Otis Clay

 

Listen/Download Otis Clay – Got To Find a Way

Greetings all

Welcome to the middle of the week. Today’s selection is another one of those records that the first time I heard it, I knew I had to have it.

I had the old stereola warmed up and my aerial pointed in the direction of New Zealand, where my man Kris Holmes was slinging the 45s on Radio Ponsonby, when I first heard the mind-blowingly soulful strains of Otis Clay singing ‘Got To Find a Way’.

While I certainly knew his name – Clay had a run of R&B hits between 1967 and 1972 – it wasn’t until I picked up his outstanding cover of the Sir Douglas Quintet’s ‘She’s About a Mover’ (which skirted the outside of the R&B Top 40 in 1968) that I became acquainted with his music.

That was some years ago, and no matter how cool the aforementioned 45 was (both sides, too) I was unprepared for the explosive soul power of today’s selection.

Though this song was also recorded by the great Harold Burrage two years earlier (1965)  for M-Pac , there’s just no comparison.

Man, oh man, this is a stone solid, ass-kicker of a 45. It has everything, from a spellbinding vocal by Clay, catchy melody by Jimmy Jones and a powerful arrangement.

Every instrument in the mix verily explodes through your speakers, and oddly enough it sounds like a live mix. The drums (listen to those snare hits!), piano, rhythm guitar and horns are exquisitely balanced, propelling Clay’s vocal into the stratosphere.

Here we have the fabled intersection of pure, undiluted soul shouting, pop hooks and dance floor burn, jumping from the grooves on a 45 that is neither well known, nor exceedingly rare.

If you were similarly moved, you could head on over to Ebay and slap down less than twenty bucks (a steal, you should send the guy a fifty and insist he keep the change) and walk away with two and a half minutes of soul power that’ll set your record box (and any dance floor you bring it to) on fire.

I’m serious…if this record doesn’t knock you back on your heels, I don’t know what to tell you.

I mean, KABOOM.

Honestly.

See you on Friday

Keep the faith

Larry

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Also, the brand new Funky16Corners ‘Keep Calm and Stay Funky’ stickers have arrived! The stickers are 4″ x 3″ and printed on high quality, glossy stock. They are $2.00 each, with free shipping in the US ($2.00 per order shipping outside of the US). Click here to go to the ordering page.

Also, make sure that you check out the links below to the Be The Match Foundation and POAC (click on the logos for more info).

 

 

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.