Even in the ‘60s, to use such a deplorable term really, you could turn on the radio and hear Otis Redding or Wilson Pickett or Percy Sledge or Solomon Burke. These people were making popular records. Well, that’s no more.
~Bob Dylan (to Gary Hill, October 1993)
Today is the late Solomon Burke’s birthday. We celebrate the King of Rock ‘n’ Soul with three Bob Dylan covers.
Wikipedia:
Solomon Burke (March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010) was an American recording artist and vocalist, who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues as one of the founding fathers of soul music in the 1960s and a “key transitional figure in the development of soul music from rhythm and blues.
Birth name
James Solomon McDonald
Also known as
“The King of Rock ‘N Soul”
“The Bishop of Soul”
“King Solomon”
“The Wonder Boy preacher”
“Lord Solomon”
Born
March 21, 1940
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Died
October 10, 2010 (aged 70)
Haarlemmermeer,Netherlands
Genres
Blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, soul, rock and roll,country
Occupation(s)
Preacher, singer
Instruments
Vocals, guitar
Years active
1955–2010
Labels
Apollo Records
Atlantic Records
Bell Records
MGM Records
ABC Dunhill Records
Chess Records
Savoy Records
Rounder Records
Fat Possum Records
ANTI-
Shout! Factory
E1 Music
(oo) What you want
(oo) Baby, I got
(oo) What you need
(oo) Do you know I got it?
(oo) All I’m askin’
(oo) Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home
(just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)
–
While the inclusion of “Respect” — one of the truly seminal singles in pop history — is in and of itself sufficient to earn I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You classic status, Aretha Franklin’s Atlantic label debut is an indisputable masterpiece from start to finish.
~Jason Ankeny (allmusic.com)
Bobby Womack sings All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan
Facts Of Life is a 1973 R&B album recorded by Bobby Womack. for United Artists Records.
Released in June 8, 1973, it raced to No. 6 on the Billboard R&B Charts. It also charted at No. 37 on the Billboard U.S. Pop Charts. The album included the hit single “Nobody Wants You When You’re Down and Out” (which charted No. 2 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart).
It also included a very good cover version of Bob Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower:
It is my fondest wish that the gift of song that God has given me will flow from my soul to yours and help ease any burden that might weigh upon you.
~Bobby Womack
You gotta know when it’s time to hang up. But when I finally go, let me go out on stage, my perfect ending. Don’t let me go when I’m sick or asleep. Let me be in motion.
~Bobby Womack
Ron Wood inducts Bobby Womack Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
I don’t ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music.
~Smokey Robinson
Berry Gordy founded Motown Records, but one could argue that Smokey Robinson was the man who first pushed America’s most iconic soul music label toward greatness.
~Mark Deming (allmusic.com)
