Two Sides From Mighty Sam (McClain)
Mighty Sam “Good Humor Man” (Amy, 1966)
Mighty Sam “Talk To Me, Talk To Me” (Amy, 1967)
(Available for listening on the Singles Mixer Volume 3 podcast)
Good Evening Internet, we’ve got another couple of hot jams for you tonight on this hot and horrible July evening. Partially influenced by the stupor inducing heat one of today’s 45 is a slow one while the other gets a little rowdy but maintains its composure enough that you won’t have sweaty head phones. The other reason today’s records are getting the blog treatment is they’re unshakably amazing songs.
Mighty Sam is of Florida origins and was picked up by Papa Don where he went on to cut a number of excellent records in Nashville, his first record was a Patsy Cline cover “Sweet Dreams of You” but the real gold is the B side with “Good Humor Man” and is responsible for one of the absolutely best guitar tones ever committed to wax. A perfect study in balance, the track opens with a ripping guitar but a very tempered piano and Sam walks the line the whole track, at times sounding like he’s barely talking other times blowing the roof off with a yelped “BABY!”
“Talk To Me, Talk To Me” is a track that was originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1958 and had quite a shelf life as this version almost a decade later suggests. Being the titan he is, usually you wouldn’t let someone steal the spotlight from Little Willie John but there’s something about this Mighty Sam version that has always resonated with me.
This record clearly skirts that line of pop and gospel, heavy organs, non-specific lyrics that are about love but could easily be religious place the fact it was written in the late 50’s when “going pop” was actually a big deal and choice for artists. In the 1968 setting Mighty Sam does justice to the origins of the record sounding fully engaged with the track, making it feel a lot deeper than just a song of love and longing for the fairer sex. (It’s worth hearing the Little Willie John and Sunny & The Sunglows versions if you’re unfamiliar, both are pretty common and inexpensive records and, in my opinion, are must haves.)
Sam’s biography after his time in Nashville is a pretty rough one, spending a lot of time being homeless, selling plasma to get by and moving around the country all while remaining musically active. It was in the 80’s he was picked up by the Neville Brothers in their New Orleans stomping grounds and Mighty Sam McClain re-emerged as a first rate, Grammy nominated blues performer where he remains today. Currently living in NH (!!), he’s still recording and performing. Check out his site here: http://www.mightysam.com/ If you wanna go see him with me in November just holler!
Hope you enjoy the two-fer of Mighty Sam and I’ll be seeing you soon!
-George / Snack Attack