Old School Music Lover » Decade

“Do The Funky Chicken” Performed by Rufus Thomas (1970)

SonDan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:01:21 +0000

#5 R&B, #28 Pop

Earlier this summer Philadephia celebrated the 50th anniversary of the sixties dance craze “The Twist.” The Twist was a worldwide phenomenon that was danced by young, old and in between!

With that in mind there is a new month on the calendar and a new musical post theme here at OSML … “Dance To The Music” with the operative word being DANCE!

There were so many dances in the sixties and very early seventies other than the Twist, and I am not sure which came first, the dances or the songs (LOL). But we shall take a look at some of these awesome hit tunes honoring the dances of the boomer era during the month of September here at OSML.

I shall begin with another Stax artist that was beloved by one and all — Mr. Rufus Thomas.

Thomas began creating his own dances and songs in 1963 with “Walking The Dog.” He also made up dances and songs for: “The Breakdown”, “The Push & Pull”, “The Funky Penguin” and my favorite to watch performed “The Funky Chicken”.

I bet Mr. Thomas was quite a hoot in person and that his daughter Carla has super fond memories of this composer , musician, and performer that she was lucky enough to call Dad.

Prior to being the Crown Prince of Rock & Soul, Thomas was a successful Memphis DJ at one of the few black-owned stations of the era.

Here is a partial video of Thomas performing “Do The Funky Chicken” on a TV program. It is followed by a complete live performance of the song. Enjoy dancing to the music.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e9uk0fMNow

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDbXu_X_I7c

Musically Yours,

“Mr. Big Stuff” Performed By Jean Knight (1971)

SonDan — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:00:37 +0000

#1 R&B, #2 Pop

Almost every wedding reception I have ever been to plays three songs that get the entire crowd up to dance. Those songs would of course be Marcia Griffin’s “Electric Slide,” Betty Wright’s ” Clean-Up Woman” and of course Jean Knight’s “Mr. Big Stuff.”

“Mr. Big Stuff” was one of the largest selling singles to ever come out of the Stax label and yet it was rejected by the Stax “suits” before it was finally accepted for release. Once management came to their senses and released the song, it sat at the top of the R&B charts for 5 weeks! It also stayed on the Pop charts at #2 for two weeks.

“Mr. Big Stuff” was composed by Joseph Broussard, Carrol Washington, Carol Washington and Ralph Williams. It was to be Knight’s only top ten hit.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRweLRiLchI

In October 2007 Knight, born Jean Calista, was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. This video is of her performance at the induction ceremony.

Check out these additional live performances of “Mr Big Stuff” at OSML’s sister site EOINA.

Musically Yours,

“I’ve Been Lonely For So Long” Performed By Frederick Knight (1972)

SonDan — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:59:08 +0000

#8 R&B USA, #27 Pop USA, #22 UK

Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, singer-songwriter Frederick Knight was with a few other record labels before he came to Stax.

“I’ve Been Lonely For So Long” was his first of two hit singles while with the Stax label. Composed by Knight and Weaver, the song also appeared on Knight’s Stax Album of the same name. Released in 1973, the LP charted #58 in 1974.

TRIVIA: Frederick Knight’s “I’ve Been Lonely For So Long” LP contained a cover of “Someday We’ll Be Together,” the one and the same Johnny Bristol, Jackey Beavers and Harvey Fuqua penned song, that was the last Supremes 1969 hit recorded by Diana Ross.

After a second hit, Stax folded and Knight started his own record label Juana Records, where singer Anita Bell had a 1979 #1 Pop and R&B hit with the Knight penned song “Ring My Bell” here in the USA and across the pond in the UK.

Musically Yours,

“I Can’t Stop” Performed by William Bell & Carla Thomas (1968)

SonDan — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:39 +0000

#106 Pop

You may remember Carla for her 1967 chart topping duet (#2 R&B, #26 Pop) with Otis Redding, “Tramp,” but she was also William Bell’s third duet partner.

“I Can’t Stop,” composed by Carla and William Bell, is another track from the 1968 William Bell “Duets” LP.

In 1969, the song also appeared on another Stax album of duets that included all of the Stax Artists. The LP, “Boy Meets Girl,” did not do very well on the charts.

I came to know the songs when the LP was re-released by Stax in 2009 as “Classic Soul Duets: Boy Meets Girl.”

If you haven’t heard the set I highly recommend it: real soul music at its best!

Musically Yours,

“Strung Out” Performed by William Bell & Mavis Staples (1968)

SonDan — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:00:20 +0000

William Bell, like Motown’s Marvin Gaye, had more than one duet partner while at Stax: Judy Clay was his first. But after she went back to Atlantic Records there were other partners.

The LP pictured above, “William Bell Duets,” was released in 1968 and included “Strung Out” along with all of the duet projects Bell had recorded in the Sixties with female artists at Stax.

The Staple Singers family group had been with five labels before signing with Stax Records in 1968. The group was made of three sisters (Mavis, Cleotha and Yvonne), their brother Pervis, and the father of them all — Roebuck “Pops” Staples. The group had great success with Stax on hits led by sister Mavis with her powerful, soulful voice.

Two Mavis and William duets from the LP were released as a single in 1969. “Love’s Sweet Sensation” was backed with “Strung Out.” Neither were hits, but I wanted to share with you this sweet soul ballad.

“Private Number” Performed By William Bell & Judy Clay (1968)

SonDan — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:28 +0000

#17 R&B USA, #75 Pop USA, #8 UK

This is one of the classic oldies that I had completely forgotten about until I heard it playing on Sirius Satellite Radio “Soul Town” a few years ago. As soon as I heard it I was taken back to another era: I recalled every lyric and the carefree feeling of being a teenager, trying to be grown and in puppy love sharing your phone number with that special boy.

I have listened to it many times since I heard it playing in the car during my morning commute that day, and I wanted to share it with you here, so that you will all be reminded that Motown’s Marvin & Tammi didn’t have a complete lock on the soulful pop love ballad genre in the Sixties!

Bell and Booker T. Jones wrote this song for Otis Redding: unfortunately he passed on before the scheduled recording session.

William Bell had a respectable solo artist and writing career at Stax, but Judy Clay basically is remembered for this duet with Bell and the followup “My Baby Specializes.”

Judy Clay started her musical career with the gospel oriented Drinkard Singers that later became know as the secular Sweet Inspirations.

Before dueting with Bell, Clay recorded duets with writer/singer Billy Vera, whom she also dueted with again after leaving Stax for Atlantic records.

Read more about Miss Clay at Spectropop Presents Judy Clay Specializes by Mick Patrick.

Musically Yours,

“I Forgot To Be Your Lover” Performed by William Bell (1968)

SonDan — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:00:24 +0000

#10 R&B, #45 Pop, #31 UK

Composed by singer songwriter William Bell and musician Booker T. Jones, this classic soul ballad had been covered and sampled over and over again by artists from many different genres: reggae, pop, hip hop and back to soul. But of course the original is the best IMHO. And here it is for those of you who only know one of those many covers and not the classic original.

Jamaican singer George Faith remade the song in 1977 as “To Be a Lover (Have Some Mercy)”.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnvzL-s6s-M

Here is a remake into a U.S. Top 10 pop hit by Billy Idol in 1986 as “To Be a Lover.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mEbczpvLIs

The song is sampled by Ludacris on his song “Growing Pains” from “Word of Mouf” in 2001.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSwkNQFxOH8

Last, but not least, Jaheim sings “Put That Woman First” from 2002′s “Still Ghetto” and brought the song back fill circle to it’s soulful roots.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs8RGLTEtow

I would love to hear what you think of all of the covers in relation to original.

Were you familiar with the original? Had you heard any or all of these hit covers?

“I Forgot To Be Your Lover” has also been covered by other artists, including but not limited to, Chuck Strong, The Mad Lads, Tommy Tate and Robert Tillman. Do you know any of those covers?

Please drop a comment to share your thoughts.

Musically Yours,

“A Tribute To A King” Performed By William Bell (1968)

SonDan — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:37 +0000

#16 R&B USA, #86 Pop USA, #31 U.K.

When preparing for this month’s post I came across this song that I hadn’t heard in a few decades! I had digitized it a while back to my hard drive and forgot all about it since for some reason it never got transferred to any of my music players.

But that changed today because I am putting it on a player as soon as I upload this post.

Long before Motown’s Commodores wrote and released “Night Shift” in 1985 to honor musicians who had passed on — William Bell and Booker T. Jones composed this dynamite tribute to the passing of his labelmate Otis Redding — “The King of Soul”.

William Bell joined Stax as a staff writer in 1961 and also had the label’s first big hit “You Don’t Miss Your Water”. Unfortunately his music career was then delayed serving two years in Armed Forces, but “A Tribute To A King” was one of his first hits upon his return to civilian life and Stax.

Listen to the song. It speaks for itself and the talent of one Mr William Yarborough (Bell’s birth Name) and the one and only Otis Redding.

“A Tribute To A King” Composed By William Bell & Booker T. Jones

Listen, people, listen
I`m gonna sing you a song
About a man who lived good
But didn’t live too long

He was born in Macon, Georgia
A poor boy without a dime
He found his way to Memphis
Singing These Arms Of Mine

(CHORUS)
Otis, Otis Redding was his name
Without his soulful singing
This old world won`t be the same

Now he traveled on to Frisco
New York and abroad
Everywhere he sang
The people would applaud

One day he left Georgia
Wisconsin bound
But he didn`t get to sing that night
The plane he was in went down

(CHORUS)

He was a soul music singer
The king of the Memphis sound
It makes me feel so sad
Cause now he ain`t around

He died with his guitar
Close to his hands
But his soul lives on today
In the heart of a million fans

Talking about
(CHORUS)

Otis, Otis Redding was his name
His picture oughta be hung
In the music hall of fame

Otis, he was known as Big O
Otis, we gonna miss him so
Otis, ooh, yeah,
We gonna miss him so

Lyrics & Photo Source: Top40db.com.

Musically Yours,

“Try A Little Tenderness” Performed by Otis Redding (1966)

SonDan — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:00:47 +0000

Once again I had to go with another Stax classic from the “King of Soul” — “Try A Little Tenderness.” Many have covered it but no one can replicate Otis’ rendition.

“Try a Little Tenderness” appeared on this last LP issued , “Live In Europe,” that Otis got to see released durng his lifetime. It was recorded during the final Stax/Volt tour. It charted #8 R&B and #32 Pop.

This song is in a three-way tie with “Dock of the Bay” and “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” as my most favorite Otis Redding single. Umm make that four way tie — I almost forgot “The Happy Song (Dum Dum).”

Of course as a youngster I knew of Otis, even earlier than these songs, from my Dad’s music collection — in particular 1962′s “These Arms of Mine” that was played over and over quite often by my Dad. The 8 year old me just ate it up: I loved the sound of Otis Redding. So you see I literally grew up on Otis’ music and his death was a true stunner for me.

I wonder if the folks at Monterey Pop Festival had even a tiny clue that they were being blessed to see and hear Otis and the Barkays perform. I only wish I had been lucky enough to witness this live.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX2vcxO-0_8

And here is one more clip of “The King” performing “Tenderness” live so that you can enjoy the complete visual of his singing it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvMxaDZfA9Y

Trivia: I bet you didn’t know that this song was one of many cover versions of an awesome love song that was first recorded on December 8, 1932 by the Ray Noble Orchestra with vocals by Val Rosing according to this WIKI.

The QOS covered “Tenderness” in 1962, but IMHO her watered down version doesn’t hold a candle to the King’s. Like I said above — no one can ever replicate Otis’ rendition of “Tenderness” that was arranged and produced by Isaac Hayes. It is truly remarkable how the genius that was Isaac Hayes could listen to the original (provided for you above) and created something so soulful and deep. And OMG those horns are just tremendous! Don’t you think?

I’d love to hear your opinion in the comment section. Do you think any version of “Tenderness” out there is better than Mr. Redding’s version? What do you say?

Musically Yours,

“Respect” Performed by Otis Redding (1965) and Aretha Franklin (1967)

SonDan — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:00:56 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo3aeXZFZkg

#4 R&B , #35 Pop

Otis created the song “Respect” as he recorded it for what was his third LP “Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul”. This was just one of the many hits on this classic 1965 set that went #1 R&B the year of release and reached #75 on the Billboard Top 200 in 1966.

This month is all about Stax — Great Wax from Stax! But Stax music, like Motown music, became a part of the music culture and I would be remiss if I did not mention, as you all know, that Aretha went on to cover this song and it would become one of her trademark cuts.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o1Bg7yBxQo

#1 R&B, #1 Pop

Turnabout is fair play and the smash “Otis Blue” set includes the cover Otis made of The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction,” which became one of Redding’s trademark performances as well. Check out this awesome live performance on the OSML sister blog EOINA.

You may read a bit more about Aretha’s cover version in this earlier post here at OSML and listen to Aretha”s Studio version.

Now which performer do you think rocked “Respect” the best in the Sixties? Share your thoughts in a comment below.

Musically Yours,