Edited by Azizi Powell
[Most of the content of this post was published on pancocojams on November 30, 2012. Additional content in this post: song lyrics and one comment under Example #1]
This pancocojams post showcases sound files or videos of Mississippi John Hurt, Lloyd Price, Taj Mahal, and Wilson Pickett singing versions of the Blues/R&B classic "Stagger Lee".
Information about this song are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All rights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the composer/s of this song. Thanks also to the vocalists, and musicians featured in these sound files and this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these sound files & video on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "STAGGER LEE"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagger_Lee_(song)
" "Stagger Lee", also known as "Stagolee", "Stackerlee", "Stack O'Lee", "Stack-a-Lee" and several other variants, is a popular folk song based on the murder of William "Billy" Lyons by Stagger Lee Shelton...
The first published version of the song was by folklorist John Lomax in 1910. The song was well known in African American communities along the lower Mississippi River by the 1910s.
Before World War II, it was commonly known as "Stack O'Lee"... In Mississippi John Hurt's version, as in all such pieces, there are many (sometimes anachronistic) variants on the lyrics. Several older versions give Billy's last name as "De Lyons" or "Deslile".
-snip-
Warning: That Wikipedia page includes profanity.
-snip-
From http://reocities.com/SunsetStrip/stage/8376/stagger_lee_1.html
"The legend of Stagger Lee is one of the most important and enduring stories from American folklore. Although it has had some popularity with the white community, it is a story that comes from the African-American oral tradition. There are many different versions of the tale, but here is the general storyline. Stagger Lee (also known as Stagolee, Stackerlee, Stackalee etc.) gets into a dispute with a man named Billy DeLyon (also known as Billy the Lion or Billy Lyons) after losing his Stetson hat to Billy while gambling. Stagger Lee pulls a gun (sometimes identified as a .45, other times as a "smokeless .44") on Billy who then pleads to be spared for the sake of his wife and children. Showing no compassion at all, Stagger Lee cold-bloodedly shoots and kills his opponent."...
-snip-
Click http://www.planetslade.com/stagger-lee2.html for multiple pages of information about Stagger Lee Shelton, including the following theory:
"Shelton may have taken his 'Stack Lee' nickname from a white man called Stacker Lee, whose father owned the famous Lee Steam Line of riverboats...Travelling up and down the Mississippi between St Louis and New Orleans, he became well-known as a gambler, a hell-raiser and a ladies' man. He made a habit of fathering illegitimate children wherever his boat put in, often by black or mixed-race women.
It's very unlikely that Shelton was really Stacker Lee's son - the dates and locations are all wrong for that - but he may well have adopted his nickname to hint at that possibility. Shelton's light skin, described by Jefferson Penitentiary as a “mulatto complexion”, would have made it easy for people to believe he had a white father. Who could blame him for hinting that father was the glamorous son of a powerful, rich family?"
-snip-
Also, click http://www.stackolee.net/ for a list of hundreds of recordings of "Stagger Lee" ("Stack O Lee").
****
EXCERPT FROM WIKIPEDIA [added September 18, 2018]
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagger_Lee
" "Stagger Lee", also known as "Stagolee" and other variants, is a popular American folk song about the murder of Billy Lyons by "Stag" Lee Shelton in St. Louis, Missouri at Christmas, 1895. The song was first published in 1911, and was first recorded in 1923 by Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians. A version by Lloyd Price reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959.
Background
The historical Stagger Lee was Lee Shelton, an African-American pimp living in St. Louis, Missouri in the late 19th century. He was nicknamed Stag Lee or Stack Lee, with a variety of explanations being given: he was given the nickname because he "went stag", meaning he was without friends; he took the nickname from a well-known riverboat captain called Stack Lee; or, according to John and Alan Lomax, he took the name from a riverboat owned by the Lee family of Memphis called the Stack Lee, which was known for its on-board prostitution.[2] He was well known locally as one of the Macks, a group of pimps who demanded attention through their flashy clothing and appearance.[3] In addition to these activities, he was the captain of a black Four Hundred Club, a social club with a dubious reputation.[4]
On Christmas night in 1895, Shelton and his acquaintance William "Billy" Lyons were drinking in the Bill Curtis Saloon. Lyons was also a member of St. Louis' underworld, and may have been a political and business rival to Shelton. Eventually, the two men got into a dispute, during which Lyons took Shelton's Stetson hat.[5] Subsequently, Shelton shot Lyons, recovered his hat, and left.[6] Lyons died of his injuries, and Shelton was charged, tried and convicted of the murder in 1897. He was paroled in 1909, but returned to prison in 1911 for assault and robbery. He died in incarceration in 1912.[7]
The crime quickly entered into American folklore and became the subject of song as well as folktales and toasts. The song's title comes from Shelton's nickname—Stag Lee or Stack Lee.[8] The name was quickly corrupted in the folk tradition; early versions were called "Stack-a-Lee" and "Stacker Lee"; "Stagolee" and "Stagger Lee" also became common. Other recorded variants include "Stackerlee", "Stack O'Lee", "Stackolee", "Stackalee", "Stagerlee", and "Stagalee".[9]
Early versions
A song called "Stack-a-Lee" was first mentioned in 1897, in the Kansas City Leavenworth Herald, as being performed by "Prof. Charlie Lee, the piano thumper."[10] The earliest versions were likely field hollers and other work songs performed by African-American laborers, and were well known along the lower Mississippi River by 1910. That year, musicologist John Lomax received a partial transcription of the song,[11] and in 1911 two versions were published in the Journal of American Folklore by the sociologist and historian Howard W. Odum.[12]
The song was first recorded by Waring's Pennsylvanians in 1923, and became a hit. Another version was recorded later that year by Frank Westphal & His Regal Novelty Orchestra, and Herb Wiedoeft and his band recorded the song in 1924.[13] Also in 1924, the first version with lyrics was recorded, as "Skeeg-a-Lee Blues", by Lovie Austin. Ma Rainey recorded the song the following year, with Louis Armstrong on cornet, and a version was recorded by Frank Hutchison in 1927.[10]
Before World War II, it was commonly known as "Stack O'Lee". W.C. Handy wrote that this probably was a nickname for a tall person, comparing him to the tall smokestack of the large steamboat Robert E. Lee.[14] By the time W.C. Handy wrote that explanation in the 1920s, "Stack O' Lee" was already familiar in United States popular culture, with recordings of the song made by such pop singers of the day as Cliff Edwards.
The version by Mississippi John Hurt, recorded in 1928, is regarded as definitive.[10] In his version, as in all such pieces, there are many (sometimes anachronistic) variants on the lyrics. Several older versions give Billy's last name as "De Lyons" or "Deslile". Other notable pre-war versions were by Duke Ellington (1927), Cab Calloway (1931), and Woody Guthrie (1941).[10]
Post-war versions
In 1950, a version of "Stack-a-Lee" by New Orleans pianist Archibald reached number 10 on the Billboard R&B chart.[15] Lloyd Price recorded the song as "Stagger Lee" in 1958, and it rose to the top of both the R&B and US pop charts in early 1959.[15] His version was ranked number 456 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, and also reached number 7 on the UK singles chart. Price also recorded a toned-down version of the song that changed the shooting to an argument between two friends for his appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand."...
****
LYRICS: STACK O' LEE
[as sung by Mississippi John Hurt]
Police officer, how can it be?
You can 'rest everybody but cruel Stack O' Lee
That bad man, oh, cruel Stack O' Lee
Billy de Lyon told Stack O' Lee, "Please don't take my life
I got two little babies, and a darlin' lovin' wife"
That bad man, oh, cruel Stack O' Lee
"What I care about you little babies, your darlin' lovin' wife?
You done stole my Stetson1 hat, I'm bound to take your life"
That bad man, cruel Stack O' Lee
With the forty-four
When I spied Billy de Lyon, he was lyin' down on the floor
That bad man, oh cruel Stack O' Lee
"Gentleman's of the jury, what do you think of that?
Stack O' Lee killed Billy de Lyon about a five-dollar Stetson hat"
That bad man, oh, cruel Stack O' Lee
And all they gathered, hands way up high
At twelve o'clock they killed him, they's all glad to see him die
That bad man, oh, cruel Stack O' Lee
Source: https://genius.com/Mississippi-john-hurt-stack-o-lee-lyrics
****
LYRICS: STAGGER LEE
[as written {?) and sung by Lloyd Price]
The night was clear
And the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down
I was standing on the corner
When I heard my bulldog bark
He was barking at the two men
Who were gambling in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw seven
Billy swore that he threw eight
Stagger Lee told Billy
"I can't let you go with that
You have won all my money
And my brand new Stetson hat."
Stagger Lee started off
Goin down that railroad track
He said, I can't get you Billy
But don't be here when I come back
Go on, Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee went home
And he got his .44
Said, "I'm going to the bar room
Just to pay that debt I owe."
Stagger Lee went to the bar room
And he stood across the bar room door
Said, "Now nobody move."
And he pulled his .44
"Stagger Lee," cried Billy
"Oh, please don't take my life
I got three little children
And a very sickly wife."
Stagger Lee shot Billy
Oh he shot that poor boy so bad
Till the bullet came through Billy
And it broke the bartender's glass
Now look out, Stagg, come on
https://genius.com/Lloyd-price-stagger-lee-lyrics
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
Example #1: Mississippi John Hurt - The Ballad Of Stagger Lee
Uploaded by JTgrimteam on Jul 20, 2010
In My Opinion ; One Of the Best And Most Genuine Musical Pieces Ever Recorded. Mississippi John Was an Amazing Musician And Human Being.
-snip-
Here's a comment from this sound file's discussion thread:
Garett Russ, 2018
"It blows my mind how many racially-charged posts are derived from this music as I look through the comments.... The only thing that comes to mind is that if the shoe fits check yourself... You need to sit back take a deep breath and realize that you are smaller than what this man has done... Stop trying to build this imaginary Fortress of theology with your comments... And rather embrace the fact that amazing music came from a time of suffering.... bust the guitar out... try to jam along... and stop being a b** that is drowning in a time that wasn't even yours to drown in because you feel the need to be a voice for them.... Guess what!! These men and women were so strong they didn't need you... They use the strings (lightning Hopkins)... And they use their voice (Etta James)... Go ahead and pick up your pout box and take a walk home.... 😎"
-snip-
This comment is given as it was found in that discussion thread.
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Example #2: Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
Uploaded by RoverTCB on Apr 29, 2008
The first censored rock n roll record to be a n°1 hit
-snip-
The Wikipedia page whose link is given above includes information about how Dick Clark, the host of the television program "American Bandstand" made Lloyd Price change the lyrics of this song for that show's performance.
****
Example #3: STAGGER LEE (1969) by Taj Mahal
Uploaded by wilsonmcphert on Nov 5, 2009
...I have done a slideshow video for this song and to try and help tell the story.
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Example #4: stagger lee - wilson picket
youknowstone, Uploaded on Mar 19, 2008
wicked live
-snip-
This singer's nickname was "The Wicked Wilson Pickett".
****
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label Wilson Pickett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilson Pickett. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Friday, August 26, 2016
The REAL Meaning Of "Bad To The Bone" In George Thorogood & The Destroyers' Song
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post presents information about the (White) British group George Thorogood and the Destroyers' 1982 Blues rock song "Bad To The Bone" along with lyrics for and a video of that song.
This post also presents my critiques of online definitions of the term "bad to the bone" means in the context of this record and my statement about what "bad to the bone" REALLY means in this song and why it has that meaning.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, etymological, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners
Thanks to George Thorogood and the Destroyers for their musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS' RECORD "BAD TO THE BONE"
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=11616 [referred to below as songfacts. com #1]
Album: Bad to the Bone
Released: 1982
This is based on the Bo Diddley Blues song "I'm A Man." Thorogood is influenced by The Blues, and Diddley is one of his heroes... Both songs are full of swagger, with the singers exuding lots of testosterone...
With MTV coming on the air in 1981, Thorogood picked a good time to release a memorable video. The clip showed Thorogood playing pool against Bo Diddley in a place where there was no chance of a dance sequence breaking out. Pool champion Willie Mosconi also appears in the video, which introduced Thorogood - and to some extent, Diddley - to the younger MTV crowd."...
***
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_to_the_Bone
"Bad to the Bone" is a song by George Thorogood and the Destroyers released in 1982 on the album of the same name. While it was not widely popular during its initial release, its video made recurrent appearances on the nascent MTV, created a year before. Licensing for films, television, and commercials has since made the song more popular.
Structure and influences
The song's roots can be traced back to rock and roll musician Bo Diddley's song "I'm a Man", which uses a similar guitar riff and vocal rhythm, and has a similar overall structure, as well as Willie Dixon's "Hoochie Coochie Man", Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy," John Lee Hooker's "I'm Bad Like Jesse James", and Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Gangster of Love". The riff is also very similar to the one from Chuck Berry's song "No Money Down" as well as Elvis Presley's "Trouble"."
****
SONG LYRICS: BAD TO THE BONE
(As sung by George Thorogood and the Destroyers)
On the day I was born
The nurses all gathered 'round
And they gazed in wide wonder
At the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up
Said "leave this one alone"
She could tell right away
That I was bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I'll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I make a rich woman beg
I'll make a good woman steal
I'll make an old woman blush
And make a young girl squeal
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
And when I walk the streets
Kings and Queens step aside
Every woman I meet
They all stay satisfied
I wanna tell ya pretty baby
Well Ya see I make my own
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/georgethorogoodandthedestroyers/badtothebone.html
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: George Thorogood And The Destroyers - Bad To The Bone
emimusic, Uploaded on Apr 22, 2010
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
2015
Craig Jackson
"good song ROCK N ROLL forever
**
Reply
"+Craig Jackson Led Zeppelin and George are the best White boy bluesmen ever....no offense to Eric Clapton."
****
2016
Freddy Ramirez
"Anybody besides me ever thought this was sung by a black guy? I had no idea, always loved this song!"
**
Reply
stephen brooks
"+Freddy Ramirez You're dumb lol"
**
Freddy Ramirez
"+stephen brooks don't tell me you never thought about it lol"
**
Reply
duttyow709
"+Freddy Ramirez Muddy Waters, Mannish Boy."
**
connfyoozed
"For those who don't know, this is a cover of a Bo Diddley song. That is Bo Diddley playing pool against George in the video. And Bo Diddley was one bad mofo with a guitar."
****
THE REAL MEANING OF "BAD TO THE BONE" IN THE CONTEXT OF GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS' RECORD
In the context of George Thorogood & The Destroyers' "Bad To The Bone" song, a man who is "bad to the bones" is "thoroughly good when it comes to pleasing women sexually". A man who is "bad to the bone" has really "got it goin' on" when it comes his success with women.
"Bad to the bone" is an intensification of the standard English language meaning of the word "bad". Instead of something negative, in African American slang, the adjective "bad" means "very good". The adjectives "dope" and "sick" are two other contemporary [beginning of the 21st century?] African American originated synonyms of "bad".
Read the other definitions of "bad to the bone" below that I found online. I don't think the definitions of "evil through and through" fit the sexually bragging lyrics of those Blues, Blues Rock, and R&B songs that I mentioned.
-snip-
It should be noted that "the bone" that is referenced in the term means "skeleton bones" and not the slang term for a man's sexual organ.
**
It's ironical that George Thorogood's last name echos the real meaning of the term "bad to the bone".
****
OTHER ONLINE DEFINITIONS OF "BAD TO THE BONE"
From http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=11616
"The phrase "Bad To The Bone" means there isn't a bit of good in him....
While Thorogood is a disciple of the Blues, he was raised in a Delaware suburb and by most accounts is actually a pretty nice guy, despite what he claims in this song"...
-snip-
The songfact.com writer arrived at those conclusions even though he or she wrote that "George Thorogood & The Destroyers' "Bad To The Bone" is "based on the Bo Diddley Blues song "I'm A Man."
Another songfacts.com article about Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man" song (http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=12395; songfacts.com #2) indicates that "He sings about his sexual prowess".
-end of quote.
"I'm A Man", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Mannish Boy", the British Blues Rock song "Bad To The Bone", and countless other Blues & R&B songs are self-bragging songs. And what the men are bragging about is their sexual prowess with women.
People who read the lyrics of those songs and concludes that a man who describes himself as "bad to the bone" is using the standard definitions of "bad" rather than the African American Vernacular English meaning which is coupled with the slang definition of "to the bone", meaning "thoroughly". Add a large amount of sexual inferences and you arrive at what I strongly feel is the REAL meaning of "bad to the bone" in the context of George Thorogood & The Destroyers' song*.
-snip-
*I added italics to highlight the end of that sentence.
****
From https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bad_to_the_bone
"Adjective
bad to the bone (not comparable)
(idiomatic) Completely bad and evil; pure evil."
**
From http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/bad+to+the+bone
“bad to the bone".- idiom
Thoroughly and completely immoral, wicked, dangerous, and/or unlawful. Often used in an ironic, jocular way.
****
OTHER USES OF THE PHRASE "___ TO THE BONE"
Barbecue Bob's 1928 song "Chocolate To The Bone" is an example of an early use of "___ to the bone" phrase. In that song, the singer brags about how I "Love that I’m brownskin, chocolate to the bone." Although the extended form of this phrase isn't used in that song, "chocolate to the bones" means "chocolate down to my bones". While that 1928 song includes a considerable amount of sexual bragging, the "chocolate to the bone" phrase refers to the person being proud that he/she* is part of the brownskin (i.e. Black) race.
*I wrote he/she because it appears to me that although the singer is a man, the person whose words are spoken in that 1928 song is a woman.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/barbecue-bob-chocolate-to-bone-sound.html for a pancocojams post about that song.
****
"She's My One Black Two Black" is the title/first line of a children's rhyme/song which includes the words "chocolate to the bone". I believe that Barbecue Bob's 1928 song is the primary source of "One Black Two Black". I also believe that the phrase "chocolate to the bone" in that song means the same thing that it does in that earlier song -i.e. the person who is "chocolate to the bone" is proud of her or his Black racial identity.
****
"Trini to the bone" [Trinidadian] to the bone" is a contemporary Caribbean form of the phrase "chocolate to the bone". That patriotic phrase affirms one's love of being from Trinidad (or from Trinidad & Tobago). The use of the colloquial referent "Trini" marks this form of that phrase as being of somewhat recent origin. That phrase may have been used prior to David Ruffin's 2003 Soca song "Trini to de bone". However, that song certainly popularized that phrase. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VCYlLG8VR8 for a sound file of that Soca song.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post presents information about the (White) British group George Thorogood and the Destroyers' 1982 Blues rock song "Bad To The Bone" along with lyrics for and a video of that song.
This post also presents my critiques of online definitions of the term "bad to the bone" means in the context of this record and my statement about what "bad to the bone" REALLY means in this song and why it has that meaning.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, etymological, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners
Thanks to George Thorogood and the Destroyers for their musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS' RECORD "BAD TO THE BONE"
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=11616 [referred to below as songfacts. com #1]
Album: Bad to the Bone
Released: 1982
This is based on the Bo Diddley Blues song "I'm A Man." Thorogood is influenced by The Blues, and Diddley is one of his heroes... Both songs are full of swagger, with the singers exuding lots of testosterone...
With MTV coming on the air in 1981, Thorogood picked a good time to release a memorable video. The clip showed Thorogood playing pool against Bo Diddley in a place where there was no chance of a dance sequence breaking out. Pool champion Willie Mosconi also appears in the video, which introduced Thorogood - and to some extent, Diddley - to the younger MTV crowd."...
***
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_to_the_Bone
"Bad to the Bone" is a song by George Thorogood and the Destroyers released in 1982 on the album of the same name. While it was not widely popular during its initial release, its video made recurrent appearances on the nascent MTV, created a year before. Licensing for films, television, and commercials has since made the song more popular.
Structure and influences
The song's roots can be traced back to rock and roll musician Bo Diddley's song "I'm a Man", which uses a similar guitar riff and vocal rhythm, and has a similar overall structure, as well as Willie Dixon's "Hoochie Coochie Man", Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy," John Lee Hooker's "I'm Bad Like Jesse James", and Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Gangster of Love". The riff is also very similar to the one from Chuck Berry's song "No Money Down" as well as Elvis Presley's "Trouble"."
****
SONG LYRICS: BAD TO THE BONE
(As sung by George Thorogood and the Destroyers)
On the day I was born
The nurses all gathered 'round
And they gazed in wide wonder
At the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up
Said "leave this one alone"
She could tell right away
That I was bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I'll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I make a rich woman beg
I'll make a good woman steal
I'll make an old woman blush
And make a young girl squeal
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
And when I walk the streets
Kings and Queens step aside
Every woman I meet
They all stay satisfied
I wanna tell ya pretty baby
Well Ya see I make my own
I'm here to tell ya honey
That I'm bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/georgethorogoodandthedestroyers/badtothebone.html
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: George Thorogood And The Destroyers - Bad To The Bone
emimusic, Uploaded on Apr 22, 2010
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
2015
Craig Jackson
"good song ROCK N ROLL forever
**
Reply
"+Craig Jackson Led Zeppelin and George are the best White boy bluesmen ever....no offense to Eric Clapton."
****
2016
Freddy Ramirez
"Anybody besides me ever thought this was sung by a black guy? I had no idea, always loved this song!"
**
Reply
stephen brooks
"+Freddy Ramirez You're dumb lol"
**
Freddy Ramirez
"+stephen brooks don't tell me you never thought about it lol"
**
Reply
duttyow709
"+Freddy Ramirez Muddy Waters, Mannish Boy."
**
connfyoozed
"For those who don't know, this is a cover of a Bo Diddley song. That is Bo Diddley playing pool against George in the video. And Bo Diddley was one bad mofo with a guitar."
****
THE REAL MEANING OF "BAD TO THE BONE" IN THE CONTEXT OF GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS' RECORD
In the context of George Thorogood & The Destroyers' "Bad To The Bone" song, a man who is "bad to the bones" is "thoroughly good when it comes to pleasing women sexually". A man who is "bad to the bone" has really "got it goin' on" when it comes his success with women.
"Bad to the bone" is an intensification of the standard English language meaning of the word "bad". Instead of something negative, in African American slang, the adjective "bad" means "very good". The adjectives "dope" and "sick" are two other contemporary [beginning of the 21st century?] African American originated synonyms of "bad".
Read the other definitions of "bad to the bone" below that I found online. I don't think the definitions of "evil through and through" fit the sexually bragging lyrics of those Blues, Blues Rock, and R&B songs that I mentioned.
-snip-
It should be noted that "the bone" that is referenced in the term means "skeleton bones" and not the slang term for a man's sexual organ.
**
It's ironical that George Thorogood's last name echos the real meaning of the term "bad to the bone".
****
OTHER ONLINE DEFINITIONS OF "BAD TO THE BONE"
From http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=11616
"The phrase "Bad To The Bone" means there isn't a bit of good in him....
While Thorogood is a disciple of the Blues, he was raised in a Delaware suburb and by most accounts is actually a pretty nice guy, despite what he claims in this song"...
-snip-
The songfact.com writer arrived at those conclusions even though he or she wrote that "George Thorogood & The Destroyers' "Bad To The Bone" is "based on the Bo Diddley Blues song "I'm A Man."
Another songfacts.com article about Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man" song (http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=12395; songfacts.com #2) indicates that "He sings about his sexual prowess".
-end of quote.
"I'm A Man", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Mannish Boy", the British Blues Rock song "Bad To The Bone", and countless other Blues & R&B songs are self-bragging songs. And what the men are bragging about is their sexual prowess with women.
People who read the lyrics of those songs and concludes that a man who describes himself as "bad to the bone" is using the standard definitions of "bad" rather than the African American Vernacular English meaning which is coupled with the slang definition of "to the bone", meaning "thoroughly". Add a large amount of sexual inferences and you arrive at what I strongly feel is the REAL meaning of "bad to the bone" in the context of George Thorogood & The Destroyers' song*.
-snip-
*I added italics to highlight the end of that sentence.
****
From https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bad_to_the_bone
"Adjective
bad to the bone (not comparable)
(idiomatic) Completely bad and evil; pure evil."
**
From http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/bad+to+the+bone
“bad to the bone".- idiom
Thoroughly and completely immoral, wicked, dangerous, and/or unlawful. Often used in an ironic, jocular way.
****
OTHER USES OF THE PHRASE "___ TO THE BONE"
Barbecue Bob's 1928 song "Chocolate To The Bone" is an example of an early use of "___ to the bone" phrase. In that song, the singer brags about how I "Love that I’m brownskin, chocolate to the bone." Although the extended form of this phrase isn't used in that song, "chocolate to the bones" means "chocolate down to my bones". While that 1928 song includes a considerable amount of sexual bragging, the "chocolate to the bone" phrase refers to the person being proud that he/she* is part of the brownskin (i.e. Black) race.
*I wrote he/she because it appears to me that although the singer is a man, the person whose words are spoken in that 1928 song is a woman.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/barbecue-bob-chocolate-to-bone-sound.html for a pancocojams post about that song.
****
"She's My One Black Two Black" is the title/first line of a children's rhyme/song which includes the words "chocolate to the bone". I believe that Barbecue Bob's 1928 song is the primary source of "One Black Two Black". I also believe that the phrase "chocolate to the bone" in that song means the same thing that it does in that earlier song -i.e. the person who is "chocolate to the bone" is proud of her or his Black racial identity.
****
"Trini to the bone" [Trinidadian] to the bone" is a contemporary Caribbean form of the phrase "chocolate to the bone". That patriotic phrase affirms one's love of being from Trinidad (or from Trinidad & Tobago). The use of the colloquial referent "Trini" marks this form of that phrase as being of somewhat recent origin. That phrase may have been used prior to David Ruffin's 2003 Soca song "Trini to de bone". However, that song certainly popularized that phrase. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VCYlLG8VR8 for a sound file of that Soca song.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Black Preacher's Oratorical Style & Wilson Pickett's 1971 Soul To Soul Concert Introduction to "Land Of A Thousand Dances"
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision: September 10, 2018
This pancocojams post showcases a video of Soul singer Wilson Pickett's performance of his hit song "Land Of A Thousand Dances" at the 1971 Soul To Soul concert in Ghana, West Africa.
The focus of this post is the similarity between Wilson Pickett's introduction of "Land Of A Thousand Dances" and the cadence flow, call & response, and shouting oratorical style that is commonly associated with a number of Black [African American] preachers.
This post includes a definition of the oratory style called "whooping" that is associated with some African American preachers.
My transcription of that introduction is included in this post. Additions and corrections of that transcription are welcome.
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post. Some of these comments refer to the oratorical style that Wilson Pickett used for that introduction.
The Addendum to this post provides some information about the 1971 Soul to Soul concert in Ghana, West Africa.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Wilson Pickett for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/04/black-preaching-art-of-whooping-in.html for a pancocojams post which features a video of a Black pastor's sermon closing and includes information about the style of Black sermonizing called "whooping".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BLACK (AFRICAN AMERICAN ORATORY STYLE CALLED "WHOOPING"
"Whooping" (also given as "hooping") is a term for a Black (African American) oratorical and homiletic (sermon) style that some pastors use at the end of their sermons to heighten the spirit and emotions of their congregations. Whooping is described as pastors speaking in a call & response, sing/song cadence. Responses to the pastor's words ("call") are from the congregation which might repeat his or her words, and/or shout "Amen!", "Preach!", "Yes, Lord" or other words and phrases. Responses also include riffs played by the pianist, organist, and snare drummer. In addition to preaching in that sing/song style, pastors who whoop toward the end of their sermons may also sing during that whoop.
"Whooping" is most often associated with African American pastors, particularly COGIC (Church Of God In Christ) pastors and some Baptist and Missionary Baptist pastors.
Whooping is negatively described as "screaming".
The word "whooping" ("hooping") may have come from the term "whooping and hollering".
Here are definitions for the word "whoop":
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whoop
Definition of whoop
"to shout loudly in an enthusiastic or excited way"
**
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/hollering
"hollering
"verb (used without object)
1. to cry aloud; shout; yell"
****
INFORMATION ABOUT WILSON PICKETT AND "LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Pickett
"Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American R&B, soul and rock and roll singer and songwriter.
A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, many of which crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100. Among his best-known hits are "In the Midnight Hour" (which he co-wrote), "Land of 1,000 Dances", "Mustang Sally", and "Funky Broadway".[2]
Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, in recognition of his impact on songwriting and recording.[3]"...
****
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_a_Thousand_Dances
"Land of a Thousand Dances" (or "Land of 1000 Dances") is a song written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1963. The song is famous for its "na na na na na" hook, which Cannibal & the Headhunters added in their 1965 version, which reached number 30 on the Billboard chart.[1] The song was covered by Danny & the Memories. Thee Midniters, an American group out of East Los Angeles, was one of the first Chicano rock bands to cover "Land of a Thousand Dances", scoring a local hit in 1965. The song's best-known version was Wilson Pickett's 1966 recording on his album, which became an R&B #1 and his biggest ever pop hit. Some releases of the song credit Antoine "Fats" Domino as a co-author of the song with Kenner. Domino agreed to record the song in exchange for half of the song's royalties."
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Wilson Pickett - Land of a Thousand Dances (HQ)
Edmilson Guermacoski, Published on Dec 16, 2013
A ALMA DA SOUL MUSIC.
****
TRANSCRIPTION OF THE INTRODUCTION TO "LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES"*
(at the 1971 Soul to Soul concert)
I was over in England
About a year ago
Doin the Tom Jones [show]
And ah fella dropped by by the name Ringo.
Ringo began to ask me some questions.
He said, “Pickett, you’ve been all around the world
singin about a thing called soul
He said, can you pleeese tell me
what is soul?
I looked around at him
I said “Ringo, I said
Sooooul ain't nuthin' but a feelin' .
He said, “How do you know? How do you know when you get it?”
I said “It gets in your haaaands.
It makes you clap your haaands.
[audience claps hands and exclaimsye]
Oh yes.
I heard ah sista say
“It got in my feeet.
And I had to I had to move my feeet.
Let me hear you say “Yeeeah!”
[audience shouts Yeah!]
How many of you think you got soul tonight, lemme see your hands
[audience raises one hand]
Yeaaaaaaaaaaah!
Now you got it tonight. Lemme see ya raise your hands.
{audience raises one hand]
Lawd have mercy.
I’m feelin pretty good right now.
-snip-
*This is my transcription of this introduction. Additions and corrections are welcome.
The band accompanies Pickett's words during that introduction by playing riffs throughout this introduction. This manner of musical accompaniment is customary in many African American churches.
After that last line, Wilson Pickett immediately starts singing "Land Of A Thousand Dances" [at 1:39 of this video.]
Click http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/wilsonpickett/landof1000dances.html for the lyrics to this song.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
These comments are given in chronological order based on their publishing date by year with the oldest comments given first. I've assigned numbers for referencing purposes only.
2014
1. Hot80s
"love it. where was this concert held? tks"
**
Reply
2. Paul White
"In mother Africa!!! I believe Ike and Tina were on this bill as well, though I'm not sure who else."
**
Reply
3. Julio César Báez Aguilar (julianozain)
"Soul To Soul concert held in Accra, Ghana, on 6 March 1971.. Friendly greetings!!"
**
Paul White
4. "Looks like Ringo Starr got his answer... Rest on Mr. Pickett!!!"
**
5. THEMOJOMANsince1959
"Black Preacher Gospel Style. Which is good."
**
ASide45
6. "Wow! pure energy!! like a black church service..."
**
2015
[This comment is made in response to a question about why women at that Ghanaian concert didn't dance with men.]
7. Audrey Quaye
"I am from Ghana. Women would typically not mix in a crowd with men. I believe the concert was held at Black Star Square. The women would be sitting in the stands and not with the men in front of the stage. I hope this helps."
**
2016
Reply
8. Finley Quaye
"That's correct Audrey, Black Star Square aka Independence Square.
I suggested organizing a similar event for 6th March 2017."
**
9. Christopher Reinheimer
"+Audrey Quaye well hopefully now you are in America. where men will dance with you."
****
ADDENDUM - INFORMATION ABOUT THE SOUL TO SOUL CONCERT
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_to_Soul_(film)
"Soul To Soul was a concert held in Accra, Ghana, on 6 March 1971, by an array of mostly American R&B, soul, rock, and jazz musicians. It is also the name of a 1971 documentary film recording the concert.[1]
Concert
Ghana, after declaring its Independence on 6 March 1957, had made a variety of efforts to connect with African diasporans, some of whom — including Maya Angelou, W. E. B. Du Bois and George Padmore — lived in the West African nation for a time. In the mid-1960s, Angelou approached the government of Kwame Nkrumah and suggested bringing a number of African-American artists to Ghana for the annual independence celebrations. Nkrumah was deposed before action could be taken, but when the American father-son team of Ed Mosk and Tom Mosk approached the Ghana Arts Council in 1970 with an idea for a concert, the Council agreed. A massive 1970 concert by James Brown in Lagos, Nigeria, had prompted the Mosks' confidence in the idea.
Of the musicians invited to perform, Wilson Pickett was by far the biggest star in Ghana, where he was known as "Soul Brother No. 2." (James Brown was, of course, Soul Brother No. 1.)"...
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest revision: September 10, 2018
This pancocojams post showcases a video of Soul singer Wilson Pickett's performance of his hit song "Land Of A Thousand Dances" at the 1971 Soul To Soul concert in Ghana, West Africa.
The focus of this post is the similarity between Wilson Pickett's introduction of "Land Of A Thousand Dances" and the cadence flow, call & response, and shouting oratorical style that is commonly associated with a number of Black [African American] preachers.
This post includes a definition of the oratory style called "whooping" that is associated with some African American preachers.
My transcription of that introduction is included in this post. Additions and corrections of that transcription are welcome.
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post. Some of these comments refer to the oratorical style that Wilson Pickett used for that introduction.
The Addendum to this post provides some information about the 1971 Soul to Soul concert in Ghana, West Africa.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Wilson Pickett for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/04/black-preaching-art-of-whooping-in.html for a pancocojams post which features a video of a Black pastor's sermon closing and includes information about the style of Black sermonizing called "whooping".
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE BLACK (AFRICAN AMERICAN ORATORY STYLE CALLED "WHOOPING"
"Whooping" (also given as "hooping") is a term for a Black (African American) oratorical and homiletic (sermon) style that some pastors use at the end of their sermons to heighten the spirit and emotions of their congregations. Whooping is described as pastors speaking in a call & response, sing/song cadence. Responses to the pastor's words ("call") are from the congregation which might repeat his or her words, and/or shout "Amen!", "Preach!", "Yes, Lord" or other words and phrases. Responses also include riffs played by the pianist, organist, and snare drummer. In addition to preaching in that sing/song style, pastors who whoop toward the end of their sermons may also sing during that whoop.
"Whooping" is most often associated with African American pastors, particularly COGIC (Church Of God In Christ) pastors and some Baptist and Missionary Baptist pastors.
Whooping is negatively described as "screaming".
The word "whooping" ("hooping") may have come from the term "whooping and hollering".
Here are definitions for the word "whoop":
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whoop
Definition of whoop
"to shout loudly in an enthusiastic or excited way"
**
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/hollering
"hollering
"verb (used without object)
1. to cry aloud; shout; yell"
****
INFORMATION ABOUT WILSON PICKETT AND "LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Pickett
"Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American R&B, soul and rock and roll singer and songwriter.
A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, many of which crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100. Among his best-known hits are "In the Midnight Hour" (which he co-wrote), "Land of 1,000 Dances", "Mustang Sally", and "Funky Broadway".[2]
Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, in recognition of his impact on songwriting and recording.[3]"...
****
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_a_Thousand_Dances
"Land of a Thousand Dances" (or "Land of 1000 Dances") is a song written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1963. The song is famous for its "na na na na na" hook, which Cannibal & the Headhunters added in their 1965 version, which reached number 30 on the Billboard chart.[1] The song was covered by Danny & the Memories. Thee Midniters, an American group out of East Los Angeles, was one of the first Chicano rock bands to cover "Land of a Thousand Dances", scoring a local hit in 1965. The song's best-known version was Wilson Pickett's 1966 recording on his album, which became an R&B #1 and his biggest ever pop hit. Some releases of the song credit Antoine "Fats" Domino as a co-author of the song with Kenner. Domino agreed to record the song in exchange for half of the song's royalties."
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Wilson Pickett - Land of a Thousand Dances (HQ)
Edmilson Guermacoski, Published on Dec 16, 2013
A ALMA DA SOUL MUSIC.
****
TRANSCRIPTION OF THE INTRODUCTION TO "LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES"*
(at the 1971 Soul to Soul concert)
I was over in England
About a year ago
Doin the Tom Jones [show]
And ah fella dropped by by the name Ringo.
Ringo began to ask me some questions.
He said, “Pickett, you’ve been all around the world
singin about a thing called soul
He said, can you pleeese tell me
what is soul?
I looked around at him
I said “Ringo, I said
Sooooul ain't nuthin' but a feelin' .
He said, “How do you know? How do you know when you get it?”
I said “It gets in your haaaands.
It makes you clap your haaands.
[audience claps hands and exclaimsye]
Oh yes.
I heard ah sista say
“It got in my feeet.
And I had to I had to move my feeet.
Let me hear you say “Yeeeah!”
[audience shouts Yeah!]
How many of you think you got soul tonight, lemme see your hands
[audience raises one hand]
Yeaaaaaaaaaaah!
Now you got it tonight. Lemme see ya raise your hands.
{audience raises one hand]
Lawd have mercy.
I’m feelin pretty good right now.
-snip-
*This is my transcription of this introduction. Additions and corrections are welcome.
The band accompanies Pickett's words during that introduction by playing riffs throughout this introduction. This manner of musical accompaniment is customary in many African American churches.
After that last line, Wilson Pickett immediately starts singing "Land Of A Thousand Dances" [at 1:39 of this video.]
Click http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/wilsonpickett/landof1000dances.html for the lyrics to this song.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
These comments are given in chronological order based on their publishing date by year with the oldest comments given first. I've assigned numbers for referencing purposes only.
2014
1. Hot80s
"love it. where was this concert held? tks"
**
Reply
2. Paul White
"In mother Africa!!! I believe Ike and Tina were on this bill as well, though I'm not sure who else."
**
Reply
3. Julio César Báez Aguilar (julianozain)
"Soul To Soul concert held in Accra, Ghana, on 6 March 1971.. Friendly greetings!!"
**
Paul White
4. "Looks like Ringo Starr got his answer... Rest on Mr. Pickett!!!"
**
5. THEMOJOMANsince1959
"Black Preacher Gospel Style. Which is good."
**
ASide45
6. "Wow! pure energy!! like a black church service..."
**
2015
[This comment is made in response to a question about why women at that Ghanaian concert didn't dance with men.]
7. Audrey Quaye
"I am from Ghana. Women would typically not mix in a crowd with men. I believe the concert was held at Black Star Square. The women would be sitting in the stands and not with the men in front of the stage. I hope this helps."
**
2016
Reply
8. Finley Quaye
"That's correct Audrey, Black Star Square aka Independence Square.
I suggested organizing a similar event for 6th March 2017."
**
9. Christopher Reinheimer
"+Audrey Quaye well hopefully now you are in America. where men will dance with you."
****
ADDENDUM - INFORMATION ABOUT THE SOUL TO SOUL CONCERT
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_to_Soul_(film)
"Soul To Soul was a concert held in Accra, Ghana, on 6 March 1971, by an array of mostly American R&B, soul, rock, and jazz musicians. It is also the name of a 1971 documentary film recording the concert.[1]
Concert
Ghana, after declaring its Independence on 6 March 1957, had made a variety of efforts to connect with African diasporans, some of whom — including Maya Angelou, W. E. B. Du Bois and George Padmore — lived in the West African nation for a time. In the mid-1960s, Angelou approached the government of Kwame Nkrumah and suggested bringing a number of African-American artists to Ghana for the annual independence celebrations. Nkrumah was deposed before action could be taken, but when the American father-son team of Ed Mosk and Tom Mosk approached the Ghana Arts Council in 1970 with an idea for a concert, the Council agreed. A massive 1970 concert by James Brown in Lagos, Nigeria, had prompted the Mosks' confidence in the idea.
Of the musicians invited to perform, Wilson Pickett was by far the biggest star in Ghana, where he was known as "Soul Brother No. 2." (James Brown was, of course, Soul Brother No. 1.)"...
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Wilson Pickett- "Ninety Nine And A Half Won't Do" (example & lyrics)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases Wilson Pickett's Rhythm & Blues' version of the Gospel song "99 1/2 Won't Do". Selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Dorothy Love Coates, the composer of the Gospel song that serves as the basis of this song and thanks to the composers and performer of this song. Thanks also to the producer of this video, and the publisher of this video on YouTube. Thanks also to the transcriber/s of this song.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/three-example-of-gospel-song-99-12-wont.html for a pancocojams post on three Gospel versions of this song.
Also click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/mavis-staples-99-12-wont-do-civil.html for a pancocojams post of Mavis Staples' civil rights version of "99 1/2 Won't Do".
****
LYRICS: NINETY NINE AND A HALF WON'T DO [R&B Version]
(composers: Wilson Pickett, Wilson Jr./cropper, Steve/floyd, Eddie Lee)
I got to have all your love
Night and day
Not just a little part
But all of your heart, sugar
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it
Don't be led in the wrong direction
To start this thing off right
A man need a little love and affection
Yes he do, now
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it, all right
Lookin' here
We got to bring it all down
Start gettin' it right
We got to stop this messin' around
And keep the thing up tight
Yes we do, now
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it, all right sugar
Got to have a hundred
Well, got to have a hundred
All right
Ooh, I must do, I must do
I must do now
Oh! Got to have a hundred
Yeah, got to have a hundred
Oh! Got to have a hundred, too right
Got to have a hundred, now, oh
Source:
https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tp6v55zymsmxake2dozybfy47oy?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-songlyrics
****
FEATURED VIDEO: Wilson Pickett Ninety Nine And A Half Won't Do (1966)
Published on Jan 19, 2013
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
Bansenshukai9, 2015
"This song is on the excellent soundtrack of the even more excellent movie, A Bronx Tale.
Great Film.
Great Song.
Great Cast."
-snip-
Here's information about the 1993 movie Bronx Tale [The Bronx is a borough of New York City) from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bronx_Tale
"A Bronx Tale is a 1993 American crime drama film set in the Bronx during the turbulent era of the 1960s. It was the directorial debut of Robert De Niro that follows a young Italian-American teenager in The Bronx, New York as his path in life is guided by two father figures, played by De Niro as his biological father and Chazz Palminteri as a local mafia boss."
**
wowserstar, 2015
"muscle shoals band roger hawkins on drums tommy cogbill on bass chips moran on guitar and spooner Oldham on paino"
**
Reply ·
W Blaine Pennington, 2015
"+wowserstar Thanks, for the education, wowserstar, good to know the real deal! Appreciate it! Who was on horns, do you know?"
**
Reply ·
wurli64, 2015
"+W Blaine Pennington
Although Pickett recorded many tracks at Fame Studio, this one was done at Stax in Memphis on 12/20/65. Added to the list of musicians above was Isaac Hayes on piano. Source: pamphlet from 2 CD Rhino release: Wilson Pickett A Man and A Half. In addition to that, Roger Hawkins' style is quite different from the drums on this track, and Cropper's guitar work is likewise distinctive. A terrific groove with Stax written all over it."
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post showcases Wilson Pickett's Rhythm & Blues' version of the Gospel song "99 1/2 Won't Do". Selected comments from this video's discussion thread are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Dorothy Love Coates, the composer of the Gospel song that serves as the basis of this song and thanks to the composers and performer of this song. Thanks also to the producer of this video, and the publisher of this video on YouTube. Thanks also to the transcriber/s of this song.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/three-example-of-gospel-song-99-12-wont.html for a pancocojams post on three Gospel versions of this song.
Also click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/09/mavis-staples-99-12-wont-do-civil.html for a pancocojams post of Mavis Staples' civil rights version of "99 1/2 Won't Do".
****
LYRICS: NINETY NINE AND A HALF WON'T DO [R&B Version]
(composers: Wilson Pickett, Wilson Jr./cropper, Steve/floyd, Eddie Lee)
I got to have all your love
Night and day
Not just a little part
But all of your heart, sugar
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it
Don't be led in the wrong direction
To start this thing off right
A man need a little love and affection
Yes he do, now
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it, all right
Lookin' here
We got to bring it all down
Start gettin' it right
We got to stop this messin' around
And keep the thing up tight
Yes we do, now
Ninety-nine and a half just won't do
Oh, no, no, just won't get it, all right sugar
Got to have a hundred
Well, got to have a hundred
All right
Ooh, I must do, I must do
I must do now
Oh! Got to have a hundred
Yeah, got to have a hundred
Oh! Got to have a hundred, too right
Got to have a hundred, now, oh
Source:
https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tp6v55zymsmxake2dozybfy47oy?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-songlyrics
****
FEATURED VIDEO: Wilson Pickett Ninety Nine And A Half Won't Do (1966)
Published on Jan 19, 2013
-snip-
Selected comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
Bansenshukai9, 2015
"This song is on the excellent soundtrack of the even more excellent movie, A Bronx Tale.
Great Film.
Great Song.
Great Cast."
-snip-
Here's information about the 1993 movie Bronx Tale [The Bronx is a borough of New York City) from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bronx_Tale
"A Bronx Tale is a 1993 American crime drama film set in the Bronx during the turbulent era of the 1960s. It was the directorial debut of Robert De Niro that follows a young Italian-American teenager in The Bronx, New York as his path in life is guided by two father figures, played by De Niro as his biological father and Chazz Palminteri as a local mafia boss."
**
wowserstar, 2015
"muscle shoals band roger hawkins on drums tommy cogbill on bass chips moran on guitar and spooner Oldham on paino"
**
Reply ·
W Blaine Pennington, 2015
"+wowserstar Thanks, for the education, wowserstar, good to know the real deal! Appreciate it! Who was on horns, do you know?"
**
Reply ·
wurli64, 2015
"+W Blaine Pennington
Although Pickett recorded many tracks at Fame Studio, this one was done at Stax in Memphis on 12/20/65. Added to the list of musicians above was Isaac Hayes on piano. Source: pamphlet from 2 CD Rhino release: Wilson Pickett A Man and A Half. In addition to that, Roger Hawkins' style is quite different from the drums on this track, and Cropper's guitar work is likewise distinctive. A terrific groove with Stax written all over it."
****
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Wilson Pickett Wasn't An Uncle Sugar But He Sure Did Sing Some Wickedly Sweet Songs
This post showcases the song "Sugar Sugar" and six other songs by R&B singer Wilson Pickett. I thought about the song "Sugar Sugar" when I read this recent comment that Former Arkansas Governor, present Republican talking head Mike Huckabee made to the Republican National Committee's winter meeting yesterday (January 23, 2014):
"...if the Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar* coming in and providing or [sic] them a prescription each month for birth control because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it, let’s take that discussion all across America because women are far more than Democrats have made them to be."
*I added italics to highlight those words.
The referent "Uncle Sugar" was used prior to Mike Huckabee's inclusion of it in his speech to the RNC. Of course, the name Uncle Sugar replaces the "Sam" in Uncle Sam with the word "sugar". "Uncle Sam" is the name of the American iconic figure who is said to represent the government of the United States (the US).
Urbandictionary.com has two entries for "Uncle Sugar", one from 2007 and the other from 2010. The 2007 entry from Rich Chick is:
"Another word for Uncle Sam. The concept that Uncle Sam is everyone's [sic] pimp because he takes his share of your money before you get your share.
Uncle Sugar always gets his cut, he has taken quite bite out of my paycheck.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Uncle%20Sugar
The 2010 definition of Uncle Sam which was sent in by Gladius Rutter is (in part) "An alternate meaning for the U.S. government, instead of Uncle Sam, particularly when handing out sweets. Usually said facetiously or sarcastically."
-snip-
Huckabee's limited definition of "Uncle Sugar" is probably "a man who doles out birth control paid for by the government so that females can have sex whenever they want to."
Mike Huckabee probably thought he was being clever when he used the term "Uncle Sugar". But it's likely that Huckabee didn't realize-and maybe still doesn't realize- that his referent "Uncle Sugar" is being used facetiously as yet more proof that Republicans just don't understand issues that concern women.*
Now don't get it twisted- I definitely don't think that Wilson Pickett was an Uncle Sugar. But he was wicked** and he sure did sing some wickedly sweet songs. So I think it's fitting that this post showcases some of those sweet, Wicked Wilson Pickett songs.
*Click http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2014/01/23/mike-huckabee-and-womens-uncontrolled-libido-or-uncle-sugar/ for a woman's take down of Huckabee's comment.
** Read my tongue in cheek definition of "wicked" and "sweet" below. Also click http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/pickett.htm and http://delafont.com/music_acts/Wilson-Pickett.htm for comments about the reasons Wilson Pickett was called "Wicked Wilson Pickett".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes -notice that I didn't include "for political purposes";o)
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT WILSON PICKETT
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Pickett
"Wilson Pickett (March 18, 1941 – January 19, 2006) was an American R&B, soul and rock and roll singer and songwriter.
A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which hit the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100. Among his best known hits are "In the Midnight Hour" (which he co-wrote), "Land of 1,000 Dances", "Mustang Sally", and "Funky Broadway".[1]
The impact of Pickett's songwriting and recording led to his 1991 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[2]"
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FEATURED VIDEOS
Example #1: wilson pickett - Sugar sugar (1969)
pandachann, Uploaded on Mar 11, 2010
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar,_Sugar
""Sugar, Sugar" is a pop song written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim. It was performed by The Archies, a band formed by a group of fictional teenagers in the television cartoon series The Archie Show. It reached number one in the US in 1969 and stayed there for four weeks."
-end of quote-
Here's a link to The Archies - Sugar, Sugar (Original 1969 Music Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o
And here are the lyrics to that song as found in the summary statement of the sound file which is embedded above.
LYRICS: SUGAR SUGAR
Sugar, ah honey honey
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
Honey, ah sugar sugar
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
I just can't believe the loveliness of loving you
(I just can't believe it's true)
I just can't believe the one to love this feeling to.
(I just can't believe it's true)
Ah sugar, ah honey honey
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
Ah honey, ah sugar sugar
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
When I kissed you, girl, I knew how sweet a kiss could be
(I know how sweet a kiss can be)
Like the summer sunshine pour your sweetness over me
(Pour your sweetness over me)
Sugar, pour a little sugar on it honey,
Pour a little sugar on it baby
I'm gonna make your life so sweet, yeah yeah yeah
Pour a little sugar on it oh yeah
Pour a little sugar on it honey,
Pour a little sugar on it baby
I'm gonna make your life so sweet, yeah yeah yeah
Pour a little sugar on it honey,
Ah sugar, ah honey honey
You are my candy girl
And you've got me wanting you.
Oh honey, honey, sugar sugar ..
You are my candy girl ..
****
Example #2: Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour
Cristian Espinoza, Uploaded on Aug 22, 2009
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Example #3: mustang sally - wilson pickett
youknowstone, Uploaded on Mar 19, 2008
wicked live
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Example #4: wilson pickett - funky broadway
youknowstone, Uploaded on Mar 19, 2008
wicked live
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Example #5: Wilson Pickett - Land Of 1000 Dances - Live `66
יעקב בכר·, Published on Mar 25, 2013
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Example #6: I'M IN LOVE / WILSON PICKETT
Sun. Hutchney, Uploaded on Jan 28, 2010
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Example #7: WILSON PICKET BRING IT ON HOME TO ME
raymondbarber1001, Uploaded on Sep 20, 2009
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HERE'S LINKS TO SOME OTHER "SWEET" PANCOCOJAMS POSTS
"Sugar Mamas - Sweet Nicknames For Black Females"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/11/sugar-mamas-sweet-nicknames-for-black.html
**
"Sugar Daddies - Sweet Nicknames For Black Males"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/11/sugar-daddies-sweet-nicknames-for-black.html
**
""Sweet Home Chicago" - Various Artists (including President Obama singing)"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/01/sweet-home-chicago-various-performers.html
**
"What "Sugar" Means In Soca Music"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-sugar-means-in-soca-music.html
****
Thanks to Wilson Pickett for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who published these videos on YouTube.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Four Examples Of "Stagger Lee"
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases sound files or videos of Mississippi John Hurt, Lloyd Price, Taj Mahal, and Wilson Pickett singing versions of the Blues/R&B classic "Stagger Lee".
Information about this song are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All rights remain with their owners.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "STAGGER LEE"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagger_Lee_(song)
Warning: That Wikipedia page includes profanity.
-snip-
From http://reocities.com/SunsetStrip/stage/8376/stagger_lee_1.html
Click http://www.planetslade.com/stagger-lee2.html for multiple pages of information about Stagger Lee Shelton, including the following theory:
Also, click http://www.stackolee.net/ for a list of hundreds of recordings of "Stagger Lee" ("Stack O Lee").
FEATURED SONG EXAMPLES
Example #1: Mississippi John Hurt - The Ballad Of Stagger Lee
Uploaded by JTgrimteam on Jul 20, 2010
In My Opinion ; One Of the Best And Most Genuine Musical Pieces Ever Recorded. Mississippi John Was an Amazing Musician And Human Being.
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Example #2: Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
Uploaded by RoverTCB on Apr 29, 2008
The first censored rock n roll record to be a n°1 hit
-snip-
The Wikipedia page whose link is given above includes information about how Dick Clark, the host of the television program "American Bandstand" made Lloyd Price change the lyrics of this song for that show's performance.
****
Example #3: STAGGER LEE (1969) by Taj Mahal
Uploaded by wilsonmcphert on Nov 5, 2009
...I have done a slideshow video for this song and to try and help tell the story.
****
Example #4: stagger lee - wilson picket
youknowstone, Uploaded on Mar 19, 2008
wicked live
-snip-
This singer's nickname was "The Wicked Wilson Pickett".
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
My thanks to the composer/s of this song. My thanks also to the vocalists, and musicians featured in these sound files and this video. Thanks also to the uploaders of these sound files & video, and to those whose comments are quoted in this post.
Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post showcases sound files or videos of Mississippi John Hurt, Lloyd Price, Taj Mahal, and Wilson Pickett singing versions of the Blues/R&B classic "Stagger Lee".
Information about this song are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All rights remain with their owners.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "STAGGER LEE"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stagger_Lee_(song)
"Stagger Lee", also known as "Stagolee", "Stackerlee", "Stack O'Lee", "Stack-a-Lee" and several other variants, is a popular folk song based on the murder of William "Billy" Lyons by Stagger Lee Shelton...-snip-
The first published version of the song was by folklorist John Lomax in 1910. The song was well known in African American communities along the lower Mississippi River by the 1910s.
Before World War II, it was commonly known as "Stack O'Lee"... In Mississippi John Hurt's version, as in all such pieces, there are many (sometimes anachronistic) variants on the lyrics. Several older versions give Billy's last name as "De Lyons" or "Deslile".
Warning: That Wikipedia page includes profanity.
-snip-
From http://reocities.com/SunsetStrip/stage/8376/stagger_lee_1.html
The legend of Stagger Lee is one of the most important and enduring stories from American folklore. Although it has had some popularity with the white community, it is a story that comes from the African-American oral tradition. There are many different versions of the tale, but here is the general storyline. Stagger Lee (also known as Stagolee, Stackerlee, Stackalee etc.) gets into a dispute with a man named Billy DeLyon (also known as Billy the Lion or Billy Lyons) after losing his Stetson hat to Billy while gambling. Stagger Lee pulls a gun (sometimes identified as a .45, other times as a "smokeless .44") on Billy who then pleads to be spared for the sake of his wife and children. Showing no compassion at all, Stagger Lee cold-bloodedly shoots and kills his opponent...-snip-
Click http://www.planetslade.com/stagger-lee2.html for multiple pages of information about Stagger Lee Shelton, including the following theory:
"Shelton may have taken his 'Stack Lee' nickname from a white man called Stacker Lee, whose father owned the famous Lee Steam Line of riverboats...Travelling up and down the Mississippi between St Louis and New Orleans, he became well-known as a gambler, a hell-raiser and a ladies' man. He made a habit of fathering illegitimate children wherever his boat put in, often by black or mixed-race women.-snip-
It's very unlikely that Shelton was really Stacker Lee's son - the dates and locations are all wrong for that - but he may well have adopted his nickname to hint at that possibility. Shelton's light skin, described by Jefferson Penitentiary as a “mulatto complexion”, would have made it easy for people to believe he had a white father. Who could blame him for hinting that father was the glamorous son of a powerful, rich family?
Also, click http://www.stackolee.net/ for a list of hundreds of recordings of "Stagger Lee" ("Stack O Lee").
FEATURED SONG EXAMPLES
Example #1: Mississippi John Hurt - The Ballad Of Stagger Lee
Uploaded by JTgrimteam on Jul 20, 2010
In My Opinion ; One Of the Best And Most Genuine Musical Pieces Ever Recorded. Mississippi John Was an Amazing Musician And Human Being.
****
Example #2: Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
Uploaded by RoverTCB on Apr 29, 2008
The first censored rock n roll record to be a n°1 hit
-snip-
The Wikipedia page whose link is given above includes information about how Dick Clark, the host of the television program "American Bandstand" made Lloyd Price change the lyrics of this song for that show's performance.
****
Example #3: STAGGER LEE (1969) by Taj Mahal
Uploaded by wilsonmcphert on Nov 5, 2009
...I have done a slideshow video for this song and to try and help tell the story.
****
Example #4: stagger lee - wilson picket
youknowstone, Uploaded on Mar 19, 2008
wicked live
-snip-
This singer's nickname was "The Wicked Wilson Pickett".
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS
My thanks to the composer/s of this song. My thanks also to the vocalists, and musicians featured in these sound files and this video. Thanks also to the uploaders of these sound files & video, and to those whose comments are quoted in this post.
Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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