Clarence Carter - Tell Daddy

the original version of Etta James' Tell Mama

Category:

Music

Tags:

• clarence
• carter
• tell
• daddy

[tomthefunky]

@georgethedj: I'm not berating you. Don't be so sensitive. Sheesh.....

[georgethedj]

@tomthefunky To me, here, "rip-off" does not imply malicious intent. "Rip-off" can taking somebody else's material and doing less with it than the originator did. I agree about rap groups "ripping-off" other artists, Regarding labels making artists record the same songs, Motown was famous for that. I don't know of another instance where that happened with FAME. One more thing, Tom: Please stop berating me for having differences of opinion, and for using different definitions of terms. Thanks.

[jay1beaux]

Thanks, I've been looking for this original version for a long time. I like both his and Etta's versions.

[tomthefunky]

@georgethedj But why use the term "rip-off? It implies some kind of malicious intent. When a rap group samples a famous lick and doesn't pay for it, THAT is a "rip-off". Also, it was standard practice for record labels to have all the artists on it's label (In this case FAME) record the same song. Motown did it all the time. You or I may argue which is the best version of "Heard It Through The Grapevine", but unless proper royalties weren't paid out to deserving parties, no one ripped anyone off

[georgethedj]

This is a difference in taste that I won't win, or lose. Clarence Carter's original version sounds better to me. I don't know the personnel or producers on either one, except that Clarence Carter is playing a few guitar licks on his version. In the Etta James version, I can hear that Muscle Shoals rhythm guitar "chik" in it. That's OK, it just gets on my nerves. Overall, the Clarence Carter mix sounds fuller and stronger to me than the Etta James mix. Hence, the "weak rip-off" idea.

[tomthefunky]

@georgethedj: Etta's version was a "weak rip-off"???? It's the same band and producer, you turkey. How can a band rip themselves off?

[georgethedj]

Tell Daddy entered the charts in January 1967. I was in a band then, and we opened our shows with Tell Daddy, with good response. Most people had not heard it, but they liked it. In the spring of 1967, we auditioned for Six Flags Over Georgia with Tell Daddy. We were not hired, but the kids in the audition crowd loved it. In November 1967, Tell Mama entered the charts. To us, Tell Mama was a weak rip-off, and we paid no attention. Tell Mama did better on the charts. Tell Daddy served us well.