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But It's Alright
~ J.J. Jackson ~

One of the most obscure figures of early '60s soul, J.J. Jackson scored a mammoth R&B hit in 1966 with this most infectious dance smash of the 60's decade. A native New Yorker that had worked as an arranger for Jack McDuff and Jimmy Witherspoon before his manager arranged for him to tour England in 1966, the mammoth, nearly 300-pound man who also played organ was a grainy, good-natured belter in the mold of Otis Redding and the English crowds loved him.

"But It's Alright," with its classic stuttering guitar riff and sharp horn charts sounded as authentic as any Stax/Volt single, but it was actually recorded in the U.K. with British session musicians. Jackson, a talented songwriter who penned much of his own material also wrote the notable A-side of one of "the Pretty Things'" best mid-'60s R&B/raunch singles ("Come See Me"). Jackson never matched the success of "But It's Alright," but cut some singles which are highly valued by English Northern soul connoisseurs. He later surfaced as a Los Angeles disc jockey, leading to a cameo appearance in the film Car Wash that has been sampled by numerous rappers. If you recognize this tune and you're not as old as dirt (as I am), it's likely you've heard the successful Huey Lewis cover version which also cracked the Billboard charts.