Benny Spellman RIP
Benny Spellman 1931 – 2011
NOTE: I was brought to my attention (much to my chagrin) that the pic I had posted was not in fact Benny Spellman, but rather Lloyd Price. I found the pic posted with an obit of Mr Spellman, but I should have known better and the error has been corrected. – Larry
Listen/Download – Benny Spellman – Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette)
Listen/Download – Benny Spellman – Fortune Teller
Listen/Download – Benny Spellman – I Feel Good
Listen/Download – Benny Spellman – Sinner Girl
Listen/Download – Benny Spellman – If You Love Her
Greetings all.
I have returned and before I do anything else I simply must stop and issue a hearty ‘Thank You!’ to all of you who contributed to the Funky16Corners 2011 Pledge Drive.
This includes all of you that were generous (some extraordinarily so) enough to send some money into the treasury, as well as this year’s contributing guest DJs, Tony C, Tarik Thornton, Prime Mundo, Vincent the Soul Chef and DJ Bluewater.
It makes me happy and proud that there are folks out there that dig what we do here.
That said, if you haven’t yet checked out all the mixes, make sure you do because they’re all killer (no filler) this year, and there is most definitely something for everyone, with funk, soul, Northern Soul, disco and reggae.
There are also the live sets of garage punk, beat and freakbeat over at Iron Leg, as well as the second edition of the Iron Leg Radio Show (dropping today), so don’t forget to stop there as well and sop up the goodness with your ears.
Sadly, right after the Pledge Drive got underway, I got the news that three important musicians had passed on, Hammond legend Odell Brown (tribute on Wednesday), soul jazz piano giant Ray Bryant (Friday) and the man behind some of my very favorite New Orleans 45s had passed away, and the subject of today’s post, the mighty Benny Spellman.
Though he recorded a number (not nearly enough) of incredibly good 45s in his time (almost all with the mighty AllenToussaint) Spellman’s voice is probably best known to casual fans for his contributions as a backing vocalist on Ernie K Doe’s ‘Mother In Law’ (that’s Benny’s bass repeating the title in the chorus).
That said, his career recording in New Orleans (he had relocated from Florida) lasted less than a decade, starting in 1960 for Minit and moving on to Watch, Alon and Sansu (all locals) with the occasional number picked up for national distribution by labels like Imperial and Atlantic.
Of his solo recordings, his biggest hit was his 1962 recording of Allen Toussaint’s ‘Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette)’, which was a Top 40 R&B hit and a huge local success. The song went on to be covered with even greater success by the O’Jays in 1965.
‘Lipstick Traces’ is a fantastic song on its own, and one of the finest singles to come out of New Orleans in the 60s but it also happened to be paired with one of the greatest bits of Mod soul ever recorded, the brilliant ‘Fortune Teller’ making it one of the most power-packed two-siders ever.
Spellman’s discography might have been brief but it was also influential, with UK R&Beat bands like the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Merseybeats, the Hollies and the Artwoods covering his material and bringing it to a wider audience.
It was the Artwoods that covered Spellman’s ‘I Feel Good’ (yet another Allen Toussaint composition) in 1966 (Spellman’s original came out in 1965, first on Alon and then nationally on Atlantic), making for one of the greatest moments of British R&B.
Spellman last recorded with Toussaint in 1967 with yet another great two-sider, ‘Sinner Girl’ b/w ‘If You Love Her’ for the Sansu label.
As far as I can tell he only recorded one more 45, the self-penned ‘Don’t Give Up Love’ for the Mor Soul label some time in the late 60s, before he left music to take up a career in sales and public relations for the beer industry.
That’s where he remained until he started a comeback in the late 80s, only to be cut down by a stroke, which confined him to an assisted living facility, where he spent his remaining years, and passed away on June 3rd.
Spellman’s discography, however brief is remarkable in its consistent quality, and like so many of the great singers who worked alongside Toussaint in the 60s (Betty Harris, Diamond Joe, Warren Lee e.g.) ought to be much better known. There is a fairly comprehensive (and cheap) best of his pre-Sansu work on Collectables that’s absolutely essential for fans of New Orleans soul, and great music in general. Fortune Teller: Golden Classics
He will be missed.
Peace
Larry
Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recr events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.
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Themocracy
Hi, Larry!
My name is Jun Futami from Japan.
I look forward to reading your new article.
We miss Benny Spellman.
He is Great Singer.
I like his songs.
But I think that picture is Lloyd Price.
Someday I want to see you.
Thanks.
Jun Futami
I think you’re right. I’ll fix that when I get home.
Hi Larry,
In the middle of a big move now (Germany to Thailand- ugh.)So I’ll donate when I finish this mess. My appreciation for you is thee but my situation prevents an a donation right now.
Question- “Sinner Girl” is a delightful rip off of “Get Out of My Life Woman”, right? Or did it come first?
Peace.
-NJ
I was interested about the relationship between the Lee Dorsey track and Sinner Girl as well, any ideas?
DJ
They were both written, played on and produced by Allen Toussaint. Dorsey’s record came out in 1965, Spellman’s in 1967, so it seems the similarities are of the “variations on a theme” thing.
Larry