Neil Young News: Southern Soul for Southern Man: Merry Clayton

<-Older Posts Blog Home Newer Posts->

Monday, October 10, 2011

Southern Soul for Southern Man: Merry Clayton

Merry Clayton covers Neil Young's "Southern Man" on YouTube.

And you say who is Merry Clayton???

Clayton sang back up vocals on Neil Young's "Old Laughing Lady".

Also, Clayton was the intensely female vocal on the Rolling Stones original version of "Gimme Shelter". And, she was one of the original Rayettes (Ray Charles female backup singers).

Merry Clayton's was brilliant on The Who's "Tommy" soundtrack on "The Acid Queen" with symphony orchestra backing.

And, she sang backup on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama", that song that some think"put Ol' Neil down".

Southern soul for a southern man from a southern woman.

Timeline from Anon comment:

1969 - Merry Clayton recorded The Old Laughing Lady and I Loved Her So Long with Neil Young

1971 - Merry Clayton recorded Southern Man as a solo artist

1974 - Merry Clayton recorded Sweet Home Alabama with Lynyrd Skynyrd

And, so why exactly might a southern black woman cover a white Canadian man's ode to racism in the Confederate south again, now anyhow?

Links to this post:

<$BlogBacklinkTitle$>: <$BlogBacklinkSnippet$>
posted by <$BlogBacklinkAuthor$> @ <$BlogBacklinkDateTime$>

Create a Link

16 Comments:

At 10/10/2011 11:48:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Right on!
At 10/11/2011 01:52:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Thanks for the post T.
Love her voice on Neil's first solo album and I am glad to hear that she even sounds better on the remastered version. The duet with MJ on Gimme Shelter is timeless.

Here's another great song she sings on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIFwLmGQA3Q&feature=fvsr
At 10/11/2011 04:06:00 AM, Anonymous said...: If you search youtube you'll find early U2 overing "Souther man"..do not miss it.
At 10/11/2011 07:16:00 AM, Mother Nature on the Run said...: What a giant let down on that "here's another great song she sings on."

Here's a little cold water of reality to wash off that snark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsuPiKfiClI&feature=related

Didn't you hear about it?
At 10/11/2011 07:25:00 AM, Mother Nature on the Run said...: Sweet Home Alabama Goes Hollywood:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbfyYvj4f9Q
At 10/11/2011 08:21:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Thanks to Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd was inspired to write the song "Sweet Home Alabama".

http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/lynyrd.htm
At 10/11/2011 08:43:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Merry Clayton recorded Southern Man in 1971

Sweet Home Alabama is from 1974

So Ronnie probably knew she recorded the song...

Since she has both worked with the Rolling Stones and Neil Young could it be possible that she was a friend of Jack Nitzsche? He might have introduced her to Neil for the Neil Young album. Or was it Ry Cooder? She also sings backing vocals on "I've loved her so long".
At 10/11/2011 09:56:00 AM, Mother Nature on the Run said...: Well, her brother rolled in on that second wave as the percussionist for Little Feat. It's possible Ben knew the family, too, back in the "studio days."
At 10/11/2011 10:15:00 AM, Anonymous said...: But Neil didn't know Ben back in 1969...
At 10/11/2011 10:32:00 AM, Mother Nature on the Run said...: 1969?

"Southern Man" put Neil out there like Dylan when he wrote "Hattie Carroll."

It's likely Ms. Clayton came across it and said, "This song really tells it like it is!" and added it to her collection of songs.

All you mofo fools talking about "Sweet Home Alabama" are talking about something different entirely.
At 10/11/2011 10:47:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Somebody has to post on TW this:neil young like a hurricane dublin...it's a pearl on youtube
At 10/11/2011 10:57:00 AM, Anonymous said...: 1969 - Merry Clayton recorded The Old Laughing Lady and I Loved Her So Long with Neil Young

1971 - Merry Clayton recorded Southern Man as a solo artist

1974 - Merry Clayton recorded Sweet Home Alabama with Lynyrd Skynyrd
At 10/11/2011 01:47:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Pearl Jam
Acoustic 'Better Man' at Bridge School

http://tinyurl.com/6c7ggjb

All the proceeds will go the Bridge School charity.
At 10/11/2011 02:22:00 PM, Your Mother Should Know ... said...: There is nothing glorious or redeeming even today about this history of racism in "Sweet Home Alabama" beginning with the flaunting of a Confederate Flag today which is like waving a Nazi Flag at a Jewish Harvest Festival.

To me, "Sweet Home Alabama" is a anthem glorifying the atrocities committed against slaves and their ancestors. It's something that I always felt deep down inside when I heard that song. It's something I can't shake.

A comeback line like "Southern Man don't need him around anyhow" may have been done in good fun, but at whose expense?

I think Lynard Skynard were pretty damn arrogent to put that in their song. I don't care if Sammmy Davis sang it.

Why would anyone want to poke fun at a reference made about Jewish suffering?
At 10/11/2011 04:40:00 PM, BIGCHIEF said...: I never believed that Neil and Ronnie were ever 'friends'. I think that Neil was just being modest at best when he complimented the song and said he thought it was cool when he heard his name dropped in it. What was he supposed to say? Surviving members of Skynyrd have said that they were fans of Neil, but inciting your audience to a near frenzy like Ronnie would do when he would sing those lyrics "southern man don't need you around anyhow" is a rather strange way of expressing your admiration for a fellow artist!
At 10/11/2011 04:58:00 PM, BIGCHIEF said...: I agree with you, MNOTR. Neil never tried to spin the meaning behind the lyrics of Southern Man or Alabama. He just put it out there and dealt with the consequences as they came along. There was a period where he even had to avoid touring in the 'deep south' because of death threats and hatred in general mostly fueled by Skynyrds song. As you said, Sweet Home Alabama' was Ronnie Van Zants answer to both of Neils songs and his defense of the old 'Deep Souths' twisted ways. It's nothing more than a racial anthem disquised as a catchy southern rock song. And I know, as they always do, that someone will respond in Skynyrds defense with 'The Ballad Of Curtis Lowe'. That doesn't change the intent behind the song Sweet Home Alabama.

Post a Comment

<< Home

<-Older Posts Blog Home Newer Posts->

Willie for a Nobel!

Willie Nelson for Nobel Peace Prize
for Farm Aid and his work on
alternative fuels, and world peace initiatives.

Demand justice for Aaron:
Support "Aaron's Law" and inquiry into his prosecution

Please Help Support Independent Media &
Non-Corporate Advertising

This Blog's For You!
It's Been Called The
"Missing Link" in the Ditch Trilogy

Sign the Release "Time Fades Away" Petition
Join The 10,000+ Who Have Already Signed

Neil Young Appreciation Society

Sugar Mountain
Neil Young Setlists

Youngtown Rock and Roll Museum
Omemee, Ontario, Canada
Featuring Neil Young,
The Beatles, and others

Bands Covering Neil Young songs

This Blog's For You!

Official Neil Young News Site

The Bridge School

The Bridge School Concerts
25th Anniversary Edition
**100% of Proceeds to Benefit Bridge School***

Farm Aid
Stop factory farms
Go family farms!

The Essential Neil Young

Fans Favorite Neil Albums

Top 50 MP3
Neil Young Song Downloads

Top 10 Best Selling Neil Albums Today

Support Thrasher's Wheat
via Purchases from:
United States - Amazon.com
Canada - Amazon.ca
United Kingdom - Amazon.uk
Germany - Amazon.de

Thrasher's Wheat Radio Hour
Saturdays @ 9P EST on WBKM.org
(Podcasts archived here)

Neil Young Songbook Project

Neil Young Films
2010 MusiCares Honors Neil Young

Proceeds from sales go to MusiCares,
which helps musicians in need of
financial and medical assistance.

ADVERTISEMENT

Most Recent Comments

Neil Young FAQ:
Everything Left to Know About the Iconic and Mercurial Rocker
"an indispensable reference"

Paul McCartney and Neil Young

"You can make a difference
If you really a try"

John Lennon and Neil Young

"hailed by fans as a wonderful read"

Eddie Vedder and Neil Young