Charles Earland's 'Black Talk' was recorded in a single session on December 15, 1969, at Van Gelder's Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. It was produced by Bob Porter, and engineered by Rudy Van Gelder (natch).
Charles' cover version of "More Today Than Yesterday", a song written by Pat Upton and performed by Spiral Starecase, of which Upton was the lead vocalist, was released as a single. It became a hit on black radio stations, as well as urban duke boxes. Subsequently, 'Black Talk' became one of the Prestige label's best-selling albums.
The title track loosely based on The Beatles’ "Eleanor Rigby" came about when Charles and Houston Person, on a gig, began playing the song with altered changes. Charles later composed the new melody in the studio. Idris Muhammad's drums on the song are nothing short of blistering. The title track is also featured in Ralph Bakshi's classic 1972 film, 'Fritz the Cat' and its respective soundtrack.
Another standout track is "The Mighty Burner"; a concise, swinging uptempo tune. "The Mighty Burner" would become Charles deserved the nickname.
Tracklist:
Black Talk
The Mighty Burner
Here Comes Charlie
Aquarius
More Today Than Yesterday
Along with Charles Earland's Hammond B3 Organ, are:
Houston Person on tenor saxophone
Virgil Jones on trumpet
Melvin Sparks on guitar
Idris Muhammad on drums
Buddy Caldwell on congas
As far as organ and soul jazz goes, it is hard to find an album that keeps the energy level so completely charged from start to finish. This is some of the coolest soul jazz from the 60s, maybe ever.
For the freeload, what are some of your favorite "cover songs", that to you, are better than the original?
My Favorite Things, hmmm, I could not think of any, wait,
ReplyDeleteThe Dickies have made a lot of songs better
The Dickies, Tra-la-la
The Dickies every day of the week
Some songs of Bob Dylan are in the cover version better than the original.
ReplyDeleteBest example: Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds.
Donny Hathaway's live "You've Got a Friend" is a killer take on Carole King's song—and the audience deserves special mention for amazing backup. Everybody and his brother has covered "Taxman," but I especially love Junior Parker's cover.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Junior Parker, Elvis' take on 'Mystery Train' bests the original. And if I stick to that dude, his take on 'Hound Dog' is superior BMT's. Al Green's take on 'How Can You Mend A Broken Heart' beats the Brothers Gibb version. I love Dylan (and JWH's one of my two fave Dylan albums, to boot!) and Pete Green's Fleetwood Mac, but the two classic rock staples covers of 'Watchtower' and 'Black Magic Woman' rule.
DeleteC in California
Speaking of Junior Parker, Elvis' cover of 'Mystery Train' surpasses Parker's. And Elvis' cover of 'Hound Dog' bests Big Mama Thornton's original. Al Green's 'How Can You Mend A Broken Heart' is better than the Brothers Gibb's original, and the classic rock radio staples of 'Black Magic Woman' and 'All Along The Watchtower' are better than the originals by Pete Green's Fleetwood Mac and Dylan (both of whom are favorite artists, so that's saying something...).
DeleteC in California
Thanks Babs, really looking forward to this one. I love the song More Today Than Yesterday & I don't recall ever hearing this version. Some favorite covers in no particular order:
ReplyDeleteWalk On By - The Stranglers
Heartbreaker (At The End Of Lonely Street) - Dread Zeppelin
Don't Do It - The Band
Shake Your Hips - The Rolling Stones
Bolero - Frank Zappa
There are of course many more.
Thanks Babs
Boz Scaggs' cover of Fenton Robinson's Loan Me a Dime
ReplyDeleteJames Booker's cover of James Wayne's Junco Partner
Johnny Adams' cover of Gladys Knight's Neither One of Us
Dr John cover of Leadbelly's Goodnight Irene
Dr. John with Rickie Lee Jones on 'Makin' Whoopee!'?
DeleteI've always been blown away by Dr. John's covers, specifically how he makes them his own.
His posthumous lp has a great version of the Travelin' Wilburies' End of the Line and also features Aaron Neville.
DeleteSpooky Tooth's version of I Am The Walrus. John Lennon said it was his favorite Beatles' cover.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked The Stones cover of Chuck Berry's 'Carol', from Ya-Yas.
ReplyDeleteIn a jazz vein, I love Hysear Don Walker's version of "Dear Prudence."
ReplyDeleteJimi Hendrix - All along the watchtower & also from Ya-Ya's the Stones version of Little Queenie.
ReplyDelete"Trane" making "My Favorite Things" sound hip.
ReplyDeleteOld Friends/Bookends by Marissa Nadler
ReplyDeleteOne by Cowboy Junkies
Ain't Got No...I Got Life by Le Volume Courbe
Estaté ("Summer") by Jon Hassell
The Mercy Seat - Johnny Cash
Harlem Nocturne by The Lounge Lizards
Paint It Black by Pascal Comelade
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) by Brian Eno
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction by Cat Power
Hang Me, Oh Hang Me by Oscar Isaac
Llorando (Roy Orbison's "Crying") by Rebekah Del Rio
Y'all Got most of'em...Clash's I Fought the Law, Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys Allons a Lafayette, Mott's All the Young Dudes, The Skunks (ATX) Sister Ray, The True Believers Foggy Notion/ Search And Destroy, Tom Rush Who Do You Love, Iggy Pop/Stooges various Louie Louies...I could go on and too often do...
ReplyDeleteHad no idea that Riley had covered Mott. Listening to it now!
DeleteSeveral great covers cited above, especially the two by Dr. Robert. I'll add "Hot Rod Lincoln," which gained new life from Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.
ReplyDeleteD in California
Rezillos - I Wanna Be Your Man
ReplyDeleteYardbirds - I Wish You Would
Pretty Things - Don't Bring Me Down
Rod Stewart - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
Showaddywaddy - Johnny Remember Me
Blues Brothers - Rawhide
Tina Turner - Acid Queen
Beatles - Twist & Shout
Lulu - Shout
Scrub the Pretty Things track it was written by their manager
DeleteLink
ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/zhxn5qgJJ5Y