Doug: How about a discussion on some of that sweet, sweet soul music? Man, lately I've been digging the Temptations' Ball of Confusion and Cloud Nine, some Sam Cooke, and for my money you can't beat the Otis Redding version of Hard to Handle. Curtis Mayfield's Freddie's Dead has also graced the iTouch recently.And how about the influence of soul and R&B as it spread outward? In the past we've mentioned Rod Stewart's version of (I Know) I'm Losing You (hey, Rare Earth did that one A-OK too), and Karen is always loving on the Rolling Stones.
So let's hear it -- who do you like, discuss the influence of various artists, love on Motown for awhile, whatever you got today. And thanks in advance!
While not technically Motown, Booker T and the MGs have been getting a LOT of airplay on my desktop both at work and home.
ReplyDeleteI did a gig once with a bunch of cool guys, the sets were alright, but the best part was just the impromptu jam of 'Green Onions' at the end. You really got the sense that we fused together better than the entire evening, totally spur of the moment jam. The organ was smokin'..
Love Otis and all the Motown stable of artists. Production-wise, it caused Lennon and McCartney in '65 to insist on better/cleaner production sound out of EMI, pushing the bass up more on their records to emulate the Motown sound.
In many ways this propelled studio bass playing into more prominence creatively, no longer being just "that guy" standing next to the drummer in the back..
Let me second the love for Booker T and the MGs. They headlined a blues festival in Annapolis, Maryland in 2006 and were simply awesome. For an hour it was like listening to God's own opening act.
ReplyDeleteThe show ended with the band's guitarist Steve Cropper singing "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" (which he co-wrote with Otis Redding) as the sun set on the Chesapeake Bay behind him. It was perfect.
A few years later I actually met Cropper on - of all places - Capitol Hill. (He was there testify before a committee on copyright protection.)
I introduced myself and told him about the concert. He couldn't have been nicer. When I told him I had taken pictures of the performance his eyes lit up and he gave me his personal email address asked me to send the pics along to him.
Of course I did and he thanked me in response, adding that he forgotten that he was wearing a particularly, umm, colorful Hawaiian shirt that day.
Love me some Booker T as well. "Green Onions" is one of the coolest, greasiest tracks ever. Those Memphis guys knew what they were doing. Still do.
ReplyDeleteI like almost all of them....Otis Redding, Aretha, Otis Clay, O.V. Wright, Al Green, Syl Johnson, James Carr, Sam & Dave, etc......just too many to name.
Darpy
You mentioned Sam Cooke, Doug. His version of "A Change is Gonna Come" still gives me chills. What a voice; what a song.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, a recommendation for anyone who enjoys good blues and soul: Memphis. My wife and I spent a few days there last year and loved it; the Rock and Soul Museum was a treat indeed.