Jackie Wilson at the Copa

by Jackie Wilson

Overview

The only live album of Wilson's career was recorded in the early '60s at New York's famous Copacabana nightclub. It was an almost obligatory rite of passage for early soul stars breaking into the mainstream, one also enacted by Sam Cooke and several Motown stars. As you'd expect, the cirumstances don't exactly lend themselves to showing Wilson at his greatest advantage, particularly if you're principally a fan of Wilson the soul singer, not Wilson the all-around entertainer. He sounds like an over-the-top lounge lizard throughout much of the proceedings, zipping through standards like Leonard Bernstein's "Tonight," "Body and Soul," "St. James Infirmary," and Cole Porter's "Love for Sale," occasionally pausing for some corny between-song patter. He does interject a few of his R&B hits ("That's Why," "Doggin' Around," "To Be Loved," "Lonely Teardrops"), but these too get the casino band treatment, complete with strings and strident female backup vocalists. No, it's not what you play as exhibit A to showcase Jackie Wilson, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. But taken on its own terms it's enjoyably cheesy entertainment, Wilson's astounding vocal prowess always in evidence. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	04/25/2000
Label:	BRUNSWICK RECORDS
UPC:	0646953500121

Tracks

1. Tonight
2. Body and Soul
3. I Apologize
4. Love for Sale
5. And This Is My Beloved
6. The Way I Am
7. Intro: I Love Them All/What'd I Say
8. Night
9. That's Why (I Love You So)
10. Intro: I Love Them All/Danny Boy
11. Doggin' Around
12. To Be Loved
13. I Love Them All
14. Lonely Teardrops
15. St. James Infirmary
16. A Perfect Day

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jackie Wilson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Sy Oliver   Director

Technical Credits

Carrie Bond   Composer
Ray Charles   Composer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer
Herbie Miller   Composer
Billy Davis   Composer
Cole Porter   Composer
Carrie Jacobs-Bond   Composer
Frank Eyton   Composer
Lena Agree   Composer
Leonard Bernstein   Composer
Dennis Drake   Digital Remastering
Peter Udell   Composer
Nat Tarnopol   Producer
George Forrest   Composer
Gwen Fuqua   Composer
Al Goodhart   Composer
Camille Saint-Saens   Composer
Stephen Sondheim   Composer
Gary Geld   Composer
Edward Heyman   Composer
Joe Primrose   Composer
John Lehman   Composer
Johnny Green   Composer
Robert Sour   Composer
Al Hoffman   Composer
George Gordy   Composer
Gwendolyn B. Gordy   Composer
Robert Wright   Composer
John Lehmann   Composer
Zack Vaz   Artwork
June Reizner   Composer
Ed Sullivan   Liner Notes
Gwen Gordy   Composer
Frederick Edward Weatherly   Composer
Ed G. Nelson   Composer
Alonzo Tucker   Composer
Traditional   Composer