TED TAYLOR - (LOVE IS LIKE A) RAMBLIN' ROSE

Crazily, it seems Ted Taylor is but a footnote in music history, at least in the wikipedia world he is, a casual search and some nuclear weapons designer pops up but not the best falsetto in soul music! The best? If you don’t believe me, check out this tune, ‘(Love is Like A) Ramblin Rose’. Like most people (presumably) I first heard the cracking MC5 version after they proclaimed to ‘kick out the jams motherfucker’ and thought it was theirs, but then my friend played me the Ted Taylor version and I was blown away.

Seems Ted Taylor was quite the influence on the next generation of cool rock and rollers, he was also a member of The Cadets who did ‘Stranded in the Jungle’, covered by The New York Dolls. Anyway back to ‘(Love is Like A) Ramblin’ Rose’, it was co-written by Marijohn Wilkin who seemed like one cool lady, not only did she help out a young Kris Kristofferson, she also wrote Long Black Veil. As for Ted, tragically, he died in a car crash in Lake Charles in 1987. I have a few of his singles, including his biggest hit ‘Stay Away from My Baby’, but nothing comes close to this side. Have a listen...

TED TAYLOR - (LOVE IS LIKE A) RAMBLIN' ROSE

ROGER & THE GYPSIES - PASS THE HATCHET Parts 1 and 2

EDDIE BO 1930-2009
News in that the beloved R&B and funk king of New Orleans has passed away. Born Edwin Joseph Bocage, he was influenced by Professor Longhair and went on to pen and produce some of the best tunes the city had to offer, and that is a mighty tall order. He was so loved, one hip Mayor proclaimed May 22 in New Orleans, Eddie Bo day. Track down 'Check Your Bucket', 'Check Mr Popeye' and 'Hook and Sling'.

Here's a classic sung by Eddie with Roger & the Gypsies backing (not sure why EB didn't get a credit) called 'Pass the Hatchet Parts 1&2'. From his first declaration to 'pass out the hatchets, baby' to his insistence to 'let me chop it' to the final 'timber!' this tune is pure New Orleans funk, complete with rattlesnake maraccas, grunts, a pause, and some amazing playing.

Last year when I visited New Orleans, I missed one of his shows by a night, damn! With Snooks Eaglin and Ernie K-Doe's wife, Antoinette (and owner of Mother-in-Law Lounge) having passed away recently this is a sad time for New Orleans music. Buy Eddie's records here and more on Eddie here. Rest in peace Mr Bo.

Roger & the Gypsies - Pass the Hatchet Parts 1 & 2

EDDIE HINTON - DREAMER

Eddie Hinton was one of those crack behind-the-scenes players whose incredible talent largely went unrecognised. He wrote and played for Percy Sledge, Aretha, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Elvis to name a few. Those in the know rated him, including Bob Dylan and Jerry Wexler who said in a letter to Eddie's mother, 'He remains unique, a white boy who truly sang and played in the spirit of the great black soul artists he venerated. With Eddie, it wasn't imitation; it was totally created, with a fire and fury that was as real as Otis Redding's and Wilson Pickett's.'

He finally got some recognition after his death (in 1995) with the release of the great Dear Y'all compilation on Zane Records in 2000. It's also worth tracking down a copy of the Coleman-Hinton Project recorded at Muscle Shoals, his mum found the unreleased masters under his bed after he died.

Though he mostly wrote and played for others and his own singles are hard to find, here's one cut from 1969 that not only shows what a great player he was but also, what a voice, he could well be the best blue-eyed soul singer ever, what do you think? Have a listen...

EDDIE HINTON - DREAMER

LITTLE RICHARD - I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GOT BUT IT'S GOT ME

So, I’m reading Peter Guralnick’s Sweet Soul Music again and flicked to the selected discography. He calls this song (originally on Vee Jay label) arguably equal to James Carr’s Dark End of the Street as the greatest soul ballad of all time – which is a big call.

From 1965, Jimi Hendrix - then known as Maurice James - plays guitar (and was quoted to say a year later "I want to do with my guitar what Little Richard does with his voice") and Don Covay wrote it, so before you even hear it, you just know its going to be good.

I like it a lot, Little Richard is direct, sometimes blunt, the line about ‘you’re not very much to look at’ kinda cuts into the sentiment a bit, but 'the creator, the originator' of rock n’ roll's mid-60s crossover into soul is my favourite Little Richard period.

Saw Richard Penniman play in Las Vegas once with Chuck Berry, but he didn’t play this song, bummer. We sat next to a drunken woman from the Midwest, who, after explaining to her that we were from Australia, slurred, ‘So, you came all the way from Wales to see Chubby Checker?’

No, and no!

Funny. Chuck and Little Richard were awesome though.

Anyway have a listen...

Little Richard - I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me

PERCY SLEDGE - KIND WOMAN

Sometimes it takes a gentle reminder to realise how a singer and band can make a good song sound incredible.

I was in an antique store recently and the lady behind the counter was playing Buffalo Springfield's Kind Woman. It was good browsing music, Richie Furay's voice breaking when he sings 'Kind Woman, don't leave me lonely tonight' could well be his finest moment BUT then I remembered I had Percy Sledge's version at home on 45.

Listening to Percy's take on the song made me re-realise how much feeling this man could put into a tune. True, he was the singer of one of the most played songs ever (especially around Valentine's Day) and I've probably dug his other songs more -- like True Love Travels on a Gravel Road and Out of Left Field, so it was a nice surprise to rediscover the brilliance of Kind Woman, listen to those horns, piano and drums as well. Thanks Antique Shop lady!

Listen and compare the songs below...

Kind Woman - Percy Sledge


Kind Woman - Buffalo Springfield

BOBBY BLAND - AIN'T NOTHING YOU CAN DO

B.O.Bee-Bee.Y

Simutaneously and seemingly effortlessly parlaying regret and late-night-speakeasy desire, Bobby Bland's trademark gutteral gargle was straight from the church -- influenced by Aretha's father Rev C.L Franklin. He called it 'the squall'.

Bobby did many sides for Duke, this tune, released in 1964 was his highest charter but to me, the best album is Two Steps From the Blues from 1961 -- incredible cover art too, he is literally standing at the foot of two steps, the album title kinda sums up where he was at too -- not quite straight blues, horn-driven but not quite straight soul, something in-between.

There's a Memphis walk of fame music note in the footpath dedicated to him on Beale Street right near Furry Lewis's, but before you tread that well-worn path to pay respect, try and go see him play, though a little weathered, 'the squall' is still intact. I saw him play in London once with Irma Thomas. Amazing!

Bobby Bland - Ain't Nothing You Can Do

CANDI STATON - IT'S NOT LOVE (BUT IT'S NOT BAD)

I can't believe that this song didn't make it onto the otherwise great compilation of Candi Staton's FAME recordings that came out a few years ago. Have a listen, it's amazing -- this tune, originally by Merle Haggard is so passionate you can just feel that Candi's marriage to Clarence Carter wasn't going so well.

The sound on this record is incredible, Candi says Rick Hall of Muscle Shoal FAME records, 'made me sing songs over and over and over again. He wanted to get that hoarseness in my voice.'

Candi was always one to better the popular version. According to my mate Tim Tooher, her interpretation of In The Ghetto prompted Elvis to send a letter expressing his admiration.


Candi since went back to gospel singing but has another secular album coming out, check it out here.


Candi Staton - It's Not Love (but it's not bad)

MOMS MABLEY - ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN

As a comedian, Moms Mabley seemed an unlikely candidate to sing this song first made famous by Dion in 1968. Written by Dick Holler in response to the deaths of Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy that same year (the Abraham, of course, refers to Lincoln, the John to JFK) Marvin Gaye had a go at it as did Smokey Robinson & the Miracles but for my money, this is the definitive version.
Billed as 'the funniest woman in the world' Moms Mabley played the 'chitlin circuit' from the 1930s and ended up doing Carnegie Hall by the 1960s.

She used her stage persona to champion civil rights, so this single really isn't a stretch, see if you can listen without getting a little choked up. I only have the 45, but would like the album just to hear her version of The Isley Brothers' It's Your Thing! If you see one of her records, buy it! Moms died at the age of 81 in 1975. Read more on Moms Mabley here.


Moms Mabley - Abraham, Martin and John

Ernie K-Doe Appreciation

listen/download Mother-in-Law by Ernie K-Doe

To get into the Mother-in-Law Lounge in New Orleans, you have to be buzzed in. I pushed the button even though it looked dark inside, it was a Monday night after all.

‘Are you open?’ I enquired

‘No I’m Antoinette’ came the response.

Ernie’s wife and loyal guardian of all things K-Doe opened the door, plugged in the jukebox and cooked up some franks. We bought beers and wandered the small room. In the corner sits a mannequin of Ernie K-Doe, born Ernest Kador, a flamboyant R'n'B singer who was born, bred and died in New Orleans. The cracks are beginning to show in Ernie K Doe’s face. He died in 2001 and had a well-deserved send off fit for a king with a traditional jazz funeral, after all he was the self-proclaimed 'emperor of the universe'. He's since run for mayor and toured, in his fibreglass mannequin form.

Here's a choice slice of K-Doe, true he made (some) money off his ‘mother-in-law’ (the song went to No.1 in the US in 1961) but Antoinette will tell you, he and his MIL were tight. Well it wasn’t actually his song, it was Allen Toussaint’s, the man behind the Minit label and the musical genius of New Orleans – The Meters and Lee Dorsey, to name just a few, have him to thank for their careers.

Always the king of self-promotion, one of K-Doe's catchphrases was the self-addressed 'you just good, that's all!' I'd say that's an understatement, Ernie K-Doe is brilliant!

Buy some K-Doe music here.