A NICKEL AND A NAIL-O.V. WRIGHT {BACK BEAT 1971}

[PhillyCEEZ]

real black music

[skydog757]

The first time I heard this song I was in Memphis in 2000 taking a tour through the Rock n' Soul museum; I was about 45 years old and thought that there wasn't too much soul music that I hadn't head. This track absolutely floored me. It was so good and I'd never even heard of O.V. Wright. A lost masterpiece.

[jazzmanchgo]

Otis Clay does a killer version of this, as well -- a little too close to O.V.'s version for some tastes, but excellent on its own terms.

[wheatbreadjohnson]

It's a clever reference to the old saying "So poor that I don't have two coins to rub together."

[CollinNorthWest]

Anyone know what "A Nickel and a Nail" means?

[soln4suhreborn]

@CollinNorthWest I guess it means having next to nothing in your possession. He even says "I can't go too far with a nickel and a nail".

[CollinNorthWest]

@soln4suhreborn See, cause, a friend of mine told me it was a drug reference, a nickel being a nickel bag of dope, a nail being a needle.. I can't find anything on the internet to corroborate this theory however.,.. I also can't find anything explaining the origin of a nickel and a nail as pertaining to being broke.. I'd be real interested to find out where the saying comes from...

[jazzmanchgo]

@CollinNorthWest I'd doubt that theory. Wright sings very plainly that his pockets "jingle" -- a nickle bag and a set of works wouldn't make that sound. (And, unless I'm mistaken, the term "spike", not "nail", is the old-school junkie's term for his needle.)

[davetaylorbluespiano]

@CollinNorthWest -yes- he's saying you can't hear coins jingling in his pocket- only one coin rattling against a nail

[lutheringram]

no offense to james carr - but o.v. is it for me: the best deep soulster o.v. all time!

[dannpenn]

the best southern soul singer of all time! this voice!!

[MrXJ22]

one of the Most Underrated Soul Artist......Rest In Power

[glaeken14]

i love it

[sacauxlait469]

The baddest singer to step up to the mic! Poisin! Lawd have mercy! A nickle and a rusty nail! My My My! Bring me a fish sandwich!

[shackbhoy]

Utterly superb of course . When is the record company going to get it's damn act together and get all OV's early stuff reissued , his work is poorly represented in the market , unless you live in Japan that is !

A legend and one of the very finest singers that ever lived !

[soln4suhreborn]

@shackbhoy True,Japan and the UK seem to have all of the goodies. I'd love to go record shopping over there for at least one day each!!!

[MsMissy19851]

luv dis song broke but love still there



[OldGoldSoul]

O.V. WRIGHT DIED IN 1980 R.I.P.

[sexymarqullo]

honey im only 21 n i love nothin but old skool

[harddivej]

i heard that....

[TheEbird67]

Nucleus of Soul . . . He surely IS

[TheEbird67]

My favourite Soul number

[oschooldude]

OV Wright was a great singer!..... Real soul music from Memphis!

[baboe]

aaaaalllllll I have ...... - words rip through ya soul .. if you got one ;) -

[rsdlsh]

what can you do with that nickle & a nail taday??????

[summersbr1]

@rsdlsh, you ask what can you do with a nickle and a nail today?...... the same thing O.V.Wright did back in the day....."just jingle"  lol

[stswandersoul]

hey guys check this out Menw Etsi-Rapswdos Filologos...greek hip hop

[shackbhoy]

classic for all time !!!

[misspudding12]

Willie Mitchell is playing lead I think

[grahamoustra]

every now and then i smile and i jingle

all you hear me jinglin

is a nickel and a nail

this man can sing

[cloudy903]

this is my uncle fev. song.

[summersbr1]

Now this is what I call good classic music !!!!!!!!

[drreliford1981]

o.v wright will always be the man he gave us hard soul the we can all feel thats real singing thanks for the post i love it

[Hectotane]

0:33~0:38

Shyhiem & Hell Raizer, Co-Defendants.

[soln4suhreborn]

True,and Prodigy & Alchemist used it also.

[jeffdcarruthers]

good song, good performer, but you might want to hear roy buchanans version

[Wespjr]

so I just bought a new truck last week and it came with xm radio...I ran across this song on bluesville of course and was floored by it...I really hate I'm just now gettin introduced to wright...but so glad that I am...really really great stuff here

[jiveAt5]

O.V. the original gangsta

[desirelaford]

this song is amazing

[bikstok5]

Im diggin this big time, he got so much soul

[KingWufff]

wu tang sampled this track

[soln4suhreborn]

No one really took the Memphis Sound that originated from producer Willie Mitchell and made it accessible to hip hop lovers everywhere like RZA and The Wu Elements have.

[sewamouf256]

@soln4suhreborn Not true! Rza did it, but DJ Paul and Juicy J always sampled from Memphis singers and Producers! And Cold 187um from AboveTheLaw!

[soln4suhreborn]

@sewamouf256 They probably have,but not as prominently as RZA,True Master,Fourth Disciple,Mathematics,and Bronze Nazareth. The only other producer to use as much Memphis music in their productions was Muggs from Cypress Hill and he used a bunch of Stax stuff.

[thegusto7]

great song, from 'the soul of OV Wright'

[summersbr1]

this is absolutely great stuff. thank goodness for the music of yesteryear....today's music gives us nothing...............

[littlewingflown]

That's absolutely untrue. I also thought that for a long time. Then I started to listen to all the stuff that comes out, well I practically heard every album that counts in 2008 and 2009, and I have to say, that there are still talentful musicians who gift us with masterful music.

[DFWOODSII]

O.V. was great!

[st0nes0ul]

Wow!!!

[mstrit316]

You done good! Where did you find this?!

[wincent1976]

Best drummer ever.. Howard Grimes!!

[biggmandem1]

Naomi is a bird!!!

[biggmandem1]

Off the hook!

[camorapam]

classic!

[YOUNGGHOSTWRITER]

DAmn they just don't make them like this anymore, music , his voice just stays with you, damn been on repeat for about 40 mins now !! Classic Soul !! RIP O.V. !! -

[antiann52]

Sol, do you have any idea who is the guy that is playing the lead guitar in this song?

[soln4suhreborn]

Yes,Teenie Hodges plays the lead on this song. FYI,the band is the Hi Rhythm Section.

[drmbj]

classic one of my favorites they dont make em like this no more

[summersbr1]

Classic stuff here. I love this song !!!!!!!!!!! How many of us have been in this position atleast once in our lives........

[sandranjk]

My dad's favorite song....and my mom's..and mine!! Tahnks to you O.V.Wright and Back Beat 1971. I was still in High School, my Junior year, but I still loved the har core Blues songs from O.V., B.B., Otis Clay, Johnnie Taylor, Ann Peebles, etc.

[soln4suhreborn]

That's some of the best music ever recorded in my opinion! let's not forget Bill Coday,Cash McCall,Syl Johnson,Bobby Rush,Nolan Struck and Lee Shot Williams among myriads of others,just straight up good music!!

[antiann52]

A couple of months ago, they honored O.V with a grave marker here in Memphis, TN. So he will not be forgotten. Thanks so much for the add Sol, I appreciated it.

[soln4suhreborn]

I'm so glad he finally got his grave marker so that we fans can visit and pay respects. Even though his memory will always be with us through his music,showing him respect in that manner speaks volumes,thanks for the update,I lost track of that development. Darrell Banks' final resting place also went unmarked until about a year ago when fans came together to mark it in Detroit. May they both as well as all of the other great entertainers we've lost rest in everlasting peace.

[Lgh45]

great  classic soul music....

[alwayssupafly]

Thnx 4 this. It goes real hard!

[terrybrinston]

hi,rncdad i hope you see this post . i,am from the west side too. 5600 lake st. i love the blues too. check out wallace cat fish corner in a few months. i think johnny taylor copped a little bit of o.v style. the blues is alright, hey hey the blues is alright,yea.

[msjiles1]

YOU TUBE is awesome for allowing these wonderful artist to be posted. I'm 34 but grew up listening to all the soul greats JT, OV, ZZ. Can anyone post 8men 4women by OV? This is another bad cut,by this one of a kind soul artist. What an amazing voice!!

[Thedreamerkel]

I hope somebody would pot this song 8 men @ 4 women soon.

[colsnake331]

Did you get it yet?

[rcndad]

Tonight at 4300 W Washington, Chicago, Illinois Otis Clay will be performing this song and "Nickle and Nail" with Tony and the All Stars! I be doing background vocals along with some very talented artists. Tickets are $40 and food will be served.Plenty of entertainment tonight!

[soln4suhreborn]

And here I am 1,000 miles away!! I wish I could be there,I know the show will be great! Please tell me how it went afterwards. Thanx for responding!

[Cozysmoov]

thank god for Youtube... so people can post these unknown singers.. I heard a lot of hot music from the old days from artists that was under the radar, a lot of talented people wasnt noticed

[dannpenn]

the power of the depth of his voice was simply amazing,the golden age of OV Wright.

[mizjk]

Thanx 4 this down home one of the great storytellers.... RIP OV & Peace~

[johnnyis2bad]

do you have "everybody knows (the river song)??

[soln4suhreborn]

let me check to see,i might have the tune.

[johnnyis2bad]

thats a great tune!

[mjt1206]

soul to da bones....Brilliant!

[soln4suhreborn]

yep! thanx!!

[jiveAt5]

sorry, killabeez " co defendant "

[soln4suhreborn]

"aaaaaaAAuuAAuuAAALL I HAVE!" lol!

[kishab08]

Also Prodigy...

[jiveAt5]

killarmy chopped that so sweet

[SVM77]

MY FAVORITE SONG OF ALL TIME

[soln4suhreborn]

as a kid this was the very first o.v.wright song i've ever heard and it's his best recording of his career in my opinion.

[gottobereal03]

1- Nickel plus 1- Nail= Broke all day and you

know it!

[soln4suhreborn]

LOL!

[gottobereal03]

This is simple math a Nickel and a Nail.

O V Wright took that and made it brilliant.

Thanks for sharing this song.

[soln4suhreborn]

i thought i'd never find anything to illustrate a nickel and a nail,but when i found that logo i said "that's what i need!" lol! as high as everything is now a nickel and a nail won't even get you out of the driveway! lol!