Should you play Mustang Sally?

[slobake]

One of the busier wedding bands I work with does Mustang Sally pretty much every wedding and without fail the crowd loves it. So, couple that with the $300-$500 I get for those gigs and I wouldn't care if we did an entire set of Mustang Sally.

We could do a calypso version, then a metal version, then a smooth jazz version, then house, then a bluegrass version with an "I am a man of constant sorrow" break, move into disco and then finish with the original Pickett vibe. That would kill basically an entire set.

And food for thought... if you hate a song and play it like you hate it, it'll probably suck. Guess who's to blame?


I try to have fun with whatever I'm playing (I figured out a loooong time ago the gig isn't about me and what I like) and crowds usually pick up on that.

YMMV

Yes , but can you play a Polka version?

 

[Gaius46]

Our business cards promise you'll never hear us play Mustang Sally,Brown Eyed Girl,or anything by Bob Seger...nothing against Bob,he's a great guy,but as he vacations here often,there's no way we'll risk butchering one of his tunes as he stands in the shadows..again

Sounds like there's a story that needs to be told here.......

 

[gweimer]

The biggest problem with "cover" songs is that most bands are really playing a cover of someone else's cover of a cover.
A few bands take a cover and really make it their own with a bold and original arrangement.

I can't argue with that. Even Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" was a cover of the original from Gloria Jones.

"Jesus is Just Alright" wasn't the Doobie Brothers. It wasn't even The Byrds before that. Look on YouTube for The Art Reynolds Singers.

 

[bassfran]

Why do we continually beat these dead horse tunes?

Both ZZ Top and Skynyrd have WAAAYY better songs than "Tush" and "Sweet Home Alabama".

Q; What's the best thing about "Mustang Sally"?

A; It isn't "Sweet Home Chicago".

 

[Commreman]

If the room is jumpin' and I'm being paid, why not? I'll just enjoy the scenery on the dance floor while I'm playing.

On another note, this is an actual warning posted inside of the stage canopy at a very popular Jersey shore club that we play in:

I guess management is tired of that one!

 

[LCBurt]

I never really liked the song, it's OK but if it comes on the radio I tend to change the station. I have played it and if the crowd is into a song it's way more fun for me to play it than listen to it.

 

[gweimer]

I never really liked the song, it's OK but if it comes on the radio I tend to change the station. I have played it and if the crowd is into a song it's way more fun for me to play it than listen to it.

I have found that there is often no correlation between songs that I like to hear and songs I like to play. A song that is so-so on my ears, but my fingers love is "Knock On Wood".

 

[tuckomf]

Among my favorite bands are King Crimson and Deerhoof,

Just looked up Deerhoof. I'll say thanks just once, but it's not nearly enough. WOW!

 

[ksandvik]

Deerhof doing Mustang Sally, now I would listen to that!

 

[skwee]

SRLSY! By the way, I believe that one is contractually obligated to play Mustang Sally.

 

[slaps76]

I never hear this song played at bars, nor do we play it...only way I'd do it if we were to play a wedding and it was requested by the bride/groom prior. Other than that, I'm pretty sure it would clear out any dancefloor at bars we play at.

 

[Old Fart]

I started playing bass in about 1970. Several bands. Stopped for a while. Back at it now. I have NEVER played Mustang Sally.

 

[David Jayne]

Funny thing about Mustang Sally. It's actually pretty hard to play WELL....a bit like 'Car Wash' or 'Brick House.' Seems simple but...

 

[dtripoli]

Funny thing about Mustang Sally. It's actually pretty hard to play WELL....a bit like 'Car Wash' or 'Brick House.' Seems simple but...

Agreed, and all it takes is one guitarist, drummer or, God Forbid, a bass player getting
out of sync/groove and it turns hokie quick.
Perhaps you have hit on the reason so many here bemoan having to play it.
...But then again it is Mustang Sally and she does need to get her flat feet on the ground....

 

[mcm]

Ill play it, even smack dab right in the middle of nashville. its freakin wilson pickett!!! have fun with it

 

[leegreenman]

I think I'm missing something. Why is this song so hated around here? Never did the cover band thing. Guess that's why.

 

[dtripoli]

I think I'm missing something. Why is this song so hated around here? Never did the cover band thing. Guess that's why.

There's no hating here. Go to the first post, it's a joke.
In 1967 when Wilson released Mustang Sally, it was 3:08 mins of perfection.
The joke or drudgery is the non-musician audiences that always want to hear it.
It's the R&B version of the drunk guy at any rock n roll concert shouting out, "FREEBIRD"

 

[rzpooch]

I can't believe I read this whole thread!
I have always loved playing it, it's fun. I might not like it as much if I had to do the awefull turnaround that I've heard alot of bands do. My band starts our 2nd set with it everytime. Ladies on stage singing "ride sally ride", our singer out in the crowd letting everyone have a shot at it too. FUN!
Hey, different strokes for different strokes. If you don't like it, don't play it!

 

[NoiseNinja]

Now, how would you react if someone shouted: "Play something by Slayer!" (an ongoing joke in Denmark)?

 

[mongo2]

Good point. You can change it. I mean, it's not "Freebird", which specifies that "this bird you cannot change".

My son played guitar with his highschool marching band and they did Freebird at every homegame halftime. That was definitely a "changed" bird but still good.

And yes, I always started shouting "Freebird" from the stands, and many joined in.