Back in 1933, little Bonny Rice—who would someday be known as Mack Rice, was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He would live to the ripe old age of 82, and in that time, he would write songs like “Mustang Sally,” and the semi-cynical “Cheaper to Keep Her.” He would even co-write the Staple Singers’ song “Respect Yourself” with megastar Luther Ingram.
Music was apparently always in his blood, because after his family moved to Detroit Michigan, he joined the Fiver Scalders’ rhythm and blues band while he was still in high school. He was drafted into the Army, but when he returned, he joined a group called The Falcons, which boasted such talent as Joe Stubbs, Eddie Floyd and the incomparable Wilson Picket.
There is a bit of history behind "Mustang Sally." It is said that Rice originally called the song "Mustang Mama" but his friend Aretha Franklin felt it would do better with a girl's name. When the song was released by producer Andre Williams in 1965, Williams loved it so much that he 'knighted' Mack as "Sir Mack Rice." The song landed at No. 15 on the R&B Billboard chart. The phrase "Ride Sally, Ride" became a phenomenon that helped the song to rank as No. 434 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
Although Rice sang his own songs, Wilson Pickett's version of "Mustang Sally" is better known that Rice's own version. Many of his other songs were performed by such greats as Rufus Thomas, Otis Clay, Etta James, Ike and Tina Turner, and even Lynrd Skynrd.
In his later years, Rice suffered from Alzheimer’s and eventually died from complications. Rest in peace, Mack Rice: November 10, 1933 - June 27, 2016.
Here, without further ado, is Sir Mack Rice singing Mustang Sally. Enjoy!
MUSTANG SALLY
Written by Mack Rice
Label: Blue Rock, May of 1965
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
You been running all over the town now.
Oh! I guess I'll have to put your flat feet on the ground.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
One of these early mornings, oh, you gonna be wiping your weeping eyes.
I bought you a brand new mustang 'bout nineteen sixty five
Now you come around signifying a woman, you don't wanna let me ride.
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
You been running all over the town now.
Oh! I guess I'll have to put your flat feet on the ground.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
This audio was uploaded at this location: https:// youtu.be/lnv Xl2XDnZs
