Mustang Sally (song)

Mustang Sally (song)

"Mustang Sally" is an R&B/straightforward blues first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965.[1] It gained greater popularity when it was covered by Wilson Pickett on a single the following year. Pickett's version was also included on his 1967 album The Wicked Pickett.[2]

According to music historian Tom Shannon, the song started as a joke when Della Reese wanted a new Ford Mustang. Rice called the early version "Mustang Mama," but changed the title after Aretha Franklin suggested "Mustang Sally."[3]

Rice's version made it to #15 on the U.S. R&B charts in 1965. Pickett's version climbed to #6 R&B and #23 Pop in 1966, #4 in Canada (RPM Magazine) and #28[4] in the UK Singles Chart on its original release and #62 when re-released in 1987[5]

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Wilson Pickett's recording of the song at #434 on a list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[6] The song dropped seven spots to #441 when the magazine published its 2010 update of the list.[7]

The song featured prominently in the 1991 film The Commitments, and appears on the film's soundtrack album, as sung by Andrew Strong. It was released as a single from the album and reached #63 in the UK Singles Chart.

Wilson's version was also set to the Pecos Bill segment from Disney's Melody Time in DTV. [8]

The song was played by NASA Mission Control as a morning wakeup song for astronaut Sally Ride on one of her Space Shuttle missions.

The song was played by K.I.T.T in one of the episodes of Knight Rider (2009).

References

  1. ^ Sir Mack Rice Discography at melingo.com
  2. ^ The Wicked Pickett track listing at discogs.com
  3. ^ "Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett" at songfacts.com
  4. ^ http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=4484
  5. ^ http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=14633
  6. ^ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2004-12-09. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs. Retrieved 2008-04-10. 
  7. ^ "'Rolling Stone' Updates '500 Greatest Songs' List". (June, 2010). CBS. Retrieved 2010-5-29
  8. ^ "Album track listing at amazon.com"


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