Feature Song: “Mustang Sally”
I know that I recently featured a Wilson Pickett song, “In the Midnight Hour” (DUTC#96), in November of last year, but when I watched the cover of this Pickett offering, I couldn’t resist. Also, this is a Pickett song with a twist. Nah, not that easy, keep reading!
Although most of us associate “Mustang Sally” with Pickett, it was written and first recorded by Mark Rice in 1965. It was released on the Blue Rock label (4014) in May 1965 with “Sir Mack Rice” as the artist. The song gained greater popularity when Pickett covered it the following year as a single, and that version was also released on his 1966 album, The Wicked Pickett. The back story to the song is that Rice was visiting singer Della Reese, who happened to be considering buying a Lincoln Continental for her drummer and band leader, Calvin Shields for his birthday. Apparently, Rice and the other band members were teasing Shields about the pending gift, which is when Shields said that he didn’t want a Lincoln; he wanted a Ford Mustang. Rice had never heard of that car, which had just come out, and teased Shields about wanting a smaller car. Rice then decided that there might be a song in the situation, changing it to be about a woman who doesn’t want to do anything but ride around in her new car. He called the original version, “Mustang Mamma,” but changed the title because Aretha Franklin suggested that because Sally was used in the chorus it would be a better title.
The song has been covered by several artists, including Buddy Guy (1991), and it was featured prominently in the 1991 film, The Commitments, as was “In the Midnight Hour.” There is also a bit of controversy surrounding the song. In 1992, The Rascals released a 44-track anthology album, The Rascals Anthology, featuring songs from 1965-1972. In the liner notes (remember those?) Felix Cavaliere (co-lead vocalist and keyboards) states that the Young Rascals recorded “Mustang Sally” and “Land of a Thousand Dances” (another Pickett song) before Pickett and that Atlantic Records “copped those two songs from them and gave then to Pickett to record.” Ah, the music business. Never a dull moment.
Once again I am featuring a cover by a group of musicians, who I am assuming are friends/acquaintances’ of the creator of the YouTube channel where I discovered this cover, Bob Woolcock, who mixed and produced this version of “Mustang Sally.” It was recorded in someone’s backyard, with several people in attendance, in Venice, CA, September of 2024. There is very little info available about the musicians, except for their names: Joe Kolacheck (vocals, guitar), Chris Soderberg (bass), Oliver Rossberg (cajon, a box drum), with Rob Mackenzie sitting in on guitar. In my opinion, it is a masterful cover.
Enjoy!
Wilson Pickett. “Mustang Sally” cover 1966.
The No Name Band. “Mustang Sally” cover of a cover 2024
And since I mentioned it, here is the original by Sir Mark Rice.
Los Angeles 2025
That’s a very cool and funky take on the song. You won’t be surprised i knew it was a cover. However I did not know the back story. Very interesting, and input from Aretha Franklin no less.
Not surprised at all!
I love “Mustang Sally.” Wilson Pickett’s versions is one of my favorite Stax songs. I don’t believe I had ever heard Sir Mack Rice’s original – pretty neat! I also think that “no name band” did a great job with it.
One of my favorite covers of “Mustang Sally” is this one. Andrew Strong is a beast of a vocalist!
I have lost track of how many times I have watched that movie, most recently last month! I included their cover of” Midnight Hour” the last time I did a DUTC on Pickett. Glad you liked the no name band, even though it is more funk than soul. Cheers.
A fine cover of a great classic. I also wasn’t aware Pickett’s version was a cover. Sir Mack Rice’s original is also pretty good, though it lacks the grit of Pickett’s interpretation.
One of the great songs of the 60s. I too didn’t know WP’s was a cover. What a great backstory! There’s a very funky piano in the background of the original, at least at the beginning – I wish there were more of it! And while I enjoyed the No Name Band’s cover, I don’t understand how all those people in the backyard were not on their feet, dancing. The frolicking dog had the right idea!
I know, I thought the same thing when I first saw it!