First of all this:
And then, although it is difficult to choose from all the incredible covers, this cover of “I Saw Her Standing There,” by Little Richard, recorded at Muscle Shoals in 1970, has got to be in my Top 5.
And then there’s this duet of “Hey Jude”, performed by Wilson Pickett and Tom Jones that has to be experienced to be believed.
Holy Hell. Tom Jones and Wilson Pickett. That was phenomenal. My first French kiss(I was in 6th grade and she was my friend’s older sister in 9th grade) happened to Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.” I haven’t thought of that in years until I saw this video. Wow.
Omg, an “older woman.” Go 6th grade you! I’m impressed!
And isn’t this duet just …. beyond belief?
I almost can’t get past Wilson Pickett saying off-camera early on, “Sing your song, son.”
GIANTS.
and notice: no lighting cues. No crazy camera moves. No choreography. Just two performers – PERFORMING. They create it all themselves.
I actually prefer this version to the original “Hey Jude”. It takes it to some other level.
I love the way Jones nonchalantly unbuttons his shirt collar at the beginning.
God, yes – getting ready.
Also just their outfits in general. The rings.
Hey DBW – did you see this clip? It comes right after, same show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=X7kiWowr-ZQ
That is frickin’ awesome, and, no, I had not seen it before. I remember reading that women would throw their panties up on the stage at Tom Jones concerts—I understand. I just love how at ease they are with each other, and how comfortably their talents blend. It’s effortless, and fantastic.
Jeff–I noticed Jones loosening his tie and shirt, too. It’s like he’s saying, “OK, now were getting to it. This is going to be good.”
DBW – my friend Mitchell saw Tom Jones in the 70s – he was a kid and his grandmother took him. (First of all: hysterical). And he witnessed the panty-throwing. He was, like, 8. But it made an impression!!
Mitchell also observed that there’s almost this gracious vibe between them – “you first” “oh no you first” “sing your song, son” – which is so natural, so graceful – these are two old PROS. But there’s something there in Jones – in the final section when Pickett has gone off into the stratosphere – and he is going, going, going, gone … and it’s about that time to wrap up the song again – you can see Tom Jones looking at him – and not just standing there waiting in a passive way – but waiting … because Pickett has to do what he’s going to do, and Jones is almost in a holding pattern until they come back together again and finish the song.
It’s subtle – but this is the kind of thing you can only learn through years and years of live performing (in my opinion). That kind of sensing of the music, sensing when a moment is shifting, moving to another mood – especially when you’re doing a duet – doesn’t happen overnight. And it definitely doesn’t happen if you never leave the studio and your songs are put together by engineers.
This is the sheer power of live performing.
I was lucky enough to see him as well, in 1983. There was no panty throwing that night, but there was no doubt that he left everything on the stage. Great, great performer.
He did a “Tiny Desk Concert” for NPR a couple of years ago that is worth seeking out on YouTube. He’s still got it.
Eric Clapton heard Duane Allman’s playing on Wilson’s recorded version of “Hey Jude” and liked it so much that he filed the guy’s name away as someone he wanted to play with later. Hello Derek and The Dominoes. I don’t know if Duane is in the studio band on this, but here’s Clapton’s comments and Wilson’s solo version with Allman’s playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5B1Vfdk7W8
wow! Thank you so much for that!!