Willie Mabon and His Combo: "I'm Mad" (1953)

Willie Mabon (b.1925) was a talking kind of singer with a tongue-in-cheek urban feel. He played piano and harmonica (sometimes at the same time) and at the age of 17, had moved from his native Memphis, Tennessee to Chicago. He recorded firstly as a member of the Blues Rockers. I read somewhere that his style influenced Mose Allison. I believe such a comparison makes a lot of sense.

The blog Be Bop Wino put his music this way: "Willie’s sound was different from the electric blues which was becoming the house sound of Chess at that time. His records were in a roughhouse jump blues style with riffing horns backing up hoarse vocals and pianistic pounding." All this and with with a finger missing from one of his hands.

He became popular in the Chicago area and became a popular R & B singer. He was signed to Chess Records and set his sound apart from Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf by featuring piano and sax instead of guitar and harp.

He had a hit in 1952 with a cover of "I Don't Know," a bluesy novelty song that would later be performed by the Blues Brothers on their debut first album.

"I'm Mad" was released in 1953 and made it to number one on the R & B charts that year. It is so matter of fact in it's depiction of a regretful relationship, that I have never played it for someone who has never heard it and didn't burst out laughing.

In 1980. Canadian production house International Rocketship Limited released it's first animated short called "Sing Beast, Sing." The film is an animated story corresponding to "I'm Mad" and is quite amusing. I'm including that short in this post as well.

green, round, wonderful, beautiful world
with the beautiful waters
around the curves
and everything that's, in the world
I hops up and marries me a glamor girl
I'm mad...

Mabon never regained his momentum after leaving Chess. He stopped at Federal in 1957, Mad in 1960, Formal in 1962 (where he stirred up some local sales with his leering "Got to Have Some"), and USA in 1963-64. Mabon sat out much of the late '60s but came back strong after moving to Paris in 1972, recording and touring Europe prolifically until his death.
 

Brett Dennen: "Ain't No Reason" (2006)

This guy slipped by me, and I have been listening to a lot of folk rock in the last few years. Brett Dennen is from Northern California and learned to play guitar while entertaining kids as a camp counselor. He is very active in supporting nonprofit initiatives and supports the camp to this day.

This is from his from his Facebook page: “In many ways this is my first album,” Brett Dennen says of his fourth record, Loverboy. “On my previous albums I said what I needed to say. I evoked every different mood and sentiment and emotion. Now I don’t really have anything to prove. I’ve been the new kid on the block and now that phase is over. I get to start all over again, relax, and refocus.” He pauses and flashes 

a laidback grin. “And what I’m focused on is having fun.”

I think "Ain't No Reason" is a song about the insanity of the persuit of material things, and that it is not likely to change anytime soon.
 

People walk around pushing back their debts
Wearing pay checks like necklaces and bracelets
Talking 'bout nothing, not thinking 'bout death
Every little heartbeat, every little breath

Dennen’s rise has been impressive. In 2004 Dennen released his self-titled debut, followed quickly by his sophomore LP So Much More (2006,) which spent months on the Billboard Heatseeker chart. The release drew the attention of John Mayer, for whom Dennen opened in 2006 and 2007. In 2008 the artist released his follow-up, Hope for the Hopeless, which debuted at #41 on the Billboard Top 200 and firmly established Dennen as a definitive new voice in modern songwriting. He’s worked with Femi Kuti, Natalie Merchant, and JasonMraz; he’s toured with Dave Matthews, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and The John ButlerTrio; and he’s played Bonarroo, Austin City Limits, Coachella, and Newport Folk Festival. He’s also become the go-to guy for some of the best and most artfully soundtracked contemporary tv shows. His songs have appeared on Scrubs, Grey's anatomy,Parenthood,Brothers and Sisters, and House among others.

 

  

The Five Blobs (Burt Bacharach & Mack David): "The Blob" (1958)

Indescribable... Indestructible! Nothing Can Stop It! According to IMDB, the title song "The Blob" was co-written by Burt Bacharach and is on his album "Look of Love: the Burt Bacharach Collection." Well done Lou, you picked a great Haloween science fiction confection!

Paramount tapped Bacharach and Mack David (brother of Hal David) to come up with a non-threatening theme that would prevent the faint of heart from going into nostril-flaring terror during the opening credits. Together the two men concocted "The Blob," a goofy musical creature that is one part "Temptation" to two parts "Tequila." Session singer Bernie Nee does the champagne-cork-popping honors by pulling his finger out of his cheek seven times. Only Ralph Carmichael's score received a screen credit, giving credence to the notion that the song was a last-minute addition. The Five Blobs turned out to be a phantom group that consisted of Bacharach, a bunch of musicians for hire, and Nee, who tracked his voice five times to achieve that Boris Karloff-esque quality.

This was Steve McQueen's first movie (billed as Stephen McQueen) and was to be one of three films the studio wanted him to make. The story has it that he was such a pain to work with that they released him from his contract after "The Blob" as completed.

The actual Blob, a mixture of red dye and silicone, is still kept in the original five-gallon pail in which it was shipped to the production company in 1958 from Union Carbide. It was put on display over the years as a part of the annual Blobfest, held over a three-day period each summer in Phoenixville, PA, which provided a number of the shooting locales for the film. In addition to displaying the Blob and miniatures used in the shooting, the event features a reenactment of the famous scene in which panicked theatergoers rush to exit the town's still-functioning Colonial Theater, as well as several showings of the film (IMDB). 

Rockapella: "Zombie Jamboree" (1990)

Our Halloween Song Contest is over. Thanks to Julia Burns who came up with this non- conventional Halloween selection. Props to Meredith Tekin for coming up with so many possibilities!
"Zombie Jamboree" is an old calypso song also known alternately as "Back to Back" or "Jumbie Jamberee" and credited to Conrad Eugene Mauge Jr. I read conflicting stories about who recorded the song first, but let's just say it is from the early 1950's. Harry Belafonte recorded the song five times starting in 1962! The Kingston Trio covered it as well and even Nilsson recorded it.

But none of these versions holds a candle to Rockapella's version. The song starts and stops on a dime and they sound like six people singing, not four. The band got  its break by performing this song on Spike Lee & Company: Do It A Cappella. This is a dynamite soundtrack by the way and if you like this song, there are many others on this album done by several different acapella groups. I have included their video from the production, but the track is a little off.

Many of you will recognize Rockapella from their being the house band on the game show  "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" This five year gig came as a result of the Spike Lee special and Rockapella also is responsible for the shows theme song.
They have had a lot of personnel changes over the years but are still touring to packed houses.

Zombies are huge right now and this is a real treat to present this song to you for Halloween.

One female zombie she wouldn't behave
See how's she's dancing out of the grave
In one hand she's holding a quart of rum
The other hand is knocking a conga drum
You know the lead singer starts to make his rhyme
While the other zombie is rockin' in time
One bystander, he had this to say
"It was a trip to see the zombies break away

Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa: "I'd Rather Go Blind" (2011)

So what would happen if an amazing strong-voiced singer collaborated on an album with a latter-day guitar legend? The result would be 2011's album "Don't Explain", which featured ten hand selected R & B/blues classics (Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holliday etc.) interpreted by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa and his band. 

Both of them are based in L.A., but had not played together prior to this project. The story goes that Bonamassa was listening to Tina Turner on the Rolling Stones "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" and said out loud "Beth Hart!" They later bumped into each other in Holland and they were off to the races.

To say that "I'd Rather Go Blind" is a cover is an understatement. This deliciously sad blues and soul standard was written by Ellington Jordan and recorded by Etta James in 1968. Since then there has been a parade of cover versions by the likes of  Little Milton, Chicken Shack, Koko Taylor, Man Man, Rod Stewart, B.B. King,Paul Weller, Ruby Turner, Marcia Ball, Sydney Youngblood and Beyonce' (Just to name a few). The consensus has been that Etta's version along with Rod Stewart's are the best versions to date. I must weigh in however that the version on this album is the best.

Beth Hart: According to producer Kevin Shirley, “Beth’s got a pretty heady voice, very reminiscent of Janis Joplin, and she’s also got a lot of Etta James in her, but hadn’t really accessed it yet,” says Shirley. “With this material, there is a gentleness to the way she delivers the most heartfelt tunes that she hasn’t shown before.” 

Joe Bonamassa: According to a review by Bluebird Records, "Joe Bonamassa continues to embrace his legendary guitar talent and carefully places razor sharp guitar solos, accents, blues riffs and soul rhythms to these songs." 

The album landed in the top 50 albums chart in eight countries including England, Germany and Switzerland. The U.S.? No better than 120. Guess we were all listening to Tony Bennett, "Duets II".

Enjoy. This baby comes in at just over eight minutes...

Halloween Is Coming and "I Vant Your Songs..."

Every year they roll out the usual Halloween nuggets with Bobby"Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash" (1962) out front. Great song, but this blog is about the rare, the hidden and overlooked music out there.

So I seek your input. I'll pick one for Halloween and I'll pick one of yours. Send a comment to this post and I'll make sure it is considered. One caveat: the song you suggest must be a video I can post or at minimum, an audio link from a website. I want reader to hear what you have chosen. I will give full credit, props and shout outs to the winner!

O.K., here is "Monster Mash"

Irma Thomas: "It's Raining" (1962)

It has been a rugged week at work folks. But despite that, songs come and go in my mind, triggered by daily situations that foster memories. This is certainly the case here as I present this weeks selection. I was frankly torn between Irma Thomas and Lou Ann Barton. I love them both. They have a lot in common in terms of influence, audience and material.The decision as to who should come first in this blog afforded a bit of a dilemma, but...let's start with Irma, and I'll cover Lou Ann in a week or so.

Irma Thomas, (not to be confused with Carla Thomas) is known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans". Most of her success has been regional, centering on Louisiana. She has recorded a string of wonderful singles and albums that, for the most part never made it nationally.

By the age of 19 she had four children by two husbands, and was having a hard time making ends meet. She was waitressing at 16. Tommy Ridgley, a band leader, got her some recording work and her first single in 1960 was "You Can Have My Husband". The song was written by Dorothy LaBostrie, who also wrote "Tutti-Frutti" (1955). Both Irma and Lou Ann Barton have covered this song.

YOU CAN HAVE MY HUSBAND 
BUT PLEASE DON'T MESS WITH MY MAN  
I'M TELLIN ALL YOU GIRLS 
I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND 

After bouncing around, Irma was able to work with Allen Toussaint and record several singles including "It's Raining", which was released in 1962. This would turn out to be one of her signature songs and is in high demand to this day. It is a very meloncholy song and you can feel her suffering through the doo wop drips of rain and pain:

It's raining so hard
It's really coming down
Sittin' by my window
Watchin' the rain
Fall to the ground
This is the time
I'd love to be
Holding you tight
I guess I'll just go
Crazy tonight

The song appears in the 1986 movie "Down By Law", and this is how, I believe, that I first heard the song.

Irma is still preforming and continues to be revered as a legend in her home state of Louisiana.She has recorded 19 albums in her career.In 2007, she won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album for "After the Rain".