95. Jay Reatard - Blood Visions
― bendy, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 18:28 (sixteen years ago) link
94. The Cramps - Gravest Hits
― bendy, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 18:29 (sixteen years ago) link
93. ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
― will, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 18:36 (sixteen years ago) link
bendy beat me to the Reatard love
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 18:37 (sixteen years ago) link
Wow, really? Awesome album!
― Bill Magill, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 18:42 (sixteen years ago) link
future thread: "100 Great Records You Had No Idea Were Recorded In Memphis"...
― henry s, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 18:47 (sixteen years ago) link
THe thread starter's name should be sonofstax.
― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 19:17 (sixteen years ago) link
92. "Disco Duck"
― whisperineddhurt, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 19:21 (sixteen years ago) link
91. "Ahab the Arab"
― will, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 19:25 (sixteen years ago) link
eddhurt beat me to my joek post
90. Elvis: any Sun single
― whatever, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 22:41 (sixteen years ago) link
89. 3-6 Mafia, 8ball & MJG, Young Buck - "Stay Fly" 88. Jack Oblivian - "I'm Too Old For You" 87. Booker T. & the MG's - "Time is Tight" 86. Knaughty Knights - "Death Has Come Over Me" 85. The Oblivians - "Live the Life" 84. Project PAt - "Chickenheads" 83. PAvement - "FAther To a Sister of Thought" 82. Al Green - Call Me 81. GBV - "The Official Ironmen Rally Song"
― will, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 22:46 (sixteen years ago) link
80.) All right. I'll do it: Pleased to Meet Me by the Replacements
― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 22:48 (sixteen years ago) link
79-77. big star
― tipsy mothra, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 22:58 (sixteen years ago) link
76 Grifters - Corolla Hoist/THUMBNAIL SKETCH (best b side ever) By the Grifters anyhow at least
75 Blue Moon - Elvis
― Fer Ark, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 23:58 (sixteen years ago) link
74. Charlie Feathers
― whatever, Thursday, 14 February 2008 00:50 (sixteen years ago) link
73. Ross Johnson, "Nudist Camp" (on the new Make It Stop! compilation of his Memphis singles--easily one of the year's best releases so far. 72. "Rattled by the Rush," Pavement
― whisperineddhurt, Thursday, 14 February 2008 00:51 (sixteen years ago) link
whisperineddhurt & Ross Johnson otm.
― will, Thursday, 14 February 2008 01:16 (sixteen years ago) link
71. James Carr, "The Dark End of the Street"
― Brad C., Thursday, 14 February 2008 01:43 (sixteen years ago) link
70. Isaac Hayes, "Walk On By"
― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 14 February 2008 02:19 (sixteen years ago) link
69. Isaac Hayes "Hung Up on My Baby"
― will, Thursday, 14 February 2008 02:23 (sixteen years ago) link
68. Howlin' Wolf, "Chocolate Drop" 67. Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, "Cry, Cry, Cry" 66. Billy Lee Riley and His Little Green Men, "Flying Saucers Rock and Roll"
― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 14 February 2008 02:28 (sixteen years ago) link
I was GOIng to SAVe thiS FOR NUMber one because it's the greatest song ever recorded but screw it
65. Ann Peebles, "I Can't Stand the Rain"
― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 14 February 2008 02:34 (sixteen years ago) link
64. Compulsive Gamblers, Gambling Days Are Over
― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 14 February 2008 02:59 (sixteen years ago) link
63. Thirteen - Big Star 62. Hold on, I'm Coming - Sam & Dave
― outdoor_miner, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:20 (sixteen years ago) link
64. Compulsive Gamblers, Gambling Days Are Over ^^^ yep
61. Compulsive Gamblers - Crystal Gazing, Luck Amazing 60. Silver Jews - Starlite Walker 59. ZZ Top - "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" 58. Jack O & The Tennessee Tearjerkers - Flipside Kid 57. Otis Redding - "Shake" 56. Fuck - Conduct
― will, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:27 (sixteen years ago) link
55. Wendy Rene - Bar-B-Q
― pauls00, Thursday, 14 February 2008 03:36 (sixteen years ago) link
54. The Gentrys, "Cinnamon Girl" (on Sun)
― whisperineddhurt, Thursday, 14 February 2008 04:47 (sixteen years ago) link
65. Ann Peebles, "I Can't Stand the Rain" OTM and add 53 I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down 52 One Way Street
― sonofstan, Thursday, 14 February 2008 07:49 (sixteen years ago) link
51. Lost Sounds Rat Brains and Micro-chips 50. Lost sounds Black Wave
― Nate Carson, Thursday, 14 February 2008 08:22 (sixteen years ago) link
49. King Curtis - "Memphis Soul Stew"
― mike t-diva, Thursday, 14 February 2008 09:09 (sixteen years ago) link
I want to nominate Shelby Bryant but I don't quite dare so I'm just gonna go with 49. The Clears - s/t
― a passing spacecadet, Thursday, 14 February 2008 09:11 (sixteen years ago) link
xposted, 48, sorry.
47. All The Way From Memphis - Mott The Hoople
(Well, maybe not, but, kinda, in a way ;) )
Memphis is of course the most overrated city in the history of music.
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 14 February 2008 09:14 (sixteen years ago) link
of course
― whatever, Thursday, 14 February 2008 09:16 (sixteen years ago) link
Memphis is of course the most overrated city in the history of music wal, Geir, it's the only city that ever made a record that beat yer damned old Beetles at their own game--Radio City, so maybe that's why you'd say that. It's the only place I've ever been in the USA where the "psychological freedom" that Sam Phillips spoke of in his infomercial was palpable underneath the haze of Bible Belt All-American cheez-whiz blandout that the city carries with it, making it impossible for people like you to ever figure it out. don't worry Geir, there's probably some rednecks down there trying to put together a Split Enz cover band at this very moment.
― whisperineddhurt, Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:11 (sixteen years ago) link
46.Sonic Youth <i>Washing Machine</i>
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:14 (sixteen years ago) link
Fuck me.
Black or African American persons, 61.4% White persons, percent, 34.4% Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, 3.0% Asian persons, percent, 1.5% Persons reporting some other race, 1.5% Persons reporting two or more races, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native persons, 0.2%
― Tom D., Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:16 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm down with Memphis...overrated legacy or not, it just feels like a city that births great music (as opposed to Nashville, a city which records great music)...
― henry s, Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:20 (sixteen years ago) link
US Maple - "Stuck" 45
― city worker, Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:34 (sixteen years ago) link
44. Eddie Floyd, "Big Bird"
― Sara Sara Sara, Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:47 (sixteen years ago) link
Memphis has too much rhythm, not enough melody for Geir.
― Jazzbo, Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:56 (sixteen years ago) link
That's one way of putting it
― Tom D., Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:57 (sixteen years ago) link
New Orleans too?
― henry s, Thursday, 14 February 2008 14:59 (sixteen years ago) link
by the by, the Robert Gordon-compiled It Came From Memphis is a pretty great overview, from Elder Beck to Big Star to Jon Spencer and everything in between...
― henry s, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:04 (sixteen years ago) link
That's one way of putting it Yes, I was being polite.
― Jazzbo, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:06 (sixteen years ago) link
I miss the real Geir.
― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:32 (sixteen years ago) link
Love this list & wish I could recall exactly which Led Zep track(s) were recorded there. (They're on II or III).
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:37 (sixteen years ago) link
My band just recorded a live session at Ardent Studios, and I seem to recall that the Led Zep stuff recorded there was for III.
― jaymc, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:48 (sixteen years ago) link
classic geir thread
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 17 March 2015 16:19 (nine years ago) link
x-post-Wow, Gordon found those tapes in the debris at Stax
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 18 March 2015 14:13 (nine years ago) link
I know, I think that's fascinating. I wandered around the vacant lot in the late 80s and brought home what I think is a piece of floor tile.
I love the riff in "Early Mar Keys 1" so much I think I'm going to try to learn it for my band.
― Losing swag by the second (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 14:19 (nine years ago) link
Thank you for that link, Dan -- those outtakes are great! And the lore of something being rescued from literal rubble is too much to resist.
― city worker, Wednesday, 18 March 2015 16:45 (nine years ago) link
I know! I just finished the book "Respect Yourself," and Gordon mentions the rescued tapes in the appendix. (Note to Hollywood: The Stax Records story is BEGGING to be made into a movie - but don't screw it up a la Cadillac Records.) I told my friend who owns a record store I'd pretty much rather listen to Mar Keys outtakes right now than anything released in 2015.
― Losing swag by the second (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 18:45 (nine years ago) link
lol Cadillac Records was SO bad
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 18 March 2015 18:51 (nine years ago) link
beyonce as etta oh yeah there's a match
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 18 March 2015 18:52 (nine years ago) link
I sometimes want to rewatch it to see if it could possibly be as bad as I thought the first time, but nah... life is too short.
― Losing swag by the second (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 18 March 2015 19:02 (nine years ago) link
Am curious about Memphis the musical, but this advertising blurb for it kinda scares me
From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, MEMPHIS is about a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves -- filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll. Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical,
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 15:45 (nine years ago) link
5 years after its NYC run, a touring version is coming to my hood, for theatre typical pricing--$50 an up
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 March 2015 15:47 (nine years ago) link
Never heard of that, would totally see. (But yes, the blurb is yucky.)
― Losing swag by the second (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 25 March 2015 16:12 (nine years ago) link
A Memphis legend is gone -- the mighty Chips Moman:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/music/music-titan-chips-moman-is-dead-at-79-35315a2e-5feb-5bbe-e053-0100007f82f0-382850711.html?d
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 14 June 2016 02:02 (seven years ago) link
RIP Chips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzcdNwIkmYA
― Brad C., Tuesday, 14 June 2016 02:07 (seven years ago) link
What? RIP :(
― Cry for a Shadow Blaster (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 14 June 2016 02:10 (seven years ago) link
Bummer. RIP
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 14 June 2016 02:12 (seven years ago) link
Would post "Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" but the only Youtube video I can find of it is super cheesy.
― Cry for a Shadow Blaster (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 14 June 2016 02:12 (seven years ago) link
RIP Chip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aikUcvbTQE
― earlnash, Tuesday, 14 June 2016 03:31 (seven years ago) link
RIP. Wow, From co-writing with Dan Penn "Dark End of the Street" to his American Studios involvement with , per that obit, the hits of Dusty Springfield ("Son of a Preacher Man"), Neil Diamond ("Sweet Caroline), Merrilee Rush ("Angel of the Morning") , B.J. Thomas ("Hooked on a Feeling"), Joe Tex ("I Gotcha"), Bobby Womack ("Fly Me To The Moon") and, perhaps most famously, Elvis Presley ("Suspicious Minds").,,,
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 14 June 2016 13:22 (seven years ago) link
don't think i ever knew his name but damn that's some resume
― we can be heroes just for about 3.6 seconds (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 16 June 2016 04:48 (seven years ago) link
yep
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 June 2016 15:21 (seven years ago) link
***** EAST COAST DATES ANNOUNCED *****Hey Los Angeles, been good to know ya. Carrying the MEMPHIS RENT PARTY eastward! Rare videos, reading, Q&A, signing. 5/14 – Baltimore, Creative Alliance 5/15 – Philadelphia, Penn Book Center – with Jonny Meister5/16 – DC Solid State Books 5/17 – Brooklyn, Kings County Distillery – with a set by Jonathan Kane’s February Thanks in LA to the Grammy Museum—really fun night, and to Skylight Books, great place! Further.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 11 May 2018 02:25 (six years ago) link
That’s Memphis author Robert Gordon for his new book
― curmudgeon, Friday, 11 May 2018 02:26 (six years ago) link
I am looking forward to this. Hoping to see rare video, like at the reading I saw him do years ago, with Alex Chilton and the Cramps on a Memphis tv local station, obscure blues folks , etc
― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 May 2018 14:10 (six years ago) link
Bookstore popup wasn't full set up for tech, so writer Robert Gordon just showed a few clips on his laptop-- Furry Lewis footage and also some Mudboy & the Neutrons film. Great stuff. Plus he talked about buying booze at 14 and bringing it to Lewis when he went to see him play at his home; an uh interesting lunch with James Carr; hanging with Tav Falco; Bobby Bland being unhappy with Gordon's pick of a roadhouse diner rather than Peabody's Hotel for an interview
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 May 2018 15:36 (six years ago) link
https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/reggie-young-renowned-guitarist-for-elvis-waylon-has-died/
RIP Reggie Young , Memphis and later Nashville guitarist
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 19 January 2019 17:42 (five years ago) link
He played on OV Wright and James Carr songs
http://reggieyoung.org/discography-project?fbclid=IwAR0oubOLN_RoVZydcHirsxk0OLxjjydwSvwHbtl5C8yw-GqPfeWyTl9Lu34
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 20 January 2019 06:31 (five years ago) link
Thanks. I knew he played on a lot of stuff, including those two artists but as often is the case with The Memphis Boys etc., am always finding new layers, like when I found out all about Noel Gilbert here: Stroke It Noel
― Spirit of the Voice of the Beehive (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 20 January 2019 14:08 (five years ago) link
https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2020/10/27/stan-kesler-obit-memphis-music-elvis-jerry-lee-lewis-sam-the-sham/3746810001/
RIP guitarist, songwriter, producer, engineer Stan Kesler who wrote “I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone," & "I Forgot to Remember to Forget” for Elvis, engineered soul classic “Dark End of the Street,” played w/ Jerry Lee Lewis on “Great Balls of Fire,” and produced Sam the Sham’s “Wooly Bully “.
Quite a life and never got that much attention
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 29 October 2020 16:27 (three years ago) link
https://nicklosseatonmedia.com/iconic-memphis-drummer-howard-grimes-pens-autobiography-timekeeper-my-life-in-rhythm-with-acclaimed-author-preston-lauterbach-out-july-1-on-devault-graves-books/
Memphis drummer Howard Grimes has written his autobiography Timekeeper: My Life In Rhythm with acclaimed writer Preston Lauterbach, which will be released on Devault Graves Books on July 1 as part of the imprint’s Great Music Book Series. Known as Bulldog, Grimes tells his unvarnished story, portraying mid-century Memphis music clubs, juke joints, and cafes in North Memphis and around Beale Street, with WDIA always on the airwaves. In a conversational mode, he unveils tales of recording with Rufus Thomas, William Bell, and Carla Thomas at STAX and on all of Al Green’s genre-defining work at Hi Records. He recounts his immortal percussion contributions to Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” and Ann Peebles’ “I Can’t Stand The Rain.”
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 3 April 2021 02:45 (three years ago) link
Wow
― It Is Dangerous to Meme Inside (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 3 April 2021 03:02 (three years ago) link
The Birth of Soul Music,” a documentary by Memphis filmmaker George W. Tillman Jr Premiered in Memphis last night I read, followed by a Bobby Rush concert
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 8 May 2021 14:28 (three years ago) link
The film highlights Memphis' The Club Paradise and talented entertainers that have performed there — Ray Charles, Johnny Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Rush, BB King, Albert King, Little Milton, Elvis Presley, Ike and Tina Turner, and the list goes on and on
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 8 May 2021 14:36 (three years ago) link
A great Memphis record by a local group:The Goodees - Jilted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNUIo4Exgyw
― Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) stan (morrisp), Saturday, 8 May 2021 16:26 (three years ago) link
Sadly seeing on Facebook now that Memphis drummer Howard Grimes has passed away. He played on Stax and Hi records and efforts by Al Green and Ann Peebles. He released a book about his life last year (mentioned upthread April 3 2021)
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 13 February 2022 00:04 (two years ago) link
Grimes said that Stax co-founder Jim Stewart welcomed Grimes into the fold and asked him to record on Carla Thomas’ first solo singles, including the smash, “Gee Whiz.” Grimes writes that they cut that song at nearby Royal Studios, with Willie Mitchell and Moman as co-producers, after an equipment malfunction at Stax.
Grimes also would play on William Bell’s “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” released in 1961 and the first hit on the newly christened Stax Records. Otis Redding cut the song in 1965 right there at Stax...he band also would back visiting acts such as B.J. Thomas and Dusty Springfield. That’s how tour man Jerry Williams spotted Grimes and asked him to tour with Paul Revere and the Raiders.
“I was the only Black (person) in the band at the time,” Grimes said.
But that was the late 1960s. After Grimes endured threats in Dallas and Montgomery, Alabama, he began to consider his safety.
Teenie Hodges had mentioned to Grimes that they needed a drummer at Willie Mitchell’s studio...
Then worked with OV Wright and then Al Green, Ann Peebles and more
https://staxmuseum.com/howard-grimes-and-memphis-greatest-grooves-july-21-book-signing-by-the-legendary-timekeeper-where-it-all-began/
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 13 February 2022 06:10 (two years ago) link
What an amazing history Grimes had. Sadly based on that link he had a down period ( after his 70s success) where he was living in his car for a bit. Glad his last years were up, playing with Bo-keys, backing Don Bryant & others, the book.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 13 February 2022 17:14 (two years ago) link
Hadn’t realized Grimes drummed on so many awesome OV Wright records
― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 February 2022 05:56 (two years ago) link
picked up the goodees' "condition red" 45 recently not realizing they were memphis gals. it's so good! great addition to the bad-boy-boyfriend-in-horrible-wreck subgenre.
― andrew m., Monday, 14 February 2022 15:03 (two years ago) link
https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/07/28/sidney-kirk-obit-isaac-hayes-sideman-jazz-pianist-memphis-history/10176527002/
RIP Sidney Kirk , Memphis sideman for Isaac Hayes, Denise Lasalle and others
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 2 August 2022 05:05 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAEHXTiQEmQ
RIP Spencer Wiggins who recorded for Goldwax and lived in Memphis till 1973 when he moved to Miami, Fl
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 15 February 2023 00:30 (one year ago) link
https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/02/15/spencer-wiggins-dies-obit-memphis-soul-music-history/69907734007/
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 February 2023 06:09 (one year ago) link
I need to dig into Wiggins catalog. Wiggins and a number of folks who need up on Stax all went to same high school
― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 February 2023 15:34 (one year ago) link
https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/05/23/floyd-newman-obit-stax-records-memphis-music/70249053007/
Floyd Newman Stax horn player who also played with BB King dead at 92
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 21:01 (one year ago) link
Or 91 per correction
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 21:03 (one year ago) link