Hard Workin Man: The Jack Nitzsche Story, Vol. 2

by N/A

Overview

Ace Records' follow-up to their superb 2005 collection The Jack Nitzsche Story: Hearing Is Believing 1962-1979 doesn't quite live up to that disc's high standards, but this sampling of 26 tracks in which Nitzsche had a hand -- as producer, arranger, conductor or songwriter -- is still a powerful testament to the singular talents of one of rock's most remarkable behind-the-scenes figures. On Hard Workin Man: The Jack Nitzsche Story, Vol. 2, Tony Rounce and Mick Patrick have attempted to give some picture of how broad the man's musical palate could be, and what's most surprising is that as these songs sway from the hard-edged blues of "Hard Workin' Man" (with Captain Beefheart wailing over a band anchored by Ry Cooder), the snarling garage punk of the Gas Company's "Blow Your Mind," the lush neo-psych grandeur of "Porpoise Song" by the Monkees, and the beautifully crafted studio pop of Bobby Vee's "Like Someone in Love." A common thread manifests itself throughout -- Nitzsche had the ability to bring something unexpected whenever he took an act into the studio, and each time he came up with something that fit the song (and the artist) like a charm. He also had a real vision of how to cast the players for a session -- most folks would never have dreamed of putting John Lee Hooker, Miles Davis and Taj Mahal on the same number, but Nitzsche's score for the Dennis Hopper picture featured all three, and Hooker's gutbucket boogie proves to be an ideal foil for Davis' spare but soulful trumpet figures on " "Bank Robbery," featured here. And while, as on the first disc, a number of Nitzsche's best known projects are missing (most notably his work with the Rolling Stones and Neil Young), the ace obscurities show just how consistently strong the man's vision could be -- the Everly Brothers' cover of "Mr. Soul," Tammy Grimes' take on a rare Randy Newman number "Nobody Needs Your Love More Than I Do," and Merry Clayton's remake of "It's in His Kiss" may not have been hits, but they leave an indelible impression once you've heard them. Nitzsche released only a small handful of records under his own name, but Hard Workin Man: The Jack Nitzsche Story, Vol. 2 confirms he was as vital and creative an artist as anyone he worked with, and this is remarkable listening. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	10/31/2006
Label:	Ace
UPC:	0029667022323
Rank:	101001

Tracks

1. Hard Workin' Man  -  Captain Beefheart  - Ry Cooder  - Jack Nitzsche  - Paul Schrader
2. Surf Finger  - Martin Cooper  - Jack Nitzsche
3. Just Like That  - Sonny Bono  - Jack Nitzsche  -  Robins
4. I'm Gonna Be Strong  - Frankie Laine  - Barry Mann  - Cynthia Weil
5. You Just Gotta Know My Mind  - Karen Verros
6. Some of Your Lovin'  - Terry Phillips  - Phil Spector
7. Nobody Needs Your Love More Than I Do  - Tammy Grimes  - Randy Newman
8. It's in His Kiss  - Rudy Clark  - Merry Clayton
9. Don't Put Your Heart in His Hand  - Jackie DeShannon  - Ral Donner  - Sharon Sheeley
10. Just Once in My Life  -  Righteous Brothers  - Phil Spector
11. Teardrops 'Til Dawn  - Baker Knight  - Timi Yuro
12. Like Someone in Love  - James Van Heusen  - Bobby Vee
13. Baby I'm So Glad It's Raining  - Jack Nitzsche  -  Satisfactions
14. Blow Your Mind  - Greg Dempsey  -  Gas Company
15. Woman in Love (With You)  - Donna Loren  - Barry Mann  - Phil Spector  - Cynthia Weil
16. As Long as You're Here  - Garry Bonner  - Alan Gordon  - Zal Yanovsky
17. A Man Needs Love  - George Fischoff  - Tony Powers  - Nooney Rickett
18. Mr Soul  -  Everly Brothers  - Neil Young
19. You Know What I Mean  - Garry Bonner  - Alan Gordon  -  Turtles
20. Porpoise Song  -  Monkees
21. I Don't Want to Talk About It  -  Crazy Horse
22. I'm the Loneliest Fool  - Jack Nitzsche
23. Don't Touch Me There  - Ron Nagle  -  Tubes
24. Bank Robbery  - Miles Davis  - John Lee Hooker  - Jack Nitzsche
25. Break Away  -  Neville Brothers  - Cyril Neville
26. Stealin' All Day

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Lee Hooker   Primary Artist
Crazy Horse   Primary Artist
Merry Clayton   Primary Artist
Neville Brothers   Primary Artist
The Tubes   Primary Artist
Timi Yuro   Primary Artist
Captain Beefheart   Primary Artist
Ral Donner   Primary Artist
Miles Davis   Primary Artist
The Righteous Brothers   Primary Artist
The Robins   Primary Artist
The Monkees   Primary Artist
The Turtles   Primary Artist
Nooney Rickett   Primary Artist
Karen Verros   Primary Artist
Zal Yanovsky   Primary Artist
Donna Loren   Primary Artist
Tammy Grimes   Primary Artist
Frankie Laine   Primary Artist
The Gas Company   Primary Artist
The Everly Brothers   Primary Artist
Bobby Vee   Primary Artist
Jack Nitzsche   Primary Artist,Director,Conductor
The Satisfactions   Primary Artist
Russ Titelman   Conductor
Alec Palao   Acetate

Technical Credits

Marty Cooper   Liner Notes
Mike Curb   Producer
Alan Gordon   Composer
Steve Douglas & the Rebel Rousers   Producer
Martin Cooper   Composer
Terry Phillips   Composer
Ronald Barrett   Producer
Greg Dempsey   Composer
Ron Nagle   Composer
Norman Jopling   Photo Courtesy
Sonny Burke   Producer
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Tony Rounce   Sleeve Art,Archive Research
Ry Cooder   Composer
Garry Bonner   Composer
Joseph Wissert   Producer
Dennis Hopper   Executive Producer
Lenny Waronker   Producer
Robert Downey, Jr.   Producer
Rudy Clark   Composer
James Van Heusen   Composer
Nick Venet   Producer
Jimmy Bowen   Producer
Neil Young   Composer
Randy Newman   Composer
Nick Robbins   Mastering
Michael Hoenig   Producer
Bruce Botnick   Producer
Mike Minor   Producer
George Fischoff   Composer
Gerry Goffin   Producer
David Hassinger   Producer
Dave Pell   Producer
Phil Spector   Composer,Producer
Ken Scott   Producer
Barry Mann   Composer
Brian Chidester   Photo Courtesy
Tony Powers   Composer
Paul Schrader   Composer
Sharon Sheeley   Composer
Terry Melcher   Producer
Sonny Bono   Composer
Baker Knight   Composer
Mick Patrick   Sleeve Art,Song Notes,Archive Research
Jack Nitzsche   Arranger,Composer,Producer,String Arrangements
Jackie DeShannon   Composer
Cyril Neville   Composer