The Sweet Inspirations – Why (Am I Treated So Bad)
Sweet Inspirations
Greetings all.
The end of the week is here, so it’s time to remind you that the Funky16Corners Radio Show takes to the airwaves of the interwebs each and every Friday night at 9PM on Viva Radio. If you can’t be there at airtime, you can subscribe to the show as a podcast in iTunes, listen on your mobile device through the TuneIn app, or grab yourselves an MP3 here at the blog.
I thought I’d close out the week with a very nice version of one of my favorite songs.
‘Why (Am I Treated So Bad)’ was written by Roebuck ‘Pop’ Staples and first recorded by the Staple Singers in 1965 (and then reworked and rerecorded with Larry Williams in a funkier version in 1967).
It became something of soul/gospel standard, being covered by a number of artists over the next few years.
When I was out digging last year I happened upon the 45 you see before you today, by the Sweet Inspirations.
One of the greatest examples of vocalists that were primarily back-up singers moving into the spotlight, the Sweet Inspirations were Cissy Houston, Sylvia Shemwell (sister of Judy Clay) , Estelle Brown and Myrna Smith.
The group found its roots in the Drinkard Singers, one of the more important gospel groups of the late 50s and early 60s.
They recorded as backup singers for a wide variety of soul and R&B singers before getting the chance to record under their own name in 1967.
‘Why (Am I Treated So Bad)’ was the A-side of their first 45 for Atlantic, and is an interesting link to their gospel roots and the ability of the song to pass back and forth between gospel and popular presentations.
This has everything to do with the singers, and with the fact that Pop Staples constructed a song that was as much a civil rights anthem as it was a gospel song.
The Sweet Inspirations take it at a pace that seems a touch slower than the original, with their voices set against a thumping bass and swampy guitar (a tip of the hat to the OG).
Their version made it into the R&B Top 40 in 1967, with their biggest hit, ‘Sweet Inspiration’ coming the following year.
The group left Atlantic in 1970, but continued to record late into that decade for labels like Stax and Caribou.
I hope you dig the cut, and I’ll see you all on Monday.
Keep the faith
Larry
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Themocracy
This is a fantastic version of this song. Larry, thanks for passing along the history of the tune. My first exposure to this was the Brian Auger/Julie Driscoll version which is among my absolute favorite tracks… and I think I originally found that on your blog in 2008. You’re amazing!
Thanks!