Fortune Teller

In the latest episode, we discuss Allen Toussaint's great story-song "Fortune Teller",  a fave of garage bands throughout the 60s. Benny Spellman authored the original version and it has that nice New Orleans swampiness - piano, clave, horns, and great backing vocals. What a gumbo! The second rendition is a cute one from the very early Rolling Stones, who add a Orientalist riff and harmonica to their arrangement -& Charlie Watt's drumming keeps the song chugging along nicely. The third version comes from Tony Jackson & The Vibrations: TJ had just left The Searchers because he wanted to have a tougher sound - and this riff proves it! The vocals are too Mersey, though. A reprieve from the rockin' sounds and a return to the horn-y and piano-drive feel of the original from Alabama's The Del-Rays is up next. It's punchy and groovy and it's the best "Spellman twist" since the original, but the vocal needs more swagger - bring back Mick Jagger! Some Australian troglodytes called The Throb had an Antipodean hit in '66, it's Stones-y, nuff said! We end the spell with a recent-ish number by Robert Plant & Allison Krauss: it's a lot different than the others, but Erik quibbles with the mid-aughtie's production. Ba ba ba ba!!