Delbert McClinton
Band members Related acts
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line-up 1 (1962-present) - Delbert McClinton -- vocals, harmonica, guitar
supporting musicians (1976) - Tom Brannon -- backing vocals - Ken Buttrey -- drums - Harrison Calloway -- trumpet - Jerry Carrigan -- drums - John Lee Christopher -- guitar - Tommy Cogbill - bass - Ron Eades -- sax - Bobby Emmons -- organ - Don Gant -- backing vocals - Mike Leech -- bass - Christopher Rose -- trombone - Harvey Thompson -- sax - Bergen White -- backing vocals - Bobby Wood -- keyboards - Reggie Young -- guitar
supporting musicians: (1980) - Billy Sanders -- guitar - Wayne Perkins -- guitar - Bonnie Bramlett -- backing vocals - Eddie Struzick -- backing vocals - Lenny LeBlanc -- backing vocals - Robert Byrne -- backing vocals - Ronald Eades -- sax - David Hood -- bass - Roger Hawkins -- drums, percussion - Jimmy Johnson -- guitar - Muscle Shoals Horns - Barry Beckett -- keyboards - Randy McCormick -- keyboards - Reese Wynan -- keyoards - Bob Krusen -- percussion - Dick Cooper -- percussion - Harvey Thompson -- sax - Robert Harwell -- sax - Robert Harwell - Randy McCormick -- synthesizer - Charles Rose -- trombone - Harrison
Calloway -- trumpet
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- Johnny & the Jills (Delbert McClinton) - The Ron-dells (Delbert McClinton) - Los Super-Sevens (Delbert McClinton) |
Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Genuine Cowhide Company: ABC Catalog: ABCD-959 Year: 1976 Country/State: Lubbock, Texas Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: original embossed cover; includes original lyric inner sleeve Available: 2 Catalog ID: 4709 Price: $20.00 Cost: $66.00
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1976's "Genuine Cowhide" has never been one of my Delbert McClinton favorites, though lots of fans will probably disagree with that assessment. Produced by Chip Young and backed by an impressive cast of sessions players, this time around McClinton shifted his attention away from country to R&B flavored numbers. While change can be good, my big complaint with the set stemmed from the absence of quality originals. This time out there were only two McClinton penned numbers - ' I'm Dying As Fast As I Can' and 'Special Love Song'. Probably not a surprise, but those two performances were among the album's highlights. While there's nothing wrong with McClinton's covers of classics by the likes of James Brown ('Please, Please, Please') and Fats Domino ('Blue Monday'), there simply wasn't much he could add to the story. The results were competent, if hardily inspirational.
And a quick word about Tom Wilkes striking cover art ... You can't really get the 3D effect here, but the embossed cover reflected what was obviously a condom in a wallet. I still find it somewhat amazing that ABC was willing to release such a daring and perhaps tasteless cover ... yes it is included on my list of favorite covers.
"Genuine Cowhide" track listing: 1.) It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day) (T. Jarrett) - 2:31 rating: *** stars A rollicking blues number with a full horn section, 'It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day)' was one of those tracks that probably sounded way better in a live setting with a couple of cold beers. There wasn't anything wrong with the track and the track was actually interesting given McClinton took a rare turn at lead guitar, turning in a tasteful solo that made you wonder why he didn't play lead more often. 2.) Please, Please, Please (James Brown) - 2:40 rating: ** stars McClinton certainly had the chops to cover James Brown's 'Please, Please, Please', but you had to wonder why he bothered. Professional, but anyone familiar with the original won't be particularly impressed and the backing singers were irritating throughout the arrangement. 3.) Lovey Dovey (M. Curtis - Ahmet Ertegun) - 3:22 rating: ** stars A breezy, fun blues number, 'Lovey Dovey' was one of the more commercial tracks on the album, but nothing particularly memorable. 4.) Before You Accuse Me (E. McDaniels) - 3:03 rating: **** stars Opening with some blistering McClinton harp, 'Before You Accuse Me' has become a staple in his show and here, backed by the horns and a fantastic Reggie Young lead guitar solo, he literally ripped the song apart. One of the album highlights. 5.) Blue Monday (D. Bartholomwn) - 2:01 rating: *** stars Another roaring blues number, 'Blue Monday' demonstrated what a great voice McClinton had. He literally didn't even sound like he broke a sweat on this one. The other highlight - Ton Eades nice '50s-flavored baritone sax solo.
- 1976's 'Blue Monday' b/w 'Special Love Song' (ABC catalog number ABC-12218)
6.) I'm Dying As Fast As I Can (Delbert McClinton) - 2:52 rating: **** stars One of two McClinton originals, 'I'm Dying As Fast As I Can' was side one's most rock-oriented tune and a personal favorite.
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2) With a distinctive '40s flavor, 'Lipstick, Powder and Paint' was fun, but probably too cute for most folks. 2.) Pledging My Love (F. Washington - D. Robey) - 2:53 rating: *** stars 'Pledging My Love' is another song that's become a staple in his concert repertoire. Normally I wouldn't be all that impressed by a chestnut like this, but McClinton performance gave it a winning edge. 3.) One Kiss Led To Another (M. Stoller - J. Leiber) - 2:45 rating: ** stars One of two Mike Stoller-Jerry Lieber covers, 'One Kiss Led To Another' was another tune that was simply too cutesy for my tastes. 4.) (When She Wants Good Lovin') My Baby Comes To Me (Mike Stoller - Jerry Leiber) - 2:53 rating: **** stars '(When She Wants Good Lovin') My Baby Comes To Me' was the second Stoller-Lieber cover and McClinton acquitted himself well on this one, giving it a slinky, blues arrangement. Nice. 5.) Special Love Song (Delbert McClinton) - 3:30 rating: **** stars The second McClinton original, 'Special Love Song' was a pretty keyboard powered ballad. Subdued and bluesy, it was one of those tracks that snuck up on you and all of a sudden you were humming the basic melody. 6.) Let the Good Times Roll (L. Travis) - 2:46 rating: ** stars There simply was no reason to have covered 'Let the Good Times Roll'. What could McClinton possibly bring to this chestnut? Beats me since other than Ken Buttrey's manic drumming and Reggie Young's brief guitar solo, the track was completely forgettable.
© Scott R. Blackerby July 2024
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Love Rustler Company: ABC Catalog: AB-981 Year: 1977 Country/State: Lubbock, Texas Grade (cover/record): VG / VG Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4709 Price: $15.00
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Produced by Chip Young, 1977's "Love Rustler" was easily the best of McClinton's three LPs for ABC. Exemplified by material like the title track, 'Let Love Come Between Us' and 'Under Suspicion' McClinton found a near perfect mixture of commercial moves and his R&B roots. Even better was the cover of Tony Joe White's 'Hold On To Your Hiney'. The title would have you think this was little more than a goofy gimmick song, but McClinton turned it into a stunning slice of funk. The album was also rare in that the horn arrangements didn't detract from the energy McClinton generated throughout. Unfortunately just as McClinton was hitting his artistic stride, his relationship with ABC came to an end. 'Course some of that may have to do with the fact ABC's music business was coming to an end at the same time ...
"Love Rustler" track listing:
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2)
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Genre: rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: The Jealous Kind Company: Capitol/Muscle Shoals Catalog: ST 12115 Year: 1980 Country/State: Lubbock, Texas Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $20.00
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I was so enamored with 1980's "The Jealous Kind" that when I read Delbert McClinton was touring I bought a couple of tickets to see him play a small club in Georgetown. It turned out it was really more of a restaurant than a club and the night of the performance the District of Columbia was hit with a big snowstorm. Uncertain whether the show as going to take place, my girlfriend and I, along with an old friend (hello Bruce) drove to Georgetown and found our way to the restaurant. As I recall the stage was a corner of the restaurant and there were only a handful of people, but Delbert and his band came out and played for a couple of hours, including most of his "new" album. The crowd may have been small, but McClinton and company gave it their all. It was one of those magic concerts; one I've never forgotten. Bruce and I still talk about it from time to time.
Given
1980's "The Jealous Kind" stands as one of Delbert
McClinton's creative and c
"The Jealous Kind" track listing:
- 1980's "Shotgun Rider" b/w "Baby Ruth" (Capitol catalog number 4984)
- 1980's "Giving It Up For Your Love" b/w "My Sweet Baby" (Capitol catalog number 4948)
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2) The rockin' "Baby Ruth" served as a classic McClinton performance. With Bonnie Bramblettt again providing sterling back vocals this one of those tracks that was difficult to sit still through. I would have tapped it as a single, though Capitol slapped it on the "B" side of McClinton's "Shotgun Rider" 45. 2.) Bright Side Of The Road (Van Morrison) - 3:01 rating: *** stars Admittedly McClinton turned in a nice cover of this Van Morrison classic. I'm happy to hear it, but ultimately I have to give the nod to the Morrison original. I miss the female backing vocals on the original. 3.) Take Me To The River (Al Green - Mabon Hodges) - 3:27 rating: **** stars Nothing will ever surpass the Al Green original, but I always thought The Talking Heads' version came close. It does, but powered by David Hood's bass line, McClinton's cover easily surpasses Byrne and company's cover. 4.) Shaky Ground (Al Boyd - Eddie Hazel - Jeffrey Brown) - 3:00 rating: **** stars I grew up on The Temptations version which is great, but I've come to believe McClinton's cover is even better. Powered by that instantly recognizable guitar riff and some cheesy '70s synthesizers (Clavinet?) I'm still dumbstruck that Capitol didn't see fit to release this as a single. The only thing wrong with the song is it was too short. Neither the video or sound quality are great, but YouTube has McClinton performing the song for a 1989 appearance on PBS's Austin City Limits: Delbert McClinton - Shaky Ground 5.) My Sweet Baby (Billy Earl McClelland) - 2:42 rating: **** stars Not entirely sure, but I think Wayne Perkins was responsible for the killer solos on "My Sweet Baby". Those solos propel what would have been an "also ran" bar band rocker to another level. The song also appeared as the "B" side on the "Giving It Up For Your Love" 45.
© Scott R. Blackerby February 2026
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ommercial
high points, it's surprising how over time the album seems to have been
overlooked and forgotten by most
fans. That's even stranger given it included the single "Giving
It Up For Your Love"
which remains McClinton's biggest pop success. Produced by Barry
Beckett and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, to my ears the album captured
the perfect mix of McClinton's blues roots and that patented Muscle Shoals
soul groove. Unlike so many artists who lose their souls when they
decide to go for a more commercial sound, on tracks like "Shotgun
Rider" and his cover of The Temptations' hit "Shakey Ground"
McClinton managed to find a balance between authenticity and radio-friendly.
And as good as McClinton's performance were, a great deal of the credit had
to go to the Muscle Shoals crew. Listening to songs like "I
Can't Quit You" and "Baby
Ruth" keyboardist Beckett, drummer Roger Hawkins, bassist Dave
Hood, guitarists Jimmy Johnson and the rest of the Muscle Shoals crew
seem to have had an innate feel for McClinton's strengths. They make
every one of these nine tracks better. Which leads to the question of how do
you even begin to pick the highlights? Clearly the single "Giving
It Up For Your Love" was a standout. Force me into a corner and
I'd give the nod to "Shakey Ground" and the title track.
Simply a must own album for McClinton fans.
