Wex on Wax: Twenty Essential Jerry Wexler Productions

A few years back, Jerry Wexler burned a CD for friends of the songs he was the most proud of from his half-century career in music. Here’s the playlist. [this is what rolling stones lists]:

1. Professor Longhair, “Tipitina” (1953)

2. Ray Charles, “I Got a Woman” (1954)

3. Big Joe Turner, “Shake, Rattle and Roll” (1954)

4. LaVern Baker, “Tweedlee Dee” (1954)

5. Champion Jack Dupree, “Junker’s Blues” (1958)

6. The Drifters, “There Goes My Baby” (1959)

7. Ray Charles, “What I’d Say” (1959)

8. Solomon Burke, “If You Need Me” (1963)

9. Booker T. & the MG’s, “Green Onions” (1962)

10. Wilson Pickett, “In the Midnight Hour” (1965)

11. Aretha Franklin, “Respect” (1967)

12. Dusty Springfield, “Son of a Preacher Man” (1969)

13. Dr. John, “Iko Iko” (1972)

14. Doug Sahm, “(Is Anybody Going to) San Antone” (1973)

15. Willie Nelson, “Bloody Mary Morning” (1974)

16. The Sanford/Townsend Band, “Smoke From a Distant Fire” (1977)

17. James Booker, “Winin’ Boy Blues” (1978)

18. Etta James, “Take It to the Limit” (1978)

19. Dire Straits, “Lady Writer” (1979)

20. Bob Dylan, “Gotta Serve Somebody” (1979)

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[beginning to end ... full of awesome and win.

just makes you realize what a legacy this man has left behind

and where today's music just falls pitifully short of any sort of soul

or staying power.] somehow, i have 24 on the copy he burned for the jefe:

Bloody Mary Morning - Willie Nelson 2:51
C.C. Rider - Chuck Willis 2:34
Down In The Alley - The Clovers 2:21
Giving Up - Donny Hathaway 6:23
Gotta Serve Somebody - Bob Dylan
Honey Love - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters
Hoy Hoy - Little Johnny Jones 2:40
I Got A Woman - Ray Charles 2:53
I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) - Aretha Franklin 2:51
I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby -