Lonnie Mack

Listen/Download Lonnie Mack – Too Much Trouble

Greetings all.

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The tune I bring you today is something cool from the rock side of the tracks.

I don’t doubt that many among you are aware of the work of Mr Lonnie Mack, but I don’t think you imagined him doing something quite this funky.

Mack is know to most for his 1963 hits ‘Memphis’ which managed to make it into the Top 5 on the R&B and Pop charts and ‘Wham’ (which grazed the Pop Top 20).

He recorded a wide variety of blues and R&B-based covers and originals (influencing countless young guitarists), recording for Fraternity from 1963 to 1967.

Mack was also an excellent soulful vocalist, as seen in tracks like ‘Where There’s a Will There’s a Way’ and ‘Why’.

His career slowed somewhat after his early hits and he spent a lot of the 60s as a session guitarist, working on session for King/Federal artists like Freddy King and James Brown and singers like Joe Simon.

When Mack signed with Elektra records in 1968 he had been largely absent from the charts for a few years. He recorded three albums for the label over the next few years, and Elektra also reissued his early Fraternity hits on the ‘For Collectors Only’ comp.

The track I bring you today, the funky ‘Too Much Trouble’ appeared on his 1969 Elektra debut ‘Glad I’m In the Band’.

‘Too Much Trouble’ is one of those late-60s tracks that seems to have emerged from the same musical swamp as efforts by cats like Joe South and Tony Joe White, musicians who wove together elements of rock, soul, country and blues into something new and groovy.

Mack’s vocals are a little rougher/wilder than his early sides, but his guitar wails and the backing band (organ, bass and drums) are spot on.

The track was co-written by Mack’s bass player Tim Drummond, who had played in James Brown’s band.

If you can find the album grab it as is features an excellent cover of Ted Taylor’s ‘Stay Away From My Baby’ and remakes of Mack’s own ‘Why’ and a new version of ‘Memphis’.

Interestingly, during his time at Elektra, mack continued to work as a session player, playing guitar and bass on the Doors ‘Morrison Hotel’ LP (he is rumored to have played lead guitar on ‘Roadhouse Blues’) and producing Dorothy Combs Morrison’s sides for the label.

Mack spent most of the 70s recording in a country style, moving back to blues and R&B by the 80s.

He’s still playing today.

I hope you dig the tune, and that you’ll join me on Monday for the 2012 Allnighter.

Keep the faith

Larry

 

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3 Responses to “Lonnie Mack – Too Much Trouble”

1. porky says:

   June 14, 2012 at 6:26 pm

   Great song. Tim D is local boy made good from central IL; one of two such white boys who played with James Brown (other is sax player Dave Parkinson who was also in a band called Jellyroll).

   Seems I read that Lonnie Mack did A & R for Elektra. I’m not a Doors fan but have heard their tunes enough on AOR and I believe Jimbo shouts, “Go Lonnie, go!” on that guitar solo.

2. Larry says:

   June 15, 2012 at 9:58 am

   Indeed he does, and apparently John Densmore confirmed Mack’s guitar solo in his autobiography. I wonder what Robbie Krieger has to say??

3. Chris says:

   June 24, 2012 at 11:23 pm

   Fraternity-era cover of ‘Oh Boy’ is the best Buddy Holly cover of all time (sorry Stones!).