Aired on Treasure Island Oldies – April 6, 2025
As illustrated in a number of instances, the music business can be unfair and unjust. Imagine not being credited on a Top 10 song that you had written and originally released?
Well that’s what happened to an American blues-rock guitarist and singer/songwriter in the late 50s. Fortunately for him, in 1961, he made it on to the Billboard Hot 100 for the first and only time with a tune that became his signature song.
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Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, our featured artist was raised in Los Angeles. He started out playing electric guitar with several blues and R&B in the 50s, including Otis Williams and the Charms.
He would subsequently play lead guitar for Bo Didley and go on to tour with Paul Williams, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, LaVern Baker, Clyde McPhatter, and the Everly Brothers.
His first solo single, “Blues Get Off My Shoulder,” was recorded in 1958, The B-side, “You Got What It Takes,” also written by him, was later recorded for Motown by Marv Johnson, but the songwriting credits went to Berry Gordy Jr., Gwen Fuqua, and Roquel Davis.
In 2008, in the Forgotten Hits newsletter, he was quoted as saying:
“I wrote ‘You’ve Got What It Takes,’ that was MY song. Even had the Paul Hucklebuck Williams band playing on it behind me… And then Berry Gordy just stole it out from under me, just put his name on it. And what could I do? I was just trying to make a living, playing guitar and singing, how was I going to go on and fight Berry Gordy, big as he was, and Motown Records?”
After touring in the late 50s with Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Little Richard, he settled into living in the Washington, D.C. area and played in blues clubs nearby.
His break came in 1961 when he recorded another one of his compositions for the V-Tone label. The song was inspired by Dizzy Gillespie’s “Manteca” and Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say.”
Reaching the #51 position on the Billboard Hot 100 that year, it became well recognized and was later covered by several British acts including the Spencer Davis Group, Manfred Mann, Dr. Feelgood, and Adam Faith, and was performed by the Beatles in concerts during 1961 and 1962. The song’s guitar riff inspired the introduction to the Beatles’ 1964 hit single “I Feel Fine,” and, according to John Lennon, also provided the basis for “Day Tripper.” Led Zeppelin also used the riff as the basis for their instrumental “Moby Dick.”
Bobby Parker played electric guitar in the 50s thru to his death in 2013 at the age of 78. One could take the title of his signature song as good advice to follow, should one want a career in music. That advice being, “Watch Your Step,” and it’s this week’s Tom Locke moment in time.
YouTube listing of the song: Click here.
This “Moments In Time” story is yet another example of a “golden oldie” or forgotten favorite that earned its place in the evolution of Rock & Roll.
