Guitar slinger Dave Mason first found fame as a member of
British rock group Traffic. In the half-decade that followed, he popped up on
Hendrix's version of “All Along the Watchtower” and George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, but his most
lasting legacy has been his song “Feelin' Alright.” Although initially recorded
by Traffic in 1968, the song began paying his bills when Joe Cocker covered it
the following year. In honor of Mason's
appearance at the Coach House tonight, we present five undeniably funky covers
of “Feelin' Alright” that don't involve Joe Cocker.
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Chairmen of the Board
Not to be confused with Frank Sinatra, this band had their
biggest hit, “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” with Motown's expatriated
production staff Holland/Dozier/Holland. This version is a slow grind aided by
harmonica and a nice squealing guitar at the end.
Jackson 5
Is it the tambourine, or what? Those Motown kids sure knew
how to make you move. “Twee twiddle ee deet deet twiddle ee dee!”
Fifth Dimension
What is it with quintets and this song? This version is pretty well-indebted to the Cocker cover, with its conga drums and the vibraslap, but the horn section more than makes up for it.
West Coast Revival
This song is all about the bass part. Piano glissandos are cool and all, but if they had released only that bass track, it still would have made the list.
Orquestra Hnos Flores – “Estoy en Onda”
Saved the best for last. I don't know who these guys are or
what they are singing about, but this is clearly “Feelin' Alright.” Supposedly recorded in 1970, this party jam can do no wrong.
