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JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS



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Wilson Pickett



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March 18, 1941 - January 19, 2006

Of the major '60s soul stars, Wilson Pickett was one of the roughest and sweatiest, working up some of the decade's hottest dancefloor grooves on hits like "In the Midnight Hour," "Land of 1000 Dances," "Mustang Sally," and "Funky Broadway." Although he tends to be held in somewhat lower esteem than more versatile talents like Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin, he is often a preferred alternative of fans who like their soul on the rawer side. He also did a good deal to establish the sound of Southern soul with his early hits, which were often written and recorded with the cream of the session musicians in Memphis and Muscle Shoals.

Before establishing himself as a solo artist, Pickett sang with the Falcons, who had a Top Ten R&B hit in 1962 with "I Found a Love." "If You Need Me" (covered by the Rolling Stones) and "It's Too Late" were R&B hits for the singer before he hooked up with Atlantic Records, who sent him to record at Stax in Memphis in 1965. One early result was "In the Midnight Hour," whose chugging horn line, loping funky beats, and impassioned vocals combined into a key transitional performance that brought R&B into the soul age. It was an R&B chart-topper and a substantial pop hit (number 21), though its influence was stronger than that respectable position might indicate: thousands of bands, black and white, covered "In the Midnight Hour" on stage and record in the 1960s.

Pickett had a flurry of other galvanizing soul hits over the next few years, including "634-5789," "Mustang Sally," and "Funky Broadway," all of which, like "In the Midnight Hour," were frequently adapted by other bands as dance-ready numbers. The king of that hill, though, had to be "Land of 1000 Dances," Pickett's biggest pop hit (number six), a soul anthem of sorts with its roll call of popular dances, and covered by almost as many acts as "Midnight Hour" was.

Pickett didn't confine himself to the environs of Stax for long; soon he was also cutting tracks at Muscle Shoals. He recorded several early songs by Bobby Womack. He used Duane Allman as a session guitarist on a hit cover of the Beatles' "Hey Jude." He cut some hits in Philadelphia with Gamble-Huff productions in the early '70s. He even did a hit version of the Archies' "Sugar, Sugar." The hits kept rolling through the early '70s, including "Don't Knock My Love" and "Get Me Back on Time, Engine Number 9." One of the corollaries of '60s soul is that if a performer rose to fame with Motown or Atlantic, he or she would produce little of note after leaving the label. Pickett, unfortunately, did not prove an exception to the rule. His last big hit was "Fire and Water," in 1972. He continued to be active on the tour circuit; his most essential music, all from the 1960s and early '70s, was assembled for the superb Rhino double-CD anthology A Man and a Half. It's Harder Now, his first new material in over a decade, followed in 1999. Pickett spent the early part of the 2000s performing, before retiring in late 2004 due to ill health. He passed away on January 19, 2006, following a heart attack. -- Richie Unterberger of All Music Guide.
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LINKSYEARTITLE
1963It's Too Late
1965In The Midnight Hour
1966The Exciting Wilson Pickett
1966The Wicked Pickett
1967The Sound Of Wilson Pickett
1968I'm In Love
1968Midnight Mover
1969Hey Jude
1970Right On
1970Wilson Pickett In Philadelphia
1971Don't Knock My Love
1971Engine No. 9
1973Miz Lena's Boy
1973Mr. Magic Man
1973Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits
1974Live In Japan
1974Pickett In The Pocket
1974Tonight I'm My Biggest Audience
1975Join Me And Let's Be Free
1976Chocolate Mountain
1978A Funky Situation
1979I Want You
1981Right Track
1984The Best Of Wilson Pickett
1987American Soul Man
1992A Man And A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett
1993The Very Best Of Wilson Pickett
1996If You Need Me (Prime Cuts)
1997In The Midnight Hour & Other Hits
1999It's Harder Now
2000The Magic Of Wilson Pickett
2001Keep The Dream Alive
2003Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It: Best Of The RCA Years
2004Baby Call On Me
2005Wilson Pickett: An Essential Collection


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1963 It's Too Late



1965 In The Midnight Hour

01. In The Midnight Hour
02. Teardrops Will Fall
03. Take A Little Love
04. For Better Or Worse
05. I Found A Love
06. That's A Man's Way
07. I'm Gonna Cry
08. Don't Fight It
09. Take This Love I've Got
10. Come Home Baby
11. I'm Not Tired
12. Let's Kiss And Make Up


1966 The Exciting Wilson Pickett

01. Land Of 1000 Dances
02. Something You Got
03. 634-5789 (Soulsville U. S. A.)
04. Barefootin'
05. Mercy Mercy
06. You're So Fine
07. In The Midnight Hour
08. Ninety=Nine and A Half (won't do)
09. Danger Zone
10. I'm Drifting
11. It's All Over
12. She's So Good To Me


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1966 The Wicked Pickett



1967 The Sound Of Wilson Pickett



1968 I'm In Love

01. Jealous Love
02. Stagger Lee
03. That Kind Of Love
04. I'm In Love
05. Hello Sunshine
06. Don't Cry No More
07. We've Got To Have Love
08. Bring It On Home To Me
09. She's Lookin' Good
10. I've Come A Long Way


1968 Midnight Mover



1969 Hey Jude

01. Save Me
02. Hey Jude
03. Back In Your Arms
04. Toe Hold
05. Night Owl
06. My Own Style Of Loving
07. A Man And A Half
08. Sit Down And Talk This Over
09. Search Your Heart
10. Born To Be Wild
11. People Make The World



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1970 Right On



1970 Wilson Pickett In Philadelphia

01. Run Joey Run
02. Help The Needy
03. Come Right Here
04. Bumble Bee (sting me)
05. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You
06. Get Me Back On Time Engine No. 9 (pts. 1 & 2)
07. Days Go By
08. International Playboy
09. Ain't No Doubt About It
10. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You(live)
11. Engine Number 9(live)
12. International Playboy(live)


1971 Don't Knock My Love



1971 Engine No. 9



1973 Miz Lena's Boy

01. Take A Closer Look
02. Memphis
03. Soft Soul Boogie Woogie
04. Help Me Make It Through
05. Never My Love
06. You Laid It On Me
07. Is Your Love Life Better
08. Two Women And A Wife
09. Why Don't You Make Up Your Mind
10. Take The Pollution Out


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1973 Mr. Magic Man

01. Mr. Naguc Man
02. Only I Can Sing This Song
03. Love Is Beautiful
04. I Sho' Love You
05. Baby Man
06. Sin Was The Blame
07. What It Is
08. If You Need Me
09. I Can't Let My True Love Slip
10. I keep Walking Straight Ahead


1973 Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits

01. In The Midnight Hour
02. I Found A Love
03. 634-5789
04. If You Need Me
05. Mustang Sally
06. Don't Fight It
07. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
08. It's Too Late
09. Ninety Nine And A Half (won't do)
10. Funky Broadway
11. Soul Dance Number Three
12. Land Of 1000 Dances
13. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You
14. Sugar, Sugar
15. Get Me Back On Time Engine No. 9
16. I'm A Midnight Mover
17. A Man And A Half
18. Mama Told Me Not To Come
19. She's Looking Good
20. I'm In Love
21. Don't Knock My Love
22. Hey Jude
23. You Keep Me Hanging On
24. I found A True Love


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1974 Live In Japan

01. T S O P (the sound of Philadelphia)
02. Proud Mary
03. People Make The World
04. Sugar, Sugar
05. Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You
06. I'm In Love
07. In The Midnight Hour
08. Fire And Water
09. I Found A Love
10. Never My Love
11. Glory Hallelujah
12. Mustang Sally
13. Land Of A Thousand Dances
14. Soft Soul Boogie Woogie
15. Mr. Magic Man
16. Don't Knock My Love
17. Goodnight My Love



1974 Pickett In The Pocket

01. Iron It Out
02. Isn't That So
03. Take A Look
04. I Was Too Nice
05. Don't Pass Me By
06. What Good Is A Lie
07. Young Boy Blues
08. Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It
09. You're The One



1974 Tonight I'm My Biggest Audience



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1975 Join Me And Let's Be Free

01. Join Me & Let's Be Free
02. Let's Make Love Right
03. I've Got A Good Friend
04. Smokin' In The United Nations
05. Gone
06. Good Things
07. Higher Consciousness
08. Bailin' Hay On A Rainy Day
09. Mighty Mouth



1976 Chocolate Mountain



1978 A Funky Situation



1979 I Want You

01. I Want You
02. Love Of My Life
03. Shameless
04. Live With Me
05. Groove City
06. Superstar
07. Granhy



1981 Right Track



1984 The Best Of Wilson Pickett

01. In The Midnight Hour
02. 634-5789
03. I Found A Love
04. Mustang Sally
05. Ninety Nine And A Half (won't do)
06. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
07. Do't Fight It
08. I'm A Midnight Mover
09. Funky Broadway
10. Soul Dance Number Three
11. I'm In Love
12. Land Of 1000 Dances


1987 American Soul Man

01. A Thing Called Love
02. When Your Heart Speaks
03. Love Never Let Me Down
04. A Man Of Value
05. (I wanna) Make Love To You
06. In The Midnight Hour(live)
07. Don't Turn Away
08. Just Let Her Know
09. Can't Stop Now



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1992 A Man And A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett

01. I Found A Love (w/the Falcons)
02. Let Me Be Your Boy
03. If Youy Need Me
04. It's Too Late
05. I'm Gonna Cry (cry baby)
06. Come Home Baby
07. In The Midnight Hour
08. Don't Fight It
09. I'm Not Tired
10. That's A Man's Way
11. 634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)
12. Ninety Nine And a Half (won't do)
13. Land Of 1000 Dances
14. Mustang Sally
15. Three Time Loser
16. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
17. Soul Dance Number Three
18. You Can't Stand Alone
19. Funky Broadway
20. I'm In Love
21. Stagger Lee
22. Jealous Love
23. I've Come A Long Way
24. In The Midnight Hour (live & burnin')
25. I'm A Midnight Mover



1993 The Very Best Of Wilson Pickett

01. In The Midnight Hour
02. 634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)
03. Land Of 1000 Dances
04. Mustang Sally
05. Funky Broadway
06. I'm In Love
07. She's Lookin' Good
08. Hey Jude
09. Sugar, Sugar
10. Engine Number 9
11. Don't Let The Green Grass fool You
12. Don't knock My Love
13. Fire And Water
14. I'm A Midnight Mover
15. I Found A Love
16. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love


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1996 If You Need Me (Prime Cuts)

01. If You Need Me
02. I'm Gonna Love You
03. Baby Don't Weep
04. Peace Breaker
05. Down To My Last Heartbreak
06. It's Too Late
07. Give Your Lovin' Right Now
08. Baby Call On Me
09. I'll Never Be The Same
10. I Can't Stop


1997 In The Midnight Hour & Other Hits

01. In The Midnight Hour
02. 634-5789
03. Hey Jude
04. Sugar, Sugar
05. Land Of 1000 Dances
06. Mustang Sally
07. I'm A Midnight Mover
08. Stagger Lee
09. Don't Fight It
10. Funky Broadway


1999 It's Harder Now

01. Outskirts Of Town
02. Taxi Love
03. What's Under That Dress?
04. Stomp
05. Soul Survivor
06. It's Harder Now
07. It Ain't Easy
08. Bad People
09. All About Sex
10. Better Him Than Me
11. Stone Crazy World



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2000 The Magic Of Wilson Pickett

01. Baby Don't Weep No More
02. Down To My Last Heartbreak
03. I Can't Stop
04. Baby Call On Me
05. If You Need Me
06. Peace Breaker
07. R. B. Special
08. I'm Gonna Love You
09. I'll Never Be The Same



2001 Keep The Dream Alive



2003 Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It: Best Of The RCA Years

01. Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It
02. Mr. Magic Man
03. Soft Soul Boogie Woogie
04. Mighty Mouth
05. What Good Is A Lie
06. I Was Too Nice
07. Take A Closer Look At The Woman You're With
08. Join Me And Let's Be Free
09. You're The One
10. I Keep Walking Straight Ahead
11. If You Need Me
12. Higher Consciousness
13. Smokin' In The United Nations
14. Love Is Beauriful
15. Take A Look
16. Sin Was The Blame
17. Take The Pollution Out Of Your Throat
18. Is Your Love Life Better
19. Baby Man
20. I Can't Let My True Love Slip Away


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2004 Baby Call On Me

01. If You Need Me
02. I'm Down To My Last Heartbreak
03. Baby Don't You Weep
04. I'm Gonna Love You
05. Give Your Lovin' Right Now
06. R. B. Special (Robert's Monkey Beat)
07. It's Too Late
08. Baby Call On Me
09. Peace Breaker
10. I Can't Stop
11. I'll Never Be The Same



2005 Wilson Pickett: An Essential Collection

01. If You Need Me
02. I'm Gonna Love You
03. Baby Don't You Weep
04. Peace Breaker
05. I'm Down To My Last Heartbreak
06. Robert's Monkey Beat
07. I Can't Stop
08. I'll Never Be The Same
09. Baby Call On Me
10. Give Your Lovin' Right Now
11. It's Too Late



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