Honey Dripper (Pt. 2)

King Curtis takes Joe Liggins' 1945 jump blues classic and turns it into a blistering tenor saxophone showcase. Curtis was the preeminent session saxophonist in New York, playing the famous stuttering solo on the Coasters' "Yakety Yak." The blues connection is entirely in Curtis's tone. He employs a harsh, growling technique called flutter tonguing, making the saxophone sound gritty and vocal. He strips the swing-era politeness from the original melody, replacing it with the aggressive, honking R&B style that dominated the late 50s.