Wiilie Mitchell RIP

[spyinthesky]

The veteran Record Producer (Al Green, Al Peebles, Rod Stewart and others amongst his clientele), Recording Artist ('That Drivin' Beat etc) and Muscian, died yesterday at 81 years of age.

Unlikely to be known to any young whippersnappers on this board but for those of us discerning music lovers out and about in the 60's/70's, his music was well regarded

Have a listen to his early stuff. Southern Soul exemplified

[exile on main street]

very sad news

[EastleighSoulBoy]

The Champion:

 

 

Soul Serenade:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZN10KhuKec&feature=related

 

That Driving Beat:

 

 

Then he produced this, Anne Peebles:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edN7zL54RCc

 

Then Al Green:

 

 

Al Green, succinct with this title:

 

 

R.I.P. 'Champ'.

[spyinthesky]

ESB

 

Thanks, as ever for your informative posts.

 

Didnt realise that Don Bryant did the vocals on 'That Driving Beat'

 

This track so reminiscent of the Stax recordings featuring the Bar Keys

[EastleighSoulBoy]

Hi Spy! Superb Obit in the Independent yesterday!

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/willie-mitchell-memphisbased-producer-arranger-and-songwriter-for-al-green-ann-peebles-and-wet-wet-wet-1861135.html

[spyinthesky]

ESB

As you say, the journo really knows his stuff.

 

Looking back thro' my record collection realised I had a copy of Al Green's 'Back Up Train' released before he became well known.

 

Think I probably listened to this track first on Mike Raven's R&B Show which was either on BBC Radio or Radio Luxemburg on a Sunday night at 7PM

 

As they say Nostalgia aint what it used to be!!

[Fowllyd]

Great music, great producer. Interesting to see that he worked with the legendary Sam Phillips; although Sun is (quite naturally) most strongly associated with rock 'n' roll greats like Elvis, Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, a number of great blues and R&B artists such as Howlin' Wolf and BB King also recorded there in the 1950s.

 

Thanks to Spy for the thread and ESB for the links.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

Great music, great producer. Interesting to see that he worked with the legendary Sam Phillips; although Sun is (quite naturally) most strongly associated with rock 'n' roll greats like Elvis, Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, a number of great blues and R&B artists such as Howlin' Wolf and BB King also recorded there in the 1950s.

 

Thanks to Spy for the thread and ESB for the links.

 

King Curtis & The Kingpins at their stonking best.

 

[Fowllyd]

King Curtis & The Kingpins at their stonking best.

 

 

Hot stuff indeed!

[sotonjoe]

Did he produce Al Green's "Let's Stay Together". I love that song ... it's an awesome backdrop to the scene featuring it in Pulp Fiction.

[Hamilton Saint]

Will probably be best remembered for his work with Al Green, eh?

[spyinthesky]

Did he produce Al Green's "Let's Stay Together". I love that song ... it's an awesome backdrop to the scene featuring it in Pulp Fiction.

 

You are correct. Fuller details contained within the Independent obit which is attached to one of ESB's earlier posts