Listen: Bucket O’ Grease / Les McCann LesMcCannGrease.mp3

I found a fun used record store close to the Majestic Theater in Detroit last week, tens of thousands of 45′s, not all in the greatest shape, but very moderately priced and very playable in the jukebox and on the suitcase players from the 60′s and 70′s – my favorites. It was a field day. I’d tell you the name of the joint, but I paid in cash and seriously do not recall. The club directed me to the shop, so ring them.

It was near closing time, or I’d have bought more. Some were no brainers, like a Les McCann on Limelight called ‘Bucket O’ Grease’ for $1.00

Walked out with about two hundred singles and I’ll be posting a bunch in the next few weeks. Great stuff.

Listen: A Satisfied Mind / Bobby Hebb BobbyHebbASatisfiedMind.mp3

I hated his hit ‘Sunny’ when it was current in ’66. Absolutely loathed that sucker. Got rammed down everyone’s throat, plus being so safe and mellow it managed to cross all the formats – you literally couldn’t get away from it. Logically it peaked at #2 during it’s healthy fifteen week US chart run.

Yet ‘Sunny’ was so strong that everyone from Ella Fitzgerald and The Electric Flag to Georgie Fame and Les Mc Cann were covering it too. Now I wish I’d had better taste at the time. Not only has it become a favorite through the years (I’ve collected over 30 covers on 7″) but I’m hooked on his voice as well. Like Jon Lucien years later, and probably Mel Torme prior, he has this calming tone that appeals to my valium side. His follow ups were pretty great too. I think he should’ve been around a lot longer.

The followup single, released just after ‘Sunny’, was a great double sider. ‘A Satisfied Mind’, despite possibly being a bit ‘Sunny’ sounding, has held up – I know cause it’s on my jukebox and plays a lot. I never tire of it. Not so with the public, peaking at #39, and lasting only six weeks total on the Billboard Top 100.

Listen: Love Love Love / Bobby Hebb BobbyHebbLoveLoveLove.mp3

The B side, ‘Love Love Love’, is now considered to be his ‘other’ hit – having gained UK Northern Soul success in ’72. When re-released there due to demand, it sold well and charted at #32. Most tracks on his one and only Philips LP, SUNNY BY BOBBY HEBB are worth many listens too. Get it if you can.