Song of the Week – Hooked on a Feeling, B.J. Thomas & Cry Like a Baby, The Box Tops

Ignored           Obscured            Restored

There is a very distinct guitar sound that I love and have been trying to find a vehicle for in the band I’m in.  It’s the late ‘60s sound of the Coral electric sitar (by Danelectro).  Whenever I’ve tried to explain the sound I’m referring to I always cite two, well known examples – The Box Top’s “Cry Like a Baby, and “Hooked on a Feeling” by B.J. Thomas.

I had no idea they were both played by the same guy, southern session guitarist Reggie Young, who died last week.

Young played on many other classic tracks from the ‘60s and ’70s, including:

Suspicious Minds                  Elvis Presley

Sweet Caroline                      Neil Diamond

Skinny Legs and All              Joe Tex

Dark End of the Street          James Carr

Son of a Preacher Man        Dusty Springfield

The Letter                               The Box Tops

Drift Away                              Dobie Gray

Cocaine                                  J.J. Cale

I Can Help                              Billy Swan (a previous SotW)

According to the New York Times obituary, “a compilation album of 24 tracks from sessions on which Mr. Young played, including recordings by Merle Haggard, Jackie DeShannon and Bobby (Blue) Bland, is to be released by the English label Ace Records this week.”

It will be well worth checking out!

BTW, use of the Coral did not end in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s.  Dave Stewart, of Eurhythmics’ fame, played it on Tom Petty’s 1985 hit “Don’t Come Around Here No More.”

Enjoy… until next week.