Roy Head & The Traits

about

Actually a country and rock vocalist rather than an R&B star, Roy Head nevertheless cut one of the great pieces of uptempo soul in the mid-'60s. "Treat Her Right" on Back Beat made it to number two on the R&B charts and number two pop, and the fact that Head was white was soft-pedaled in R&B circles while the song made its way up the charts. That performance alone was enough to qualify Head as one of the finest blue-eyed soul singers of the 1960s. But in fact, Roy was one of the most versatile stylists of the era, capable of hard R&B/rock tunes (even cutting material with a pre-fame Johnny Winter on backup guitar); mournful, soul-tinged country; and straight R&B and blues covers. Head was also an excellent entertainer, and his live shows of the period even included some fancy footwork clearly under the influence of James Brown. The Texan singer is remembered as a one-shot artist, but he actually cut many records (some under the auspices of noted producer Huey Meaux) throughout the 1960s on a confusing variety of labels. A few of these were tiny hits in the wake of "Treat Her Right," with only a couple ("Just a Little Bit" and "Apple of My Eye") sneaking into the Top 40. Quite a few of his records were dynamic, sleek hybrids (in varying degrees) of soul, rock, and country, all featuring Head's cocky, confident vocals. In a sense, though, he was damned by his versatility, not fitting comfortably into any niche or marketing plan; in any case, the tiny labels he recorded for lac

top songs

albums

The Best of Roy Head

Out Of Sight: More Sounds From The In Crowd

Rock 'N Roll Classics

Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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Funk Soul Brothers

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The Ultimate Early Rock & Roll Album

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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100 60s

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The Best Of: Teeny Weeny Bit

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

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Billboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1965

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Patio Party!

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