Jesse Hill

Listen/Download – Jesse Hill – My Children My Children MP3

Greetings all.

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Jesse Hill is one of the more interesting, second-rank, New Orleans performers of the classic era.

He first came to prominence in 1961 with the classic (and as close to a NOLA ‘standard’ as there is) ‘Ooh Poo Pah Do’.

Hill had gotten his start as a drummer, but moved out front as a vocalist. He had a wild growl –not unlike his homeboy Chris Kenner – and a talent for writing songs as well.

Hill was part of the New Orleans contingent – along with Harold Battiste, Mac ‘Dr John’ Rebennack and Alvin Robinson – that made their way to Los Angeles in the 1960s, working as session musicians, songwriters and performers. While in California Hill would write/cowrite songs for Cher, The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Cake, Delaney and Bonnie, and Dr John among others.

Somewhere along the way, in 1967, Hill made the 45 you see before you today. Co-written with Rebennack, and produced by Huey Meaux (which makes me think that this was recorded in Louisiana or Texas and then leased to Chess in Chicago) ‘My Children My Children’ is a solid slice of New Orleans soul.

The song sounds like it has roots in the same gospel song that Chris Kenner borrowed from for ‘Land of 1,000 Dances’ (‘Children Go Where I Send Thee’).

The song is pushed along by the bass and saxophones, as well as a female chorus that does a call and response with Hill.

Interestingly, this was recorded and released round the same time as the rare and coveted ‘Zu Zu Blues Band’ 45 (another Hill/Rebennack collab).

I can’t say anything about the flipside (written by Meaux) because my copy is a one-sided promo.

A few years down the line Hill would record some excellent 45s, and an LP for LA-based Pulsar Records.

He eventually returned to New Orleans, where addiction and other health issues left him destitute. He passed in 1996, and according to his Wiki is buried in a pauper’s grave.

That said, I hope you dig the tune, and if you don’t know Jesse Hill’s other stuff, get out there and check it out.

See you on Monday

Keep the faith

Larry

 

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PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

One Response to “Jesse Hill – My Children, My Children”

1. Eric Freund says:

   January 12, 2016 at 11:32 am

   Thanks for this. Didn’t realize Jessie had such a tough time near the end, sad to hear. Can you shed more light on his Pulsar work? I’m especially interested in that – I’ve been trying to track down the Alvin Robinson aka Shine 45 on Pulsar for some time.