Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Current Distraction Part Two: Strange Collaborations




I had planned on making this today's Song Of The Day, but it's just too damn good.

I don't believe there has ever been a more unusual fusion than the pairing of blues and soul belters Larry Williams and Johnny "Guitar" Watson with David Lindley's oddball psych-country band Kaleidoscope. The result was one single, "Nobody" from 1967.

As records go, this is one of the more brilliant. Produced by Williams and Watson themselves. What a sound!

Any other strange collaborations that work on such an accessible level?








16 comments:

buzzbabyjesus said...

Wow. That rocks.

Dave said...

What Buzz said. Great find.

JAYESSEMM said...

Pretty Groovy!

Anonymous said...

Aerosmith and Run-DMC was strange until it wasn't.

Bruce H

Sal Nunziato said...

@Bruce.

Heh!

FD13NYC said...

The song definitely kicks, good find, very interesting. I could see the two of them on the floor with the hooka. I guess it was Johnny "Sitar" Watson for this one.

Robin said...

Fantastic! Love it. Thanks. One collaboration that always sticks in mind that surprised me (not saying it's super strange, or works for everyone, though it's definitely accessible) was Clint Black and the Pointer Sisters doing "Chain of Fools" on the Rhythm, Country & Blues compilation. The album itself didn't surprise me, given the deep connection between country and the blues, but this combo of artists did. He sounded like he'd always worked with them. The Pointers definitely recognized this and called him their brother. ;)

steves said...

I was just listening to the Larry Williams Show LP this morning. They do a kickass version of "For Your Love" on there.

As for the OP, the first one that comes to mind is the Traveling Wilburys. And they succeeded beautifully, IMO.

soundsource said...

greatttttttttt

A walk in the woods said...

OK I am putting on my thinking cap about strange collaborations... Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield... Tom Jones & Art Of Noise... Metallica & Lou Reed... the whole soundtrack to "Judgment Night"...

But unfortunately, except parts of the last example, I don't dig any of those collabs...

But this song you posted is cool! Hey, can you or anyone else recommend a really good Johnny "Guitar" Watson (guess he hadn't achieve 'guitar' status yet when this single came out) album or compilation? He did the original version of "Hook Me Up," which became one of my very fave latter-day Alex Chilton performances.

Please advise...

Sal Nunziato said...

@AWITW

This:
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Mother-Johnny-Guitar-Watson/dp/B000B5XZJ2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1339626894&sr=1-1

is the one for the 70s funk.

And this
http://www.amazon.com/Hours-Midnight-Johnny-Guitar-Watson/dp/B000000WI2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1339626990&sr=1-1

is great for the early blues and R&B.

Plus, you cannot go wrong with "Two For The Price Of One" for some great 60s soul.

http://www.amazon.com/Two-Price-One-Larry-Williams/dp/B001UJSTSU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1339627060&sr=1-1

Finally...STEVES mentioned The Larry Williams Show, which features Johnny.

It's expensive, or you can grab it here:
http://dontaskmeidontknow.blogspot.com/2011/12/larry-williams-show-same-featuring.html

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Bee playing that one all afternoon.

buzzbabyjesus said...

Allison Krause and Robert Plant. Mike Watt and Petra Haden.

Unknown said...

We went to see Neil Young last night, in a solo concert. It was wonderful! He looks great, sounds great, and played all alone. Tickets were something positive at Casatickets.com . He played the organ, pump organ, piano, harmonica, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar.

A walk in the woods said...

Good suggestions Sal about JGW comps - will check those "MUTHAS" out ~

Postmaster said...

This song is beyond cool!

Anonymous said...

from duncanmusic@frontiernet.net ...you gotta post a link to this one...used to have it LONG ago on a promo 45...SHIT! wish I had pulled THAT one from the stacks when I sold off the big dump!