Around the Blogs: "Sack(s) O' Woe"

Jul 15, 2010

The always informative Funky16Corners, one of my favorite spots for finding hard-to find old soul, funk and jazz recordings, has a jazz bonanza today, as they feature not one, not two, but FOUR different versions of Cannonball Adderley’s classic “Sack O’Woe”. Visit him ASAP for a listen, since the tracks are not available for too long.

 

Adderley wrote the tune and recorded it for his At the Lighthouse album in 1960. His band at that time was one of his finest – Cannonball on alto sax, brother Nat Adderley on cornet, Victor Feldman on piano, Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums. He recorded another great version on the famous Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at the It Club album six years later. Since it first appeared, the tune has become a standard of the soul-jazz and hard bop repertoire.

 

Let me add one more “sack” to the pile. Click here to listen to George Benson’s version from his funky Giblet Gravy album released in 1968. Joining Benson (guitar) are a stunning core group of Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Cobham on drums.