Erik's Lists: The Complete Stax/Volt Singles
1) "The Hawg, Part One" - Eddie Kirk
"Root! C'mon root baby!" Eddie Kirk, an old-time country blues artist does the harmonica grunt with the Stax band of the MGs. It's Howlin' Wolf doing "The Dog" a la Rufus Thomas. It's the sound of forty people in a one room shack with 8' ceilings. Sweat, musk, cigarettes and whiskey. Jubilant glory at 45rpm.
2)"After Laughter (Comes Tears)" - Wendy Rene
Her biggest hit (really the last of The Drapels, but only Wendy gets the credit). It's not the talent of the singer- she's occasionally flat, and is only okay at best - it's the delivery, supported by the opening organ's "bup-bup." It's a Timbaland riff, slowed till sultry, organic like only a Hammond can sound. It's got that "wet lung" sound that modern computer synths will never capture. I alternate between this and "Bar B-Q" as my favorite Wendy Rene tracks.
3)"Outrage" - Booker T & The MGs
Hands down my favorite Booker T track. I want it as the music behind the beginning of the movie of my life. On screen I fumble with the alarm clock, hop in the shower, fall over putting on my pants, grab toast and coffee on the way out the door. As I get in the car, you see I'm wearing only one sock as the song fades away and I shut the car door. Of course, the above scene has never once occurred in my life.
4)"Tramp" - Otis & Carla
The King and Queen get everything but medieval on each other, and Otis coos quietly "mamas, grand-mamas", ad-libbing the path Andre 3000 would follow to great acclaim. Better than Carla, better than Rufus and Carla, and dare I say, better than Otis? Sloppy and free (but in a good way) - the sound of Otis toeing the line but squirmin' on the balls of his feet.
5)"Soul Finger" - The Bar-Kays
Another song from the soundtrack of my movie - It's party time, and the freaks and weirdos are now cool (thank you for it all, Mr. Kurt Cobain). My mohawk is spiked, but soft at the top 1/4", the blonde tips like stamen waving with each shake of my head. It's the sound of Boone's Farm meeting Olde English with Camel chaser, everyone smiles and answers the trumpet: "Soul Finger!"
6)"Sophisticated Sissy" - Rufus Thomas
The Godfather of Memphis' dances, the Lord of the Dog, as it were. "They were doing the sissy/Sophisticated sissy/Everybody's doing the sissy/Sophisticated sissy." Man, in a perfect world the B-52's covered this with tongue firmly in cheek. It grooves through and through - carried by the barrel of the baritone sax.
7)"A Tribute To A King" - William Bell
One of the greats, singing the glory of The Man Who Was Otis. Released just months after Otis died, Bell gives one of his greatest performances. If you don't know the song, imagine "Nightshift" (the Commodore's tribute to Marvin Gaye) sung to the tune of "Midnight Train To Georgia" at a Baptist funeral. Than imagine how great that would be, and weep.
8)"Able Mable" - Mable John
Don't fuck with Mable. She'll kick your ass and make you like it. Donald "Duck" Dunn gives Mable's menace teeth, the slow walking bass like knuckles rolling into the palm to make a fist. The only response is, "Yes, Ma'am!"
"Root! C'mon root baby!" Eddie Kirk, an old-time country blues artist does the harmonica grunt with the Stax band of the MGs. It's Howlin' Wolf doing "The Dog" a la Rufus Thomas. It's the sound of forty people in a one room shack with 8' ceilings. Sweat, musk, cigarettes and whiskey. Jubilant glory at 45rpm.
2)"After Laughter (Comes Tears)" - Wendy Rene
Her biggest hit (really the last of The Drapels, but only Wendy gets the credit). It's not the talent of the singer- she's occasionally flat, and is only okay at best - it's the delivery, supported by the opening organ's "bup-bup." It's a Timbaland riff, slowed till sultry, organic like only a Hammond can sound. It's got that "wet lung" sound that modern computer synths will never capture. I alternate between this and "Bar B-Q" as my favorite Wendy Rene tracks.
3)"Outrage" - Booker T & The MGs
Hands down my favorite Booker T track. I want it as the music behind the beginning of the movie of my life. On screen I fumble with the alarm clock, hop in the shower, fall over putting on my pants, grab toast and coffee on the way out the door. As I get in the car, you see I'm wearing only one sock as the song fades away and I shut the car door. Of course, the above scene has never once occurred in my life.
4)"Tramp" - Otis & Carla
The King and Queen get everything but medieval on each other, and Otis coos quietly "mamas, grand-mamas", ad-libbing the path Andre 3000 would follow to great acclaim. Better than Carla, better than Rufus and Carla, and dare I say, better than Otis? Sloppy and free (but in a good way) - the sound of Otis toeing the line but squirmin' on the balls of his feet.
5)"Soul Finger" - The Bar-Kays
Another song from the soundtrack of my movie - It's party time, and the freaks and weirdos are now cool (thank you for it all, Mr. Kurt Cobain). My mohawk is spiked, but soft at the top 1/4", the blonde tips like stamen waving with each shake of my head. It's the sound of Boone's Farm meeting Olde English with Camel chaser, everyone smiles and answers the trumpet: "Soul Finger!"
6)"Sophisticated Sissy" - Rufus Thomas
The Godfather of Memphis' dances, the Lord of the Dog, as it were. "They were doing the sissy/Sophisticated sissy/Everybody's doing the sissy/Sophisticated sissy." Man, in a perfect world the B-52's covered this with tongue firmly in cheek. It grooves through and through - carried by the barrel of the baritone sax.
7)"A Tribute To A King" - William Bell
One of the greats, singing the glory of The Man Who Was Otis. Released just months after Otis died, Bell gives one of his greatest performances. If you don't know the song, imagine "Nightshift" (the Commodore's tribute to Marvin Gaye) sung to the tune of "Midnight Train To Georgia" at a Baptist funeral. Than imagine how great that would be, and weep.
8)"Able Mable" - Mable John
Don't fuck with Mable. She'll kick your ass and make you like it. Donald "Duck" Dunn gives Mable's menace teeth, the slow walking bass like knuckles rolling into the palm to make a fist. The only response is, "Yes, Ma'am!"
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