Der shake baby shake
Espana Theme Song

Kaum im Casa Weber in Spanien angekommen, erblicke ich eine 3-CD-Compilation von Whirlyjoe... ein Geschenk an den Gastgeber. Blitzsauberes Tracklisting, einiges kannte ich, anderes machte direkt Appetit auf das Teil. Beim nächsten Frühstück gegen mittag legte ich CD 1 mal in den Player und Track 5 hat mich dann direkt weg geblasen. Ein gewisser Robert Jay besang den Dämon Alcohol, der uns in den nächsten Tagen auch heftig in den Würgegriff nehmen sollte. Ein Mördertune und 100 % Spoonful das Ganze.

Der Track erschien mal auf einer Voxpop 7" als Reissue und ist auf der Ubiquity Compi Searching For Soul zu finden. Hier unten die Linernotes... (R-man)

Robert Jay - Alcohol pt. 1
Re-issued not too long ago on the Vox Pop 45 label in the UK Alcohol is such a classic piece of driving blues-tinged funk that we felt it could not be left off the compilation. Robert Jay (real name changed from Robert Brown because “it sounded more swingin’”) was introduced by a mutual friend to Dave Hamilton and it was agreed that the song would be recorded at Hamiltons studio (possibly a studio on Philadelphia Street used before he opened up his legendary TCB studios on Highland.) Jay wrote the song but used session musicians on the track. “There were 2 white guys and 2 black guys including one on drums who said “this is the future beat”,” says Jay. “And I’ve never heard a beat or drummer like that again, he was right. But it’s too bad I can’t remember his name!” The studio musicians played exactly as he wanted which was a pleasant surprise to Jay who didn’t think the white guys had it in them. Jay played horn and sang the lyrics which he admits he had no problem writing because he is an alcoholic. “This is a true song, I’m an alcoholic. I’d wake up with hang-overs and thought I’d write a song about it because alcohol had been so mean to me,” says Jay. “I’m alright though because I know it’s a problem, I’m in recovery now.”Jay can’t remember exactly but thinks the song was recorded in the early 1970s. He knows that only 300 or so were pressed and it was probably the only 45 he ever cut. He did release three albums and had a satisfying music career playing Detroit blues. “I could play a variety of styles but I loved the blues. Detroit blues was an upbeat style, not like the Motown sound, for me it’s just the way I felt it. My sound is original; it’s not a copy of anything. I just did my own thing,” says Jay. “I didn’t hang out with other musicians and was taught to stay out of the bars, but somehow I still became an alcoholic,” he jokes. “But I got what I wanted out of music. I was asked to play bass for the Contours, one of the first acts signed to Motown, but I wasn’t interested. I did it all my own way.”