Under The Covers – Spanky Wilson
ElTele, Talcy and I brought you 26×26. Now here’s our eagerly anticipated new cover versions series.
OK, let’s get this straight right from the word go: Spanky Wilson got her nickname because she was a naughty girl when she was a child growing up in Pittsburgh.
This storming, soulful version of the Clapton/Bruce/Brown penned Sunshine Of Your Love is a cult club favourite, and I hope it’ll be one of your favourites too. It’s from her sophomore album Doin’ It, from 1968. There’s no woozy 60s lead guitar noodling here – it’s all crisp clipped funk rhythm and tight horn section, topped off with Spanky’s dynamic jazz inflected vocals. It’s a monster of a floor-filler all right, guaranteed to get you out there shaking your booty and making a damn fool of yourself.
So check out the cover below. Would I be right in thinking Spanky makes the Cream tune (from Disraeli Gears, 1967) seem a little… pedestrian?
P.S. Spanky’s still making excellent music today – check out the I’m Thankful album (2006) featuring the Quantic Soul Orchestra.
