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
43. Gin Blossoms, "Hey Jealousy"
― jaymc, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:49 (sixteen years ago) link
42. Toots and the Maytals, "Knock on Wood"
― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:53 (sixteen years ago) link
the third Led Zep had tracks that Terry Manning recorded at Ardent. compare that record with Big Star sometime. so, let's give Terry Manning his props for
41. Guess Things Happen That Way, on his Home Sweet Home from '70, a song by 40. Jack Clement, who captured Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On" in one take at Sun, and who wrote "It'll Be Me" later covered by The Move who used to to 39. Dusty Springfield imitations but not as good as her own imitation of herself in the sublime "Just a Little Lovin'" recorded at American Studios where 38. Bobby Womack recorded "It's Gonna Rain" with the American studio crew who also played on many of the 37. Box Tops' records but Gary Talley plays guitar on "Soul Deep" if not 36. "Neon Rainbow," surely one of the most sublime '60s singles and speaking of obscure Memphians in that overrated city 35. Cordell Jackson wrote many obscure but great rockabilly songs but none greater than Allan Page's "Dateless Night" although 34. "She's the One That Got It" also by Page comes close and let's not forget 33. Cordell's own "Rock and Roll Christmas," one stupid fucking song from Memphis.
― whisperineddhurt, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:56 (sixteen years ago) link
32. none of which have anything at all to do with Three 6 Mafia f/ UGK & Project Pat, "Sippin' on Some Syrup"
― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:57 (sixteen years ago) link
used to do Dusty Springfield imitations
― whisperineddhurt, Thursday, 14 February 2008 15:57 (sixteen years ago) link
did U2 record anything in Memphis, or did they just patronize Sun Studios during their Rattle And Hum days?
― henry s, Thursday, 14 February 2008 16:00 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm going to be really freaked out if Edd Hurt turns out to be my uncle who lives off Summer Ave.
― Pleasant Plains, Thursday, 14 February 2008 16:02 (sixteen years ago) link
Gotta admit, U2 is pretty good at patronizing.
31. Neil Diamond, Shilo
― Tom D., Thursday, 14 February 2008 16:05 (sixteen years ago) link
30. I'm Gonna Murder My Baby - Pat Hare 29. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Jerry Lee Lewis from wikipeida:According to the album liner notes, "I'm Gonna Murder My Baby" "is doubly morbid because he did just that in 1962 and spent the last 16 years of his life in prison." He also murdered a policeman sent to investigate.
― outdoor_miner, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:53 (sixteen years ago) link
He also murdered a policeman sent to investigate. This I did not know. Goddamn.
― Jazzbo, Thursday, 14 February 2008 17:57 (sixteen years ago) link
28. Wanna Meet The Scruffs?--The Scruffs
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 14 February 2008 18:01 (sixteen years ago) link
Weren't some tracks off Sticky Fingers recorded by moonlighting musicians in Memphis?
I'm going to be really freaked out if Edd Hurt turns out to be my uncle who lives off Summer Ave. I think he is really Jim Dickinson's more reserved younger brother.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 14 February 2008 18:08 (sixteen years ago) link
I thought that was Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 14 February 2008 19:00 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, you're right.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Thursday, 14 February 2008 19:15 (sixteen years ago) link
wal, Geir, it's the only city that ever made a record that beat yer damned old Beetles at their own game--Radio City,
I like Big Star but they surely never beat The Beatles at their own game. Nobody has, and the band who has come closest were from Oz rather than the American South.
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 14 February 2008 19:51 (sixteen years ago) link
(You don't beat The Beatles at their own game by substracting a few chords and singing in a more soul influenced way - rather the opposite)
― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 14 February 2008 19:53 (sixteen years ago) link
White Stripes: White Blood Cells Afghan Whigs: Gentleman Isaac Hayes: Black Moses Linda Heck: Dig My Own Hole Lucero: That Much Further West Chris Bell: I Am the Cosmos Reigning Sound: Timebomb High School Little Junior's Blue Flames: Mystery Train REM: Bittersweet Me
(Also, parts of Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space were recorded locally, but I'm not sure which ones)
I'll third that Ross Johnson shout-out above.
― deusner, Thursday, 14 February 2008 19:53 (sixteen years ago) link
Also, Black Sunday: Tronic Blanc
― deusner, Thursday, 14 February 2008 19:54 (sixteen years ago) link
All of Green was done at Ardent, right? I'll leave it to others to decide if it's "great" or not.
― will, Thursday, 14 February 2008 20:03 (sixteen 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 (five years ago) link
That’s Memphis author Robert Gordon for his new book
― curmudgeon, Friday, 11 May 2018 02:26 (five 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 (five 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 (five 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 (two years ago) link
Wow
― It Is Dangerous to Meme Inside (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 3 April 2021 03:02 (two 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 (two 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 (two 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 (two 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 (ten months ago) link
Or 91 per correction
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 May 2023 21:03 (ten months ago) link