I heard this tune on Vermont's 102.9‚ The Album Station this morning. Every once in a while I'll tune into "Rock & Roll Birthdays‚" where the DJ‚ Russ Kinsley‚ will give a lengthy and enthusiastic talk about a musician and then play an hour or so of tunes spanning their career. I love it for its sheer enthusiasm -- no fluff on this station‚ they play what they love.
Today was the second day celebrating Duane Allman's birthday‚ who would have been 62 yesterday (11/20). I was blown away to hear that he was just shy of 25 when he died. Certainly the music he played and left behind surpassed his age.
As the story goes‚ he was the guitarist on this session with Wilson Pickett at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals‚ Alabama in late 1968 and suggested they cover the Beatles' "Hey Jude." Russ informed listeners that at that time nobody covered the Beatles‚ and "Hey Jude" was still on the charts. Wilson was obviously skeptical‚ but Duane convinced him by changing up the arrangement a bit. Hearing this track this morning blew me away -- the warmth of the instruments and‚ of course‚ Wilson's voice! Damn‚ chills…
"Hey Jude" - Wilson Pickett