Merry Clayton & "The Final Revival of Opal & Nev" author Dawnie Walton
Black women haven't been celebrated enough in rock music. Author Dawnie Walton talks with hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot about how that inspired her debut novel, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, a fantasy rock history about a fierce black singer in the 1970s. Plus Jim and Greg talk with Merry Clayton, whose iconic performance on "Gimme Shelter" still didn't make her a household name.
Author Dawnie Walton
Jim and Greg talk with the author of the novel The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, Dawnie Walton. They discuss the book and black women in rock.
Merry Clayton
The hosts chat with legendary singer Merry Clayton, who lent her powerful vocals to The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," as well as Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," among others. They discuss her new solo album Beautiful Scars and what it was like to work with Elvis, Ray Charles and more.
Featured Songs:
- Merry Clayton, "Southern Man," Merry Clayton, Ode, 1971
- Material, "Bustin' Out," Bustin' Out, Celluloid, 1981
- Talking Heads, "Slippery People (Live)," Stop Making Sense, Sire, 1984
- Betty Davis, "Dedicated To the Press," Nasty Gal, Island, 1975
- Betty Davis, "They Say I'm Different," They Say I'm Different, Just Sunshine, 1974
- The Rolling Stones, "Gimme Shelter," Let It Bleed, Decca, 1969
- Bobby Darin, "Who Can I Count On?," You're the Reason I'm Living, Capitol, 1963
- Elvis Presley, "Happy Ending," It All Happened At the World's Fair (Original Soundtrack), RCA Victor, 1963
- Ray Charles, "I Won't Leave," A Portrait of Ray, ABC, 1968
- Lynyrd Skynyrd, "Sweet Home Alabama," Second Helping, MCA, 1974
- Merry Clayton, "Touch The Hem Of His Garment," Beautiful Scars, Ode Sounds & Visuals, 2021
- Merry Clayton, "A Song For You," Merry Clayton, Ode, 1971
- Merry Clayton, "Deliverance," Beautiful Scars, Ode Sounds & Visuals, 2021
- Art d'Ecco, "Tv God," Tv God (Single), Paper Bag, 2021
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