My Pal Wanda
Article about the Wanda Jackson CD with extensive discussion of EC's participation.
Excerpt: "The next day Elvis calls me from London and says, "I would love to get involved if we can make it work," Wooler said. "But I only want to do it if I can be in the studio with her. That is the only condition. I don't want to be sent the tracks. The excitement for me is to be at a microphone with Wanda Jackson and singing live."'
(Submitted by John Foyle)
FULL TEXT
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-Guest players included Dave Alvin, James Intveld, Lee Rocker,Larry Taylor, Pete Thomas, Elvis Costello and Davey Faragher. Poison Ivy played guitar on two cuts and joined fellow Cramps member Lux Interior on backup vocals for them.
Costello's duet with Jackson resulted from a visit
Thomas, a drummer, paid to an early Jackson rehearsal.
Wooler remembered Thomas sidling up to Jackson.
"He walked up and said, 'I just want to introduce
myself. I am a huge fan. I work with Elvis Costello. I
am in his band. We have listened to you and watched
you on film during the whole last American tour. You
have been on the tour bus every night. We just love
you, and I just want to shake hands and say hi,"'
Wooler said.
Wooler asked Thomas if he and Costello might want to
record a song with Jackson for the CD. Thomas replied
that Wooler would have a hard time stopping them from
doing it.
"The next day Elvis calls me from London and says, "I
would love to get involved if we can make it work,"
Wooler said. "But I only want to do it if I can be in
the studio with her. That is the only condition. I
don't want to be sent the tracks. The excitement for
me is to be at a microphone with Wanda Jackson and
singing live."'
It almost didn't happen. Jackson was scheduled for
surgery during the time Costello could clear his
calendar to be in Los Angeles.
"I wound up with a little infection and had to cancel
the operation," Jackson said. "But it worked out fine.
I went on to California and met up with him out there.
He and I sang a duet, which is one of my favorites on
the album."
They turned in a memorable, soulful version of Buck
Owens' classic "Crying Time."