Even just a few seconds into hearing guitarist, Jimmy James, play his six-string and you know it’s him. There’s a signature thickness to the notes that leap from his instrument. In a way, it’s as if each is a tome of some long encyclopedia series, each riff rich with music history.
Indeed, James, who plays lead guitar for both the Billboard chart-topping soul band, The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, and the funk band, The True Loves, is a veritable World Wide Web when it comes to musicology. Often, the man never sleeps; he just scrolls through videos and performances. He could likely tell you what Jimi Hendrix was wearing on the day he wrote “Purple Haze.”
Videos by American Songwriter
Because of this, James was the perfect person to ask about his 10 favorite songs. Each is so critical to both James’ musicianship and to the history of song. So, without further ado, here is our guest contributor Jimmy James’s Top 10 Favorite Songs:
10. “(What A) Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke
9. “My Girl” by The Temptations
8. “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and the Papas
7. “Who’s Making Love” by Johnnie Taylor
6. “Got To Get Through To You” by The TSU Tornados
5. “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett
4. “Johnny B. Good” by Chuck Berry
3. “Good Times” by Chic
2. “Drifting” by Jimi Hendrix
1. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
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Paul Revere & The Raiders Perform American pop group Paul Revere & the Raiders perform in matching outfits, probably on a television studio set, mid 1960s. The band includes Mark Lindsay (third left) as the vocalist and Paul Revere (right) on keyboards. (Photo by Authenticated News/Getty Images) -
English rock and pop group The Hollies perform the song 'Sorry Suzanne' on the set of the BBC Television pop music television show Top Of The Pops at Lime Grove Studios in London on 27th March 1969. Members of the band are, from left, Tony Hicks, Bobby Elliott, Allan Clarke, Terry Sylvester and Bernie Calvert. (Photo by Ivan Keeman/Redferns) -
LOS ANGELES – MARCH 10: Singer and band leader Brian Wilson of the rock and roll group 'The Beach Boys' goofs around during a portrait session at Pacific Ocean Park on March 10, 1966 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Reba McEntire performs at San Jose Arena on November 23, 1994 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) -
Mick Jagger performing with The Rolling Stones during a secret gig live at the 100 Club in London's Oxford Street. They were billed as 'Diz And The Doormen'. May 31 1982. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) -
Waylon Jennings performs onstage at Oakbrook Terrace in Oakbrook, Illinois, November 27, 1977. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 13 : Members of Poison: (L to R) C.C. Deville, Brett Michaels, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett backstage at the Mtv Awards Show, September 13, 1987 in Los Angeles,California. (Photo by Getty Images/Bob Riha, Jr.)
