Might As Well Jump?

Another collaboration from Stooges man

Following his recent single with The Bellrays’ Lisa Kekaula, “I Love My Tutu,” The Stooges’ James Williamson has collaborated with singer, violinist and composer Petra Haden for a new benefit single “Blues Jumped The Rabbit” backed with “Last Kind Words.” Both of these songs are traditional folk/blues compositions. The lyrics for the A-side can be traced back to Blind Lemon Jefferson’s 1926 recording “Rabbit Foot Blues” for Paramount Records, while the B-side was first recorded by blues enigma Geeshie Wiley back in 1930, also for Paramount.

Williamson explains the collaboration with Haden, “I first became aware of Petra by listening to her amazing acapella version of The Who Sell Out. She was phenomenal at imitating not only the vocals but all of the instruments as well.

Of course I knew of her dad Charlie Haden. He had played bass with two of my all time FAV RAVs Keith Jarrett and Carla Bley. And she also sings with Bill Frisell and others from time to time where her voice is practically another instrument.

I asked her to come in and do a demo with me in L.A. while working on the last Iggy and the Stooges record Ready to Die. I was hooked. Not only did she sing with perfect pitch, but she also played her violin with authority and tasteful music sensibilities.

I used her to great effect as a background singer thereafter on Ready to Die, my last solo album Re-Licked and “I Love My Tutu” single, but I have always wished that I could find the right songs to spotlight her as a lead vocalist.

Then along came these two traditional songs ‘Blues Jumped The Rabbit’ and ‘Last Kind Words.’

Thankfully Petra loved them as much as I did, so we went in and made this record. We both are really happy we did. We hope you’ll like it too.”

James Williamson and Petra Haden’s “Blues Jumped The Rabbit” / “Last Kind Words” single is out now digitally via iTunes here and will be available on 7-inch vinyl format on August 19th. Proceeds from this record will benefit Tazzy Animal Rescue Fund (click here for more info).

This is the second of three singles that James Williamson will be releasing this year. The first was with The Bellrays’ Lisa Kekaula for their single “I Love My Tutu” / “Never Far From Where The Wild Things Are” out now digitally through iTunes here and on 7-inch vinyl on August 12th through Amazon and finer record stores. Proceeds from this record will benefit Project Hawai’i, which helps homeless children in Hawaii.

More info on the third upcoming single collaboration to be announced soon.