It's Getting Harder All The Time - The Mindbenders (from To Sir With Love)

It's Getting Harder All The Time

Written-By – B. Raleigh, C. Albertine

Performed by The Mindbenders

From the Columbia Picture, "To Sir, With Love"

The Mindbenders (originally the backing group for Wayne Fontana) were a 1960s beat group from Manchester, England. The band were one of the UK acts that were successful in the mid-1960s British Invasion of the US charts.

D  C  D  C  D  C  D  C

D                     C         D      C  
It's hard not to think about you,
D                  C           D    C
To keep you off my mind.
      G         Bm                                E
It's hard to live in a world without you,

G
And It's getting harder,
E
It's getting harder,

It's getting harder,
Am       E
All the time.

D                    C                   D        C
it's so hard to walk past the phone now,
D           C                D    C
And not to try your line.
      G         Bm                      E
It's hard to try and make it alone now.

G
And It's getting harder,
E
It's getting harder,

It's getting harder,
Am    
All the time.

F              Am               D          C
Baby I've got no more foolish pride,
F          Am                  D         C
Baby I must have you by my side.
G               Am             G
Can't stop wishing for what I had,
Am            G             Am             G   C    
Need your kisses and I need 'em bad.

D               C        D      C
So hard to go on living,
D                       C                D   C
And know that you're not mine.
      G            Bm                                E
It's hard without all the love you've given

G
And It's getting harder,
E
It's getting harder,

It's getting harder,
Am        E
All the time.

D  C  D  C  D  C  D  C

G   Bm  E   G
Ah, ah, ah, ah

G  Bm  D  C  E  Am

F              Am               D          C
Baby I've got no more foolish pride,
F          Am                  D         C
Baby I must have you by my side.
G               Am             G
Can't stop wishing for what I had,
Am            G             Am             G   C    
Need your kisses and I need 'em bad.


D               C        D      C
So hard to go on living,
D                       C                D   C
And know that you're not mine.
      G            Bm                                E
It's hard without all the love you've given

G
And It's getting harder,
E
It's getting harder,

It's getting harder,
Am      E
All the time.

D C D C D C
Oh ———

Bad To Me - Lennon & McCartney for Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas

"Bad to Me" is a song John Lennon wrote (credited to Lennon/McCartney) for Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas while John was on holiday in Spain in 1963. Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas released their recording of the song in 1963 and it became their first #1 UK hit. Paul McCartney was present during the recording session at Abbey Road Studios. The single would be released in the USA the following year, and become a top-ten hit there, reaching number 9. It became the first Lennon/McCartney composition to reach the US Top 40 for an artist other than the Beatles.

Bootlegs exist of Lennon's original demo of the song, which was recorded on 31 May 1963.

Billy J. Kramer (born William Howard Ashton, 19 August 1943, Bootle, Liverpool, England) is a British Invasion/Merseybeat singer. In the 1960s he was managed by Brian Epstein, who also managed The Beatles, and he recorded several original Lennon and McCartney compositions.

He grew up as the youngest of seven siblings and attended the St George of England Secondary School, Bootle. He then took up an engineering apprenticeship with British Railways and in his spare time played rhythm guitar in a group he had formed himself, before switching to become a vocalist. The performing name Kramer was chosen at random from a telephone directory. It was John Lennon's suggestion that the "J" be added to the name to further distinguish him by adding a 'tougher edge'. Kramer soon came to the attention of Brian Epstein, ever on the look-out for new talent to add to his expanding roster of local artists. Kramer turned professional but his then backing group, the Coasters, were less keen, so Epstein sought out the services of a Manchester-based group, The Dakotas, a combo then backing Pete MacLaine.

Even then, The Dakotas would not join Kramer without a recording contract of their own. Once in place, the deal was set and both acts signed to Parlophone under George Martin. Collectively, they were named Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas to keep their own identities within the act. Once the Beatles broke through, the way was paved for a tide of Merseybeat and Kramer was offered the chance to cover "Do You Want to Know a Secret?", first released by the Beatles on their own debut album, Please Please Me. The track had been turned down by Shane Fenton (later known as Alvin Stardust) who was looking for a career-reviving hit.

Success came with record producer George Martin, when the Beatles' penned song "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" became a number two UK Singles Chart hit in 1963, and was backed by another tune otherwise unreleased by The Beatles, "I'll Be on My Way". 

After this impressive breakthrough, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas enjoyed yet another another hit single:"Bad to Me" c/w "I Call Your Name", with the single reaching #1. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.

Billy J Kramer continues to enjoy world wide popularity as a singer, and he tours regularly in both Europe and the United States.

Paul, John and George with Billy J Kramer in Margate, July 1963. 

Photo by Leslie Bryce. Scan from Beatles Book Monthy No. 143.

C                     Am
 If you ever leave me,   I'll be sad and blue
Em                         Dm                     D#+
   Don't you ever leave me,   I'm so in love with you...


     C           Em           Am
The birds in the sky would be sad and lonely
    C             Em        Am
If they knew that I lost my one and only,
          F             G7     C Em G7
They'd be sad if you're bad to me


     C             Em             Am
The leaves on the trees would be softly sighin’
         C              Em              Am
If they heard from the breeze that you left me crying,
           F           G7     C
They'd be sad don’t be bad to me


                F                         G7
But I know you won't leave me 'cause you told me so,
     C                    A7
And I've no intention of letting you go,
 F                   G7              Dm       D#+    Dm  G7
Just as long as you let me know, you won't be bad to me


       C             Em           Am
So the birds in the sky won't be sad and lonely
        C             Em       Am
'Cause they know that I got my one and only
            F              G7     Gm  A7
They'll be glad you're not bad to me


           Dm              G7     C   Em Dm G7
They'll be glad you're not bad to me
   C   Em Dm G7
To me
   C   Em Dm G7  C
To me

Cover uses these chords:

http://www.chordie.com/chord.pere/www.guitaretab.com/b/billy-joe-kramer/126288.html

Raining In My Heart - Buddy Holly

"Raining in My Heart" is a song recorded by Buddy Holly with the orchestral backing by Dick Jacobs. The music and lyrics are written by the songwriting team of Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant. It was released as a single on Coral Records in 1959, peaking at #88 on the Billboard charts as the B-side of "It Doesn't Matter Anymore". This recording was included on Buddy Holly's first "greatest hits" compilation album titled The Buddy Holly Story that was released in March 1959.

Do not panic! Caug = C+ and Gaug = G+ very simple chords :)

 


C     C+     Am    C+

C                             C+

The sun is out, the sky is blue

              Am                 C7

There’s not a cloud to spoil the view

            F           G                   C      G

But it’s raining, raining in my heart

C                                  C+

The weatherman says clear today

      Am                             C7

He doesn’t know you’ve gone away

             F           G                  C      G

And it’s raining, raining in my heart

Gm        C         F   Dm

Oh misery, misery

Am                      D7         G      G+

What’s gonna become of me?

(Instrumental Verse)

Gm        C         F   Dm

Oh misery, misery

Am                      D7         G      G+

What’s gonna become of me?

C                             C+

I tell my blues they mustn’t show

      Am                             C7

But soon these tears are bound to flow

                  F           G                   C      G

'Cause it’s raining, raining in my heart

G                     C      G

Raining in my heart

G                     C      

Raining in my heart

C+     Am     C+     C     C+     Am     C+     C

and a pretty little acoustic version

The Tattooed Lady - Skeets McDonald (1952)

Thanks to Manitoba Hal who checked out the chords and made a couple of corrections! 

Enos William McDonald (1 October 1915 – 31 March 1968), better known as Skeets McDonald, was an American country and rockabilly musician popular during the 1950s and 60s. Best known for the Slim Willet-penned song "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes", McDonald was a devoted honky tonk singer and songwriter whose work helped to bridge the gap between country and rock and roll.

McDonald was born on 1 October 1915 in Greenway, Arkansas. He was the youngest of his parents' seven children; his gained his nickname for calling mosquitoes "skeets" as a child. When his older brother moved to Detroit, Michigan the early 1930s, McDonald followed; and joined his first band, the Lonesome Cowboys, in 1935. He later formed his own band and played local clubs and on radio in Flint and Pontiac.

McDonald was drafted in 1943 and was stationed in North Africa and the Far East during World War II, earning a Bronze Star. On discharge, he returned to radio and television work in Dearborn, Michigan. He made his first recordings for Fortune Records in 1950 with Johnnie White and his Rough Riders, and cut records for London and Mercury Records as Skeets Saunders.

In 1951, McDonald moved to Los Angeles, California, where he became a regular on Cliffie Stone's Hometown Jamboree and later appeared on Town Hall Party. He was soon signed by Capitol Records, which viewed him as its answer to Columbia Records' Lefty Frizzell and demanded he continue releasing country songs rather than the rockabilly sound he experimented with since the war.  He recorded more than 80 numbers for the label, including his 1952 smash country hit, "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" (No. 1 for 18 weeks). In the late 1950s, he appeared on Ozark Jubilee and continued recording for Capitol; his last release for the label was the album, The Country's Best.

McDonald signed with Columbia in 1959 and spent the decade there, recording some excellent West Coast hillbilly, as well as some forays into the rockabilly. He employed young guitar-whiz Eddie Cochran to back him in the studio for "You Oughta See Grandma Rock" and "Heart Breaking Mama". Although they made little impact on the charts at the time, they are now considered rockabilly classics.

He scored several hits on the Billboard country chart, including "This Old Heart" (1960, No. 21), "Call Me Mr. Brown" (1963, No. 9), "Big Chief Buffalo Nickel (Desert Blues)" (1966, No. 29), and "Mabel" (1967, No. 28).^[4] He also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, Texas. His songs included "I'll Make Believe", "Big Family Trouble", "I Need Your Love" and "The Echo of Your Footsteps". In 1964, he released the album Call Me Skeets!.

McDonald made several film appearances, including Saddle Pals with Johnny Mack Brown, Ma and Pa Kettle Go To Town (1950), The Glenn Miller Story (1954) and Hud (1963), singing "Driftwood on the River" with Janet McBride.

In later years, McDonald moved his style more towards rock and roll; but refused to move far from the tearjerking songs which made his name. When told by reviewers he "belonged to another age," he took it as a compliment to his dedication.

McDonald died from a heart attack on March 31, 1968 in Los Angeles.

F         Bb                        F                     

Once I married a tattooed lady (Well tell me about her, Skeets)

                  G7                   C7

It was on a cold and winter day

F                  Bb                 F

and tattooed all around her body (What was that?)

             G7                          C

was the map of the good old USA

Bb                                           F

and every night before I'd go to sleep (What’d ya do?)

     G7                                             C

I'd jerk down the quilt and I’d take a peep

N.C.

But good gracious alive! 

                   F                  G                C7                   F        

Upon on her leg was Minnesota on her shoulder Tennessee

                    Bb                                  F

and tattooed on her back was good old Rackensack*

      G7                           C7

the place where I long to be

F                                                        G7 

down on her (wolf whistle) was West Virginny

                      C                        D                                                

Through them hills I just love to roam 

Bb                                                                      F

But when the moon began to shine down upon her Wabash

                     G                  C          F

That’s when I recognised my Indiana home

(Instrumental)

                   F                  G                C7                   F        

Upon on her leg was Minnesota on her shoulder Tennessee

                    Bb                                  F

and tattooed on her back was good old Rackensack

      G7                           C7

the place where I long to be

F                                                   G7

upon her (wolf whistle) was West Virginny

                      C                        D                                                  

Through them hills I just love to roam around

Bb                                                                      F

When the moon began to shine down upon her Wabash

                     G                   C                F

That’s when I recognised my home sweet home

*Rackensack is an early nickname for the state of Arkansas.