VA Brace Yourself ! A Tribute To Otis Blackwell cd 1994 320 kbpsGRAHAM PARKER : Paralyzed / C. HYNDE & C. SPEDDING : Hey little boy (little girl) / PAUL RODGERS : Home in your heart / FRANK BLACK & THE STAX PISTOLS : Breathless / THE SMITHEREENS : Let's talk about us / TOM VERLAINE : Fever / JOE LOUIS WALKER : On that power line / DEBORAH HARRY : Don't be cruel / JON SPENCER : All shook up / FRANK BLACK : Handyman / JOE ELY, SUE FOLEY, SARAH BROWN & MARCIA BALL : Great balls of fire / RONNIE SPECTOR : Brace yourself / WILLIE DEVILLE : Daddy Rolling Stone / DAVE EDMUNDS : Return to sender / KRIS KRISTOFFERSON : All shook up.
Produced by J. Tiven & T. Visconti.
The band : Steve Ferrone : drums & percussion / Jimmy Destri : organ & piano / Kenny Aaronson : bass / Chris Spedding : guitars + The Uptown Horns
Otis Blackwell (1932/2002) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist whose work significantly influenced rock 'n' roll. Born in Brooklyn, and died in Nashville. He learned piano as a child and grew up listening to both R&B and Country music.
He first became famous by winning a local talent contest ("Amateur Night") at the Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York in 1952, led to a recording contract with RCA and then with Jay-Dee. His first release was his own composition "Daddy Rolling Stone" which became a favorite in Jamaica where it was recorded by Derek Martin. The song later became part of The Who's "Mod" repertoire. Enjoying some early recording and performing success, he found his first love was songwriting and by 1955 had settled into the groove that he would ride for decades. His first successes came in 1956 when Little Willie John's R&B hit with the sultry "Fever" was an even bigger pop success for Peggy Lee. Then, "All Shook Up" began a highly profitable association with Elvis Presley, who was credited as co-writer.
Blackwell was one of the leading African American figures of early rock 'n' roll, although he was not well known by the public. His own records never cracked the Top 40, yet he wrote million-selling songs for Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dee Clark and others. He also recruited other songwriters to write for Presley such as Winfield Scott. Wikipedia
He first became famous by winning a local talent contest ("Amateur Night") at the Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York in 1952, led to a recording contract with RCA and then with Jay-Dee. His first release was his own composition "Daddy Rolling Stone" which became a favorite in Jamaica where it was recorded by Derek Martin. The song later became part of The Who's "Mod" repertoire. Enjoying some early recording and performing success, he found his first love was songwriting and by 1955 had settled into the groove that he would ride for decades. His first successes came in 1956 when Little Willie John's R&B hit with the sultry "Fever" was an even bigger pop success for Peggy Lee. Then, "All Shook Up" began a highly profitable association with Elvis Presley, who was credited as co-writer.
Blackwell was one of the leading African American figures of early rock 'n' roll, although he was not well known by the public. His own records never cracked the Top 40, yet he wrote million-selling songs for Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dee Clark and others. He also recruited other songwriters to write for Presley such as Winfield Scott. Wikipedia
Most tribute albums fail because the interpretations are too diverse to make the album consistent. "Brace Yourself: A Tribute to Otis Blackwell" sidesteps that problem by having the artists record with a house band well-versed in the material of the legendary rock & roll/R&B songwriter. Thankfully, the approach works; none of the artists turn in a bad performance, and the disc rocks (albeit rather gently) from start to finish. But then again, it wasn't that hard to make a good album when the artists included are W. Deville, D. Edmunds, G. Parker or K. Kristofferson ! Allmusic
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