This week’s entry continues the countdown to Carnival and King Cake consumption. Twelfth Night arrives at the stroke of midnight. I prefer to ponder it and not the 3rd anniversary of the Dipshit Insurrection. That’s what the rest of 2024 will be about. Let’s take a break from politics and rock.

In The Midnight Hour was written in 1965 by Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper. There’s an authorship dispute: Pickett belatedly claimed sole authorship but their Stax colleagues have largely sided with Cropper. I concur. I wanted to take a break from controversy, so that’s all I have on this subject

It all started with Wilson Pickett, so that’s where we begin.

I’m on the record as believing The Rascals are one of the most underrated bands in rock history. Here’s some more evidence:

Mary Wells was originally a Motown artist but recorded the Pickett-Cropper classic after moving to Stax’s sister label, ATCO:

Next up, an intergenerational version by Jackie Wilson and Count Basie.

It’s time for my favorite cover of In The Midnight Hour. Are you ready for Roxy Music?

I mentioned rocking out to this week’s tune. It’s what Tina Turner did best.

James Taylor. Say no more.

What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time, soulful interpretations from Booker T. & The MG’s with Steve Cropper on lead guitar followed by saxophone deity King Curtis.

That’s all for this week. I propose a toast to Carnival 2024. It’s what Duck Dunn, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, and Al Jackson would want. Never argue with them.