Another Friday, another socially aware soul song. This time by a Stax group who played at Wattstax.
Respect Yourself was written in 1971 by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice. It was Rice’s idea that The Staple Singers have the first crack at recording it. History was made.
We begin with The Staple Singers:
BB King cut an early cover of this week’s tune in 1973:
Here’s a live version by the great Etta James:
Robert Palmer applied a coat of pop gloss to the Ingram-Rice classic in 1995.
Third World. Reggae. Say no more.
Joe Cocker cut a respectful version in 2002.
We circle back to the beginning with Aaron Neville and Mavis Staples.
What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without an instrumental version of the week’s tune? This time, FCH regular, Herbie Mann.
That’s it for this week. I propose a toast to self-respect. It’s what Booker T Jones, Al Jackson, and Steve Cropper would want. Never argue with Booker T and the MGs:
I am sad to say that the first version of this I heard was from Bruce Willis, but I think it holds up (well, when June Pointer joins in).
I checked it out when selecting. It’s not bad but he’s no Aaron Neville.
My memory thought he was a much better, or at least bolder, singer.
IMHO, The Staple Singers own this song.