Wilson Pickett – “I’m in Love” 45
Atlantic, 1967
Acquired: Crossroads Music Exchange, Used, 2013
Price: $1
Considering that Wilson Pickett cannot be fucked with, I
knew this one was probably going to be a safe bet. In my head, “I’m in Love”
was going to be Pickett’s version of the John Lennon penned “I’m in Love” (sapped
of all emotion by the Fourmosts who popularized the track). Though the time period
is right, I don’t know why I thought this was going to be that song, but at a
buck, with someone as eternally excellent as Pickett, there was no reason not
to take a chance. This “I’m in Love” (written by Bobby Womack, who wrote many of
Pickett’s late 60s hits) is an impassioned, soulful ballad that doesn’t even
have to try. It floats on a mournful little guitar riff and Pickett’s croon.
Horns show up on the chorus with the backing vocals to round out a terrific single.
B-Side “Stag-O-Lee” is Pickett’s boisterous rendition of the traditional folk
tune “Stagger Lee” about a pimp wasting a dude in order to get back his brand
new Stetson hat after losing it in a hand of cards. It’s rather grisly murder
ballad towards the end, but that only makes the pairing with the upbeat R&B
more entertaining.
"I'm in Love"
"Stag-O-Lee"
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ReplyDeleteYou need to hear Aretha's version of "I'm in love". It's her third greatest track.
ReplyDeleteI'll check it out! Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDelete