A shout-out for Merry Clayton, the most famous female backup vocalist you never heard of, who recorded the vocals in just a few takes when summoned to the studio (literally) in the middle of the night in curlers and VERY pregnant. (She subsequently miscarried, and some blame the strain of this recording session).
Ms. Clayton is still alive, but sadly lost both her lower legs following a car crash in June 2014.
It's literally impossible for me to imagine this song without her vocals. I'm not sure Gimme Shelter would have become the instant classic it did without her voice.
We're thinking of you, Merry—and thanks for the memories!
@punkdad Great post about Merry. Frankly, I'd like to start a petition to get her a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, which (having worked with everybody from the Stones to Linda Ronstadt to Carole King to Neil Young to Bobby Darin, not to mention the truly awesome solo albums she put out) she so richly deserves. The 60s and early 70s wouldn't have sounded the way they did without voices like hers. Anybody have any idea how to start a petition?
@punkdad Great post about Merry. Frankly, I'd like to start a petition to get her a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, which (having worked with everybody from the Stones to Linda Ronstadt to Carole King to Neil Young to Bobby Darin, not to mention the truly awesome solo albums she put out) she so richly deserves. The 60s and early 70s wouldn't have sounded the way they did without voices like hers. Anybody have any idea how to start a petition?
A shout-out for Merry Clayton, the most famous female backup vocalist you never heard of, who recorded the vocals in just a few takes when summoned to the studio (literally) in the middle of the night in curlers and VERY pregnant. (She subsequently miscarried, and some blame the strain of this recording session).
Ms. Clayton is still alive, but sadly lost both her lower legs following a car crash in June 2014.
It's literally impossible for me to imagine this song without her vocals. I'm not sure Gimme Shelter would have become the instant classic it did without her voice.
We're thinking of you, Merry—and thanks for the memories!
@punkdad Great post about Merry. Frankly, I'd like to start a petition to get her a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, which (having worked with everybody from the Stones to Linda Ronstadt to Carole King to Neil Young to Bobby Darin, not to mention the truly awesome solo albums she put out) she so richly deserves. The 60s and early 70s wouldn't have sounded the way they did without voices like hers. Anybody have any idea how to start a petition?
@punkdad Great post about Merry. Frankly, I'd like to start a petition to get her a Lifetime Achievement Grammy, which (having worked with everybody from the Stones to Linda Ronstadt to Carole King to Neil Young to Bobby Darin, not to mention the truly awesome solo albums she put out) she so richly deserves. The 60s and early 70s wouldn't have sounded the way they did without voices like hers. Anybody have any idea how to start a petition?
@punkdad Love they way you congratulate yourself for your own post ☺
@punkdad Love they way you congratulate yourself for your own post ☺