Continuing our short string of songs from ’70s singer-songwriters, today’s classic song of the day is one you might not have heard from a singer you definitely know. The song is “Vanilla O’Lay” and it was written and performed by Ms. Jackie DeShannon.
“Vanilla O’Lay” was included on Ms. DeShannon’s 1972 album, Jackie. That album fit right in with Carole King’s Tapestry, James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James, and Joni Mitchell’s Blue, but didn’t get near as much attention from critics or the music-loving public. Jackie, recorded in Memphis, is a mix of well-crafted DeShannon-penned originals and carefully chosen covers. “Vanilla O’Lay” is one of those originals, a joyful love song about an all-consuming relationship:
You treated me like a schoolgirl lover
Never did follow any rules
And into your arms I’m runnin’ for cover
All of my strings are tied to you
Ah, but my, my, my, you’re lookin’ better
It seems like you were never ill
The doctor’s gonna send us a letter
We will let the sky up pay the bill
Jackie, the album, was produced by the all-star team of Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin, and Tom Dowd, who were also responsible for Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis album three years earlier. Unfortunately, Jackie, released on Atlantic Records, peaked at just #196 on Billboard’s album chart. “Vanilla O’Lay,” released as a single during the summer of 1972, only got to #76 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Some people know “Vanilla O’Lay” from the cover recorded by Marianne Faithful for her 1976 country music album, Dreaming’ My Dreams. Her version is good, but Jackie’s is still the best.
