Joe Frazier and his musical legacy

[Brutu]

Joe Frazier released a number of singles back in the 1970's.
here is his cover version of Eddie Floyd's Knock On Wood,
released on a 45 record.
which sounds pretty good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_42pFevDQk

[Brutu]

And here is the flip side to that 45 that was released on Jobo records back in 1974.
This one was a cover of Bobby Byrd's Try it Again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgacI_LytGw

[BoxBuzz]

Ah yes, I discussed working for Joe as his guitar player. We met at Hampton Beach Va A Sheraton where he was performing. My wife was impressed with him, and he seemed a bit impressed with her. So we got to talkin'. He signed an autograph for her and wrote...


Boogie, Boogie, Boogie,

Joe Frazier

I have to say....Ali was a better singer....but Joe gave it his all. He worked hard on stage.

[misterpunch]

are you a fellow guitar strummer, buzz? i have often wondered about the other artistic talents of those in boxing..maybe worth a thread

[Brutu]

Here is a link to another 45 recording of Joe Frazier that doesnt sound half bad.
This one was released on the Cloverlay Inc. Records label.
The Bigger They Come(The harder they Fall).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVcDoKHeX0I

Im not sure exactly when this one came out,but im guessing around 1973,
after his visit to Jamacia maybe.
as it sort of sounds like an early Bob Marley record to me.

[BoxBuzz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sp0ecDr7zU

Honestly the best vocal performance Joe ever did was a one shot deal in the studio ...
the song was "If you gonna go stay gone."

But he rarely performed any where near that quality live.

But he was the only man to talk back to Ali in the ring...so his voice was heard when it mattered.


lol.

[BoxBuzz]

I'd phrase it quite different Duce

Joe was a decent "front man" and could sorta/kinda sell his far less than stellar vocal performances.

I don't mean to be unkind, but gotta keep it real.

I will grant you that he managed some fair performances in the studio, where you can go back and do "retake's until it's acceptable.

But live? Well......did you attend any of his performances? I did......and I'll admit he was so tough, we found ourselves wanting to leave the ring before the bell rang.

At his best you knew he was aiming for Redding, Pickett, and Brown. But he sort of ended up performing along the lines of a marginally acceptably rhythmic version of......... Randy Neuman.

[misterpunch]

i'm surprised no one on this forum has claimed that ali's version of "stand by me" is better than anything joe ever did. heres a theory - do you think joes voice would have improved had he not smoked as much as he did?

[BoxBuzz]

Ali's best recording was the flip side...."I am the greatest". lol.

And yep Joe could demand some good scratch from the clubs...but more for his boxing status as a celebrity...not for his musical gravitas.

And I bet Joe didn't suffer many hecklers.....I know I never witnessed anyone giving him a hard time on stage. Even when he was straining to hit some high notes.

[misterpunch]

dont worry joe, my last solo performance -in the west end of london - was attended by precisely no people at all. the only spectators were the other artists who were going on after me and the sound guy. the ones who had been on before me had gone home. although to be fair i have never fought for the heavyweight championship of the world

[Brutu]

Sunday Night - May 2, 1971

Winterland Theatre (Capacity; 5400)

Joe Frazier 'Champs' with 'The Knockouts and his All-Star Muscial Revue'

Joe Frazier paid $5000 plus an additional $5000 in expenses.

Only 100 tickets were purchased for this show. The management at the Winterland
plead with Joe 'not' to perform, but he goes on in front of approximately 100
people in attendance.

Newspaper Review, 'Embarrassing for a Heavyweight Champion, who only 6-weeks
earlier had won the Greatest Fight of the Century. Nearly 5300 seats were 'empty',
in this 5400 seating capacity theatre. Joe can sing a bit, but there is no need to hear
him do it on stage. Please, Say It Ain't So Joe.'

Probably 50 of them were the people in the entire Bay area who had rooted for Joe Frazier earlier in that March,
and the other 50 where their dates.

[BoxBuzz]

Sounds about right....