Jerry Wexler, the man who is responsible for a huge part of the evolution of the music in the 20th century left us full of days in August.
His first involvement with the music industry was as a journalist in Billboard, were he coined the term 'rhythm and blues' to replace the narrowed "race music". It was while working for Billboard, when he first met Ahmet Ertegun, co-owner of Atlantic records.After leaving Billboard Wexler went on to work for Atlantic; soon enough he became co-owner replacing Herb Abramson. There, through his totally distinctive production techniques, he managed to transform Ray Charles from a good imitator of Nat 'King' Cole to a leading artist of soul music. Equally, he was the force behind the transformation of Aretha Franklin from the all-around singer of Columbia to the soul icon she deserved to be. Apart from these two giant figures who found their way in the magic hands of Wexler someone should not forget that he is also responsible for names such as Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, Professor Longhair, LaVerne Baker, Ivory Joe Hunter, Drifters, Solomon Burke and Wilson Pickett, while the strong relationship of Atlantic with Stax was also his idea. On the verge of the 60's he found himself being producer of the legendary lp "Dusty In Memphis". By then Atlantic had already become the company for which Led Zeppelin would release their music.
Seminal albums produced by Wexler followed during the 70's: The original (entirely black) cast of "The Wiz" (an adaptation of the Wizard of Oz), Dr John's "Gumbo", Willie Nelson's "Shotgun Willie", Doug Sahm's "Doug Sahm and Band" (where among the members of 'The Band' were Bob Dylan and Dr. John), Dire Straits's "Communique" and Bob Dylan's "Slow Train Coming" (the latter two for Warner).
read also:
Jerry Wexler: The Man Who Invented Rhythm & Blues (Rolling Stone)
Twenty tracks for which Jerry Wexler is most proud of (Rolling Stone)
Mojo for Jerry Wexler
Allmusic for Jerry Wexler
An interview of Jerry Wexler to John Petridis for the greek mag Pop & Rock (back to mono)
For those interested, you can also dig in his autobiography "The Rhythm And The Blues: A Life In American Music”.
This blog's tribute to Wexler will be divided to this present compilation of tracks he produced or co-produced in the 50's and 60's for Atlantic and (in posts to follow) to some of the albums he produced during the 70's.
Tracklisting:
01-Drifters with Clyde McPhatter - Money Honey
02-Ray Charles - I Got A Woman
03-LaVern Baker - Tweedle Dee
04-Chords - Sh-Boom
05-Drifters - Ruby Baby
06-Ruth Brown - Lucky Lips
07-Chuck Willis - It's Too Late
08-Ray Charles - (Night Time Is) The Right Time
09-Clyde McPhatter - A Lover's Question
10-Solomon Burke - If You Need Me
11-Ray Charles - What'd I Say (Parts I & II)
12-Wilson Pickett - Land Of 1000 Dances
13-Solomon Burke - Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
14-Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour
15-Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
16-Wilson Pickett - Mustang Sally
17-Aretha Franklin - Chain Of Fools
18-Aretha Franklin - Respect
19-Dusty Springfield - The Windmills Of Your Mind
download link: here (link removed due to a relevant request)
