San Diego five-piece The Greyboy Allstars have shared a new video for “Got to Get Me a Job”, the single that lends its title to the band’s forthcoming covers album, Get a Job.
The new recording—a cover of the Don Alford-penned soul-funk scorcher recorded by his wife, Ann Alford, in 1971—adds an ounce of urgency to the to the deep cut. With endearingly street-weary vocals and a piercing sax riff from Karl Denson, gelatinous funk textures from organist Robert Walter and guitarist Elgin Park, and vintage rhythmic punch courtesy of bassist Chris Stillwell and drummer Aaron Redfield, “Got to Get Me a Job” sounds at once like a nod to the past and an anthem for the present in the able hands of The Greyboy Allstars.
Get a Job: Music from the Original Broadcast Series Soul Dream, due out April 1st via Knowledge Room Recordings, will mark The Greyboy Allstars’ sixth studio album. Captured during the band’s studio sessions as part of its 2021 Soul Dream livestream series, the album is comprised of ten never-before-released covers that have become an integral part of the band’s live shows. The record includes reimagined versions of George Harrison‘s “Taxman”, Burt Bacharach and Hal David‘s “Walk On By”, Gary Bartz and Langston Hughes‘ “I’ve Known Rivers”, and more.
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“We keep a running master list of around 70 tunes,” said Walter of the Get a Job set. “From those I picked a mixture of tried-and-true live staples and songs that weren’t always in common rotation,” said Walter of the Get a Job set. “Usually, for gigs I propose a list and then the other members edit and tweak it. For the taping, we wanted each episode to have a theme: two of them focused on originals and the other two were covers: live favorites, and music that came out on Prestige Records. The tunes on this release are the best of the covers.”
“The covers come from the tradition of the artists we love and how they would grab the pop tunes of the day, most likely to broaden their listening base. George Benson, Grant Green, and Kenny Burrell all did Beatles and Bacharach tunes,” added Park.
Listen to The Greyboy Allstars’ new take on “Got to Get Me a Job” on the platform of your choice here. You can also watch the official live video for the track, directed by Aaron Eisenberg for Sound + Vision Co at Elgin Park Recordings in Glendale, CA. Click below to check out a full tracklist for the album and pre-order your copy here.
The Greyboy Allstars – “Got to Get Me a Job” (Don Alford) – Official Video
[Video: The Greyboy Allstars]
The Greyboy Allstars – “Got to Get Me a Job” (Don Alford)
The Greyboy Allstars are busy on the road with a steady schedule of spring 2022 tour dates in support of the new album. Upcoming highlights of the tour include a two-city Brooklyn Bowl run featuring two nights at the music venue/bowling alley’s flagship location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (4/7, 4/8) and a stop at the new Brooklyn Bowl location in Philadelphia, PA (4/9). Click below for a full list of upcoming tour dates and head to the Greyboy Allstars website for full ticketing details.
[Originally published 3/12/22]