Entertainment For Lively Minds
King Curtis
Posted by Steve Turner on 29 January 2010 - 9:41am.
Stumbled across King Curtis while listening to Allen Toussaint linked artists on Last FM. Really liked what I heard and then checked him out on Spotify - there was a pretty extensive choice of stuff to listen to. In fact it was pretty daunting. Anyone care to recommend any specific albums of his - my preference would be to veer away from the lighter side of his catalogue.
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Funny That
His name cropped up here. Wasn't Hendrix in His Group for a while.Note to self,Must get back copy of Crosstown Traffic.
http://funky16corners.lunarpages.net/?p=236
I'll ask my brother
He will have the answer.
EDIT:
He says Live At The Filmore West is top of the heap. Then maybe these two:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Instant-Groove-King-Curtis/dp/B001G2S49A/ref=sr_...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Everybodys-Talking/dp/B001F339WM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=U...
I personally recommend that you start right here, right now:
http://www.grooversparadise.com/2009/10/place-on-burner-and-bring-to-boi...
Live at the Fillmore East
is a glorious album - and dare I say it, the intro number, Whiter Shade of Pale, surpasses the original - Bruce Robinson may agree - he made it the opening track on Withnail and I.
Here's the Amazon reviews:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Live-Fillmore-West-Remastered-Expanded/dp/B000FB...
After that, his most recent stuff is great - Sweet Soul, Everybody's Talkin', but nothing trancends the Fillmore East show in my opinion. After putting on a barnstorming performance, the band then morphed into Aretha Franklin's backing band for her brilliant Live Fillmore album, recorded the same night - I can't think of another band recording two totally different - and wonderful - live albums in one night.
Seconded
Live at the Filmore is stunning. The only trouble is that if you start there, you're already standing on the top of the mountain.
Withnail & I
that was my first introduction to King Curtis. Still gives me goosebumps hearing it...
I only have one KC album - 'The New Scene of King Curtis'. Think I will tootle off right now and purchase a copy of the Live at Fillmore before the rush starts.
What They Said
All recommendations above are great. I can't access youtube from here but it's worth looking for the great single "Memphis Soul Stew" - a bubbling pot of joy!
He also played the sine qua non of honking stuttering solos on the Coasters "Yakety-Yak"
And
Curtis comes in at around 3.48:
If you've got a couple of hundred quid knocking around...
...then why not go the whole hog?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Fight-Feeling-Complete-Franklin/dp/tracks/B...