Jack White: He's Agin' and He's Shakin'

Happy Birthday to Rock Turtleneck's Seventh Son Jack White III, who turns 37 today.

Jack's first solo record Blunderbuss, is the one to beat for album of the year in 2012. It's a great listen from start to finish, and has the feel and pace of a true classic like Beggar's Banquet or After the Gold Rush.

One of the funnest, funkiest tracks comes about halfway through, a cover of Little Willie John's blues classic "I'm Skakin.'"

"I'm Shakin'" has been a favorite of mine since the early 80s when it appeared on the debut album of the L.A. neo-R&B traditionalists The Blasters. 

Going old-school rock & roll was a radical move in the days of A Flock of Seagulls and Duran Duran, and these guys did it earnestly, expertly and without irony.

Here is Little Willie John's 1959 original of "I'm Shakin'." Little Willie was a big-time talent who wrote many other early rock classics, chiefly the quintessential torch ballad "Fever" which was made famous by Peggy Lee and also covered by Elvis Presley, Madonna and many others.

"I'm Shakin'" has an instantly memorable horn chart, one that calls to mind the theme of the Heat Miser in The Year without a Santa Claus. 

Happy BIrthday Jack. Keep on Shakin.'

Buy "I'm Shakin'" on iTunes:

Jack White

The Blasters

Little Willie John