Since Jimmy Carl Black‘s passing, I have had the great opportunity to listen to much of the man’s post-Mothers of Invention recordings. Agree with me or not, JCB was a very unique musician in his own right. Many of his talents, I fear, were unfairly overlooked by a Frank Zappa wishing to distance himself from the original Mothers. Whether they are blues standards, or eclectic cover versions of Mothers of Invention or Zappa songs, JCB stamped them with his own unique identity. Along the way, he played with some of the greatest musicians you’ve probably never heard of (yet should). Now’s your chance (for at least a taste).
“Lonely, Lonely Nights” and “Willie the Pimp” (above)
Sandro Oliva & the Blue Pampurio’s (with Jimmy Carl Black)
Live at the “Jake & Elwood” (Fiumicino/Roma) April 17, 1996
“Brown Shoes Don’t Make It”
Sandro Oliva & the Blue Pampurio’s (with Jimmy Carl Black)
Live in Roma, May 2007, Teatro Ambra Jovinelli – 1967/2007: 40 years of Sandro O-Live!!!
“King Kong” (above)
The Muffin Men (featuring Jimmy Carl Black)
Live at Objekt5, Halle, Germany, October 30th, 2007.
“Trouble Every Day”
The Muffin Men (featuring Jimmy Carl Black)
Live in Germany, 2002.
“Willie the Pimp”
The Muffin Men (featuring Jimmy Carl Black)
Live at Blues Garage, Isernhagen, Hannover, Germany, Oct. 23rd, 2005.
“Willie the Pimp”
The Muffin Men (featuring Jimmy Carl Black)
Promo Video, 1993.
“The Indian of the Group” (above)
The European Grandmothers
Live in Detroit, August 19th, 2000.
“Political Man” (above)
Jimmy Carl Black, Uwe Jesdinsky, Mick Pini
Live at Rockhouse, June 2008.
“Enron Blues”
Jimmy Carl Black, Roy Estrada, Mick Pini
Fan made video.
“Willie the Pimp” (above)
The Jack and Jim Show – Eugene Chadbourne and Jimmy Carl Black
Live at Uncle Pleasant’s, Louisville, KY on September 9th, 2007.
“Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance”
The Jack and Jim Show – Eugene Chadbourne and Jimmy Carl Black
Live at Uncle Pleasant’s, Louisville, KY on September 9th, 2007.
And, alas, a tribute and ultimate answer to Jimmy Carl Black’s never ending quest…”When Do We Get Paid?”
Jimmy Carl Black’s music will always have a special place in the music world.