Jackie Wilson + Linda Hopkins - Shake A Hand

[Roburt]

Faye Adams had a big (No.1) hit with "Shake A Hand" way back in the summer of 1953 (it was included on one of the EMI 'Bell Cellarful of Soul' LP compilations back in the 60's which is how I first got to hear the song).

 

Anyway, the song was re-visited on vinyl a number of times (Little Richard, LaVern Baker, Magic Sam, Freddie Scott, Elvis, Paul McCartney!!).

In 1963, Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins cut it as a duet and took the song back into the US R&B singles charts (it peaked @ No.21 after entering the chart in mid July) & Pop charts (reaching No.42). The track also appeared on an album featuring them on duets (I believe the LP came first & the 45 was lifted from it). Eddie Singleton produced the cuts in New York.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS3JDEEqNHU

 

I know that Jackie & Linda did shows on a number of touring bill around that time (1961/62/63) and think that they toured together, became close friends and then some time later proposed that they cut some duets together. Linda was signed to Brunswick by 1961, so there was no reason for her not to team up with Jackie in the studio. Prior to the album, back in early 1962, the pair had done their first tracks together. Exactly how many were cut then I don't know but two were put out on a Brunswick 45 in March 62.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg_6zWII9i0

A 2nd 45 featuring tracks off the album was released but not until 1965 (just before a 45 featuring Jackie with LaVern Baker was put out).

 

Anyone here know more about how they got to team up to record together ?? 

 

I know Jackie & Linda were already friends as she was on the first national tour that Jackie ever undertook (Sam Cooke topping the bill). They (Jackie & Linda) had done a show together in New York the night (15th February 1961) that Jackie was shot by a jealous lover.

Jackie had just completed another US tour with Sam Cooke the week before Sam was shot dead on December 11th, 1964 and Linda was available to try to help Jackie come to terms with the loss of his close friend.

So the pair obviously got on personally, but that can't be the only reason they teamed up on vinyl.

Edited July 11, 2013 by Roburt

[Roburt]

Another time when Jackie & Linda were performing together ........  info off the net .........

Seems that after Georgie Woods became the vice president of the Philadelphia branch of the NAACP, he used his talents as a concert promoter to help raise money for the organisation. Woods held his 1st fund-raising concert at the Uptown Theatre in Philly on May 14, 1963. Singers Jackie Wilson and Linda Hopkins, comedian Bill Cosby, and other acts performed to a sold-out crowd of two thousand people.

So it seems they were out playing gigs to promote their recordings as a pairing a couple of months before the actual records were released.

[Guest Garry Huxley]

The album was on ebay.com yesterday for around $10 but it must have ended as i cant find it now,I never bid on it as i cant justify postage costs for just 1 lp.

 

Garry