Aimee Mann on the West Wing
Published July 23rd, 2004 in Miscellany
If you want to be notified if I find this song, post a comment below. I will send an email to everyone who has posted here if and when the song is found. According to reader Cary Grant, Michael Lockwood, who produced the song, is unable to release it because he does not have permission from Aimee. Thanks for the update Cary.
Update 3/29/2006:
I watched the West Wing Episode College Kids tonight. For those of you who don’t know that I’m a WW fan, I am. In said episode, Aimee Mann covers James Taylor’s “Shed a Little Light”. It is beautiful. I want a copy, but am unable to find one. If anyone out there can help, I’d be much obliged.
The song begins with this:
Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King
And recognize that there are ties between us
and that is the most easily discernable part from the show, as most of it is obscured by dialog.
update:
I have noticed that this ranks very high on google for relevant searches. This episode has been airing on Bravo recently and I’ve been seeing hits. I don’t yet have a copy of the song, but I learned a little more here [pitch.com].
well david dear, you should have asked your resident james taylor enthusiast! i of course have a recording of this song. “oh let us turn our thoughts today to martin luther king, and recognize that there are ties between us - all men and women living on the earth, ties of hope and love. sister and brotherhood…” its on the first red james taylor cd in my cd folder under my tv. you know the one. :o)
big big love!
I’m sorry I wasn’t clear. I am looking for the Aimee Mann. The James Taylor is nice, but I prefer hers. Thanks and big love.
I too am looking for a recording of this song by Aimee Mann, not the James Taylor version. The episode “College Kids” re-aired tonight on Bravo and I was intrigued by the song. If you find it, please let me know where I can obtain a copy. Cheers.
Well, a google search for this was how I got here - thanks for the additional info :)
Hi, has anyone found out whether the Aimee Mann version of the song can be found anywhere on the web?
I’d appreciate an answer. J.P.
As far as I know this track has still not made its way into the public. If I ever find a copy I will certainly post information here. The closest I have come is to e-mail Michael Lockwood who produced the song. He did not return my e-mail.
I’ve traded emails with Lockwood– he has it– but he can’t release it without her permission.
Darn! I just saw the episode again and searched and searched for that song. Really good. Why would that keep that from the public? Wonderful version.
Let’s do an email blast to Aimee Mann and have her release the song! I need to have her version in my library!!!!
http://www.grabow.biz/Contemporary/AimeeMann.htm
I agree. The Aimee Mann song was amazing on the WW show. I need to have it.
I sent off an email to both Aimee Mann and that Lockwood fellow, hopefully it’ll do some good.
I’m guessing Cabooklover didn’t receive any response to his mails ….. but anyway, found a thread on Aimee’s website forum about this great tune - http://www.aimeemann.com/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=5768
Maybe if enough people express an interest, get a bit of momentum going, Aimee and her management might consider releasing the track!
I love Aimee Mann’s interpretation of “Shed a little light” and would be grateful if she would reconsider her position and release her version of James Taylor’s song. Many persons would buy a single or an album provided it contained this great interpretation of hers in the West Wing.
If you come across a copy of the song, please let me know. I’m a huge WW fan and loved the song the first time I heard it. Thanks.
Hey, I’m still loooking for the Aimee Mann version too. it’s FABULOUS!
I own all 7 seasons on DVD and have been rewatching. Long story short, i too love this song and would love for her to release her version of it.
A great track in a great show (bought the entire DVD set for Christmas). Though given the current State of affairs the WW also leaves me, at best, wistful, at worst, sad. Just like an Aimee Mann track really! Keep up the search.
I’ve gotten most of The West Wing DVDs (all except 2 seasons, can’t afford to buy them all at once), and was just rewatching this and, like for many others, this song stood out as mesmerising, so I googled, arrived here, and also would love to hear the entirety of this song as sung by Aimee Mann.
Me too, please! Can’t find this song anywhere - at least not the Aimee Mann version. If you find it, I’d love to know. Thanks!
I’d love to get this song too! It was the first time I grew an interest in Aimee Man, have a lot of her stuff now. Thanks.
This is like a support group. I absolutely love Aimee’s version of this song. Please, please, please, Aimee, please release this soon! Her voice of this song is unbelievable. And on my favortie show of all time….The West Wing.
I have been trying to find this song for years. If she ends up releasing it, I’d love to know! Thanks!
Please let me know if this track ever gets released.
Thanks!!!!
I’m here for the same reason as everyone else. I would love to have Aimee Mann’s version.
Having a copy of the song without dialogue over it or fading out would be amazing! I don’t know how likely it is to be released so long after being recorded but we can still hope!
I’d love to get this as a single as well. Just watched it on a West Wing DVD; tried finding it on i-Tunes and then google brought me here.
Me, too! I bought the whole cd for the James Taylor version. it’s nice, but not what I was looking for. I’d definitely buy anything with the Aimme Mann version - had never heard of her before the episode but have got to have this song!
I have been looking for this song (same as ya’ll - where would we be without Google) and am SOOOOO disappointed to find it is not released. What gives? People want to buy a song they love and what, the record company doesn’t want our money?
Oh the WW, these shows are just as timely for this election as they were when originally aired. Time has moved forward, but nothing has really changed - yet……
I’ve been looking for this song since the episode first aired on TV. If you find it please for the love of little apples let me know.
Watched this West Wing episode again (for about the 10th time) and I’m still entranced by Aimee Mann’s voice on this song, not to mention the beautiful song itself. C’mon Aimee, two years is a loooong time to hold out. Please release this song, or let someone else do it. The world needs it more than ever, and the world’s a better place when you’re singing it (or anything else, for that matter).
I saw the episde two days ago and since then I think I have watched that scene about five times. I didn’t know anything about Aimee Mann before I saw her on the WW and now I’m in love with her music. Her version was breathtaking and made the conversation between Josh and Amy so sexy. Seriously, she HAS to release this for the good of the universe!
Hi. I feel like I’m coming to the party a bit late, as this thread was started in 2004. I was rewatching old West Wing episodes and I have just become an Aimee Mann fan! If this gets released, please e-me too!
Cheers.
Just under 4 years after this thread was started, still no release. Would absolutely love to have this song. Releasing it would make alot of people very happy and grateful. Sighhhh, i fear it shall never be.
Add me to the list of people who desperately want a copy.
I want a copy too! Great song! Great show!
Still waiting on the day that this song gets released, add me too.
Until then replaying the scene over and over will have to suffice.
Let me know if you find it….