little kid to me, with her diction, pitchiness and thin tone. I've never heard such an un-seasoned version of 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'.

I think one of her better songs is her version of Bread's 'Make It With You', even if I like it more for the arrangement and the way the producer captured her vocals in a dreamy echo. I do find her quite an interesting figure and would probably also watch a miniseries with someone hot playing Spider.

Claudine and Bobby fucked, as noted above.

Bobby always seemed weird to me.

That version of Snow is unsurprisingly awful, but I appreciate the mental images of the murder she committed that it invokes. I’m thinking more of the SNL Claudine Longet skit.

Harry Nilsson’s version sends me into MARY! territory, however.

Hard to believe they didn’t choose this for the Randy Newman album.

"Ooh-la-la!"

Neil Diamond's good but unremarkable cover:

Strangely enough, the song was actually introduced by Julius La Rosa. In 1966.

Well, hello!

This is Ron Austin, the defense attorney who she married? What a comedown.

Was he horse-dicked like Spider?

There was a "best of" Claudine album?

They’re still married.

In high school, my friend Louise and I would sit in her Corvair late at night and write songs. Here is The Ballad of Claudine. I don't remember the last verse...

*

Don't show your gun to a friend, Claudine

Don't you look down that barrel

Playing with a gun may be lots of fun

But it can put you in peril

Spider comes home, he says What gives?

Claudine she says, Why, you do!

You give it for free but not to me

and that's why I cry boo-hoo

*(chorus)

She spied her with Spider

and Claudine took note

He was laying beside her

and that's all she wrote

*

They took her to the county jail

Andy he came runnin'

She said to him as he paid her bail

I was only funnin'

Next day in the court of law

the jury sat and heard her

She said I've got some minor flaws

but not the will to murder

(I don't remember the last verse)

*(chorus)

She spied her with Spider

and Claudine took note

He was laying beside her

and that's all she wrote

^ Wow...I don't know what to say.

[quote]They took her to the county jail

[quote]Andy he came runnin'

[quote]She said to him as he paid her bail

[quote]I was only funnin'

Did Louise live in the holler near you and yourn?

I think R129’s song is lovely. Pearls before swine, dear.

No, r131, but she *did* live on the other side of the tracks.

And the Claudine lines are meant to be sung breathy with a French accent.

R129, I think your friend Louise's song sounds quite nice...

but that cunt Claudine accidentally shot at me when I tried to dance to it...several times

My god. In the OP clip she sounds like a Korean native with no grasp of the English language. Maybe she should've been a voice actress instead.

Another one of our top ten hits...

*

Gina Lollobrigida

went to the refrigida

Got herself an apple

and some cold spaghetti

Put some salad dressing

on her cold spaghetti

And it made her think of

Anna Maria Alberghetti

"Not on my fresh salad you don't!"

And not on your fresh salad I won't...

saaaaid

Ginaaaaaa

You know, R129, these lyrics are consistent with being written in a Corvair.

[quote]Gina Lollobrigida, Went to the refrigida

If you're not in ASCAP now, you should be admitted just on the basis of this.

Will Claudine sing the [italic]"The Ballad of Claudine"

at Louise's induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

That Corvair was a piece of shit, r138. It kept breaking down and she'd have to call her Dad to come fix it. I believe Vacancy at the Sago was our first:

There's a vacancy at the Sago

You can go if I go

You ask me how I know

there's a vacancy at the Sago

Cuz I drove byyyyyy

******BEARKING NEWS********

Shots have accidentally been fired at attorney Ron Austin!!!

OMG, she accidentally shot him again!

[quote]They’re still married.

"Not eff I can get 'im in my gun sights."

"Stop moving, you bastard!"

[quote]at Louise's induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Excuse me, r140, ex-c-u-u-s-e me. We wrote our songs *together*. *She* gets inducted...*I* get inducted.

^ But Louise actually owned the Corvair.

Maybe next year, huh?

[italic]Louise is a great talent, who actually capture my feelings at de time of the accidental shooting of my lover Spider...multiple times, multiple gunshot...

Aww, R144, maybe Louise will bring you a program.

Put some salad dressing

on her cold spaghetti

And it made her think of

Anna Maria Alberghetti

R137, I don't mean to pry...

but are you by any chance Carole King?

r43 That was delicious! Thank you!

She looks a lot like Danica Patrick...the 'race car driver', Aaron Rodgers' beard, wannabe celebrity. Claudine and Danica must have been cut from the same cloth.

Why did she shoot Sabich, anyway?

Why does anyone shoot her lover, r152?

What’s the penalty in Colorado for killing a spider? 30 days.

[quote][R137], I don't mean to pry...but are you by any chance Carole King?

R137, I am so sorry for this post - you know what DL trolls are like.

(And based on those brilliant lyrics, you are clearly Bob Dylan.)

Midler is far from the world's best singer, but she has a reedy ache in her tone, and a warm resonant voice. She does a great job here on Carson

She sings this song for real, for real.

Bamboo Beads was really our most ambitious opus....

Bamboo beads, dingy dank and dirty

Bamboo beads, dingy dank and dirty

Bamboo beads, dingy dank and dirty

Stole my heart away

Jujubes, I can take or leave 'em

Jujubes, I can take or leave 'em

Jujubes, I can take or leave 'em

What else can I say?

*

Dingy dank and dirty

I can take or leave 'em

Dingy dank and dirty

I can take or leave 'em

*

Irene Dunne, Is she really finished?

Irene Dunne, Is she really finished?

Irene Dunne, Is she really finished?

I save postage stamps

Taco Bell, Enchitacorito

Taco Bell, Enchitacorito

Taco Bell, Enchitacorito

Pot helps menstrual cramps

*

Dingy dank and dirty

I can take or leave 'em

Is she really finished?

Enchitacorito

*

Christmas balls, we've got lots of blue ones

Christmas balls, we've got lots of blue ones

Christmas balls, we've got lots of blue ones

Dogs piss on a tree

Maxi skirts drag when you are walking

Maxi skirts drag when you are walking

Maxi skirts drag when you are walking

Football injury

*

Dingy dank and dirty

I can take or leave 'em

Is she really finished?

Enchitacorito

We've got lots of blue ones

Drag when you are walking

*

Songs like this can get pretty boring

Songs like this can get pretty boring

Songs like this can get pretty boring

Float on water beds

Wildwood flower, sing it Mother Maybelle

Wildwood flower, sing it Mother Maybelle

Wildwood flower, sing it Mother Maybelle

Bouncing rubber Keds

*

Dingy dank and dirty

I can take or leave 'em

Is she really finished?

Enchitacorito

We've got lots of blue ones

Drag when you are walking

Can get pretty boring

Sing it Mother Maybelle

*

Plastic shrubs

(spoken) And that's the end of the song

^ Oh, and there were different hand movements for each verse.

How could everyone forget Peggy Lee’s late sixties/early seventies dive into contemporary songwriters?

This version offers bombastic horns from an imaginary royal court, a completely lost choir, and Ms Lee caterwauling “LONELY!” like she’s slipping off a barstool before being escorted out of a corner tavern.

[quote]Christmas balls, we've got lots of blue ones; Christmas balls, we've got lots of blue ones; Christmas balls, we've got lots of blue ones; Dogs piss on a tree; Maxi skirts drag when you are walking; Maxi skirts drag when you are walking; Maxi skirts drag when you are walking; Football injury

'Tis a bit repetitive but quite lovely.

Is this the Gershwin Brothers?

R157, I fear that you and Louise may have peaked with your ode Gina Lollobrigida and Anna Maria Alberghetti.

R159 Peggy Lee's version has a little bit of everything!

Helen Reddy joins in on the fun.

DL never ceases to amaze, a thread on the extremely vapid non-singer Claudine Longet.

^ And murderess!

[DL never ceases to amaze, a thread on the extremely vapid non-singer Claudine Longet.

Really, r164, do you think we'd be interested in her if she hadn't pulled a Roxie Hart?

Andy Williams was the once Kay “Think Pink” Thompson’s boy toy when he and his brothers were part of her nightclub act.

Claudine is a fabuloush pershon with a unique voisch.

There's vid, r167...

R164 The more vapid the better!

[quote]Why did she shoot Sabich, anyway?

It's one of my 50 ways to leave your lover.

[quote]but are you by any chance Carole King?

More like Carole KWEEN, amirite?

You can't have someone as hunky as Aaron Taylor-Johnson or the Hemsworth brothers as Spider. He was not built like a superhero--this was in the 70s, before men like him would pump iron.

R78

R166 Yes, even if she hadn't dusted Spider there would still be a thread in this vile pit of trollery.

Oh look, R175, is psychic.

Now tell us what the Power Ball lottery numbers are.

Leave me?! Leave me?!! No man leaves me, Sabich!

The B-side of Claudine's records was "I Think I'm Going to Blow Away a Cheating MoFo Today"

But her attorneys were able to prevent it from being played for the jury.

Blood drops dripping on the Aspen snow. The smell of gunpowder fills the air. I just shot my lover, and I don't really care...

R176 Yes, and I am very accurate. I can't do lottery numbers but I definitely see you dying a cold, painful death alone.

^ Aren't you adorable!

What r177 said.

Sabich invited her and her children move in with him. He then, as often happens, tired of her, her children and the relationship.

Iirc, he did manage to get them to move out, but, she couldn't let go. I think he may have moved on with someone else, too.

Scandalized Aspen thought they's seen it all until her married defense attorney and Longet started sleeping and vacationing together, he left his wife and those two married, a plot twist that sent the whole thing into the Infamy Hall of Fame.

That she stayed in Aspen is interesting, too.

Spider should be played by the 1990s version of Kevin Kilner.

^ interesting choice, kind of ruggedly handsome like Spider

but unless you have a Time Machine to bring back the 1990s version of this guy, we'll have to go with someone available

Spider appears to have good hair.

I think we need someone with blond or blondish surfer/ski guy hair.

Welcome to the Claudine Longet Christmas Special!

I will be singing ALL of your favorite songs from my catalog - yes, yes, I know you are excited...

and later I'll be doing some trick shooting while my lover Spider slaloms down the hill...

In a whispery baby voice, "OMG, I didn't know it was loaded!"

^ Ok Claudine, we're going to have to reshoot that.

The boom mic can't pick up your voice at that level.

And remember, you're going to have to "pretend" that you shot him accidentally.

"You would not treat Celine Dion this way!"

"This is unacceptable!"

What was the SNL where Laraine is Claudine and she's in a space ship and , looking out the window, she says "Zee lights are so pretty."?

Ezz now a good time to do my treebute to Billie Holiday?

[italic]I love my man...

That is quite the gem, r169.

Louisiana PURCHASE! That looks like a drag number thanks to Miss Thompson’s size and masculine energy.

I want a Netflix series on Kay now!

Has it quietly occurred to anyone else here that “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” isn’t really all that great a song?

Yes, I kind of hate the song.

Though, Peggy Lee’s version is sort of fun in that boozy, dissipated, backstreet way she had.

Back then certain songs would get picked up and done to death by every singer under the sun. A lot of Newman's material wasn't suitable for this treatment, though. Ronstadt did "Sail Away," but it was a little awkward to hear her singing sweetly about luring Africans on to a slave ship.

[quote]Ronstadt did "Sail Away," but it was a little awkward to hear her singing sweetly about luring Africans on to a slave ship.

The Etta James cover is pretty good, though. She did several good Newman covers: Let's Burn Down the Cornfield, You Can Leave Your Hat On (great fake orgasm at the "I know what love is" part), and best of all, her scorched-earth rendition of God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind).

As for I Think It's Going to Rain Today, I do think it's a great song, and it isn't surprising to me that it's become a standard. It's one of Newman's that travel well. It isn't so specific, as many of his songs are, being just about a mood and feeling. But it doesn't surprise me there are people who don't like it. The same is true for My Funny Valentine, Summertime, Yesterday, pretty much any song that has been done by umpteen artists and outlasted the time in which it was created.

Elmer Fudd had a daughter?

Christmas, 1966

And now here's Claudine with her cover of Cher's

BANG BANG I SHOT MY BABY DOWN