RIP, Wicked Pickett

January 19, 2006 3:57 PM

Wilson Picket passes on. Pickett, one of greatest stars in the Stax stable, the singer of such classics as "In The Midnight Hour," and "Mustang Sally," (the latter a standard for just about every R&B singer and garage band in the world) has died of a heart attack. he was 64.
posted by jonmc (62 comments total)

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posted by dan g. at 4:02 PM on January 19, 2006

.Bummer.
posted by fenriq at 4:08 PM on January 19, 2006

Just tragic. An amazing performer.

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posted by Joey Michaels at 4:08 PM on January 19, 2006

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One in a million.
posted by GrammarMoses at 4:10 PM on January 19, 2006

His later stuff, like "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You," was as good as his hits, as was his doo-woop oriented work with the Falcons earlier in his career. "I Found A Love," is a gem.
posted by jonmc at 4:10 PM on January 19, 2006

He even managed to do a funky cover of "Sugar Sugar."
posted by jonmc at 4:12 PM on January 19, 2006

The Wicked Picket! RIP.
posted by fixedgear at 4:15 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by Mijo Bijo at 4:16 PM on January 19, 2006

Ah, what a shame! "I'm In Love" is one of the great soul songs of all time.

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posted by scody at 4:17 PM on January 19, 2006

He kept on--he kept working, he took care of his voice and kept his range and he could scream on pitch. Which was pretty amazing for one who sang with such grits. He kept on and now he's gone.
posted by y2karl at 4:19 PM on January 19, 2006

Someday, someday, I will forgive him for Mustang Sally.

Someday.

Still, a shame to lose him.

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posted by eriko at 4:28 PM on January 19, 2006

Although he recorded his early hits at Stax Studios with the Stax house band, he was signed to Atlantic Records' subsidiary ATCO. After the Atlantic-Stax partnership ended, he went on to record at Muscle Shoals' Fame Studios with tremendous results (notably the Duane Allman-assisted cover of "Hey Jude").
posted by joseph_elmhurst at 4:31 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by bardic at 4:34 PM on January 19, 2006

(notably the Duane Allman-assisted cover of "Hey Jude").

damn, I haven't listened to that in years.

*runs to dig Duane Allman - Anthology out of cardboard box*
posted by jonmc at 4:35 PM on January 19, 2006

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(Hadn't realised he wasn't dead ages ago.)
posted by Mocata at 4:46 PM on January 19, 2006

Heard the news on the XM Radio soul channel. They went straight to only playing Wilson Pickett as an impromptu tribute.
posted by docgonzo at 4:49 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by VulcanMike at 5:04 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by Afroblanco at 5:14 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by captainscared at 5:16 PM on January 19, 2006

Let me take this moment to recommend the Stax museum in Memphis, which is filled with all sorts of Picketty Goodness.
posted by Astro Zombie at 5:18 PM on January 19, 2006

Small thing - but isn't it Pickett with two t's? He was a part of the soundtrack to my growing up and will always be remembered. Sublime - In The Midnight Hour.
posted by tellurian at 5:31 PM on January 19, 2006

I love, love, loved his music. J.B. was more the innovator, Aretha more mind-blowing when she was on, etc. but for sheer consistency of soulfulness, nobody beat Wilson.
posted by raysmj at 5:31 PM on January 19, 2006

eriko: Get a recent-issue copy of "Mustang Sally" and play it on a system with really good bass.
posted by raysmj at 5:36 PM on January 19, 2006

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the funkiest . I can muster
posted by stenseng at 5:58 PM on January 19, 2006

Mustang Sally is one of those songs that always evokes a memory for me...sitting the Bulldog Cafe in Vancouver eating peanuts and throwing the shells on the floor while the song was playing. One of those times when I was just at peace with the world.
posted by Kickstart70 at 6:26 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by Lynsey at 6:29 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by edgeways at 6:30 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by quonsar at 6:49 PM on January 19, 2006

Spelling his name right is not a "small thing." Jesus Christ.

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posted by keswick at 6:53 PM on January 19, 2006

Damn. I saw Wilson a couple of years back at a festival here in Calgary, and even though you could tell the years hadn't been kind to him, he still rocked the hell out of the place. He'll be sorely missed.

*cranks "Land of 1000 Dances"*
posted by arto at 6:59 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by Smart Dalek at 7:02 PM on January 19, 2006

Damn. I never did get to see him perform.
posted by litlnemo at 7:04 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by R. Mutt at 7:12 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by Mr Bluesky at 7:16 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by shoepal at 7:31 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by lilboo at 7:35 PM on January 19, 2006

Aw, damn.
posted by cookie-k at 7:37 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by yhbc at 7:40 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by LinusMines at 7:51 PM on January 19, 2006

God, Mustang Sally is one of those songs (Brown-Eyed Girl is another) that I absolutely can't stand anymore because I've seen one to many bar bands butcher them on a regular basis. Seriously, cover bands, cover some different shit. I can't take it any more.
posted by Jawn at 7:54 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by LinnTate at 7:59 PM on January 19, 2006

I actually had a crazy idea about two years ago -- pondered whether or not it would be possible to somehow arrange for Pickett to travel here to central Montana and perform a concert in Great Falls.

I really, really wish now that I had taken some action to do it.

"Funky Broadway" - whoa. Just *whoa*
posted by davidmsc at 8:32 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by milov at 9:09 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by moonbird at 9:23 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by bunglin jones at 9:31 PM on January 19, 2006

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posted by wheelieman at 9:49 PM on January 19, 2006

He has a great Northern Soul 45 called "Let Me Be Your Boy" that I love far more than the grittier stuff
posted by modernist1 at 10:04 PM on January 19, 2006

alas, there is rest for the wicked ... he was one of the greats
posted by pyramid termite at 12:18 AM on January 20, 2006

Saw him live once, a double bill with James Brown at the old Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, FL. It was the early 80's, mostly black crowd, he had his own band - it was wicked!

Don't blame Wilson Pickett for what "Mustang Sally" has become, blame The Commitments or whoever. But for every bar band wishing they didn't have to play the song, there's always someone who begs to hear it.

Best view of pure sweaty funk: Wilson Pickett in Africa!

My favorite Pickett: his Gamble & Huff produced cover of O. B. McClinton's "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool Ya". I suggest kicking that loud right now!
posted by bonefish at 1:59 AM on January 20, 2006

I said a na
Na na na na
Na na na na
Na na na
Na na na
Na na na na.

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posted by Faint of Butt at 3:08 AM on January 20, 2006

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posted by alumshubby at 3:19 AM on January 20, 2006

He even managed to do a funky cover of "Sugar Sugar."

He also did a funkafied version of "Mama Told Me Not to Come."

I said a na
Na na na na
Na na na na
Na na na
Na na na
Na na na na.

Said I need somebody to help me now...

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posted by jonp72 at 5:33 AM on January 20, 2006

Spotlight on Lou Rawls, y'all.
Oh, don't he look boss, y'all.
Singin' 'Love's a Hurtin' Thing', y'all.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.

.....

Spotlight on Wilson Pickett now,
that wicked wicked Pickett
singin' 'Mustang Sally'.
Oh yeah, oh yeah.

I just realized this, but two of the singers mentioned in Arthur Conley's Sweet Soul Music died within two weeks of each other. The only other honorees in the song left alive are James Brown and Sam of Sam & Dave. Not a good omen for either of the two of them.
posted by jonp72 at 5:44 AM on January 20, 2006

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posted by OmieWise at 5:46 AM on January 20, 2006

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posted by Dr-Baa at 5:59 AM on January 20, 2006

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posted by Jofus at 6:25 AM on January 20, 2006

I just realized this, but two of the singers mentioned in Arthur Conley's Sweet Soul Music died within two weeks of each other.

Well, if there's a Rock & Roll Heaven, then you know they got a hell of a band.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:27 AM on January 20, 2006

Dammit. He was good.
posted by Divine_Wino at 6:54 AM on January 20, 2006

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posted by Smedleyman at 8:48 AM on January 20, 2006

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posted by Sk4n at 9:15 AM on January 20, 2006

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posted by underer at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2006

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posted by ktoad at 12:36 PM on January 20, 2006