Back by popular demand, I present you with the next episode of the infamous "Cover My Ass" series. This one took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, so please enjoy...
"You Are Everything" ---
Carolyn Franklin (zShare)
"You Are Everything"---
Carolyn Franklin (savefile)
*Music written by
Thom Bell; lyrics by
Linda Creed*Recorded in Philadelphia at Sigma Sound, the track was first released by
The Stylistics on their self-titled LP in 1971. The tune would go on to become a Top Ten hit for the group.
Thom Bell had already been producing hit records for
The Delfonics, and the techniques he had perfected with them would also prove to be an essential component of
The Stylistics' success in Europe and the United States in the early '70s. The group eventually parted ways with
Bell in 1974.
*
Diana Ross and
Marvin Gaye released the first commercially significant cover version of the track that would follow the
Stylistics' success with the tune. The track was the final single released in the UK from their
Diana & Marvin LP, peaking at #5 on the British charts. The song was never released as a single in the U.S.
*Other artists who've recorded the tune include
Joe Simon,
Rod Stewart,
Hall & Oates,
Regina Belle,
Kim Carnes,
Maxine Nightingale,
Michael McDonald, and more.
*This particular version was released by
Carolyn Franklin in 1973 (RCA-Victor Apbo-022 - You Are Everything / If You Want Me).
"As Long As I've Got You (demo)"---
The Emotions (zShare)
"As Long As I've Got You (demo)"---
The Emotions (savefile)
*Written by
Isaac Hayes and
David Porter. This is one of the songs credited to
Ed Lee, a pseudonym
Hayes used for the first few months of his songwriting partnership with
David Porter to avoid complications resulting from a publishing contract he'd signed earlier in his career.
*The classic version by
The Charmels was the first to be released, having been issued as a single on Volt in 1967 (V-155 As Long As I've Got You/Baby Come Get It). The track would later be sought after by crate diggers galore, many of whom were interested in the record after
Wu-Tang Clan used a sample of it on their "C.R.E.A.M." single. The same
Charmels tune is also known to many as "Never Grow Old".
If you've never heard their take on the song, an
mp3 I posted of the track in May is still available.
*On two different occasions,
The Emotions were set to release an LP on Volt (a Stax subsidiary) that was intended to be called
Songs Of Innocence And Experience . The first time, the album's name was changed at the last minute to
Untouched (1971). The next time they planned on using the title, the entire release was cancelled. This appears to have been a last-minute decision, considering that Volt had already issued the LP a number (which was never reassigned, by the way).
Later, Fantasy issued many of the tracks from this lost album on the group's
Sunshine LP. Despite being a solid album, the LP's release was made possible without
The Emotions' endorsement. Fantasy, Inc. had purchased the Stax catalogue after the label went bankrupt, and had full access to the group's master recordings. After the group had enjoyed significant chart success with "Best Of My Love", Fantasy surmised that it would be an opportune time to issue some of their unreleased material.
Afterwards, many offerings from
The Emotions' arsenal of recordings still remained unreleased, until Ace Records in the UK issued a collection known as
Songs Of Innocence And Experience (2004). This LP allowed soul enthusiasts the opportunity enjoy every finished
Emotions track known to exist. Ace not only reissued the tracks from
Sunshine for the release, but also unearthed some other incredible gems, such as this essential demo rendition of "As Long As I've Got You".
"Feeling Good"---
The Mighty Bop (zShare)
"Feeling Good"---
The Mighty Bop (savefile)
*Written by
Anthony Newley and
Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 Broadway musical
The Roar Of the Greasepaint-the Smell Of the Crowd. In this production, the tune was originally sung by
Gilbert Price.
*Also known as "Feelin' Good", this tune has been covered by a wide variety of artists, including
Muse,
John Coltrane,
Billy Eckstine,
Traffic,
Sophie B. Hawkins,
Black Cat Bones,
Wax Tailor,
The Eels,
The Pussycat Dolls (shudder),
Huff & Herb,
Quantic Soul Orchestra, and
Michael Buble.
*Without question, one of the most well-known versions of this track was rendered by the almighty
Nina Simone on her
I Put A Spell On You LP.
Simone's rendition has been featured in a number of television shows, movies, and commercials. It actually reached #40 in the UK after being used in an advertising campaign for Volkswagen in 1994---sad, but true. Additionally,
Simone's take has been sampled on joints by artists such as
Mary J Blige,
Huff & Herb, and
Wax Tailor.
*This trip-hoppy, downtempo version by French turntablist
The Mighty Bop (aka
Christophe le Friant) remains a consistent favorite of mine. Further information about the Bopster can be found
here.
"And I Love Her"---
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (zShare)
"And I Love Her"---
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (savefile)
*Written by
John Lennon and
Paul McCartney; appeared on
The Beatles'
Hard Day's Night LP, but was first issued in the U.S. as a single with "If I Fell" in the summer of 1964 (US: Capitol 5235); varying edits of the track have been released in different parts of the world over the years.
*
McCartney wrote the majority of the tune by himself, claiming his girlfriend at the time (actress
Jane Asher) as the inspiration behind the tune.
*"And I Love Her" was one of the first pop songs with a title that started in mid-sentence.
*Covered by
Herb Alpert,
Chet Atkins,
Count Basie,
John Bayless,
Xavier Cugat,
Sonny Curtis,
Neil Diamond,
Alton Ellis,
Esteban,
Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers,
Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames,
Jose Feliciano,
The Friends Of Distinction,
Arthur Fiedler,
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass,
Connie Francis,
The Holmes Brothers,
Julio Iglesias,
Jack Jones,
King Curtis,
Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Diana Krall,
Ramsey Lewis,
Freddie McCoy,
Enoch Light,
Henry Mancini,
Barry Manilow,
Bob Marley and the Wailers,
David "Fathead" Newman,
Cliff Richard,
The Sandpipers,
Grady Tate,
Sarah Vaughan,
Bobby Womack,
Link Wray, etc.
Esther Phillips and
Mary Wells both put a slight gender twist on the tune, releasing their versions under the title "And I Love Him".
*
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles released their stunning rendition in 1970 on their
What Love Has...Joined Together LP (Motown).
"Jumpin' Jack Flash"---
Thelma Houston (zShare)
"Jumpin' Jack Flash"---
Thelma Houston (savefile)
*Written by
Mick Jagger and
Keith Richards; initially released as a 7" in 1968 (b/w "Child Of The Moon"). Although it was one of the songs they recorded during the
Beggars Banquet sessions, the track did not end up appearing on that particular LP. It's first appearance on a full-length
Stones album came a year later on
Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2).
*There are numerous accounts as to the song's origins. One of them (told by
Richards) is that
Jagger was once startled by a figure walking past the window of
Richards' home in the country. When
Jagger inquired as to what/who was outside,
Richards explained that it was his gardner, "jumpin' Jack" (
Jack Dyer).
Jagger has often noted that the track arose following a time period during which he had done quite a bit of LSD.
Bill Wyman claims that he wrote most of the music, and has often expressed that he was pissed off that he wasn't given any credit for his significant contribution.
Rumors perpetuated by the general population have implied that the song is about heroin, suicide, Jesus, being high on nitrous oxide, World War II, firecrackers, a mythical creature who molested women in the UK in the 1800s...the list goes on into infinity. You know a song has reached epic proportions when it inspires this many bizarre speculations.
*Other noteworthy covers of the track have been rendered by
Aretha Franklin, Peter Frampton, The Ventures, The Replacements, Johnny Winter,
The Four Tops,
Alex Chilton, and
Leon Russell.
Guns N' Roses also has a version that has been circulating around the internets for quite some time.
*
Thelma Houston will probably always be best known for her cover of
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "Don't Leave Me This Way", a track that appeared on her
Any Way You Like It LP (Motown, 1976). That said, my wayward ass has always had a certain fondness for her debut album,
Sunshower (Dunhill, 1969), which included her kick-ass rendition of "Jumpin' Jack Flash". It's a rather impressive record (produced by the highly talented
Jimmy Webb) that was widely acclaimed upon release, despite the fact that it failed to produce any hit singles for the vocalist. Fellow
Sunshower fans tend to agree that the commercial oversight was due to a lack of proper marketing efforts, as opposed to being relative to the quality of the material.
"Home Is Where The Hatred Is"---
Esther Phillips (zShare)
"Home Is Where The Hatred Is"---
Esther Phillips (savefile)
*Written by
Gil Scott-Heron, who released the first version of this tune on a double A-sided single (b/w "The Revoltion Will Not Be Televised") and on his
Pieces Of A Man LP (1971).
*Unlike all of the popular music that is merely rumored to be about drugs, this song is clearly a tale about struggling with heroin addiction...Sadly, the tune is autobiographical in nature, detailing the multi-talented
Heron's incessant war with drug abuse. As
Kalamu ya Salaam so eloquently phrased it: "How do you contain the contradiction of being an insightful, revolutionary artist and a habitual addict? If any one artist represents the post-civil rights journey of African Americans, it’s
Gil Scott-Heron."
Those of us who appreciate
Heron's essential contributions to poetry and music may also agree with another of
Salaam's sentiments: "Ultimately,
Gil is uplifting not because he is perfect, but rather because he is honest about his flaws, and in being so honest, he encourages us to be honest about our own contradictions."
*As to why
Phillips would choose to cover a song of this nature, those who have some awareness about her personal history understand that she also wrestled with addiction (mainly heroin).
Phillips' version of the song initially appeared on her
From A Whisper To A Scream LP (1972). She was nominated for a Grammy for the album, but predictably lost the award to the reigning Queen of Soul,
Aretha Franklin.
Franklin promptly presented the trophy to
Phillips, who she believed was more worthy of the distinction.
"House Of The Rising Sun"---
Miriam Makeba (zShare)
"House Of The Rising Sun"---
Miriam Makeba (MediaFire)
*Although there have been differing accounts as to the origins of this song, folklorist
Alan Lomax offered one of the most widely accepted theories as to its history. He reported that the tune's melody is from a traditional English ballad, and credited the well-known lyrics to
Georgia Turner and
Bert Martin. In truth, the song has evolved lyrically over time, and no single individual can be acknowledged as the author.
*There is just as much disagreement amongst musical scholars about the meaning behind the tune. Most people rely on the impression that the song is about a brothel. The lyrics clearly imply that the legendary house was in New Orleans, but a few different locations have been considered as having possibly provided the inspiration. One of the more prominent assertions states that the lyrics referenced a whorehouse that was open on St. Louis Street between 1862 and 1874. As legend has it, the madam's name was
Marianne LeSoleil Levant, which literally translates from French into "the rising sun".
However, not everyone agrees that the tune is about a house of prostitution. Other writers and historians have theorized that it may have been about a prison, the plantation, or a gambling hall. Others have stated that it's unlikely that the lyrics reference any actual physical structure at all, and take the meaning to be more metaphorical in nature than anything.
*This song has been covered by...just about everyone...at one time or another. Hell...even yo' mama recorded a version of this track back in the day. Shoot...she just never told your ass...
In keeping with the great debate over the song's history, not everyone agrees about who released the first recorded version of the tune. This distinction is often bestowed upon bluesman
Tex Alexander, who recorded a tune called "The Risin' Sun" in the late 1920s. The fact that his lyrics were quite different from the familiar version has confounded this notion to some extent. That fact alone doesn't necessarily deny its authenticity as the original, considering that the song's lyrics have often been modified by its performers. Even the title itself has frequently has been altered, with "The Rising Sun Blues", "Rounder's Luck" and "In New Orleans" being just a few of the known variations.
All discrepancies aside, it's commonly accepted that some of the earliest recorded renditions were offered by
Clarence Ashley,
Leadbelly,
The Callahan Brothers, and
Josh White. Although the song remained a somewhat consistent favorite amongst artists and musicians, coverage of the tune truly peaked in the 1960s.
Nina Simone,
Bob Dylan, The Supremes,
Johnny Hallyday,
Marianne Faithfull,
Tim Hardin, and
Herbie Mann are just a handful of the artists who covered the song during that particular decade.
The version that would make the tune an international hit was ultimately rendered by
The Animals. Released in 1964, the song gained quite a bit of popularity when the group performed it while touring with
Chuck Berry. The enthusiastic audience response led them to a decision to record the track, which was completed within about 15 minutes.
The band's organist/keyboardist,
Alan Price, is the only person credited with the song's arrangment, but the rest of the band has always argued that it was much more of a joint effort. According to everyone except maybe
Price, the group members were told that all of their names couldn't be listed for the arrangment credits on the 45 single. They surmised that the royalties could easily be sorted out later, which of course, did not turn out to be the case (no shit).
A combination between sudden success and arguments over finances led to quite a bit of internal turmoil and savage behavior amongst
The Animals. Approximately a year after "House Of The Rising Sun" became a hit,
Price parted ways with the rest of the band ('cause he was rich, bitch...). To this day, none of the other members have ever seen a penny of the publishing royalties.
*The facts and speculations that I've shared don't even begin to scratch the surface...believe me.
Ted Anthony released
an entire book about the history of the song in 2007. I've heard it's wonderful, but damn...even I'm not willing to dig
that deep...
*The lovely
Miriam Makeba released her sweet (yet incredibly haunting) version of the track on her self-titled American debut LP in 1960.
"Night Time (Is The Right Time)"---
Movin' Melvin Brown (zShare)
"Night Time (Is The Right Time)"---
Movin' Melvin Brown (MediaFire)
*Written and originally recorded by
Nappy Brown in 1954.
*The definitive version was released by
Ray Charles as a single in 1958, with vocal assistance provided by the lead singer of the
Raelettes,
Margie Hendricks.
*Although
Charles' rendition is quite famous, it didn't have the impact on the charts that one might expect. It peaked on the pop charts at #95, although it did reach the fifth spot on the R&B charts. His version of the tune enjoyed a brief resurgence in popular culture when the
Huxtable family lip-synched the song on an episode of "The Cosby Show".
*Other renditions have been performed (live and/or in the studio) by
James Brown,
Tina Turner,
Creedence Clearwater Revival,
Rufus and
Carla Thomas,
Alicia Keys,
The Rolling Stones, and more.
*The ultra-talented
Movin' Melvin Brown did one of my very favorite covers of the tune, available on his
Me, Ray Charles, And Sammy Davis, Jr. LP (2006).
"Like A Rolling Stone"---
Jimi Hendrix (zShare)
"Like A Rolling Stone"---
Jimi Hendrix (MediaFire)
*Written and originally recorded by
Bob Dylan. First issued as a 7" (b/w "Gates Of Eden") in July of 1965; released the following month on
Dylan's
Highway '61 Revisited LP.
*
Dylan first played this song live at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25, 1965. For quite some time he ended his shows with this wildly popular tune.
*There has been much speculation as to the subject of the song. Writers have opined that the song was about actress/model
Edie Sedgwick, fellow folkie
Joan Baez, and/or
Dylan himself. The title is said to have been inspired by a line in "Lost Highway" by
Hank Williams---"I'm a rolling stone, I'm alone and lost".
*Easily one of the greatest songs of all time, the tune has been covered by a wide array of artists.
Bob Marley & The Wailers,
Neil Young,
Rotary Connection,
The Four Seasons,
The Rolling Stones, and many others have recorded and/or performed the song over the years.
*
Dylan recorded another version in 1970 (for his
Self Portrait LP) with experienced session players in Nashville, Tennessee.
*
Greil Marcus wrote a book called
Like A Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan At The Crossroads (2005), which is a highly detailed "biography" of the tune.
*
Jimi Hendrix often performed this song live, most famously during the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. After listening to this, I think you'll agree that
Hendrix had an uncanny ability to plug into the emotional energy of the song.
"Lickin' Stick"---
Willie Dickson & The Playboys (zShare)
"Lickin' Stick"---
Willie Dickson & The Playboys (MediaFire)
*Written by
James Brown,
Bobby Byrd, and
Alfred Ellis; recorded in 1968.
Brown's original was called "Licking Stick-Licking Stick", and reached #2 on the R&B charts and #14 on the pop charts.
*This is a bit of an oddball choice for me, because if I may say so without getting a verbal beatdown, "Licking Stick" has never been one of my favorite
JB tunes. It's a great song in many ways, but for me, it somewhat pales in comparison to the Godfather's most ingenious material. I suppose it's just sort of a "fun song", but even that notion may be a little hard to swallow if your ass happens to be on the other end of papa's gigantic stick.
Be that as it may, this cover by
Willie Dickson & The Playboys has been on rotation at the crib for a while now, and quite honestly, it's grown on me immensely. The more I listen to it, the more absolutely brilliant it becomes.
Fortunately the track has been reissued and comped, because the Lanarc LP it originally appeared on (
REGGAE EXPOSED .... with island soul) may be a bit difficult for many diggers to acquire. This is one funky-ass groove that my peoples definitely deserve a chance to hear.
*A final thought...I know it's lightweight disrespectful to discuss this, but
Willie Dickson is a funny little name, don't ya think? Couple that with the fact that he's performing a song called "Licking Stick", and that may be one too many silly penis references for me to avoid the urge to chuckle. Good God y'all...my inner-child seriously needs to grow the fuck up...
Supplemental Materials:
Live version of
Esther Phillips performing her take on
The Beatles'
track "And I Love Her" (transformed into "And I Love Him"). Here, she's introduced with respectful enthusiasm by none other than
John Lennon:
Nina Simone's performance of "House Of The Rising Sun" (@ The Bitter End Cafe in 1968) gradually builds in intensity until it's certain that she should release you to pick your jaw up off of the floor. As an added bonus, she also performs "Go To Hell"...
Jimi's electrified performance of "Like A Rolling Stone" at Monterey:
Ass kicking. Astonishing. Borderline possessed. Creative
and destructive. This is the very essence of rock and roll, soul kids...
Bonus mp3s (zShare):
Yeah...I know. There must be quite a few of you who can't wait for me to get these
American Gangster remixes out of my system...apologies. What can I say? Every time I tell myself it's time to kick the habit, someone sends me an
AG remix project that simply can't be denied.
"Blue Magic (SoulKlap Remix)"---
Jay-ZThis is quite honestly the first "Blue Magic" remix I've come across that I think is truly dope...I mean
DOPE, soul children. I've actually played this joint more times than the original.
Not to be confused with
DJ Soul Clap from
WYDU, this
SoulKlap is one of the many talented beatsmiths/producers who regularly frequents
Souled On. Don't mistakenly assume that I'm biased either---this shit is downright chunky, kids.
"Say Hello (SoulKlap Remix)"---
Jay-Z
You may also want to check out
Klap's mix of "Say Hello", which features a sample of that
Pieces Of Piece track I posted a short time ago, "I Still Care"...
"American Dreamin' (SoulKlap Remix)"---
Jay-Z...or his take on "American Dreamin", which utilizes a sample of
Bobby Blue Bland's "Ask Me 'Bout Nothin' (But The Blues)".
"Roc Boys (J. Brookinz Remix)"---
Jay-Z
American Gangster '80s Style made me a bit nervous from the very beginning, and rightfully so in certain instances. This isn't one of them. This "Roc Boys" remix is worth the price of admission alone (I know the whole damn mixtape was free in the first place, dumbass...it's just an expression. Stop being so damn technical).
"Smokin' (Midimarc Remix)"---
NasAlot of people had good things to say about
Midimarc's "Pray" remix that I posted a short while ago. This joint appears on
The Day Things Got Ill mixtape, a collection of
Nasty Nas remixes/blends.
Word From Your Moms:
"I consider myself neither poet, composer, nor musician. These are merely tools used by sensitive men to carve out a piece of beauty or truth they hope may lead to peace and salvation."---
Gil Scott-Heron"There are three things I was born with in this world, and there are three things I will have until the day I die-hope, determination, and song."---
Miriam Makeba
