426. Jackie Shane “Stand Up Straight And Tall” (Modern, 1967) HD

NY Night Tain Soul Clap & Dance-Off Top 500 ripped from the original 45s! While I agree that Jackie Shane’s interpretation of William Bell’s “Any Other Way” is easily her greatest side for so many reasons, “Stand Up Straight And Tall” is my number two and, because you don’t hear it as frequently, my most regularly spin. There’s really nothing quite like this one in either Shane’s repertoire or elsewhere. This Modern Records one-off finds Shane working with new musicians, liberated from Frank Motley’s band, and gettin an opportunity to record an original composition without Juggy Murray’s overbaked production. Jackie brought the teenage organist from her mother’s church Chester Perry in to contribute the strange and beautiful hammond oscillations that dominate the backing track. Jimmy Nolan, whose high flying ’50s fretwork secured his place in history long before he invented an entirely new guitar vocabulary as James Brown’s secret weapon, contributes the subtle rhythm guitar. Rob Bowman’s brilliant liner notes to Numero Group’s comprehensive Shane collection “Any Old Way” state that the track’s writers/producers, siblings Mike James Kirkland and Bob Kirkland (Mike and the Censations, etc), were opposed to Shane’s suggestion to add a horn section. While brass could’ve made a future commercial record, I’m thrilled they were omitted and they kept this simple. While a soulful but restrained rhythm section anchoring an adventurous organ has sonic similarities to many of the soul jazz masterpieces of the era, on this track the relationship is distinct from the former in both style and economy. The emphasis on bottom end, elegance, and empty space results in an airy, eerie, and more contemporary feel. Furthermore, the minimalist approach provides Jackie Shane more room on the canvas than ever before to paint her picture. As an out black transgender southerner Jackie Shane spent her life standing up for herself and her beliefs. And an additional fitting metaphor here, she was one of a stand-up rock’n’roll drummer long before Maureen Tucker made it was fashionable for future generations. “Stand Up Straight and Tall’s” chorus is a reoccurring theme in Jackie Shane’s loud and proud life and career. While post-war black popular music in general, with its Little Richards, Big Mama Thorntons, and Bobby Marchans, was far more tolerant of openly gay and transgender entertainers than its white counterpart, it was still far from an easy life for these artists publicly expressing their true selves. “I’m gonna stand up straight and tall / Oh I’m not gonna let you get me down babe / ‘Cause I’ve got to much on the ball.” I can see how one today’s listeners reading things at face value could see the verses “I’m a young man / gonna have myself some fun / talkin’ ’bout pretty women / gonna try to keep me some” as an attempt to mask her sexual orientation. But Jackie was uncompromisingly herself and notoriously took no B.S. from anyone. And its impossible to imagine the