O.V. Wright “Working Your Game” (Back Beat, 1968)

(Click title to download)

This track can be found in “Singles Mixer Vol. 1”

Early Fall greetings from Western Mass.  Getting psyched up for ‘layering weather’ and pumpkins emerging from every nook and cranny and speaking of nooks and crannies, the record on tap for today is something special.  Nooks and crannies, cracks and crevices, pauses and spaces are all put to the test and none go unused with this absolutely slinky, syncopated second line stomper.

Courtesy of the talents of OV Wright, a Tennessee native who cut his teeth on the gospel scene, spending time as a member- as many did with their revolving cast- of the reputable Highway QC’s and the Sunset Travelers and releasing ‘solo’ recordings - really just The Travelers with OV on lead- on Peacock.  It was from his gospel connections with the Sunset Travelers who released records on Duke (and parent company Peacock) that he was introduced to their soul subsidiary Back Beat though not without some drama.  While trying his hand at secular music Wright struck mini-gold with his single “That’s How Strong My Love Is” both as a recording of his own on Goldwax and as a cover by the estimable Otis Redding.  As the song catapulted into the limelight, Peacock took notice and let it be known Wright was still under contract to the Texas label.  So the art work on the label changed but OV’s ability to write amazing records persisted.  He produced a sizable body of work with them (and a couple records for ABC who bought out Back Beat in the mid 70s) before Moving over to Willie Mitchell’s hallowed halls of Hi Records.  All records of quality and of pretty wide breadth. 

The record in question today is quite a barnstormer and a bit of a curiosity in many ways.  Wright’s greatest successes often came from slow, deep, burning tracks that fit perfectly in the matrix of gospel bred deep Tennessee soul and accordingly it spoke to the talents of Willie Mitchell who, having a long history with OV, produced many of his records .  That’s not to say Wright didn’t knock out a dance number or two (Monkey Dog and I Don’t Want To Sit Down to name a couple) but this record defies those odds.  Replete with second line syncopated drumming that sounds strikingly like New Orleans legend James Black, barrelhouse piano and a slithery guitar working non-stop in the back ground.  Feels more like an Eddie Bo production than a Willie Mitchell! 

OV gets totally in the pocket trading vocal duties with his female counter parts keeping the song rolling and rocking, though not departing from his frequently visiting subject of love unfulfilled, though in this case a thinly veiled desire for something deeper than ‘huggin and kissing’ for all of his expenses paid from taking her out to the night clubs.  The biggest problem with this song is it’s a paltry 2:04 and could go on for 20 more, made even more frustrating by the fact that it gets faded out!

Anyhow, the sun is setting and Friday night is knocking on my door.  Enjoy the OV Wright and stay healthy.