SATURDAY'S SINGLES : THE STAPLE SINGERS and BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND

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Good morning gang and welcome to the return of Saturday's Singles . Today we remember Indiana born drummer, Roger Hawkins, on what would have been his 76th Birthday. He passed away in May, age 75 after bouts with numerous health problems, including COPD. He was best known for his work in the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, but also served as a session drummer for the likes of Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, The Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Womack, Clarence Carter, Etta James, Duane Allman, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Bonnie Bramlett, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Boz Scaggs, Albert King, Traffic, Rod Stewart, Dan Penn, Lulu,  Willie Nelson, and Eric Clapton. Today we take a look and a listen to two singles on which he appeared. 

"I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers was released in February 1972 on the Stax label and written and  produced by Al Bell. The song,  hailing from the gospel/soul group's 19th studio album,  Be Altitude: Respect Yourself, reached #21 in Canada, #20 in the UK, #7 in South Africa, and #1 on the Cash Box, R&B charts, and the Hot 100. The song was originally paired with "I'm Just Another Soldier" on earlier pressings, but ours has "This World" as it's B-side, indicating that it is a 1977 release.

Al Bell – arranger, producer
Johnny Allen - arranger
Terry Manning – engineer
Jerry Masters – engineer
Ralph Rhodes – engineer
Staple Sisters
Cleotha Staples
Mavis Staples
Pops Staples
Yvonne Staples
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (including Roger Hawkins on drums)
Ben Cauley & the Memphis Horns - horns

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"Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger  and the Silver Bullet Band was released March 1979 on Capitol Records. It was written by George Jackson, Thomas E. Jones III, and Bob Seger and then produced by Seger with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. It's parent album is Seger's 10th, Stranger in Town, and the single peaked at #38 in New Zealand, #34 on the Cash Box, #31 in Canada, and #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's B-side from the album is "Sunspot Baby" but our copy is from the Risky Business soundtrack and features "Till It Shines" on the flip side.

The Silver Bullet Band

Bob Seger – lead vocals
Alto Reed – saxophone

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

David Hood – bass
Roger Hawkins – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

Ken Bell – guitar
Randy McCormick – piano
Howie McDonald – guitar solo
James Lavell Easley – background vocals
Stanley Carter – background vocals
George Jackson – background vocals

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