Deep Southwestern Soul From Ernie and Eddie

Eddie & Ernie “Outcasts” (Eastern, 1965)

This track can be found on the “Singles Mixer Vol. 2” Podcast.

I’m glad to be back and more or less recovered from my brief trip overseas and the bummin cold/cough I got while traveling and ready to lay another 45 on you all!

Eddie and Ernie were a great (and as is often the case) overlooked duo from Phoenix, Arizona whose recorded output lands mostly in the mid-60s.  They recorded for a number of labels (Columbia, Chess and Revue) but today’s record was released on the (adopted) hometown Eastern label.

This little slab of wax is kind of a heavy record.  You know, not in a Sabbath type of way heavy but instead, it’s the meditative, slightly noodley and somber guitar that opens the track that kind of weighs on you.  And while the beat is up-tempo and the horns feel like they’re reaching upwards, it all comes together to just ooooooooze melancholy.  Of course you have Eddie (Campell) and Ernie (Johnson) delivering an exquisite vocal performance that assures you feel their pain when they cry “I don’t know how long I’m gonna last.”  The song breaks after the first chorus and lets you feel that awesomely sad and clean guitar break (with a touch of organ buried under there) again -this time knowing full well you’re into so deep territory.

An all around great track that stays on repeat in my room (even in my happy moments!) was surely helped out by the production of the great Juggy Murray (who I swore I had featured in one of my longer mixes, but apparently not!) of Sue Records.

I hope your month is winding down peacefully, happily and healthily and you enjoy today’s track as much as I do!

-George / Snack Attack.



Comments are closed.