George Jackson's "Aretha, Sing One For Me"

On her new album Jukebox one of the covers that Cat Power sings is an obscure Hi Records nugget called "Aretha, Sing One For Me" written and recorded by George Jackson.

Born in Greenville, Mississippi, Jackson's isn't a household name but many of the songs he wrote or co-wrote are household hits - songs like James Brown's “It’s Too Funky In Here," Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll," Wilson Pickett's classic “A Man And A Half," "Down Home Blues" by Z.Z. Hill and The Osmonds “One Bad Apple." Other songs of Jackson's have been covered by Liza Minelli, Joan Baez, The Staple Singers, Bobby Gentry and Tina Turner.

Jackson himself began recording with Ike Turner in the early 60's and he journeyed throughout the decade, writing and recording until he landed at Muscle Shoals to work as a writer and producer at Fame Recording Studios. It was there when he submitted "One Bad Apple" - originally written for the Jackson 5 - to The Osmonds who had a number one hit in 1971 with it and it became a million selling pop classic. He also laid down some very soulful sides for Hi Records including "Aretha, Sing One For Me." Jackson's recent work has been available on Malaco Records.

Jackson's old school sultry soul and R&B is in the same class as Al Green, Smoky Robinson and Bobby Womack and Curtis Mayfield, although Jackson himself never got the "name" or "face" recognition he's deserved.

Aretha, Sing One For Me - George Jackson
One Bad Apple - The Osmonds

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