Funky16Corners

Norman T Washington – Jumping Jack Flash

By Larry, August 14, 2011 1:21 pm

Norman T Washington (and his bow tie)

~~Listen/Download – Norman T Washington – Jumping Jack Flash~~

Greetings all.

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you all to a new week.

Summer (at least as bracketed by the 4th of July and Labor Day) is on the wane with but a precious few weeks left before the tourists pack their bags and the kiddies head back to school.

It is however, still quite warm and vacation-y, so how about some cool sounds for your head?

I figured I’d get the week started with something exceptionally cool.

Many years ago, while in search of something by the mighty Mohawks*, I grabbed a Euro comp of Pama label stuff and stumbled upon a cut by a certain Norman T Washington.

The song in question was a cover of Robert Parker’s ‘Tip Toe’ and via the label association and a perceived accent, my assumption was that I was hearing a West Indian gent working the soul side of the street.

Though the passing years haven’t turned up a whole lot of information on Mr Washington, what I have found indicates that he recorded both soul and reggae in the late 60s and early 70s almost exclusively for Jamaican or Jamaican-associated labels like Gas, Punch and Pama.

Then, earlier this year his name popped up again on a friend’s sale list, this time on another Pama 45 performing a cover of the Rolling Stones ‘Jumping Jack Flash’. As soon as I heard the sound clip I knew I had to have it.

Washington’s take on the Stones classic (released in 1969) is a very groovy affair, with a soulful horns and organ.

The coolest part however is Washington’s vocal, which has a certain continental flair. His performance tends to remove a lot of the menace of the original, replacing it with just the tiniest bit of funk.

I’ve played this one out a few times this year, and it never fails to garner a positive response from the Mod types in the crowd (as well as pretty much everyone else).

If anyone out there has some more solid info on Mr. Washington, please share it in the comments.

I hope you dig it (I know I do) and I’ll be back on Wednesday.

Peace

Larry

*Speaking of the Mohawks, the flip ‘Spinning’ is a cool, semi-rocksteady groove with organ that sounds like it was contributed by none other than Mr. Hawkshaw himself.

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 recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.