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wilson pickett |
i'm a midnight mover |
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| 2 |
wilson pickett |
it's a groove |
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| 3 |
wilson pickett |
remember, i been good to you |
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| 4 |
wilson pickett |
i'm gonna cry |
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| 5 |
wilson pickett |
deborah |
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| 6 |
wilson pickett |
i found a true love |
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| 7 |
wilson pickett |
down by the sea |
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| 8 |
wilson pickett |
trust me |
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| 9 |
wilson pickett |
let's get an understanding |
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| 10 |
wilson pickett |
for better or worse |
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On 10/25/2014 by BadCatRecords_deleteaccount
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5 / 5
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Perhaps because it wasn't one of Wilson Pickett's biggest commercial successes (# 81 US pop album charts), his 1968 album "The Midnight Mover" seems to have been largely forgotten. That's a sad commentary on our collective memories, since this album was as good as anything else in Pickett's extensive recording catalog.
Produced by Tom Dowd, for the most part the album wasn't a major change in direction for Pickett. That said, the album included a couple of interesting features; chief among them was the participation of Bobby Womack. Womack was credited with writing, or co-writing six of the ten tracks and Womack tunes such as 'I'm a Midnight Mover', 'I Found a True Love', 'It's a Groove', and 'Trust Me' were among the best things Pickett ever recorded. The pair clearly had a nice partnership going. Shame it didn't continue. Elsewhere, for some odd reason the album included both sides of Picket's 1964 Atlantic debut 'I'm Gonna Cry' and 'For Better or Worse' . Both were great tunes, but sounded oddly old-school and out of place on the album. The album's oddest track was the ballad 'Deborah'. Seemingly recorded for European audiences, the song featured Pickett singing some of the lyrics in Italian. One of Pickett's most consistent and enjoyable albums, there wasn't a single bad performance on the album. Well worth finding a copy.
"The Midnight Mover" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) I'm a Midnight Mover (Wilson Pickett - Bobby Womack) - 2:39
People say it all the time, but all hyperbole aside, the title track was worth the cost of the album by itself. Co-written by Pickett and the late Bobby Womack, this was one of those tunes where it's simply impossible to sit still ... well I guess if you were comatose you could lie there. Simply one of the best things Pickett ever recorded and if my beat ears don't deceive me, you can actually hear a bit of Womack on the backing vocals. Atlantic tapped it as the leadoff single. rating: ***** stars
2.) It's a Groove (Bobby Womack - Linda (Cooke) Womack) - 2:48
Slinky, old-school ballad written by Womack and his then-wife Linda (Sam Cooke's widow). Opening up with a Gospel-feel, the track bore a momentary resemblance to a classic Solomon Burke tune, but Pickett's unique sound quickly came out. He seldom sounded as good as on this one. Always wondered if that was Womack on the backing vocal. rating: **** stars
3.) Remember, I Been Good To You (Bobby Womack - Darryl Carter - Mariea Tynes) - 2:57
I'm probably giving myself too much credit, but given this tune's breezy, easy-going charm, I've always thought I could have guessed it was penned by Bobby Womack. Classic Pickett with wonderful country-tinged guitar; and great Womack backing vocals. Another winner and one of the best things on a stellar album. rating: **** stars
4.) I'm Gonna Cry (Wilson Pickett- Don Covay) - 2:18
The presence of 'I'm Gonna Cry' was kind of a mystery. One of two songs produced by Pickett, the tune was originally released in 1964, serving as Pickett's Atlantic debut:
- ' I'm Gonna Cry' b/w 'For Better Or Worse' (Atlantic catalog number 45-2233)
There was nothing wrong with the song; in fact it was another album highlight, but it had a distinctive old-school feel and sound. rating: **** stars5.) Deborah (Pallavicini Sigman - Conti Sigman - Carl Sigman) - 3:06
Another strange tune - Pickett singing part of the lyric in Italian ... The song started out sounding almost like an operatic movement, but about a minute in, switched gears into a roaring soul tune, before closing out with more Italian. YouTube has a black and white clip of Pickett performing the tune for Italian television. Weird, but fascinating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq93M-loI4w The tune was released as a single throughout Europe. rating: **** stars
(side 2)
1.) I Found a True Love (Wilson Pickett - Bobby Womack) - 2:22
The pounding 'I Found a True Love' placed Pickett firmly back in prime soul territory. One of the album's most conventional and commercial tunes, you just had to marvel at how effortless Pickett made it all sound. Shame the song faded out so early. Atlantic tapped it as a single. rating: **** stars
2.) Down By the Sea (Wilson Pickett) - 2:54
Wanna hear Pickett give Otis a run for his money ? Here's your chance. Classic soul ballad that underscored just what a great singer Pickett was. rating: **** stars
3.) Trust Me (Bobby Womack) - 3:10
Womack's 'Trust Me' was supposedly originally intended for Janis Joplin. Regardless, there are few things as impressive as Pickett in front of the pulpit of love ... Hard to understand why this beautiful heart wrenching tune wasn't tapped as a single. Another tune that sounded like it had Bobby Womack on backing vocals. rating: **** stars
4.) Let's Get an Understanding (Wilson Pickett - Bobby Womack - Darryl Carter) - 2:09
Another pounding soul number with upbeat "we got to get together" ;lyrics,, 'Let's Get An Understanding' was hysterical for it's brief psychedelic excursion with Pickett demanding Pickett and the rest of the band return to the song's original soul orientation. rating; **** stars
5.) For Better or Worse (Wilson Pickett - Don Juan Mancha) - 2:52
The second Pickett produced tune, 'For Better or Worse' was originally the flip side to his debut Atlantic single 'I'm Gonna Cry'. Like 'I'm Gonna Cry' it had a distinctive old-school sound, though Pickett's tear-out-my-throat performance was quite impressive. rating: *** stars
As mentioned above, in addition to the 1964 single, the album included two US singles and a third European release:
- 1968's 'Midnight Mover' b/w 'Deborah' (Atlantic catalog number 45-2528)
- 1968's 'I Found a True Love' b/w 'For Better or Worse' (Atlantic catalog number 45-2558)
- 1968's 'Deborah' b/w 'Down By the Sea' (Atlantic various countries and catalog number)
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