Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 192 Wilson Pickett

What would be the first thing you think of if I said the name Wilson Pickett to you? I'm guessing that the very first song that comes to your mind is In The Midnight Hour.

On this day in musical history Atlantic Records released one of The Greatest Soul Singles Ever, catalogue number 45-2289 (US) and AT.4036 (UK).

In The Midnight Hour has been covered by many artists down through the years including: Ace Cannon (instrumental) (album Memphis Golden Hits/ 1967), Archie Bell & the Drells (album Tighten Up/ 1968), the Chambers Brothers (album The Time Has Come/ 1967), Chris Farlowe (EP Farlowe in the Midnight Hour/ 1965), the Jam (album This is the Modern World/ 1977), Bob Kuban and the In-Men (album Look Out For the Cheater/ 1966), Delbert McClinton (album Plain' From The Heart/ 1981), the Righteous Brothers (album Soul & Inspiration/ 1966), Johnny Rivers (album ...And I Know You Wanna Dance/ 1966), Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (album Breakout...!!!/ 1966), Guy Sebastian (album The Memphis Album/ 2007), James Taylor (album Covers/ 2008), Them (album Them/ 1970), Roxy Music (album Flesh and Blood/ 1980) Tina Turner (album Tina Live in Europe/ 1988), Mary Wells (album The Two Sides of Mary Wells/ 1966), The Commitments (album The Commitments Soundtrack/ 1991), and The Young Rascals The Young Rascals/ 1966). There's probably loads more versions of it as well that I haven't mentioned.

In The Midnight Hour was Wilson Pickett's first major Top 30 Single in the USA and it peaked at #12 here in the UK.    

In The Midnight Hour / I'm Not Tired

Atlantic

Produced by Jim Stewart and Steve Cropper

Released 10th July 1965

US Chart #21

UK Chart #12

In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett

Atlantic

 Released 1965

Track 2 on the album Teardrops Will Fall is missing from the Playlist as I can't seem to find a version on You Tube.

Personnel: Wilson Pickett (vocals); Cissy Houston, Eddie Floyd, Ben Night, Joe Stubbs, Sir Mack Rice, The Falcons (vocals); Cornell Dupree, Lance Finnie, Steve Cropper, Robert Ward, Wally Richardson (guitar); Donald "Duck"Dunn (bass); Andrew Love, Joseph Grimaldi, Charles "Packy" Axton (tenor saxophone); Floyd Newman, Haywood Henry (baritone saxophone); Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Jack Cortner, Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Tony Studd (bass trombone); Joe Hall , Ivory Joe Hunter, Paul Griffin (piano); Al Jackson, Jr., Panama Francis, Todd Sommer (drums). 

 

Wilson Pickett's first Atlantic album, In The Midnight Hour, is actually a collection of singles recorded between 1961 and '65 (the year of the record's release). Even on the earliest track, "I Found a Love" - recorded by the Falcons, Pickett's first group, which also featured star-to-be Eddie Floyd - the singer's fierce, gospel-influenced style seems fully formed. Two other singles by the Falcons are included here, as are the R&B hit "Don't Fight It," "I'm Gonna Cry" (co-penned by Don Covay), and numerous tracks with the Stax Rhythm Section (who helped craft some of the finest soul music of the '60s).

Pickett co-authored almost every song on the collection with a host of other songwriters. One such collaboration was with Stax session guitarist Steve Cropper, which yielded "I'm Not Tired," the aforementioned "Don't Fight It," and the magnificent title track. An all-time soul classic, "In the Midnight Hour" boasts a loping bass line, punchy horn charts, and fiery vocals that have been reverently replicated by thousands of bands. Pickett's original, however, stands untouched.

Wilson Pickett with Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions

1999

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!