Friday, January 13, 2006

Chicago Blues, N'Awlins Style

Skip Easterling - I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man

Blue-eyed soulster James "Skip" Easterling's interesting story appears in this interview at the Soul Generation website, so I'll defer to that for information on him. His Huey "Piano" Smith-produced funk reworking of the Willie Dixon-penned blues standard "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" was released on Instant and was a strong regional hit in 1970 or '71, and for good reason. The tune employs a lightened version of the groove used in the King Floyd hit "Groove Me" (dig the flute) and Easterling's vocal soars through the classic lyrics (which are rearranged somewhat). It's a cooker!

(NOTE - Although it has not been my intent to follow along with the great New Orleans posts that have appeared on Soul Shower and as usual on Home of the Groove (see the links at right) - I literally scan my MP3 lists and go "hmmm that would sound good today"; I've got a post forthcoming about versions of Huey Meaux's "Go-Go Train" that I've been sitting on - I'm glad to be in their company all the same. Make sure to check out the good work these two blogs have been doing in presenting New Orleans soul and funk.)

1 comment:

John Maguire said...

keep 'em coming jason