Me, too.On a night when I'm getting paid, I will play what ever the audience wants. On the nights where that's not the case, I'm far less tolerant of sticking my arm down a clogged pipe.
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Me, too.On a night when I'm getting paid, I will play what ever the audience wants. On the nights where that's not the case, I'm far less tolerant of sticking my arm down a clogged pipe.
I doubt Plumbers enjoy digging other people's poop out of clogged pipes, but that's what they get paid for.
Musicians get paid for playing songs people want to hear. Sometimes it is as disgusting as digging poop out of pipes, but that's what we get paid for.
I've never played Mustang Sally when it didn't go over. The only time the song sucks is when some lazy d'bags play some half-@$$ version because they are too lazy to revisit the original or think up a good arrangement. Go listen to Wilson Pickett rock Mustang Sally and tell me it doesn't rock. Most of the people whining about it couldn't hold a candle to the Wilson Pickett arrangement on the best day they ever had.I get paid to entertain , not feed my ego. If someone requests it and we can play it , we play it. I've been doing this now for a little over 50 years so yeah , there are a lot of songs that I have played ad-nausium.
Wilson Pickett's version is great, but I prefer The Commitments version.I've never played Mustang Sally when it didn't go over. The only time the song sucks is when some lazy d'bags play some half-@$$ version because they are too lazy to revisit the original or think up a good arrangement. Go listen to Wilson Pickett rock Mustang Sally and tell me it doesn't rock. Most of the people whining about it couldn't hold a candle to the Wilson Pickett arrangement on the best day they ever had.
Now get off of my lawn before I start playing Mustang Sally!!!!
As much as I like to argue, I wouldn't argue with that. I prefer Wilson Pickett, but The Commitments version rocks too.Wilson Pickett's version is great, but I prefer The Commitments version.
You're no fun. Damn, haven't been able to get a good fight going all day.As much as I like to argue, I wouldn't argue with that. I prefer Wilson Pickett, but The Commitments version rocks too.

You're no fun. Damn, haven't been able to get a good fight going all day.![]()
I really like his version, but his doesn't have the cute little blonde singer. That may be the difference for me.I like them both, too. With some preference for Wilson Pickett, due more to time and place, I think.
I'm a lover. Not a fighter.
Here's the thing about Mustang Sally that gets me. I have NO IDEA how every bar cover band in the universe has been beholden to play it, because, wait a second, I've almost never heard it outside of being played by a cover band in a bar! Seriously, I listen to the variety station, the classic rock station, sometimes the satellite ones, and I've heard the actual recording of MS maybe 2-3x in my whole life.
I think it's a sham, like a pyramid-scheme of musos trying to get other musos to play that song. Like one big chain-letter, or a bet nobody's ever won.
i've noticed that too! i don't think it was even that big a hit when it came out.Here's the thing about Mustang Sally that gets me. I have NO IDEA how every bar cover band in the universe has been beholden to play it, because, wait a second, I've almost never heard it outside of being played by a cover band in a bar!
i've noticed that too! i don't think it was even that big a hit when it came out.
sort of like some old movies and TV shows that never took off until they started showing up in reruns.
How can you possibly be a surf-rock band without Wipeout?
It is like the iconic Surf-Rock song.
Now, if you tell me you don't do Pipeline, I will classify you as Rockabilly.![]()
Good. Well, I didn't get to see the video, just got the audio. It said an error had occurred. I think it has something to do with bass players wearing shorts.Here's a Pipeline from a few years ago. It's the only surf song we do and I love playing it. (Please excuse the shorts on stage. It was a 90 degree day. It was also the last time I've worn shorts on stage regardless of the temperature)
*Note the call-out for Freebird at the end of Pipeline. It was politely ignored.
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It said an error had occurred. I think it has something to do with bass players wearing shorts.
...Man, if being branded as rockabilly meant we'd finally get free rein to play "Walk Like a Camel" by Southern Culture on the Skids, I'd happily be first in line.![]()
i must listen to that now, its been awhile....great album.It's like when I worked at the campus radio station back in college (yeah - WAY back when they had records...). Some guys were proud that they played "serious" music to educate the listeners. Maybe their girlfriend listened to their shows. I played what people wanted to hear, and had a lot of listeners. It's not about ego - it's about entertainment. To quote Ray Davies "Give the People What They Want".