Re: [Harp-L] Sally/Cissy Strut

["Chris Michalek" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I like playing Cissy and Jason Ricci has the definitive version as far as harmonica players are concerned.

I reckon most of all y'all play sissy in 2nd.  try it in 3rd which is a much funkier position than just about anything else.



>-----Original Message-----
>From: Michael Rubin [mailto:rubinmichael@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 08:52 AM
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [Harp-L] Sally/Cissy Strut
>
>Here's my take on why Sally is shunned:
>  First, it is asscociated with blues in that it has a 24 bar progression that doubles the 12 bar blues progression used so often and the verses follow an A A B rhyme scheme.  This is why so many blues bands get the request for this song.  Laypeople can tell it's bluesy.  Rock bands do not get Sally requests.  They get Freebird.
>   
>  However, Sally was does written/performed by a "bluesman", it was written (or at least performed) by a soulman, Wilson Pickett.  If Little Walter had written Sally and Pickett covered it, we'd be playing it, no problem.  It is an element of blues snobbery that restricts us, imo.
>   
>  Even further, people on this list point to Buddy Guy's cover and that certainly helped the resurgence, but that was not the reason for the resurgence.
>   
>  The reason was the excellent movie The Commitments, in which a group of misfits who had barely  touched instruments before practice real hard and become an incredible soul band in a month.  Sally was featured in the movie and BAM! instant bar band top forty.  Again, I believe blues snobbery is behind the feelings that Sally is not good music.
>   
>  Here's one for you- Cissy Strut.  WHY does everyone insist on playing this?  The Meters are incredible and most bands cannot achieve the incredible level, even if they are incredible on other funk tunes.  I hate playing this song.  Go with Sally, Cissy.
>  Michael Rubin  
>  Michaelrubinharmonica.com
>  Austin,TX
>    
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