Jackie Shane - Sticks And Stones (SUE 776)

DOWNLOAD the single here

Hey Kids,

I'm back with a tasty treat today. You know I try to pepper my blog with a good dose of Canadian talent. This country has produced some of the top recording artists in the world. Up until recently (last 20 years or so) Canadian artists followed their nose and didn't fall into that cookie cutter machine that is the US recording industry. Our music was a little bit different than some of the stuff you'd hear from our friends over the border.

Well in the early 60's we had a fellow who was REALLY different from the mainstream. Ya I'm talking about Jackie Shane. His voice was smooth, His songs were powerful and he liked to cross dress as well. I've read reviews and heard one person quote that Jackie was “Little Richard meets Prince meets Eartha Kitt!” He actually was a distant cousin to Little Richard.....Huh.

Jackie had a distinct way of singing (as you'll hear on this single) and an energetic stage show that kept his Toronto fans enthralled during his live shows. This single is the B-Side to a version of William Bell's Any Other Way. Released in 1963 it was Jackie's second single and part of the brief flame that he produced in the Toronto area. Sadly Jackie "disappeared" around 1967. Some suggest he came to a violent end in Los Angeles but others say he just quietly left when popularity started to decline. Either way, nobody really knows and all that's left is a history of 4 singles and 1 live LP.

There's been a resurgance in interest in Jackie in the Northern scene as you might hear why in the single today. Have a listen and SHINDIGGIT!

- Jason X