This week on Song by Song, Sam and Martin take a look at the mournful yearning ballad, as well as one of its most successful reversals. Inevitably inviting comparisons with other "name of a girl" songs, Muriel is discussed in terms of Martha, Rosie, Maria and Jolene, but it ends up being the presence of Edie that has the greatest effect...
Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include:
Muriel, Foreign Affairs, Tom Waits (1977)
Jolene, Jolene, Dolly Parton (1973)
Muriel Cigar Advert, Edie Adams & Stan Getz (1965)
Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar), The Doors, The Doors (1967) Wikipedia information found here
Log into the Spotify web player to hear these tracks.