LAST LISTENED TO december
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT nah
RATING
Willie Mitchell is best known as the man who not only signed Al Green for his first recording contract, but also co-produced him and co-wrote much of his material during his most popular years. However, Mitchell also had a recording career of his own that dated back to the beginning of the '60s.
As a band-leader, trumpeter and arranger, he and his band recorded instrumental soul. Their sound is very similar to what you'd get if you added a funky horn section to Booker T & The MGs. Between them, they share equal prominence in creating what would become known as the Memphis Sound. Hardly a surprise given that Stax (Booker T & The MGs label) and Hi Records (whom Mitchell recorded for and later ran) shared many musicians, most notably drummer Al Jackson, Jr. who was the drummer for both Booker T and Mitchell (and Al Green during his Hi Records years).
Woodchopper's Ball is an organ-driven piece that is one of Willie Mitchell's most Booker T-ish moments. It's got the solid 4/4 beat and all the changes that you'd expect and it's only a fraction over the two minute mark. It is the Memphis Sound. My only wish is that it could have had an organ solo, but then (i've said it before and i'll say it again) i do like a bit of organ.
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