Results are in: Mavis Staples, Sam Cooke in Chicago’s all-star band
By THOMAS CONNER Pop Music Critic/tconner@suntimes.com February 21, 2012 9:05PM
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 18: Mavis Staples performs onstage during VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul at Hammerstein Ballroom on December 18, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Vh1)
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Updated: March 23, 2012 8:15AM
Chicago’s amateur talent bookers have spoken — and picked a really interesting all-star band.
Two weeks ago, we asked Sun-Times readers to vote on the ultimate Chicago supergroup. More than 1,000 of you picked from lists of locally prominent singers, guitarists, bassists, drummers and keyboard players, living or dead.
Here’s the lineup you chose:
◆ Vocals: Sam Cooke and Mavis Staples
◆ Guitar: Buddy Guy
◆ Bass: Willie Dixon
◆ Drums: Buddy Miles
◆ Keyboards: Herbie Hancock
◆ MC: Kanye West
That’s a helluva band! You couldn’t really go wrong with any combination of the nominees, but this septet errs on the side of tested, unquestioned, raw talent. Imagine the duets between Cooke and Staples — he takes lead on “You Are Not Alone,” she weaves him into “I’ll Take You There,” they both massage “Bring It on Home to Me” — along with the interplay of Guy and Hancock (both so versatile and inventive) and the occasional freestyles (and fashion) from West. A rhythm section of rock and blues pioneers Dixon and Miles would be tighter than a flea’s undies.
Most of the winners were clear leaders throughout the voting, but Staples was neck-and-neck with Chaka Khan and took the female vocalist title by just 21 votes.
Several readers added write-ins online, many of which understandably protested the exclusion of Terry Kath, from the band Chicago, for his skills on both guitar (“Terry Kath was even worshipped by Jimi Hendrix”) and vocals (“I would also include his smoky, bluesy, vocal stylings to the singer category”). Byrds singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn also had his defenders.
Myself, speaking of Chicago, I’d add that band’s legendary horn section to the all-star stage. Maybe some original songs for this fantasy band could be contributed by Robbie Fulks, Jeff Tweedy, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Scott Lucas or Jim Ellison.
String accompaniment could come from Andrew Bird, Rachel Barton Pine or Liz Carroll. Eddie Blazonczyk on accordion, Paul Butterfield on harmonica. Let’s get Quincy Jones arranging and producing, Steve Albini and No I.D. mixing, some beats from Frankie Knuckles.
As the house lights dim, please rise for the poetry of Thax Douglas.
Later, the inevitable remix for this mash-up would come from Chicago’s ultimate mash-up duo, the Hood Internet.
Forget fantasy football. Someone needs to set up fantasy rock bands.
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