The Bar-Kays – A Hard Day’s Night
The Bar-Kays
Listen/Download – The Bar-Kays – A Hard Day’s Night MP3
Greetings all.
Join me as we welcome the new week with some of that tasty, Memphis goodness.
The Bar-Kays were a group of young Memphis players that were recruited by Stax, and ended up (fatefully) backing Otis Redding on his final tour (most of them perishing in the same plane crash that took Otis).
The track I bring you today is the Bar-Kays 1968 version of the Beatles’ ‘A Hard Days Night’.
I hadn’t heard the track when I found this single, but since it was cheap, a Fabs cover, and on Volt, I couldn’t very well leave it behind.
Good thing I didn’t, because it’s an interesting reworking of the Beatles original, packed with Memphis soul flavor.
Opening with the organ, and twangy guitar, the band build upward from a hard-hitting riff that allows them to deliver the Beatles’ melody in a manner that is 100% McLemore Ave.
Interestingly enough , the single was produced by MGs drummer Al Jackson, Jr., which I initially found surprising. Then I did some digging and discovered that producing was a nice sideline for Jackson, with credits on records by Johnny Taylor, Isaac Hayes, Albert King, Mable John, the Mad Lads and others.
As far as I can tell ‘A Hard Days Night’ is a 45-only track, so if you want it, that’s how to get it.
I hope you dig it, and I’ll see you on Wednesday.
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).
…..and what is the bside?
‘I Want Someone” is the b-side
m.youtube.com/watch?v=JnFzZhoJd6s
🙂