Wilson Pickett, RIP

One of the greatest southern soul singers—a man who managed to turn even "Sugar Sugar" into something funky and soulful—has just died. If you want to explore his music, Rhino's double-disc collection A Man and a Half is probably the best place to start; if you want an armful of his wild-man personality, it comes through in the Pennebaker/Hegedus documentary Only the Strong Survive. Honor his memory at maximum volume.

Comments

[highnumber]

I hate to be morbid, but if we subscribe to the “in 3s” belief, following Lou Rawls and Wilson Pickett, who’s next?

[GILMORE]

highnumber:

While they maybe easy to lump together in retrospect, I dont think Lou and Wilson would have considered themselves playing quite the same ball game.

Lou was a tux-wearing crooner, and Wilson was a screaming freak. Lou worked with big name producers with strings and stuff, hollywood style (like David Axelrod et al). Wilson’s stuff was produced by Tom Dowd @ Atlantic i think, in more of a raw, southern format that in the early 60s would have been mainly for a black audience…

Anyway, if I take your question seriously, I’d say Rufus Thomas could close the trio.

[ralphus]

Caught a great documentary on PBS last night called “John Lennon’s Jukebox.” Wilson Pickett figured prominently.

They had a portable jukebox, the iPod of the ?60s that belonged to Lennon. It was filled with 45s of the American music that inspired him. They took the jukebox around and played it to the living artists that were in there. They talked about the songs. What the Beatles borrowed. What they changed. The segment with Steve Cropper talking about Stax Records, Booker T and the MGs, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett was just one of many amazing highlights.

Music lovers should keep their eyes out for this.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/lennon/

[GILMORE]

Oh fuck, Rufus Thomas is already dead! 2001 heart attack.

So much for that.

[GILMORE]

Look out Ike Turner, your days are numbered.

[highnumber]

Gilmore,
I am familiar with the works of Rawls and Pickett. We can call both of them soul singers, can we not?

So your money is on Ike, eh?
I’ll take James Brown in the dead pool.
(Dear Lord, please forgive me.)

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Midnight Hour, Yep.

[Jim Walsh]

No one could slow that Mustang down like the Wicked Pickett. Godspeed, bro…

[Douglas Fletcher]

who’s next

You are.

[highnumber]

Mr Fletcher:
Should I be watching my step?