You Left the Water Running
Encyclopedia
"You Left the Water Running" is a soul music
song written by Dan Penn
, Rick Hall
and Oscar Franks. It has been recorded by Wilson Pickett
, Barbara Lynn
, Maurice and Mac and Otis Redding
.
Redding's connection to the song is documented by music journalist Dave Marsh
in his 1989 book The Heart of Rock and Soul. In 1966, Redding was visiting FAME Studios
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
when studio owner Rick Hall
requested Redding help them with an upcoming session. Wilson Pickett was to record "You Left the Water Running", and Hall wished for Redding to record a demo to assist with the production. A simple recording was made and Redding made some overdub additions, and Pickett made his recording similar to Redding's version.
Ten years later, Marsh was mailed a promo copy of "You Left the Water Running" by Otis Redding on Stone Records (the flipside was an instrumental called "The Otis Jam", which was produced by John Fred
, of "Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)
" fame). Marsh was fascinated by the song, and mentioned the new single to several friends, including his attorney, who also happened to represent the Otis Redding estate. He soon found out that Stone Records had not obtained the Redding family's permission to release the long lost demo recording, and demanded the single be pulled from circulation.
When Marsh asked the label's distributor what was to become of the single, he was informed that they were to be destroyed. Instead, Marsh purchased the copies that remained, and gave them out as gifts, with the attorney's permission. As a result,the single (Stone 209) is now highly valuable.
Atlantic Records
released "You Left the Water Running" for the first time legally on the compilation album, The Otis Redding Story in 1987. Though that box set is no longer available, the song has appeared in similar collections in the years that have followed.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
song written by Dan Penn
Dan Penn
Dan Penn is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and sometime guitar player who co-wrote many soul hits of the 1960s including "Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and "Out of Left Field" & "Cry Like A Baby"...
, Rick Hall
Rick Hall
Roe Erister "Rick" Hall is an American record producer, songwriter, music publisher and musician who is best known as the owner and proprietor of the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.-Life and career:...
and Oscar Franks. It has been recorded by Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
, Barbara Lynn
Barbara Lynn
Barbara Lynn is an American rhythm and blues and electric blues guitarist and singer. She is best known for her R&B chart-topping hit, "You'll Lose A Good Thing" .-Life and career:She played piano as a child, but switched to guitar...
, Maurice and Mac and Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
.
Redding's connection to the song is documented by music journalist Dave Marsh
Dave Marsh
Dave Marsh is an American music critic, author, editor and radio talk show host. He was a formative editor of Creem magazine, has written for various publications such as Newsday, The Village Voice, and Rolling Stone, and has published numerous books about music and musicians, mostly focused on...
in his 1989 book The Heart of Rock and Soul. In 1966, Redding was visiting FAME Studios
FAME Studios
FAME Studios are located at 603 East Avalon in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They have been an integral part of American popular music from the late 1950s to the present...
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
when studio owner Rick Hall
Rick Hall
Roe Erister "Rick" Hall is an American record producer, songwriter, music publisher and musician who is best known as the owner and proprietor of the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.-Life and career:...
requested Redding help them with an upcoming session. Wilson Pickett was to record "You Left the Water Running", and Hall wished for Redding to record a demo to assist with the production. A simple recording was made and Redding made some overdub additions, and Pickett made his recording similar to Redding's version.
Ten years later, Marsh was mailed a promo copy of "You Left the Water Running" by Otis Redding on Stone Records (the flipside was an instrumental called "The Otis Jam", which was produced by John Fred
John Fred
John Fred was a blue-eyed soul, Cajun swamp pop and bubble-gum pop performer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, best known for the song, "Judy in Disguise ".-Career:...
, of "Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)
"Judy in Disguise " is a song that was a hit for the Louisiana-based John Fred and his Playboy Band in early 1968. The song was co-written with bandmate Andrew Bernard. According to The Billboard Book of Number One Hits by Fred Bronson, the song was inspired by Fred's listening to The Beatles' hit,...
" fame). Marsh was fascinated by the song, and mentioned the new single to several friends, including his attorney, who also happened to represent the Otis Redding estate. He soon found out that Stone Records had not obtained the Redding family's permission to release the long lost demo recording, and demanded the single be pulled from circulation.
When Marsh asked the label's distributor what was to become of the single, he was informed that they were to be destroyed. Instead, Marsh purchased the copies that remained, and gave them out as gifts, with the attorney's permission. As a result,the single (Stone 209) is now highly valuable.
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
released "You Left the Water Running" for the first time legally on the compilation album, The Otis Redding Story in 1987. Though that box set is no longer available, the song has appeared in similar collections in the years that have followed.
"You Left the Water Running" in popular culture
- In Nick Hornby's novel High FidelityHigh Fidelity (novel)High Fidelity is a 1995 British novel by Nick Hornby. It was adapted into a 2000 film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack. It also served as the basis for a 2006 Broadway musical of the same name.-Plot summary:...
, protagonist Rob Fleming is thrilled to purchase a copy of "You Left the Water Running", from a woman who is pawning her husband's albums at a very low price in retaliation for his infidelity. - In the 2009 TV series CupidCupid (2009 TV series)Cupid is a television series that premiered on ABC on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 10:02 PM Eastern/9:02 PM Central. The series is a revival of sorts of the network's 1998 series of the same name, changing its primary setting from Chicago to New York City....
, episode 6, "Left of the Dial", the DJ, seeking the girl of his dreams, whom he's only spoken to on the phone, has one connection to her: a copy of the 45 she sent to him at the station some time before.