You Know Who... Raises a Glass to Ozzy

Photo by Bob Gruen, 2010

So the news dropped, ten minutes AFTER we were scheduled to go on air, that the Prince of Darkness, the legendary Ozzy Osbourne passed away from complications of Parkinson’s disease. It was shock, though not surprising, if that makes sense. I had no time to put together a proper tribute. So that will have to wait.
In any event, back with me again we have Brett, who, a couple of weeks back, had challenged me to quite the heady debate on whether or not Tom Waits’ vocal delivery and persona (mostly in his mid-to-late 70s work) would be acceptable today, or be considered appropriation or “vocal blackface” (my term). He asserted that the jazz hipster character that he had created, with a voice that, as time went on, clearly resembled a cross between Louis Armstrong and Howlin’ Wolf. He argued that such direct imitation of notable black artists would simply not fly today. My position was that his persona was more evocative of an era, and a hazily nostalgic one that never quite an existed. I conceded that many of his early influences were African-American, but who is the arbiter who decides who can be influenced by what? I posited that inspiration and influence and quite different than appropriation and exploitation, conceding that there can be a lot of grey areas.
The show was quite blues and Americana driven, with a few specks of incongruity.

Click here to check it out:

LIC Radio 7/22/2025

 
Black Sabbath
“War Pigs”
(Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne)
Released on Past Lives  (Sanctuary, 2002)
Rainbow Theatre, London, UK, 3/16/73
Studio version released on Paranoid  (Vertigo/Warner Bros., 1970)
 
 
Tom Waits
“Step Right Up”
(Tom Waits)
From Small Change  (Asylum, 1976)
 
 
Dr. John
"Right Place, Wrong Time"
(Mac Rebennack)
From In the Right Place  (Atco, 1973)
 
 
Tom Waits
“I Wish I Was in New Orleans (In the Ninth Ward)” / “When the Saints Go Marching In”
(Tom Waits)/(Traditional)
State Theatre, Sydney, AU, 5/2/79
Studio version released on Small Change  (Asylum, 1976)
 
 
Howlin’ Wolf
“Wang Dang Doodle”
(Willie Dixon)
From Howlin’ Wolf  (Chess, 1672)
 
 
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
“My Human Gets Me Blues”
Don Van Vliet
From Trout Mask Replica  (Straight, 1969)
 
 
Tom Waits

Tom Waits
Photo by Bob Gruen, 1985

“Singapore”
(Tom Waits)
From Rain Dogs  (Island, 1985)
 
 
Delaney & Bonnie and Friends
“Poor Elijah – Tribute to Johnson (medley)”
(Delaney Bramlett, Jim Ford, Leon Russell)
A&R Recording Studios, New York, NY, 7/22/71
Originally released on Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour with Eric Clapton  (Atco, 1970)
 
 
Rory Gallagher
“Secret Agent”
(Rory Gallagher)
Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, CH, 7/22/77
Studio version released on Calling Card  (Chrysalis, 1976)
 
 
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
“The Sky Is Crying”
(Elmore James)
King's Head Bay Inn, Norfolk, VA, 7/22/80
Vaughan’s studio version released on The Sky Is Crying  (Epic, 1991)
Originally recorded by Elmore James; released as single A-side (Fire, 1960)
 
 
Death Cab for Cutie
“Lowell, MA”
(Ben Gibbard, Chris Walla)
The Showbox, Seattle, WA, 7/22/00
Studio version released on We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes  (Barsuk, 2000)
 
 
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band

The late, great Neil Innes

“Death Cab for Cutie”
(Viv Stanshall, Neil Innes)
From Gorilla  (Liberty, 1967)
 
 
The Rutles
“Cheese and Onions”
(Neil Innes)
From The Rutles  (Warner Bros., 1978)
 
 
Tom Waits
“Grapefruit Moon”
(Tom Waits)
From Closing Time  (Asylum, 1973)
 
 
Funkadelic
“Maggot Brain”
(Edward Hazel, George Clinton)
From Maggot Brain  (Westbound, 1971)