After a technically-induced hiatus, the Beachland blog has returned to regale you with SOUL MUSIC. Not in strictly platter’d form, but alive, sweating and breathing and ready to take you ever-higher.
Tonight the Beachland presents The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, all the way from Nashville, TN. Let’s cut right to the chase and dig up some live audio/video for your pleasure:
That hot number, “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”, hails from a 60s-era side that Walker cut for Decca Records. See, this cat’s got a discography. And from what you can hear, he hasn’t lost an ounce of power as a vocalist or a performer.
A portion of Walker’s bio on Zane Records informs us:
His professional musical journey began in his hometown with his first recording ‘Slave To Love’ released in 1959 on the Nashville ‘Champion’ label. He relocated to New York shortly afterwards and met record entrepreneur Bobby Robinson who cut some demos with Charles for his ‘Fury’ label.
Soon afterwards, a chance meeting with the J.C Davis Band, who had played the famed Apollo Theatre, opening for Jackie Wilson led to Charles becoming their lead singer. During his time with the L.C Davis band he toured the country opening for many of the greats of the era, including Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, and Little Willie John. With Charles as lead singer they recorded ‘Sweet Sweet Love’ and ‘The Chicken Scratch’ for Chess records. These cuts never become hits at the time, but their quality has ensured that over the years they have become highly collectable.
Later, Walker formed a band called Little Charles and the Sidewinders, whose 45s can still be found online, sought after by soul music collectors and vintage afficionados. Here’s a tasty cut by the Sidewinders that fits quite nicely with the UK ‘northern soul’ aesthetic, titled “It’s A Heartache”:
But you, the discerning Beachland Listener, are looking for that unique live vibe, aren’t you? So here we leave you with more of Walker and the Dynamites. All that geeky collector speak is fun to roll around on the tongue, but ultimately doesn’t hold a candle to a killer live band such as the Dynamites. While the dress on this gig is casual, the groove here is definitely not:
We’ll leave with with Mr. Walker and the incomparable Miss Sharon Jones duetting on a sultry classic we can probably still relate to, entitled “Summertime”:
Now, that’s deeper than American debt! See Charles Walker and the Dynamites tonight, with special openers The Floorwalkers! For more information, head to www.beachlandballroom.com.
EAS
Beachland Ballroom and Tavern Blog 