Sunday, 4 September 2022

Willie Walker & The Butanes [2022] - I Feel It / Cry, Cry, Cry [Jai Alai #JAR06]


Alex Subinas' has announced another pair of 7" vinyl releases on his new Soul4Real imprint Jai Alai. If you recall, the imprint was created earlier this year specifically to release 21st century, previously CD only, tracks on 7" vinyl for the first time. 

The first consists of two CD tracks from Memphis born Willie Walker whose gritty southern soul style sits amongst the pantheon of Wilson Pickett, Syl Johnson, Lou Rawls, James Carr, Eddie Floyd, Tyrone Davis and L.V. Johnson. He also recorded as Wee Willie Walker to differentiate himself from other singers with the same name who recorded on Eutor and Hi in the 70s.
 
He has an illustrious career as a member of The Rhythm Harmonizers, The Val-Dons, The Exciters, The Bound Band, Willie & The Bumblebees (although that Willie is actually Willie Murphy of The Val-Dons).

In 2004 he joined The Butanes in Minneapolis and recorded three albums. The first of these was mainly cover versions. The two tracks featured on this Jai Alai vinyl release are "I Feel It" from "Right Where I Belong" (2004) and "Cry, Cry, Cry" from "Memphisapolis" (2006). 

"Right Where I Belong" was released by UK Soul connoisseur Colin Dilnot (In Dangerous Rhythms) on his On One Records. Apparently the band on the album once backed John Lee Hooker and Little Johnny Taylor.

Willie died peacefully in his sleep in Nov 2019 aged 77 whilst recording his last album "Not In My Lifetime" with The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra for Blue Dot. The album was posthumously released in 2021


Details
Rating: 8
Explicit: N
Genre/Style: Southern Soul
Format: Single
Media: 7"
Label: Jai Alai
Cat No: JAR06
Date: 31/08/2022
Key/BPM: 6A/112 / 11B/72
Price: €14 + P&P
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