Monday, February 20, 2023

Chuck Jackson RIP

Yet another soul star has died, this time Chuck Jackson who can lay claim to be among the very first genuine soul singers. He was 85. Born in North Carolina, Chuck was a member of the Del-Vikings and sang lead on their 1957 release 'Willette'. He was signed by Luther Dixon to his Wand label and had success with his first solo single, 'I Don't Want To Cry'. Other bigger hits followed, including 'Any Day Now', composed by Burt Bacharach, and 'I Keep Forgettin'', written by Leiber and Stoller. Other successes included 'The Breaking Point' (another Bacharach song), 'Tell Him I'm Not Home' and 'Something You Got', one of several duets with Maxine Brown which led to a joint album. Chuck signed for Motown - a move he later regretted - and had some success with 'Girls Girls Girls' and 'Honey Come Back' and went on to record for ABC and All Platinum. Sadly I never got to see Chuck perform live - another great who got away. RIP Chuck.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Huey 'Piano' Smith' RIP

The bad news just keeps on coming. The man behind some of the most joyous rock and roll to emanate from New Orleans, or indeed anywhere, Huey 'Piano' Smith has died at the age of 89. Huey grew up in the Garden District near the Dew Drop Inn and learned to play piano by watching a neighbour play eight bar blues and his uncle playing Leroy Carr's 'How Long'. He became a regular performer at the Dew Drop in the early fifties alongside his musical partner Eddie 'Guitar Slim' Jones and backed many of the big names who would play there on a regular basis, including Smiley Lewis, Earl King and Shirley and Lee. He was also a session player at Cosimo's studio on tracks by many artists, including Lloyd Price, Little Richard, Charles Brown and Amos Milburn. Huey was signed to Johnny Vincent's Jackson based Ace label. Huey organised a a vocal group, the Clowns, to complement his own vocals, including Bobby Marchan, Junior Gordon and Roland Cook, and that group was responsible for their first big hit 'Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu.' The line up of the Clowns changed often and other members included Gerri Hall, Billy Roosevelt and John 'Scarface' Williams. Huey's biggest hit was of course the outstanding double sider 'Don't You Just Know It' and 'High Blood Pressure' which reached the national top ten. He recorded the original version of 'Sea Cruise' with Gerri Hall but Johnny Vincent replaced Gerri's vocals with those of Frankie Ford as he believed that the white teenager had more sales appeal - a move that allegedly broke Huey's heart. Huey left Ace in 1960 and after a short spell with Imperial gathered together some new Clowns, including Jimmy Williams, Curley Moore abd Benny Spellman. Using an old instrumental track the group came up with a new dance craze record 'The Popeye'and Huey attempted to keep up with new styles with records on Instant by the Pitter Pats and the Hueys. Huey played at Jazzfest in the seventies and early eighties but gave up the music business when he became a Jehovah's Witness and moved to Baton Rouge in the early eighties. Sadly I never got to see him play live although he did play once more at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneers Gala in New York in 2000. Despite that, Huey was and always will be one of the true originators of rock and roll. His songs have been covered widely by everyone from Bruce Springsteen, to Tom Jones, Paul Simon, Jerry Lee Lewis and the Grateful Dead. Allen Toussaint once said 'He had the perfect touch for what he was doing', and on his inmpact on other New Orleans pianists Dr John said 'It's a lot of him in all of them. Huey is a major part of the whole thing'. RIP Huey.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Spencer Wiggins RIP

Very sad to hear of the death of Spencer Wiggins at the age of 81. Spencer was one of very best deep soul singers and made a huge impression whenever I saw him. He was a gentle man but commanded the stage like few others can do. Born in Memphis he lived in the same neighbourhood as James Carr and Bobby Bland. He formed a gospel grouo with his brother Percy and sister Maxine before joining an R and B group, the Four Stars, with Percy and David Porter. Discovered by Quinton Claunch, Spencer recorded a string of excellent singles for Goldwax, including 'Lover's Crime', (on the Bandstand USA label), 'Old Friend', 'Up Tight Good Woman', 'Lonely Man', 'That's How Much I Love You', 'Soul City USA' and 'He's Too Old'. When Goldwax folded in 1969 he went on to record a couple of singles for Fame, including the upbeat 'Double Lovin'. Some of his later material was picked up on the Northern soul scene, including 'Let's Talk It Over'. Back in the 80s there was a dearth of Spencer Wiggins material available in the UK until the release of the Japanese 'Soul City USA' compilation in 1987, a copy of which I picked up on my first New Orleans trip. But it looked like we would never get to see him perform live. Graziano tried to get him to performa at Porretta in 1999 but was told that he only sings gospel and not anything secular. By this time he had been running a Baptist church in Florida for many years.Things were to change ten years later. Brother Percy began singing with the Bo-Kays, including at the 2008 Ponderosa Stomp, and miraculously Spencer agreed to go to Porretta with his brother and sing his old material. He went down a storm. I wrote: 'It was the turn of Percy's brother, Spencer Wiggins, to show us that 40 or more years after his amazing Goldwax recordings he still has the voice and charisma to match just about everyone who has ever recorded in the southern soul field, even label mate James Carr. His dramatic version of 'Uptight Good Woman', with numerous false endings, was stupendous, as was 'Old Friend' and several other Goldwax tracks, and he stayed true to his religious principles by finishing with a couple of gospel numbers. Spencer was worth the admission price alone - an absolute star. I included this show in my top 30 'spine tingling' moments, published on November 28, 2020. The brothers returned to Porretta two years later and Spencer was equally effective. This time I wrote : 'Next on was the great Spencer Wiggins, Goldwax recording great and the star of Porretta 2009, who oozed soul as he performed 'Lonely Man', 'That's How Much I Love You', 'Love Attack' and a sensational version of 'Uptight Good Woman' who umpteen dramatic false endings. His vocal range is amazing, with deep growling soul suddenly soaring into brilliant falsetto. He was joined on stage by brother Percy and together they did excellent versions of Sam and Dave's 'When Something Is Wrong With My Baby' and 'Hold On I'm Coming'. Great stuff.'
In 2013 they appeared at the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans and returned to Porretta in 2018 where Spencer looked decidedly frail. In between they made what must have been one of the most unexpected trips of their career - the UK, where they appeared at the 100 Club together, as well as I think the Hole in Wall in Manchester and at least one other location. It was a great show - not dynamic as Spencer was already showing his age, but proving that you can hold an audience just with the brilliance of vocals. Here was what I wrote on that occasion. 'After a break it was the turn of older brother Spencer Wiggins to take the stage. Wearing a broad check suit and looking well, his face was sombre and unsmiling - not once did he even hint at a grin. His voice, though, was magical as he tackled some of his wonderful Goldwax sides recorded under the guidance of Quinton Claunch. The enigmatic 'Lonely Man' was followed by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham's 'Up Tight Good Woman'. At Porretta, where Spencer has performed on a couple of occasions, along with his brother, he has been known to climax the song with up to ten false endings - 'Downright, Uptight Good Woman'. This time he contented himself with just five, but the effect was still sensational. Next up was the B side of his first recording, the upbeat 'What Do You Think About My Baby', which he followed with one of his most intense and powerful soul ballads, 'Old Friend'. The serious face and the concentration he focused on the song reminded me of the performance by his label mate James Carr at Blackheath back in the nineties. Just mesmerising. He followed with another song about age - 'He's Too Old', but upped the tempo with his next song, 'The Kind Of Woman's Who's Got No Heart'. Spencer finished off his solo set with B B King's 'Sweet Sixteen' and an excellent version of 'The Breaking Point', a Tyrone Davis influenced song he recorded for Fame. Spencer was then joined on stage by brother Percy as the band left them to sing James Carr's 'Dark End Of The Street' to a backing track. Another spine tingling moment I thought as their voices harmonised perfectly. Percy said he was glad to be here in the UK for a fourth time (having appeared at Northern soul festivals in the past). Spencer said that he was just glad to be here at all. Finally, the band returned to the stage and the pair sang 'Double Lovin', a song which Spencer recorded for Fame in 1970 and which was used in a Citi Bank TV commercial. That was it, but it was a fine end to a double set which reached the heights at times and which was much appreciated by the fair sized audience. RIP Spencer - you will me missed. Top photo of me with Percy and Spencer was taken at Porretta in 2009. Middle picture is at Porretta 2011. The one below is at the Ponderosa Stomp in 2013.
This one is me with Percy, Spencer and Ernie Johnson at Porretta, 2018.
Finally, despite the many much deserved tributes to composer BUrt Bacharach, I cannot let his death pass The Vinyl Word by without a mention So here are my top ten Bacharach songs off the top of my head: 'The Story Of MY Life' - Marty Robbins, 'Magic Moments' - Perry Como, 'Crazy Times' - Gene Vincent', 'Please Stay - The Drifters', 'Tower of Strength' - Gene McDaniels, 'Baby It's You' the Shirelles, 'Any Day Now' - Chuck Jackson, 'Liberty Valance' - Gene Pitney, 'I Just Don't Know What To With Myself' - Tommy Hunt, 'Take It Easy On Your Self' - Jerry Butler. 'Don't Make Me Over - Dionne Warwick, 'Always Someone There To Remind Me - Lou Johnson... oh and so many others too numerous to netion. RIP Burt

Tuesday, February 07, 2023

Rockin' Race - Part 2

Rockin' Race is over and I am now back in a frosty UK. There is no doubt that the highlights for me were Les Greene (pictured above with Deke Dickerson), a very convincing Little Richard type act on the first night, and Bobby Brooks Wilson (pictured below), whose showmanship was second to none on night two. Overall, however, it was Deke Dickerson who was the star of the festival as he backed many of the best acts at different times, adding real class to their performances with his faultless guitar work. He also did a superb solo set of surf, hillbilly and rock and roll at the car show on Saturday afternoon, with Bobby Trimble on drums, supported at various times by the Velvet Candles, ace guitarist Joel Paterson and his old partner Dave Stuckey. Saturday evening at the Auditorium featured German hillbilly singer Marcel Bontempi and Texas rockabilly band the Modern Don Juans. Both were enjoyable without setting the place on fire, as were Italian bluegrass band the Truffle Valley Boys. They were quirky and amusing, but definitely not rock and roll. Neither were The Lucky Stars, a western swing band who failed to excite and persuaded me to leave early, meaning I missed the Delta Bombers (who were on at 2.30am for God's sake). Sunday featured some more music at the Car Show by the Hightone Rhythm Ramblers and the Mad Martin Trio and a couple of interesting bands by the pool in the evening: Spanish rockabilly oufit the Kabooms, and GOONS!, an over the top punk band from Austin dressed in prisoner T shirts and wearing eye masks.
This is Deke Dickerson during his solo show, with Joel Paterson.
Here are some acts from the first day of the festival: Whistle Bait, the Boot Heel Playboys, Rockin' Bonnie Western Bound Combo and the Hi-Jivers.
From Friday's show, here is the Roy Orbison styled Marcel Riesco.
This is German band Smokestack Lightning.
Here are doowop group the Velvet Candles, who backed Marcel and Bobby Brooks Wilson.
This is Californian singer and Mayor of Porta Costa, CA, Mitch Polzac, a character in every sense.
From the Saturday show, here is Marcel Bontempi, the Modern Don Juans, the Truffle Valley Boys and the Lucky Stars.
Finally from Sunday here are the Kabooms and GOONS!

Saturday, February 04, 2023

Rockin' Race days 1 and 2

With 41 acts, three stages and attracting thousands of rockabilly fans across Europe, the Rockin' Race Jamboree can surely claim to be the biggest rock and roll festival in Europe. Blessed with sunny weather and beauiful scenery Torremolinos is a great place for a Winter getaway. And much of the music has been excellent so far, despite the absence now, and no doubt in the future, of any original 50s and 60s artists. The festival started off in fairly low key fashion with some acts by the poolside at the Barracuda Hotel including the Tennessee Hotshots and Whistle Bait. And the first two acts at the Auditorium Principe De Asturias, the Western flavoured Boot Heel Playboys and the Rockin' Bonnie Western Bound Combo, didnt exactly set pulses racing despite being competent enough. The first act in the adjoining Paradise Hall was another matter. Les Greene was a contestant on American Idol apparently and his incredible high energy act, including somersaults and the splits, was a sight to behold. Backed by Deke Dickerson and his excellent band Les tore through medleys of songs by Sam Cooke, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis in exciting style. He is a latter day Little Richard in fact and I look forward to seeing him again. Another good act on day one were Nashville based Wild Records act the Hi Jivers featuring a female singer who certainly impressed. Undoubted star of the second night was Bobby Brooks Wilson who had 16 people backing him including five horns and five backing vocalists including three members of the Velvet Candles. Bobby has clearly inherited his brilliant showmanship from his dad Jackie and did an excellent job recreating his hits, starting with 'Reet Petite' and including 'That's Why', 'Baby Workout', 'Sweetest Feeling' and 'Higher and Higher' plus a couple of High energy Sam Cooke numbers including 'Twisting The Night Away'. Earlier I enjoyed the Roy Orbison stylings of Marcel Riesco, who had some help from the Candles on one number, and bluesy stuff from German band Smokestack Lighning, who were rather tuneless on some numbers but showed that they knew what they were doing on songs such as 'Polk Salad Annie' and 'Gentle On My Mind'.Back in the Paradise Hall I very much enjoyed the surf guitar and Bakersfield country music of the silver haired Mitch Polzac, who jumped around in the audience helped by Deke Dickerson quietly playing away in the background. Excellent stuff and a pretty good night all round with more to follow.