40 Year Itch: Nobody's One and Only

Dan Penn : Raining in Memphis

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By writing songs like "Dark End of the Street" and The Box Tops "Cry Like A Baby", Dan Penn can claim to have invented the country soul sound. Not that he would. This modest, self deprecating man told Mojo Magazine he made his brilliant solo debut album because he didn't have anything else to do.

Dan Penn and Alex Chilton

 Alex Chilton would eventually cover the title track but the song was written for Elvis.

Penn may sing with an unadorned down in the mouth soul sound, but check out the inventive instrumental arrangements, especially on "Raining in Memphis".

 

 "Burt Bacharach meets Paul Buckmaster" ?

   The album didn't sell well.

The only Dan Penn record on the charts at that time was Ronnie Milsap's cover of "I Hate You", a Top 10 country hit in September of 1973.

6 Degrees of Separation: Ry Cooder to Big Country

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On his second album of 1972, the November release Boomer's Story, Ry Cooder performs an instrumental version of "Dark End Of The Street". The song--a 1967 hit for soul singer James Carr--is written by Memphis songwriter and producer Dan Penn who also contributes some vocals on the album.

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Though Dan Penn gave most of his songs to others ( there was also "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and The Box Tops hit "Cry Like a Baby") Penn records his own "Nobody's Fool" for his 1973 debut with his Muscle Shoals AL buddies. Alex Chilton would cover the song nearly 15 years later. Keyboardist Mike Utley is one of the keyboard players.

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Utely is also on board The Train I'm On, Swamp Fox Tony Joe White's 1972 country/soul album that is rapidly gaining a new fan base. The cover photo is taken by one of Rock's great photographers Jim Marshall.

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Blessed with a great eye and great access (as the chief photographer at Woodstock and the only backstage photographer at The Beatles last concert) Jim Marshall has shot a number of iconic photos including the one above of Johnny Cash at San Quentin. The art director for the live album was a man named Howard Fritzson.

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Fritzson has more than a thousand credits as art director including one for Talk Talk Talk, the 1981 album by Psychedelic Furs. Talk Talk Talk was produced by Steve Lilywhite.

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Among Steve Lilywhite's credits are albums by U2, XTC, The Rolling Stones and The Crossing, a 1983 hit album from the Scottish band Big Country.