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Jimmy McCracklin – I Had To Get With It

Era-bridging blues-soul, including rap sample regular "Dog"

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McCracklin was 42 when he joined Imperial in 1963, already a veteran of World War ll, blues and rock’n’roll. He maintained a presence on the R&B chart for the label throughout the decade, despite the rapidly changing, soul-powered times (ruefully confronted on this collection’s title track). But what’s striking are the sounds of jump blues and jazz in these so-called soul records, a thread surviving from the ’40s jukeboxes on which McCracklin was first heard right up to the Black Panthers’ day.

McCracklin’s oddly frail voice and facilely skilful songwriting (from dance-craze novelties to relationship rows) add to the feel of time out of joint. A charming curio.

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McCracklin was 42 when he joined Imperial in 1963, already a veteran of World War ll, blues and rock'n'roll. He maintained a presence on the R&B chart for the label throughout the decade, despite the rapidly changing, soul-powered times (ruefully confronted on this collection's...Jimmy McCracklin - I Had To Get With It