Comments on: Jerry Wexler

Jerry Wexler

flapjax at midnite — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:17:36 -0800

Legendary record man and music producer Jerry Wexler died on August 15, at the age of 91. His keen insight, and his deep love and appreciation for the artists he worked with resulted in an extraordinary enriching of American music.

NY Times book review from 1993, of Wexler's autobiography, RHYTHM AND THE BLUES: A Life in American Music. From Rolling Stone, listen to a selection of twenty essential Wexler productions. Unfortunately, these files are available to US ears only, and also, be warned: you might get a supremely annoying audio ad popout. I got one... Here's a selection of tunes that, in one way or another, were brought to you by Jerry Wexler: What'd I Say, Ray Charles (the original Wexler-produced recording) I Got a Woman, Ray Charles (the original Wexler-produced recording) Green Onions, Booker T and the MGs In the Midnight Hour, Wilson Pickett Tipitina, Professor Longhair And from the incomparable Aretha Franklin (all of these live performances are sheer joy): Chain of Fools Chain of Fools Baby I Love You... And that's just a tiny tip of the iceberg. Rest in peace, Jerry Wexler. And props to stupidsexyFlanders, who originally brought Wexler's passing to our attention here.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:26:11 -0800

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:11:51 -0800

If any person deserves a moment of silence, it is Mr. Wexler, since he brought us such joyful noise. .

By: p3t3

p3t3 — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:44:55 -0800

. Wexler's Atlantic years brought us a lot of great records. RIP.

By: Faze

Faze — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:03:33 -0800

Wexler produced Dylan's "Slow Train Coming", and a few years ago at the R&R Hall of Fame, told an audience that Dylan had a fine normal singing voice that the public never heard.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:08:13 -0800

...a fine normal singing voice that the public never heard. Ha! I always found Dylan's voice not only fine, but damn near perfect for just about every one of his songs that he ever sang! Particularly from a phrasing point of view. Wonder what he meant by "normal", though...

By: Riverine

Riverine — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:21:57 -0800

By: CitizenD

CitizenD — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:52:25 -0800

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 09:13:05 -0800

Rolling Stone's obit: The man who invented rhythm & blues. Thanks for all the great music, Jerry.

By: Jofus

Jofus — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 09:21:31 -0800

By: Benny Andajetz

Benny Andajetz — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:47:11 -0800

I listened to the Wexler obit on NPR on Friday. The excerpts from a studio session where he and Aretha Franklin were recording "You're All I Need To Get By" gave me goosebumps. Wexler was the the man who coined the phrase "rhythm and blues" and was responsible for getting Aretha to switch from gospel to her rightful place as "Queen of Soul". Wexler and Ertegun were geniuses; they made Atlantic a giant by recording only music that they liked. Great man, great legacy, great post.

By: blucevalo

blucevalo — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:47:08 -0800

Just on the strength of I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You alone (is there a single song on that album that's not a classic?), his legacy is unequaled.

By: motty

motty — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:28:13 -0800

By: scottymac

scottymac — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:07:51 -0800

By: Wolof

Wolof — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:14:10 -0800

By: humannaire

humannaire — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:46:53 -0800

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:35:44 -0800