But It's Alright

Last updated
"But It's Alright"
But It's Alright - J.J. Jackson.jpg
Single by J. J. Jackson
from the album But It's Alright
B-side "Boogaloo Baby"
Released 1966
Genre Soul
Length2:55
Label Calla
Songwriter(s) J.J. Jackson, Pierre Tubbs
Producer(s) Lew Futterman

"But It's Alright" (aka "It's Alright", due to its lyrics) is a song co-written by J. J. Jackson and Pierre Tubbs that became a hit on the pop and soul charts in both 1966 and 1969.

Contents

Theme

The song's lyrics address the singer's girlfriend, who has broken his heart by cheating on him. But the song keeps a happy, upbeat tone due to the singer's belief in karma: "It's alright" because "you've got to reap what you sow, girl"; she will find herself cheated on as well.

History

Described as being "driven by one of the catchiest guitar hooks in the history of rock & roll and a devastating vocal performance", [1] the song was first released by Calla Records in 1966, as a single and on the album of the same name. Subsequent to acquiring the Calla Records catalogue, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts re-released the song in 1969, as a single and on the album The Great J.J. Jackson .

The single was recorded in the United Kingdom, and was one of the first R & B hit singles to have been recorded in England. [2] The song featured some of Britain's top jazz musicians of the day, including Terry Smith on guitar, Dick Morrissey on tenor sax and John Marshall on drums. [3]

When first released in 1966, the song reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. [4] When re-released in May 1969, they reached number 45, and remained on the charts for nine weeks. [5] In Canada, it reached number 63. [6] A Spanish language version of the song was also recorded by Jackson and released in 1969. [7]

Huey Lewis and the News version

In 1994, Huey Lewis and the News covered the song for their album Four Chords & Several Years Ago . It was released as a single, which included the studio version and a live rendition of the song. [8] The single reached number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 5 on the Adult Contemporary chart. [9] An EP CD single was released in Germany by Elektra Records.

Other cover versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)</span> 1965 single by the Four Tops

"I Can't Help Myself" is a 1965 song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time of the Season</span> Single by the British band The Zombies

"Time of the Season" is a song by the British rock band the Zombies, featured on their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle. It was written by keyboard player Rod Argent and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in September 1967. Over a year after its original release, the track became a surprise hit in the United States, rising to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Cashbox chart. It has become one of the Zombies' most popular and recognizable songs, and an iconic hit of 1960s psychedelia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shop Around</span> 1960 song recorded by The MIRACLES

"Shop Around" is a song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label. It was written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. It became a smash hit in 1960 when originally recorded by the Miracles, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart, number one on the Cashbox Top 100 Pop Chart, and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the Miracles' first million-selling hit record, and the first-million-selling hit for the Motown Record Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misty Blue</span> 1967 single by Eddy Arnold

"Misty Blue" is a song written by Bob Montgomery that has been recorded and made commercially successful by several music artists. Although Montgomery wrote the song for a different artist in mind, it was brought first to the attention of Wilma Burgess in 1966. It was recorded by Eddy Arnold the following year, both versions were top 5 Country Hits. A decade later, blues artist Dorothy Moore released the highest-charting version of the song and it reached the top ten in several different radio formats. Following Moore's revival of the track, numerous artists re-covered the tune, including country artist Billie Jo Spears. Spears's version would also go on to become a successful single release. Numerous other artists and musicians of different genres have recorded their own versions of "Misty Blue". The song is now considered both a country music and blues standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Since I Don't Have You</span> 1958 song by the Skyliners

"Since I Don't Have You" is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners on the Billboard Hot 100. Country music singer Ronnie Milsap had a hit with the song in 1991. American hard rock band Guns N' Roses also had some success in 1994 with their version of the song which reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Sir with Love (song)</span> 1967 single by Lulu

"To Sir with Love" is the theme from James Clavell's 1967 film To Sir, with Love. The song was performed by British singer and actress Lulu, and written by Don Black and Mark London. Mickie Most produced the record, with Mike Leander arranging and conducting. The song peaked at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and became the best-selling single of 1967 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yes, I'm Ready</span> 1965 single by Barbara Mason

"Yes, I'm Ready" is a song by Barbara Mason from her album Yes, I'm Ready (1965). It has been covered by numerous artists, and was a hit single for Teri DeSario and K.C. when they recorded a duet version in 1980.

Jerome Louis "J.J." Jackson is an American soul/R&B singer, songwriter, and arranger. His singing style is as a belter. Jackson best known for the song "But It's Alright", which he co-wrote with Pierre Tubbs. The song was released in 1966 and then re-released in 1969, to chart success on both occasions. The liner notes to his 1967 album, J.J. Jackson, on Calla Records, stated that he weighed 285 pounds.

"(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" is a popular song written by Bill Trader and published in 1952. Recorded as a single by Hank Snow it peaked at number four on the US country charts early in 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh Lonesome Me</span> 1957 song by Don Gibson

"Oh Lonesome Me" is a popular song written and recorded in December 1957 by Don Gibson with Chet Atkins producing it for RCA Victor in Nashville. Released in 1958, the song topped the country chart for eight non-consecutive weeks. On what became the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 7. It was Gibson's only Top 10 hit on the pop chart. Its B-side was "I Can't Stop Loving You", which peaked at No. 7 on the C&W Jockey charts and became a standard song about unrequited love. The vocal backings on both songs were provided by the Jordanaires.

"Feelin' Alright?", also known as "Feeling Alright", is a song written by Dave Mason of the English rock band Traffic for their eponymous 1968 album Traffic. It was also released as a single, and failed to chart in both the UK and the US, but it did reach a bubbling under position of #123 on the Billboard Hot 100. Joe Cocker performed a more popular rendition of the song that did chart in the U.S. Both Traffic's and Cocker's versions appear in the 2012 movie Flight. The song had also been featured in the 2000 film Duets, sung by Huey Lewis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Any Day Now (Burt Bacharach song)</span> 1962 song by Bacharach and Bob Hilliard

"Any Day Now" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard in 1962. It has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, including notable versions by Chuck Jackson in 1962, Alan Price in 1965, Elvis Presley in 1969, Scott Walker in 1973 and Ronnie Milsap in 1982. In the lyrics, the singer predicts the imminent demise of a romantic relationship and describes the sadness this will leave.

"Share Your Love with Me" is a song written by Alfred Braggs and Deadric Malone. It was originally recorded by blues singer Bobby "Blue" Bland. Over the years, the song has been covered by various artists, most notably Aretha Franklin who won a Grammy Award for her 1969 rendition. Other artists who covered the song include The Band in 1973, Kenny Rogers in 1981, and most recently, Van Morrison in 2016.

"Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" is a 1966 pop/soul single by Lou Rawls and was written by Ben Raleigh (1913-1997) & Dave Linden . The single was his second entry on the R&B singles chart as well as his first Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" was the first of two Lou Rawls singles to make it to number one on the R&B chart.

"The Tip of My Fingers", also titled "The Tips of My Fingers", is a song written and originally recorded by American country music singer Bill Anderson. First included on his 1962 album Bill Anderson Sings Country Heart Songs, the song was a Top Ten country single for him in 1960.

<i>The Great J. J. Jackson</i> 1969 studio album by J. J. Jackson

The Great J. J. Jackson is the second album released by J. J. Jackson. The album was released in 1969 on Warner Bros. Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul Deep (The Box Tops song)</span> 1969 single

"Soul Deep" is a song originally recorded by Robbie Lane and the Disciples in 1966, but best known by a recorded version by The Box Tops. It was the third of three singles released from their 1969 Dimensions LP. Lead vocals were provided by Alex Chilton.

<i>At Home with Lynn</i> 1969 studio album by Lynn Anderson

At Home with Lynn is a studio album by American country artist Lynn Anderson. It was released in July 1969 on Chart Records and was produced by Slim Williamson. It was Anderson's fifth studio recording in her music career and contained a total of 12 tracks. At Home with Lynn was one of three studio albums she issued in 1969 and it spawned two singles. The second single, "That's a No No," became a major hit on the American and Canadian country charts in 1969. The album itself would also reach peak positions.

<i>Im Alright</i> (Lynn Anderson album) 1970 studio album by Lynn Anderson

I'm Alright is a studio album by American country artist Lynn Anderson. It was released in September 1970 on Chart Records and was produced by Slim Williamson. I'm Alright was Anderson's tenth studio recording and her final studio release for the Chart label. It included two singles that became major radio hits in 1970. Both "Rocky Top" and the title track reached the Billboard country charts that year.

"I'm Alright" is a song written by Bill Anderson that was recorded by American country music artist Lynn Anderson. It was released as a single in October 1970 via Chart Records.

References

  1. John Bush, Review of "But It's Alright"; AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  2. Back Tracking; ska2soul. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  3. Smith and Morrissey would later co-found the successful jazz-rock band If.
  4. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 281.
  5. Joe Troiano, Review of "But It's Alright" Archived 2017-08-11 at the Wayback Machine ; Joe T's Soda Shop. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  6. "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 7, 1969" (PDF).
  7. Particulars of "Pero Esta Bien"/"No Esta Bien"; Discogs. Retrieved 2017-09-29. Being Spanish versions of "But It's Alright" and "That Ain't Right".
  8. Particulars of "But It's Alright"; Discogs. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 145.
  10. Brother Jack McDuff Quintet feat. David Newman - But It's Alright; Funky16Corners. Retrieved 2017-09-27.
  11. "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  12. Particulars of "But It's Alright"; Discogs. Retrieved 2017-09-20. The single release included a spoken intro on one side, and the song on the other.
  13. Particulars of Step Lively; Discogs. Retrieved 2017-09-27.