Tweety Pie (1965) is
Dave "Baby" Cortez' (organ) second long-player for
Roulette Records and excepting of the title track and
Duke Ellington's
jazz standard "Things Ain't What They Used to Be," the tune stack replicates the majority of
Cortez'
Organ Shindig (1965). The instrumental outing also features the organist supported by an uncredited combo, as they mine a extensive spectrum of
pop,
R&B and
rock sides.
"Tweety Pie," the album's solitary original composition, is a soulful mid-tempo number that draws from the same backbeat-intensive vibe as
the Bar-Kays'
"Soul Finger," sporting a light and frisky melody comparable to that of
Little Anthony & the Imperials'
novelty cut
"Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop." As was common practice, these remakes vacillate very little from their familiar origins as
Cortez provides a palpably energetic emphasis. The unaccompanied introduction to
"Stagger Lee" swirls inside a bluesy presence that is somewhat obscured by
Lloyd Price's early
rock & roll" reading. In much the same way,
Sam Cooke's
"Shake" has been directly adapted from the pulse-quickening
Stax-infused overhaul that surfaced on
Otis Redding's seminal
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1966).
Herbie Hancock's
"Watermelon Man" and the aforementioned
"Things Ain't What They Used to Be" are unmistakably rooted in
jazz and
Cortez is perhaps most perfectly matched to this setting. Each of the respective arrangements suit his billowing Hammond B-3 as he unleashes the slightly more complex runs against the band's limber support, whose contributions are substantial, bearing an uncanny likeness to the sounds of
Hal Blaine (drums),
Carol Kaye (bass) and the rest of the all-star studio stalwarts in the 'Wrecking Crew' -- who were utilized to tremendous effect by the luminaries
Phil Spector and
Brian Wilson, among countless others. The cult classic
"Twine Time" is given a thorough workout that arguably bests
Alvin Cash & the Crawlers spry original. Similarly,
John D. Loudermilk's
"Paper Tiger" offers
Cortez and company a vivacious romp in an almost typical '60s freewheeling atmosphere.
Tweety Pie,
Organ Shindig (1965) and the follow-up
In Orbit With Dave "Baby" Cortez (1966) are all available on a single CD
3 on 1: Organ Shindig/Tweetie Pie/In Orbit (1995) -- which is highly recommended as a quick way for enthusiasts to obtain these otherwise out of print albums. ~ Lindsay Planer
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